Lee Na-jeong

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.
Lee Na-jeong
Born1978 (age 47–48)
South Korea
Alma materSogang University
OccupationTelevision director
Years active2006 - present
Employers
AgentBrillstein Entertainment Partners
Korean name
Hangul
이나정
Hanja
李娜靜
RRI Najeong
MRI Najŏng

Lee Na-jeong (Korean: 이나정; born 1978) is a South Korean film, television director and producer. Lee is best known for her work as director of KBS television series Fight for My Way (2017), Netflix original series Love Alarm (2019) and tvN mystery thriller Mine (2021),[1] as well as her critically acclaimed film Snowy Road (2017).

Lee started her career in KBS Drama Department as an assistant director. In 2018, Lee resigned from KBS and moved to Studio Dragon Drama Department.[2] Lee signed a deal with Brillstein Entertainment Partners in 2021. She became the first Korean female television director to have joined a U.S. management agency.[3]

Early life and education

Lee Na-jeong was born in 1978. She graduated from Journalism Department of Sogang University. In 2005, Lee applied for the 31st Public Recruitment at KBS.[4] Lee started her career in KBS Drama Department as an assistant director.[5]

Career

Beginning in KBS

Lee Na-jeong started her career as an assistant director for the drama It's Only You in 2011. In 2012, she served as an assistant director to Kim Jin-won for the drama The Innocent Man.[6] Her breakthrough came when she took on the role of the main director for the KBS Drama Special - Yeonwoo's Summer in 2013.[7]

In early 2014, Lee began planning the project Snowy Road in collaboration with writer Yoo Bo-ra.[8] Set in 1944 during the final years of the Japanese colonial period, the story depicts the harrowing realities faced by two young women, Jong-bun (Kim Hyang-gi) and Young-ae (Kim Sae-ron), who were forced to be comfort women. Despite the weight of the subject matter, the principal photography was completed in just 17 days.[9][10]

Although the project premiered as a two-part television special on KBS1 in 2015,[11][12] KBS had envisioned it as a feature film from its inception. This dual-format strategy was intentional; while broadcasting content faced distribution hurdles in Japan, a theatrical version offered a pathway to international film festivals and human rights screenings. To facilitate this, the production utilized both broadcasting and film crews, and the script was developed collaboratively to suit both mediums. The goal was to maximize viewership and raise global awareness regarding the historical issue.[8][13] The theatrical version debuted at the 16th Jeonju International Film Festival[11][12] and received a nationwide release on March 1, 2017,[8][13] a date chosen to coincide with South Korea's Independence Movement Day in South Korea, which commemorates the 1919 March First Movement.[14] Snowy Road gained significant international recognition, notably winning the Prix Italia for TV Drama/TV Movie at the 67th Prix Italia Awards in 2016.[15]

As director at Studio Dragon

Following her departure from KBS, Lee joined the production company Studio Dragon. Her inaugural project at the studio was Love Alarm, based on the Daum webtoon of the same name by Chon Kye-young. Starring Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, and Song Kang, it gained distinction as the first Korean drama series confirmed for streaming on Netflix[a] The series centers on a high school student navigating a society shaped by a mobile application that notifies users of nearby romantic interest. Starring first season premiered on August 22, 2019, and quickly became one of the platform's top releases, leading to its renewal in October 2019. While the second season, released on March 12, 2021, was helmed by a different director, the series maintained significant global popularity.[16] In 2021, Love Alarm was ranked as the sixth most-watched K-drama worldwide on Netflix,[17] and by 2022, it was the ninth most-searched Korean drama globally.[18]

Director Lee Na-jeong said, "I wanted to portray the love and growth of three men and women who face the most ecstatic and exciting moments as well as the most painful and terrible moments while embodying the wonderfully well-crafted world of the original work. I want to share the deep emotion of the original work with more people."[19]

In 2021, Lee collaborated with Writer Baek Mi-kyung on a drama centered around the theme of motherhood. Initially titled "Blue Diamond," Lee suggested changing the title to Mine, which Baek Mi-kyung gladly accepted. It explores the lives of wealthy family members and their servants, delving into the complexities of their relationships. Each women character defy societal prejudices to find their "truly mine."[20][21] Mine made history as the first Korean drama to feature a lesbian character in a leading role, further expanding representation in the industry.[22][23][24]

We put a lot of effort into expressing the luxury of the real upper class on screen. Because it is set in the top 1%, I thought there should be plenty to see, but the visuals should not be boring or distracting. I wanted to create a drama that would appeal to viewers' eyes and ears. We created a visual pre-production team (prior to filming) and prepared the concept for about 4 months, researching what kind of buildings the upper class likes in 2021 and what they use, wear, and eat. Based on this, we clearly communicated the image and direction we wanted to create to the staff, including the cinematographer and art director, and completed the work together. I also wanted to present a new standard for luxury. I tried to convey the feelings of real rich people by clearly choosing emptiness and filling.

— Lee Na-jeong, Women Donga's Interview.[24]

The series, starring Lee Bo-young, Kim Seo-hyung, Lee Hyun-wook, and Ok Ja-yeon,[25] premiered on tvN on May 8, 2021. It aired every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 (KST) until June 27, 2021.[26] Netflix acquired the exclusive rights for international distribution.[27][28][29] The drama garnered substantial ratings throughout its run. With an average nationwide viewership of 8.208% and 9.078% in the metropolitan area, Mine attracted an average of 1.826 million viewers per episode. The drama's final episode recorded an average of 10.5% and 11.2% ratings for households nationwide and in the metropolitan area, respectively. These numbers surpassed its own previous highest ratings in both segments.[30]

In 2021, Fine Cut, an overseas film distribution company, announced the news that Lee signed a deal with Brillstein Entertainment Partners in 2021, which has a number of production studios and Hollywood stars under its wing. She became the first Korean female TV director to have joined a U.S. management agency. Missy Malkin from Brillstain decided to signed Lee after watching tvN mystery thriller Mine (2021).[31]

Studio Trii, Imaginus

In March 2024, it was reported that Lee joined Studio Trii as a creator, alongside director Lee Yoon-jung.[32] Studio Trii, established in June 2022 by CEO Kim Jin-yi, operates as a production label under Imaginus, a media firm founded by former Studio Dragon CEO Choi Jin-hee.[33][34][35]

Filmography

Film

Feature film credits[36]
Year Title Credited as Scriptwriter Notes Ref.
English Korean Assistant director Director Producer
2017 Snowy Road 눈길 N/a Yes N/a Yoo Bo-ra Re-leased and re-edited version [36]

Television series

Television drama credits[36]
Year Title Ep. Network Scriptwriter Credited as Ref.
English Korean Assistant director Director Producer
2006 Take Care, Weapon 무기여 잘 있거라 2 KBS2 Chae Su-bong Yes N/a [37]
2008 Strongest Chil Woo 최강칠우 20 Baek Un-cheol [1]
2009 Ode to Youth 청춘예찬 75 KBS1 Choi Min-ki [38]
2009 Hot Blood 열혈 장사꾼 20 KBS2
  • Hong Seung-hyun
  • Yoo Byung-woo
  • Kim Kyung-hoe
 [1]
2011 The Princess' Man 공주의 남자 24
  • Jo Jung-ju
  • Kim Wook
2011–2012 Only You 당신뿐이야 128 KBS1 Choi Min-ki N/a Co-director[b] N/a
2012 The Innocent Man 세상 어디에도 없는 착한남자 20 KBS2 Lee Kyung-hee Co-director[c]
2013 KBS Drama Special - Yeonwoo's Summer KBS 드라마 스페셜 - 연우의 여름 1 Yoo Bo-ra Yes [36]
2014 Beyond the Clouds 태양은 가득히 16 Heo Sung-hye N/a Yes [39]
2015 Snowy Road 눈길 2 KBS1 Yoo Bo-ra Yes N/a [36]
2015 Hello Monster 너를 기억해 16 KBS2 Kwon Ki-young [40]
2015–2016 Oh My Venus 오 마이 비너스 16 Kim Eun-ji Co-director[d] [41]
2016 Becky's Back 백희가 돌아왔다 4 Lim Sang-choon N/a Yes [42]
2016–2017 My Fair Lady 오 마이 금비 16 Jeon Ho-sung [43]
2017 Fight for My Way 쌈 마이웨이 16 Lim Sang-choon N/a Co-director[e] N/a [44][45]
2021 Mine 마인 16 tvN Baek Mi-kyung Yes [46]
2023 See You in My 19th Life 이번 생도 잘 부탁해 12
  • Choi Young-rim
  • Min Ye-ji
 [47]
2025 Typhoon Family 태풍상사 16 Jang Hyun-sook Co-director[f] [48]

Web drama

Web drama credits
Year Title OTT Credited as Ref.
English Korean Scriptwriter Director Production Company Planner
2019 Love Alarm Season 1 좋아하면 울리는 Netflix
  • Lee Ah-yeon
  • Seo Bo-ra
 Yes Kim Jin-yi Studio Dragon [49]

Accolades

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2016 28th Korea Producer Awards Best Picture in the TV Drama Snowy Road Won [50]
24th Golden Rooster Awards Best Foreign Film Won [50]
Prix Italia Best TV Drama-TV Movie category Won [51]
2017 Brand of the Year Awards Drama of the Year Fight for My Way Won [52]
1st The Seoul Awards Best Drama Nominated [53]
2018 30th Korea Producer Awards Best Drama Won [15]
54th Baeksang Arts Awards Nominated [54]
13th Seoul International Drama Awards Excellence Award for Korean Drama Won [55]
Best Comedy Nominated
2022 58th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Director Mine Nominated [56][57]

Note

  1. ^ Although Love Alarm was confirmed first, Kingdom was streamed on the service before Love Alarm.
  2. ^ Co-directed with PD Jin Hyung-wook
  3. ^ Co-directed with PD Kim Jin-won
  4. ^ Co-directed with PD Kim Hyung-seok
  5. ^ Co-directed with PD Kim Dong-hwi
  6. ^ Co-directed with Kim Dung-hwi

References

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