Kim Sang Eun, known professionally as Lee Ji Ah, is a South Korean actress. After her breakout role in The Legend in 2007, she has starred in television series Beethoven Virus (2008), Athena: Goddess of War (2010), Me Too, Flower! (2011), and Thrice Married Woman (2013).

Lee was born Kim Sang-eun in February 2, 1979 in South Korea. Her grandfather is educator Kim Soon-heung who was one of the patrons for the creation Seoul Arts High School, and was chairman Kyunggi High School; but was later identified in 2009 as a chinilpa. Her father was a businessman. She was in the sixth grade when their family moved to the U.S. and stayed there for 10 years.

She majored in graphic design at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design.

During a brief visit to Korea in 2004, she made her entertainment debut by appearing in an LG Telecom TV commercial with actor Bae Yong-joon. She left the U.S. and returned to Korea in early 2005 and legally changed her name from Kim Sang-eun to Kim Ji-ah and adopted the stage name Lee Ji-ah.

Lee was secretly married to South Korean singer, musician, songwriter and record producer Seo Taiji from 1997-2006. The news of their relationship came out when Lee filed for divorce.

Lee was romantically involved with Athena co-star Jung Woo-sung.

She speaks Korean, English and Japanese.

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