South Korean actress Lee Re, known for her breakout role in the 2013 film Hope, has stunned fans and the public alike after passing South Korea's national academic equivalency exams and gaining admission to Chung-Ang University—all at the age of 16.
Lee, who debuted in 2012 with the drama Goodbye Dear Wife, passed the nation's rigorous GED-style tests for elementary, middle, and high school levels.
In 2023, she was accepted into Chung-Ang University's Department of Theater and Film, a year when most students her age were still in high school.
Her agency confirmed the news, adding that Lee had been preparing for the exams independently while continuing her acting career.
A longtime fixture in South Korea's entertainment industry, Lee rose to prominence at just 7 years old with her powerful portrayal of a young sexual assault survivor in Hope, directed by Lee Joon-ik.
The performance earned her widespread acclaim and established her as a leading child actor.
She then starred in How to Steal a Dog (2014), for which she received the Marie Claire Best New Actress award.
She won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the Beijing International Film Festival when she was only 8, an extraordinary achievement for someone of her age.
Lee's profile has continued to rise, with marquee productions including Train to Busan: Peninsula and the Netflix thriller Hellbound.
In her most recent work, Devils Stay, she stars as a girl who becomes possessed while taking part in a funeral rite.
Critics have praised Lee's transformation over the years, highlighting her emotional depth and ability to take on darker, more mature roles.
"What sets Lee Re apart is not only her acting résumé but her relentless academic discipline," said her agency in a statement. "While maintaining an active film and television schedule, she pursued her studies with the same level of dedication."
Her admission to Chung-Ang University, one of Korea's top performing arts schools, is a testament to her having achieved both education and entertainment.
Lee is set to return for Season 2 of Hellbound and is expected to take on more prominent roles as she transitions from child star to leading actress.
Having already garnered industry recognition, international fame, and now acclaim from the academic community before even reaching adulthood, Lee Re is no longer the nation's wunderkind of child actresses; she is a promising and respected star of Korea's entertainment world.
