Which project is the best starting point for someone new to her acting?

My Mister and Hotel del Luna are the two most widely referenced roles, so they're a fast way to see the range of her acting. Going back to earlier work afterward makes the progression easier to follow.

What should I pay attention to when comparing characters?

Watch how much a character relies on dialogue versus expression and silence, and how quickly each one lets other characters get close. The pacing of that reveal differs a lot from role to role.

Should I watch the dramas or the film first?

Watching the longer drama roles first helps establish a baseline impression before moving to the film, where the more restrained, cinematic performance style stands out by comparison. Starting with the film can make the drama performances feel comparatively broad.

The Roles That Show a Different Side of Actress Lee Ji-eun

Rather than following release order, this list is organized by how each character reveals emotion — through dialogue, silence, or a single expression.

An actor's range often shows up less in which projects became hits and more in how differently each character carries emotion on screen. This list orders Lee Ji-eun's roles by that measure — some characters explain themselves in words, others hold everything in a look or a pause.

Feel free to skip around rather than reading top to bottom. Each entry notes the moment a character's performance stands out and what to watch for.

Dream High – Kim Pil-sook

This is the role to revisit if you want to see the earliest version of her acting. Kim Pil-sook wavers between wanting the stage and doubting herself, and that tension lines up naturally with an actress who genuinely can sing. The performance still carries a rougher, early-career energy, which is exactly the point of watching it now.

The Best Lee Soon-shin – Lee Soon-shin

Long-running family dramas let a character shift across many small chapters, and this one is a good place to watch that unfold. Lee Soon-shin stays upbeat on the surface while getting knocked around by family and romantic entanglements underneath, so the performance rewards watching episode by episode rather than bingeing. Choose this one if you want grounded, everyday emotion over a big concept.