Her acting in EOE makes me cranky - even my parents, who don't usually comment on things like this, have complained about it. And this interview doesn't really seem to put her in the best light.

I haven't seen her in the aforementioned movies - how is she in those?

I know she's still young, but she's been in the industry long enough to know that she needs to step up her game - or she's simply going to be known for her pretty face and co-starring with the hottest male stars (kinda like another starlet you recently posted about).

is she kidding me??? "chubbier on screen.." WTF??? she is as skinny as a TWIG!! in fact..she looks freaking ANOREXIC in east of eden!!! and that is disgusting because she is TALL and ANOREXIC...and those two do NOT match up together!!!

i'm also disappointed in her acting..i stopped watching east of eden because her acting was so stiff....i feel that instead of improving in acting...she's actually gotton worse...

oh. please, Pak. Lee Da Hae is the anorexic one okay? You need to get new glasses if you haven't already.

sorry to hear you stopped watching EOE. Because LYH's acting improved drastically in recent episodes. And...another thing, just keep your mouth shut if you haven't been following EOE, ok?

calm down jo. They can both be anorexic, you know, it's not like it's a contest and only one of them can be it.

and come on, we're all allowed to have an opinion. if yeonhee's better now it doesn't make her earlier acting any better.

Well...I hope she could take the criticism.. We don't need another suicide.

I'd like to chalk this up to being young and new in the business. Hopefully she'll pick up PR techniques as she becomes more famous (and I'm sure she will). Of course this doesn't excuse the tacky-ish interview though.

I never thought Lee Yeon Hee was as terrible as everyone has been saying, I actually think she's good, not excellent but good (and with definite room for improvement). I do hope she doesn't develop that weight complex (like Yoon Eun Hye, poor girl). Everyone just seems to be picking on her, she's improving so give her a small break and move on to your next victim, netizens.

some people are just criticizing her acting mostly because she's
getting more exposure than the other actress they like.
she has been paired with really good actors and to name a few;
hyun bin, so ji sub, park yong Ha and now Song Seung Hun.
she's moved her audience of her acting in EoE. The chemistry of
Young Ran and Dong Chul is just one great reason to watch it.
both their personality (SSH & LYH) perfectly suit the character fine they are
portraying.
She's done her role justice. She's perfect for the role of Young Ran.
And she's moved me to tears when i watch her with Dong Chul.

*..*

I can't believe she's the girl in "Millionaire's First Love!" Sorry I can' t really comment on her acting coz I never got the chance to finish watching that movie or even seen any of her drama--only watched the first 10 mins then forwarded it couple of times then I just turned it off. i totally agree with cbc's comment. On the other note, she's P-R-E-T-T-Y.

People just hatin on her cause she gets to make out with Song Seung Hun.

Well she's actually had the chance to kiss some real F-I-N-E men....... i.e- Hyun Bin, Song Seung Hun, Gong Yoo.

Now that I think about it, I'd be real jealous of her too.

there seems to be arguments arising ....and I have to agree ....WHY would you quit watching EoE just cuz Lee yeon hee's acting doesnt meet your standards =.=" like jo said ...her acting keeps improving ...we have a long way to go with this drama...Lee yeon hee was superb in a millionaire's love...am sure the audience will stop with those critics eventually . I have hope in her lol :) but still i like her being the main girl even though lee da hae is excellent.

The girl knows how to cry, but there are some scenes where she comes off as forced. I didn't like how harsh people were criticizing her and so I defended her, but after seeing this interview, I'm a little more hesitant to. I still like her, but ironically, how LYH addressed the criticism was disappointing to me. Hopefully she'll improve her acting in the second half of EoE and show everyone.

Of all issues to be indignant about, she's upset about her looking chubbier onscreen? She still looks awfully skinny to me.

I agree with you on this, her response to the criticism is very poorly constructed and the comment about how she came off "chubbier" onscreen really throw me off a bit there cuz she's like one of the skinniest one in the industry (in my opinion of course). If she get any skinnier, she'll be like a talking skeleton seriously. Anyway, I like how you said that she's a pro and got paid a huge sum of money for whatever she's doing and sometimes trying just isn't enough. Like I don't think a professor would give any point for effort if one fail on the test (though it would be great that they would but reality doesn't work that way).

Ahummm...why do i feel that every article written on LYH on javabeans is in some way negative? I think the person writing these articles dislikes LYH?

I don't see anything wrong with LYH's statement or comments. Seriously why wouldn't you be mad if you put so much effort into something but instead got criticized for it? She being totally honest and I love that about her. Somethings just can't be learned in days...I'm sure if, for say, LDH were to do the same dancing scene, she wouldn't have done any better, as a matter of fact I think she would have done worst. And this comment about her saying she looks chubbier on t.v....so many people say that...and the camera does tend to add on a couple pounds...I can see so many people(including myself)saying that they look bigger on camera than in person because it's true.

I will continue to support LYH because I feel that she is a great actress. She plays her role as Young Ran like no one could. She portrays her emotions really well. Every time she tears up, I can't help but to tear up myself, that's how great of an actress she is. Seriously people need to stop all these negativity towards her and her acting.

LYH Fighting!

"Lest you start feeling sorry for the starlet, she goes on to decry, “I was upset seeing myself looking chubbier onscreen than I am in real life.” (I know we all have our own issues, but: Are you kidding me? Bish, plz. Lee Yeon-hee is practically pro-ana “thinspiration” material, so to hear her say that makes me pretty unsympathetic, if not downright cranky.)"

I think all the young Korean actresses feel this way now. Han Ji Hye, Lee Dae Hae, and Lee Yeon Hee (who's worn the most skin-baring dresses) are all competing to be the thinnest actress on East of Eden. The weight issue in dramas is pretty strong nowadays. Song Hye Kyo was considered chubby for a long time, and so she'd go on these crash diets to lose the weight. Still goes on today. People complained about Kim Sun Ah's weight in When Night Comes. If you watch K-dramas from 10 years back, it's kinda stunning how, well, NORMAL the frames of women looked. Thin sure, but not emaciated like Han Hyo Joo in Iljimae.

"because Lee has a pretty good valuation from her film work: Millionaire’s First Love and M, for instance. "

She drew a fairly positive response from Millionaire (though the movie itself was blasted.) But her subsequent work has driven mostly negative reviews, and the fact she's been given "Song Hye Kyo"-style promotion, casting her opposite much older leads again and again, only fans the backlash.

LYH mumbles a lot of her lines and she kinda drifts between a monotone and a whine. That itself is not unusual for young actresses (when YEH accepted her Baeksang, she also brought up how critics and netizens criticized her about her short tongue.) Her upside is considerable though. There's stunning clarity between her face and the camera, the subtle shifts from jealousy to anger to joy to anguish all register on the camera. She does bitter and cynical very, very well. In that sense, she's the anti-Song Seung Heon, who kinda mugs for the camera in order to convey emotion through facial expressions.

East of Eden is kinda in a weird position where it's both a very popular show and a heavily criticized show. Many of the lead actors have been alternately criticized and praised for their acting on the show, while the storyline kinda fluctuates between really exciting and really boring, gritty and overwrought, within 15 minute spaces.

I was a Lee Dong Chul/"Guk Ja" fan myself. I like the fact that she was absolutely MEAN to him for like 90% of their, erm, "courtship." She slapped him; she called him her dog; she stole his chopsticks. Omo omo! If that's not love, I don't know what (it) is!

Same for me too. The show is kinda like tomaco.

the fact of the matter is Lee Yeon-hee cant act and the fact that she is talking about how fat she is is just plain stupid if she doesn't improve on her acting Yeon-hee wont have a long career looks dont last forever and nether does bot ox but from the looks of things she must think differently

Wow, that is one tacky interview... maybe a bit of big head disease?!

For me, EoE is frustrating to the point of unbearable on many levels, the dialogue is 'stylized'?! That's putting it super kindly. There is just so much an actor/actress can do to make those lines/plots realistically acceptable. I know it's a drama, but I just cant engage with anything when I cant stop rolling my eyes at the ridiculous.

I'm not that impressed with anyone's acting in EoE since Kim Bum's gone. I'm not even liking Lee Mi Sook or the veterans. But it's more how the characters are written or how plots r dragged out/going around in circles that I have problems with.

but yeah, mom is hooked (mainly for SSH) so I'm 'persevering' through.

It just felt like I'm watching a canto TVB production that is taking itself way too seriously as a masterpiece.

well, i'm sure she said more than that she looks fat on screen. she may have just said that so she can hide what she's really feeling. if she cried in the interview and apologized, everyone would criticize her for not being strong enough to take criticism. this may just be her own way to cope with it, so leave her alone. no one likes to show their weak side to the public, and i'm sure she's suffering from all the criticisms. i love her acting in east of eden. she makes me cry whenever she tears up, and she's definitely going to go far in her acting career.

I really really liked her after watching Millionaire's First Love. Pretty and talented was what I thought of her. But yeah, she's pretty disappointing in EoE. It's even worse that Young Ran is so unlikable and that she's acting alongside LDH and HJH who have been oustanding so far. Still, LYH is tolerable. But forget acting, what I can't stand is her oncreen romance with SSH - their love story is so unconvincing.

It's ridiculous to see that, even in comments corner of dramabeans, if some one criticizes LYH, there will be other people trying to protect LYH by criticizing LDH, or even HJH. The other actresses having same problem with you (if that's true) does not make your problem any lessened. The shipping war is every where, I see tension in soompi, coolsmurf blog and now, it's right here. :-)

Look directly at LYH's acting: I myself watched all 24 episodes of EOE so far, with several episodes rewatched several times, icl ones with a lot of LYH init. In my opinion, LYH's acting in first episodes is weak, and the worst are her face expression (her eyes are good, but the face is stiff, like some one said) and her voice. Only very recently, from episode 20 or so, she's improving. Especially in episode 23, her acting is much more natural, but, still, can not be compared with SSH, HJH and PHJ. Esp her close co-star SSH- he appears next to her the most, and this guy has such a lovely voice, his body language (eyes, face expression, pose) is very good. So it's easier and more natural that LYH's weak points are pointed out right away. I think she may be less criticized, if she's not acting besides such a seasoned actor.

She used to be with other good actors like Huyn Bin, but, her role in that movie is for people to love- there's not complexes like in here. Her role in EOE is very bratty, tough and a little violent, it's depends on people's feelings and judgement, if they like her or not. If she fails in acting, she will just make a lot of people hate him. Look at PHJ, he did a great job, even what he did is terrible, but his acting is so good, no one can really hate him. This is a good example, that, if LYH is good actress, she still has a lot of room to improve and makes people love her.

Her fans need to see the truth, that she's one of the youngest and least experienced in EOE, this is a fact, not an excuse. She's the most criticized, because the others did an excellent job. PHJ and HJH did wonderful so far, SSH, YJH and LDH acted well. Needless to say about other veteran cast, they are excellent. Kim Bum did very well. And LYH is not the only one to feel pressured. Many of the cast are in the same situation, two main SSH and YJH f(this is a come back project for them), LDH (her HR's compared with Sandglass HR, so she got tension and worked so hard, need to be hospitalized for fever or something), HJH (she's reading business book to study more for her role). I mean, every one is trying very hard for this role. If LYH is practicing, it's very normal. And, if she can't improve, she will be left behind, more obviously.

I heard people say stupider things than "I looked chubbier on screen than I am in real life". She never said that she looks fat, she just said that she looked bigger on camera....which I must say is true. Maybe the role models on set (Lee Da Hae and Han Ji Hye) are being bad role models. Maybe they need to put on some weight and set an example the younger actresses. I hope LYH is naturally small and not trying to fit in with the other actresses. LYH has nothing to worry about because she is more than a pretty face. She has acting talents and producers notice that. She is constantly being picked to be in movies because producers believe in her acting skills to pull off a character in their movie. LYH is going no where!

LYH Fighting!

Wow, look back at recent comments, I think people like her in her crying, or silent scene (like the scene without SSH, she looks more gentle and adorable). And many people (like me) don't like her in scenes that she slapped DC, or scolded him, raised her voice, etc. She's not good enough in playing a bratty girl but not very hate-able.
Maybe this project does not suit her well, she will be much better in melodrama or soapy opera.

Why make such a big deal about her statement and comments? She said what she said. It was the honest truth so leave her alone! Are you going to tell me you've never once said you looked chubbier or fatter in a picture or video than you are in real life? LYH is going to get soooo much more acting offers from both movie and drama producers because they're going to see that she has talents. People like to talk so let them talk. But what's for sure is that LYH doing great in EOE! And I think she's going to keep improving and impressing. So what out everyone and stop hating!

"Maybe the role models on set (Lee Da Hae and Han Ji Hye) are being bad role models. Maybe they need to put on some weight and set an example the younger actresses. I hope LYH is naturally small and not trying to fit in with the other actresses."

Excuse me, what does Lee Da Hae and Han Ji Hye have to do with this? It's like you are blaming LDH and HJH when they have nothing to do with it...
LYH just needs to be herself....

"The other actresses having same problem with you (if that’s true) does not make your problem any lessened. The shipping war is every where, I see tension in soompi, coolsmurf blog and now, it’s right here."

Like I said, almost everyone has been criticized for their acting, and the wildly inconsistent writing hasn't helped. Like, the scenes between the Lee Dong brothers makes my heart melt like butter (and their Love Theme doesn't hurt either!) Until they, you know, scream. I mean, let's try this in English. "Elizabeth! Mr. Darcy! ELIZABETH!! MISTA DAAACCYY!!! ARRRGGHHH GGRRRR @#%@#$!!!" Nope, not really feeling it, and it's darn tough to act around it.

Look at PHJ, he did a great job, even what he did is terrible, but his acting is so good, no one can really hate him. "

In some ways, Park Hae Jin was actually the biggest disappointment for me. I liked him in Famous Chili Sisters and By Land and Sky, and was telling everybody that he is the new Hyun Bin. Now, I know his character is supposed to be deeply, deeply troubled, but I thought his performance was painfully, painfully affected. Also, when he was running off his lines, he would start reciting the lines like a typewriter to convey "intensity." Perhaps there was nothing he could do with his character, who was a certified monster before the marraige. Mentally, I kept on thinking about Jo In Sung's performance in What Happened in Bali, the way he was able to ride that line of "broad acting" without turning into a total ham and in turn revealed the core emptiness and rather inhuman sensitivity of his character's existence. He's much better now, and I like PHJ's performance in the current storyline. At the same time, I still have it problems connecting his present conscience with the monstrous severity of his past. It's simply not enough to qualify it with regret; his greed for her was absolutely insatiable.

Han Ji Hye was another night and day performance for me. I couldn't stand her character, the utter shrillness of her cheese and whine, prior to the tuime jump. And I'm not sure if Han Ji Hye could saved it given how the character was written. Post-jump however, HJH may be giving the best performance of all the young leads. Her character is a mix of conscience and denial; she hates the family she's married into, and yet she loves her power (and purpose) as a hotel magnate. HJH's subtly brought a weary, bittersweet tone to her role, while at the same time believing absolutely convincing as a hotel manager.

In a way, the experience of watching East of Eden is a lot like daily drama watching. The acting gets better and the characters are more realistically written as the show goes on. You grow to care about these people, and well I kinda have a crush on Shin Tae Hwan. His Evil grin is so adorable!! :D

"I’m not that impressed with anyone’s acting in EoE since Kim Bum’s gone. I’m not even liking Lee Mi Sook or the veterans."

I love President Guk, by far my favorite performance (including Ki Bum.) My 2nd favorite performance goes to the clothes that HJH and LDH are wearing. Nothing says method acting like a smartly matched ensemble! :D

LYH is doing a great job on EOE. And I think she should concentrate on role and not worry about these kind of small things. People are going to say stuff, it's part of life. I think she's a strong girl and she's going get over this. She has a strong support system behind her! Can't wait to see her movie coming out on the 27th!

Big deal! She said she looks fatter on screen than she does in real life! So many people say that but it doesn't mean that they'll go home and be like I need to diet because I look big on camera. It's one of those things you say and you get over it. Maybe she was too honest for her own good? If that's her only crime then leave her alone! LYH is doing such a good job in EOE! She makes the drama that much better! LYH&SSH are the best couple ever! Their scenes always get me! They make me tear up!

I do apologize up front to all fans of EoE, but I do need to rant/purge after another ep of EoE...

It's not like I'm trying to hate, but I seriously do not find amusement in anything about the show (yes show not drama), not one acting job is affecting me and I like LYH in almost everything else she did ...except EoE, her scenes with SSH...if I have to point fingers at lousy acting, I seriously didnt see the hot stud any better...sorry I've TRIED the mightiest to find stuff to like about his acting with all the hours I stared at him being eyecandysuperman... and I agree with most of the words of this comment:
'such a lovely voice, his body language (eyes, face expression, pose) is very good. ' IF I can take out the word 'language'.....and the key word is 'pose'

'In a way, the experience of watching East of Eden is a lot like daily drama watching. The acting gets better and the characters are more realistically written as the show goes on. You grow to care about these people, and well I kinda have a crush on Shin Tae Hwan. His Evil grin is so adorable!! '

...........This screams stockholm syndrome to me Belleza. I'm worried.

@mookie,

"………..This screams stockholm syndrome to me Belleza. I’m worried."

Oh! It's his impish glee when he goes about his merry business: burying people alive, torturing women, children, and priests, buying his son a prostitute to teach him family values. There is -- dare I say it -- a twinkle in his eye whenever sweet Lee Dong Chul is tenderized once more into an Armani burrito or when sincere, simple Lee Dong Wook is taken back to the 7th level of Hell. That gleam from his sparking smile that says "yes we can."

Cruel? Probably. Evil? And how! A man who knows what he wants? With ardor he does!!! At the end of the day, musing on another pleasurable day of destruction, he is the type of worldly man who, whilst savoring a glass of sherry, muses "Evil is my business, and business is good. Ah Beezlebub, today was a good day. Cheers!!!"

Sigh. Oh, cookies!

hey, i thought there are no more criticism toward LYH now? i know, at the 1st few eps she was somehow weak, but then, her acting really improved alot. viewers are praising for her character as YR. people cries and all for her suffer love story btween DC+YR (including me) i've watched all 24 eps, and i really think she did it good. her character grow in me.

OMG, whenever I find some one criticising EOE, I find the other supporters arguing about how good EOE is and how Lee Yeon Hee improved in the last few episodes!!!!!
I also stopped watching EOE mainly because of LYH... simply, she can't act!!! I'm sorry fans.
she says: (so the unwelcome words made me feel embarrassed.) ..... WTF can't she see herself acting and compare it to the other stars w/ her in the drama?!?!
whatever.

even the production team said everytime she suffer, they were all very solemn and deeply moved by her acting.

sarah, what makes u so fucked up when people try to express their opinion? people have opinion, ok?

Lee Yeon-hee is the worst here in East of Eaden....yes!!!...she can cry...but then i don't really feel any emotions on her eyes!!!!...and her facial expression...back off............its already half episode but still i didn't see any improvements.....she needs to focus on how to deliver her scenes especially with Song Seung-heon.....i mean...hey its Song Seung-heon(a great actor)...she must portray her character even more.......i mean more and more!!!!....i am not a anti Lee Yeon-hee i just don't like her performance in East of Eden

javabeans, in behalf of these immature people who are DISRESPECTING your blog site, I'd like to apologize... There are just people who cannot in the slightest possibility be in any way objective enough to read into and understand the issue with open mind... Please forgive them for they are IMMATURE and INSENSITIVE!!!

Seriously some people who are leaving some nasty comments here, especially those who even has the face to direct their whines and stupid snarky snide at javabeans, need to grow up and SHUT UP for God's sake!!! This is her blogsite! You cannot condemn her for speaking her mind and objectively sharing what her thoughts are just because the article says something negative about your favorite actress.

OH MY GOD!!! SHIPPERS FREAKS!!! GET AWAY from dramabeans' site!!! Do not invade this heavenly site with so much of your NON SENSE!!! It's just not enough that you ruin the mood in other discussion sites (i.e. soompi sites)... You guys just have to take all your foul mood and nonsensical remarks all over across the net even here at dramabeans... If you disagree with something, at least be courteous enough to phrase it in a polite way... at least attempt to sound a bit respectful even just a tinnnyyy bit... You owe her that much you know...

She's not too terrible..but yeah her acting ain't good at all

she's still young anyway that's why i hate SM entertainment ,, no talent Physic only,, the managemen t with most Plastic surgery talent instead without no talent . no wonder she think about How Chubby she is than How bad She is acting

lyh_luv ~ Your opinion is the Stupid things i've ever read. this is her Blog What ever She wants To say, i hate a fans that never seen their Fave Celebrity 's bad things . if she Can act Just Admitted i like her, but i admitted she' cannot act , and Since She is still new in this industry that's Ok. She's Not in This industry over than 10 years but her acting still not improved like SongHye gyo

I think everyone has their own opinions. IMHO I think Lee Yeon Hee is doing a great job on EOE. The only reason I'm watching it is because of Lee Yeon Hee. No matter what kind of statement or comments she made, it doesn't take anything away from her acting.

Seriously, why is everyone taking shots at Lee Yeon Hee? People just can't to seem to stop talking bad about her can they? If you have been following up on EOE, you would know that LYH has improved a lot but some people are still in denial. Haters will always be HATERS. Seriously, if you don't like something on someone keep your mouth shut!

Personally I don't really understand why she's been so critisized on her acting. Out of all the actors, she with Han Ji Hye, Yun Jung Hoon and Park Hae Jin is doing a pretty good job. Especially Han Ji Hye, out of all the actors, she's the best to me.
There's one HUGE disillusion for me though and that's a BIG DEAL since he's the main actor... Yeah it's Song Seung Heon, most of the time he's Ok but there're some really crucial scenes in which I thought his acting was dead dreadful such as the scene when he sees his mother for the first time since he left for Macao. Lee Da Hae was a bit tense in the beginning but she's getting better. Actually the only actor I'm dissatisfied with is Song Seung Heon. Dennis Oh... Well thank God he's not one the main actor like in Sweet Spy because he would have ruined everything. It seems he's trying but I don't know he's sort of plain like I don't feel anything from him you see... Sort of upsetting. But Song Seung Heon. Cross my fingers that he gets more into his role. Actually my Korean friends hate Lee Yeon Hee but they also told me they thought Song Seung Heon's acting in EoE sucked, though since he has a body to do die for... well they forgive his awkwardness. Probably since most of us are girls we're harsher on the women?

Yea...I don't get why LYH has been criticized for her acting. I think everyone had flaws in their acting. Lee Da Hae was indeed a little tense at the beginning and Park Hae Jin sometimes looked a little stiff to me. I agree that women are harsher on women. I don't know why that is but the bitch in us tend to come out a lot when we talk or judge about other girls. Anyways, people should lay off LYH even if for a while. She needs a peace and quiet. Let's just stop talking about her and let her do her job.

LYH's acting is not that great but I think the main reason for the critics' ire is how prominent her role turned out to become. If a relatively unseasoned actress was given a side role in a mega-production alongside more famous and seasoned actors, it could be justified. The combination of the fact that LYH's acting is mediocre at best and that she, with so little experience, was given such a beefy role grates on the nerves of those who believe in fairness and find LYH's appointment to her role as another nod to looks and youth over quality. If LYH's role was smaller, people would not care as much for her acting. The fact is, she was ill prepared and unjustified for her big role in EOE.

All the LYH fans...I admire your tenacity to stick up for your actress but sometimes it's helpful to hear other people's views, no?

whats wrong with what LYH said. i think some ppl are making it such a big deal and i am appalled. there is a difference between healthy criticism and biased/malicious criticism. i hope ppl stop bashing her for the wrong reasons.
it looks like we are back again in the beginning of EOE when she was harshly criticized, but I thought we had already moved on from that stage. her acting has improved tremendously since then and even netizens have praised her acting on MBC board. so why bring this acting criticism now. (as for me, i never found her lacking in the acting dept., only in the english dept. does she need more coaching.)

stra, I feel the same way. If it's not her acting than it's her weight..Feels like were talking about Hollywood here. Why are people starting this whole thing all over again? Why can't people just leave this alone?! Lee Yeon Hee doesn't deserve all this negativity and wrongful bashing that's for sure.

"These days if you were to draw a diagram of my brain, the entire cerebrum would be taken up with East of Eden." Enough is enough. It's not healthy for someone to consume all of this hateful bashing.

Emily, I disagree. She was more than just prepared for the role. If she didn't think she could pull it off, I'm sure she wouldn't have taken on the role, same goes for the producers, I'm sure they wouldn't have picked LYH to play YR's role if they didn't believe she can pull it off. I think she pulled of her playing her character really well. She shouldn't worry about what people say and just keep doing her job as well as she has been doing.