Lee Eun-ju

Lee Eun-ju (b. Dec. 22, 1980) studied piano for much of her youth, without giving much thought to becoming an actress. After finding work as a model, however, she began to be offered roles in various TV dramas, including Start and KAIST. Her film debut came in 1999, when she played the younger sister in Park Chong-wan's award-winning feature Rainbow Trout. Her first lead role came as the title character in acclaimed director Hong Sang-soo's Virgin Stripped Bare by her Bachelors (2000), where she gave one of the most memorable performances in all of Hong's films. Following this, she teamed with actor Lee Byung-heon (JSA) in the 2001 hit film Bungee Jumping of Their Own, and also scored a hit opposite Cha Tae-hyun in the melodrama Lovers' Concerto.

Lee's later career was marked by several turns in films that failed at the box-office, plus a key role in the record-breaking Korean War film Taegukgi. In late 2004 she starred in her last feature, Daniel H. Byun's The Scarlet Letter which screened as the Closing Film at the 2004 Pusan International Film Festival.

Tragically, Lee committed suicide on February 22, 2005 after suffering from depression for over a year. The news of her death prompted a massive outpouring of grief from fellow actors and filmmakers. Lee will be remembered for her talent, intelligence and passion that made her stand out among the actresses of her generation.

Interview Excerpts:

"I'm called a new generation star, but I don't want to be the kind of person who achieves instant fame and then is quickly forgotten. I want to learn step-by-step how to become a good actress, and gradually work my way up. A star achieves brilliance, but is soon forgotten; to become an actress takes more time." [Kino, #60, February 2000]

Profile
Name: 이은주 / Lee Eun Joo (Yi Eun Ju)
Profession: Actress and model
Birthdate: 1980-Nov-16
Birthplace: Gunsan, North Jeolla, South Korea
Death: 2005-Feb-22 (suicide) in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Height: 168cm
Weight: 48kg
Star sign: Scorpio
Blood type: A
Family: Mother and older brother


TV Series
Phoenix (MBC, 2004)
Kaist (SBS, 1999)
White Nights 3.98 (SBS, 1998)
Start (KBS2, 1997)


Movies
The Scarlet Letter (2004)
Brotherhood (2004)
Au Revoir, UFO (2004)
Garden of Heaven (2003)
Unborn But Forgotten (2002)
Lover's Concerto (2002)
Bungee Jumping of Their Own (2001)
Bloody Beach (2000)
Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors (2000)
Rainbow Trout (1999)
If It Snows On Christmas (1998)