Among idols who have successfully transitioned into acting, ‘Hyeri’ is undoubtedly a name that pops up in many people’s minds. From the role that made audiences fall in love, learn, and grow alongside ‘Deok-sun’ back then, today she takes us on a journey through a new chapter of life in Dream to You as Joo Yi-jae, a young reporter returning to pursue her dream of becoming a director once again. Beyond the mischievous girl from Ssangmun-dong, what other works does she have? We will take everyone to explore through this SPOTLIGHT article. 🧒🏻✏️
- Hyeri in the dramas Tasty Life (2012) and Schoolgirl Detectives (2014)
- Hyeri in the drama Hyde Jekyll, Me (2015)
- Hyeri in the drama Reply 1988 (2016)
- Hyeri in the dramas Entertainer (2016), Two Cops (2017), and Miss Lee (2019)
- Hyeri in the films Monstrum (2018) and My Punch-Drunk Boxer (2019)
- Hyeri in the drama My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021)
- Hyeri in the dramas Moonshine (2021), May I Help You? (2022), and the film Victory (2024)
- Hyeri in the drama Friendly Rivalry (2025)
- Hyeri in the drama Dream to You (2026)
Hyeri or Lee Hye-Ri (이혜리) was born on June 9, 1994. She graduated from Konkuk University, College of Art & Design, majoring in Film Studies. She is currently an actress under SUBLIME.
Hyeri’s beginning in the entertainment industry was debuting as a member of the girl group Girl’s Day, after being selected to join as a new member replacing former members who departed from the group. She made her official debut through the 2nd digital single Nothing Lasts Forever (잘해줘봐야) in September 2010.
2nd-3rd generation K-pop fans are likely very familiar with Girl’s Day through hit songs such as Expectation, Female President, and Something. Besides music, Hyeri was also prominent in variety show appearances. With her natural sense of humor along with outstanding acting performances, she became one of the most recognized members of the group.
About 2 years after her debut, she began moving forward on her acting path simultaneously. Although Hyeri started her journey as an idol, after Girl’s Day entered a hiatus period, she chose to dedicate herself fully to acting and variety shows. For this article, we would like to focus on her acting works. 🎬✨
Hyeri debuted as an actress in the drama Tasty Life in 2012 as Jang Mi-hyun, the youngest daughter of the family who was cheerful, bright, and in the process of finding herself. This was followed by Schoolgirl Detectives (2014), where she played a character named after herself, Lee Hyeri, one of the drama club members and the school’s detective gang.
Hyeri in the dramas Tasty Life (2012) and Schoolgirl Detectives (2014)
In 2015, Hyeri participated in a larger project with the drama Hyde Jekyll, Me as Min Woo-jung, a member of the Wonder Circus troupe. It was a notable supporting role and a character that added colorful energy to the story.
Hyeri in the drama Hyde Jekyll, Me (2015)
In late 2015, Hyeri achieved a full breakthrough, and we believe many drama fans likely recognized her from this role as well: Deok-sun, the only girl in a gang of close friends in the Ssangmun-dong neighborhood in Reply 1988, a feel-good drama that created a phenomenon across Asia and one of the famous Reply series by director Shin Won-ho.
With her bright and friendly personal charm, combined with gradually developing acting skills, Hyeri portrayed Deok-sun—a cheerful, clumsy, and kind-hearted girl—with great vitality. She made this character beloved both in the series and in the hearts of viewers. The high school girl with that iconic hairstyle not only earned Hyeri full recognition as an actress, but also brought her the Best New Actress award from the 5th APAN Star Awards. Hyeri once admitted that meeting ‘Deok-sun’ made her grow significantly, and called Reply 1988 the ‘work of her lifetime.’
Hyeri in the drama Reply 1988 (2016)
After succeeding with Reply 1988, Hyeri did not choose to stop at the same image, but gradually moved forward to challenge herself through various roles. In 2016, Hyeri brought viewers to experience a story both warm and inspiring in the drama Entertainer as Geu-rin, an optimistic young woman serving as both manager and major support system for a rookie band.
Continuing with a project where she shed her former image to play Song Ji-an, a gorgeous reporter tangled with a con artist’s spirit and a secret investigation in Two Cops (2017). Followed by Miss Lee (2019), where she played Lee Seon-shim, an ordinary employee who was suddenly appointed as CEO during the company’s bankruptcy before gradually leading the company back to recovery. These works allowed viewers to witness her development from a bright young girl to roles of a matured and stronger woman.
Hyeri in the dramas Entertainer (2016), Two Cops (2017), and Miss Lee (2019)
During this period, besides revealing new images through series, Hyeri also made her big-screen debut in a different look with the fantasy historical film Monstrum (2018), playing Yoon-myung, a woman skilled in archery who must survive a mythical beast. This marked both her first historical and action project.
In addition to series broadcast in 2019, she also starred in the film My Punch-Drunk Boxer as Min-ji. Hyeri revealed that she went so far as to take traditional janggu drum lessons for 2 months to prepare for this work.
Hyeri in the films Monstrum (2018) and My Punch-Drunk Boxer (2019)
Returning to drama series, Hyeri came back with brightness again in the fantasy rom-com drama My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021), which reinterpreted Korea’s nine-tailed fox legend. She played Lee Dam, a college student who accidentally swallowed the marble of Shin Woo-yeo or Gumiho (played by Jang Ki-yong), making him unable to return to human form and causing them to live together. The series highlighted the chemistry between Hyeri and Jang Ki-yong that melted fans’ hearts, while reinforcing her image as a rom-com female lead.
Hyeri in the drama My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021)
The brightness didn’t end there, because in the same year, Hyeri served up humor through the historical drama Moonshine as Kang Ro-seo, a woman illegally brewing alcohol during the prohibition era. She was smart, clever, and great at surviving. Naturally, she didn’t disappoint viewers with her comedy skills, so much so that she successfully won the Excellence Actress Award from the KBS Drama Awards 2022.
Taking a break from humor to heal the heart, the drama May I Help You? (2022) featured her as Baek Dong-joo, a young woman with a special power to communicate with the deceased and help fulfill their final wishes. She then made a big-screen comeback in 2024 with the movie Victory as Choo Pil-seon, a cheerleader aspiring to become a famous dancer, who received widespread praise for the immense power and charm she conveyed through the character.
Hyeri in the dramas Moonshine (2021), May I Help You? (2022), and the film Victory (2024)
Hyeri pushed her limits further by taking the lead role in Friendly Rivalry (2025), a teen thriller series. She played Yoo Jae-i, an elite female student at a top school who hid a dark side beneath perfection. Viewers praised her ability to deeply convey the complexity and dangerous charm of the character, transcending the familiar comedy image many were used to. Hyeri herself liked this work quite a lot, stating: “I enjoyed and was so happy playing Jae-i that I couldn’t help but wonder if I’ll ever get a chance to play a role like this again in my acting lifetime.”
Hyeri in the drama Friendly Rivalry (2025)
Coming to her latest project that is building up excitement: Dream to You, a heartwarming series that brings viewers back to experience forgotten childhood dreams. In this story, Hyeri plays Joo Yi-jae, a reporter living a simple life after giving up her dream of becoming a director alongside Woo Soo-bin (played by Hwang In-youp), her first love in school. However, fate brings them back together to draw dreams and love together once again.
This drama marks Hyeri’s romantic comeback after several years, this time starring opposite handsome actor Hwang In-youp. Their chemistry overflowed even before the series aired. Having Hyeri return to show romance along with character complexity is quite exciting to follow. Let’s support Joo Yi-jae to successfully fulfill her dreams together every Monday-Tuesday at 22:00 (Korean time), available with English subtitles on Viu. 🎥🎞️💖
Hyeri in the drama Dream to You (2026)
Beyond screen works, Hyeri also gradually reveals her true self through her personal YouTube channel—a space allowing viewers to see her in a more natural perspective and allowing her to know herself better as well. Fans who fall in love with her bright charm on screen and goofy self off screen can follow her on her personal Instagram @hyeri_0609 and YouTube channel @IamLeeHyeri. 😊
