Shanghai, June 2025 – The lights dimmed as a hush swept across the venue. Then, a familiar melody from My Girl echoed through the speakers. The audience erupted as Lee Da‑hae, now 41, appeared on stage in a soft pink dress reminiscent of her beloved 2005 character, Joo Yoo‑rin. Two decades had passed, but the magic lingered. For many in that crowd, My Girl wasn’t just a K‑drama—it was a defining memory of youth and discovery. Tonight, Lee wasn’t just revisiting a role; she was inviting fans on a nostalgia‑driven journey through time, elegantly bridging past and present.
When My Girl premiered in South Korea in 2005, it became a cultural sensation almost overnight. Lee Da‑hae’s charming portrayal of an orphaned con artist with a heart of gold captivated viewers, delivering peak ratings of nearly 25%. Her chemistry with co‑stars Lee Dong‑wook and Lee Joon‑gi became instant legend, earning the series a permanent place in Hallyu lore. Beyond its romantic comedy plotline, My Girl struck a chord with overseas audiences—especially in China—beginning Lee’s rise as a cross‑border star whose popularity would only grow with time.
What set Lee apart from many Korean contemporaries was her bilingual fluency and cultural awareness. Long before most K‑actors recognized the importance of speaking Mandarin, Lee embraced it wholeheartedly. That linguistic versatility opened the door to starring roles in Chinese productions like Love Actually, and granted her the rare opportunity to host solo live‑streams—something few foreign celebrities in China have managed. Her ability to shift seamlessly between Korean, Mandarin, and the global language of stardom became a central pillar of her appeal in East Asia.
Over the past few years, Lee Da‑hae has almost made Shanghai a second home. She visits the city monthly, strolling the Bund at dawn, recording live sessions from sunlit apartments overlooking the Huangpu River, and exploring local nightlife. Her “Shanghai apartment” isn’t just a residence—it’s branded, glazed with pastel interiors, and equipped with studio-quality livestream gear that blends her celebrity lifestyle with an authentic urban charm. Balancing between Seoul and Shanghai, Lee navigates two worlds, enchanting fans on both sides with equal sincerity.
On June 17, Lee Da-hae released a nostalgic video titled “Lee Da-hae Appears on Nanjing Road as Joo Yoo-rin from My Girl!” via her YouTube channel 1+1=Lee Da-hae. The video documented her emotional transformation and the overwhelming response she received while revisiting one of her most iconic characters.
She painstakingly recreated her look using old photos for reference, even lamenting that her original makeup products had long been discontinued. Once ready, she styled her hair in Joo Yoo-rin‘s signature pigtails and headed to Nanjing Road dressed in character.
Lee also took a moment to reflect on the drama’s cultural impact. “The My Girl OST is still widely used in China even now,” she said. She also shared a previously unknown behind-the-scenes detail: she was initially considered for the lead role in Full House, but ultimately chose a different project, which she feels was the right decision.
