Lee Young-ae Shares Candid Stories on 'Zzanhan Hyung,' Recalling CF Model Days

Veteran actress Lee Young-ae made a special appearance on the YouTube channel 'Zzanhan Hyung,' sharing candid and amusing anecdotes from her early career, including her days as a commercial model.

The latest episode, 'Zzanhan Hyung' EP.109, featured Lee along with her co-stars from the upcoming KBS weekend drama 'A Good Day' (tentative title), Kim Young-kwang and Park Yong-woo. Uploaded with the intriguing title, "Want some ramen? The original flirt Lee Young-ae, a real-life ramen mukbang," the episode quickly garnered significant attention.

During the show, Lee opened up about the origins of her acting career. She revealed her debut as a model for 'High Teen' magazine during her middle school years. "I submitted my photo in my third year of middle school, expecting to be rejected. But they contacted me, and that's how it started," she recalled. She further elaborated on her college days, where she took on commercial shoots as a part-time job to earn tuition money, notably starring alongside Yoo Duk-hwa in a 'Two You Chocolate' commercial.

Adding a humorous touch, Lee shared a memory from a commercial shoot. "Back then, Lee Byung-hun, who was my university batchmate, was also there. Embarrassingly, I found the friend sitting next to him more handsome. I don't know what happened to that friend now," she confessed, eliciting laughter from the hosts and viewers. She also mentioned that actress Park Sun-young was present on set at the time.

Reflecting on her early television career, Lee recalled her debut in 1992 at the age of 23 in a SBS drama, where she played a 30-year-old spinster. She mentioned receiving the first newcomer award despite feeling inexperienced. "I was fortunate to receive an award despite my shortcomings. The public's reaction then was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, to an extent difficult to describe. My face even appeared on people's book covers," she reminisced about the intense popularity she enjoyed.

Lee Young-ae began her entertainment career as a commercial model in 1990.

She made her official acting debut in the 1993 drama 'Her Garden,' earning the nickname 'Oxygen-like Woman' and receiving immense popularity.

Her 2003 film 'A Moment to Remember' is still considered a masterpiece, cementing her status as a talented actress.