Kyeon Mi-ri (born January 27, 1965) is a South Korean actress and singer. She is best known for her role as the antagonist Lady Choi in the hit period drama Jewel in the Palace (2003).
Career
Kyeon Mi-ri graduated from Seoul Traditional Arts High School in 1983, then studied Dance at Sejong University. She made her acting debut in 1984, and has since become active in television dramas, most notably as the arrogant and ambitious Lady Choi in the 2003 period drama Dae Jang Geum (or Jewel in the Palace), which was a hit not only in Korea but throughout Asia.[2]
In 2009, she ventured into the music industry and released her first album titled Happy Women, consisting of mainly trot songs.[3]
Personal life
Kyeon married actor Im Young-gyu in 1987, and they divorced in 1993.[4]
Kyeon remarried in 1998, to businessman Lee Hong-heon.[5] They have one son, Lee Ki-baek. Lee Hong-heon legally adopted Kyeon's two daughters from her first marriage, and they took on his surname; Lee Yu-bi and Lee Da-in are both actresses.[6][7] Kyeon is also a part of the Hwanggan Kyeon clan, which makes her a descendant of Kyŏn Hwŏn, who was the first king of the Hubaekje kingdom, during the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea.
In 2009, Kyeon was investigated for stock manipulation, with her husband Lee suspected of insider trading. She had bought 55,000 shares worth ₩900 million of the bioengineeringstartup FCBTwelve, then raked in up to ₩4.59 billion, making her the fourth biggest stock holder among entertainment celebrities at the time.[8] Kyeon denied any wrongdoing, saying she was simply an investor.[9][10]
In April 2023, Kyeon will donate Lee Da-in's wedding congratulations as a donation for the disabled and vulnerable children through a partnership with the Korea Association for Information Technology for the Disabled as a token of appreciation for guests who attended and congratulated the wedding.[11]
^견미리, 성공적인 데뷔 무대 꾸려! [Kyeon Mi-ri, Earning a Successful Debut!]. Kyunghyang Sports (in Korean). August 16, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
^임영규, 견미리와 이혼→사업실패→알코올 치매→폭행사건 악순화…눈물의 심경고백 [Im Yeong-gyu, Kyeon Mi-ri's ex → Divorce → Business Failure → Confesses in Tears about his Alcoholic Stupor]. Newsen (in Korean). July 6, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
^두살연하 총각사업가와 4월 결혼발표 견미리 "아이들이 예뻐서 저랑 결혼한대요" [Bachelor Businessman who is Two Years Younger than Kyeon Mi-ri Announces April Wedding "He's marrying my pretty kids and me"]. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). April 11, 1998. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
^Cha, Yoo-chae (April 10, 2023). "용서 구하는 마음" 견미리, 이승기♥이다인 축의금 기부" [The heart of seeking forgiveness" Gyeon Mi-ri, Lee Seung-gi ♥ Da-in donated congratulatory money] (in Korean). Money Today. Retrieved April 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee Min-ji (January 17, 2023). "'판도라' 이지아X이상윤, 김순옥표 복수극으로 만났다…대본리딩 현장" ['Pandora' Lee Ji-ah X Lee Sang-yoon and Kim Soon-ok met in a revenge play... Script reading site]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2023.
