Lee Jung-eun (Korean: 이정은; born January 23, 1970) is a South Korean actress. She debuted onstage in 1991 and also played minor roles in films. She went on to appear in acclaimed films like The Attorney (2013), A Violent Prosecutor (2015), and festival favorites such as A Girl at My Door (2014) and The Wailing (2016). Lee landed more significant roles in A Taxi Driver (2017), Miss Baek (2017), and Another Child (2018). Known for her work with Bong Joon-ho, starting with the 2009 film Mother, as the voice of the pig Okja in the film Okja, she is best known internationally for her role as the housekeeper Moon-gwang in the film Parasite, which won four Academy Awards and became the first non-English language film to win the award for Best Picture.

Lee Jung-eun was born on January 23, 1970, in Seoul and grew up in a neighborhood near Hanyang University. She attended Hanyang Girls' High School, where societal expectations for female students emphasized studying literature and preparing for marriage. However, Lee defied these norms and pursued a career in acting. Her decision was influenced by the student protests she witnessed during high school and the tragic death of activist Lee Han-yeol in 1987. After mourning Lee Han-yeol's death by wearing black ribbons, her friend was expelled, which led to Lee reflecting on her circumstances. This event prompted a rebellion against the older generation and encouraged Lee to reconsider her path. Recalling her love for performing and entertainment, she switched her academic focus to a theater and film major just two months before her college entrance exams, aiming to study directing. She was accepted into the Department of Theater and Film at Hanyang University, class of 1988.

After graduating in 1992, Lee began her career as a theater play assistant director, making her debut with the production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1991. She remained active on stage throughout the 1990s and 2000s. In 2000, she made her film debut with a minor role in the film A Masterpiece In My Life, followed by another small part in the 2001 film Wanee & Junah. However, these early cinematic experiences left her feeling traumatized by camera fright, and she decided to return to the stage.

At the end of 1997, Lee appeared in Subway Line 1 [ko] with Sul Kyung-gu. Subway Line 1 was her first musical. Lee Jung-eun appeared as the generous Gombo Halmae.

In the 2000s, in addition to her theater work, Lee also made a living as an acting teacher. Among her pupils were the actresses Ye Ji-won and Lee Eun-joo. On the recommendation of Professor Lee Hye-kyung, the head of the Department of Theater and Film at Kookmin University, Lee was introduced to Lee Hyo-ri and became an acting teacher for her SBS drama role.

Lee's breakthrough as an actress came in the 2008 musical Laundry, which is considered one of the representative creative musicals in South Korea. In the production, Lee portrayed multiple roles, including a master, a grandmother, and an employee, performing until 2009. Her performance in the musical earned her the 1st Young Drama Award, with a prize of 3 million won. This award was established by the cultural arts support forum "Alpha", which is composed of around 60 domestic CEOs, including Samsung Electronics CEO Kwun Oh-hyun. The award ceremony was held on September 19, 2008, at Shinhan Art Hall in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul.

She reprised her role in Laundry from 2012 to 2017. Apart from her work in Laundry, Lee collaborated with director Choo Min-joo on reading performances of House with Fig Trees and Scars, as well as the musical Good Morning School.

Lee, who had gained a reputation in the musical field, decided to venture into film projects once again. She made her return to the screen in 2009 with the film If You Were Me 4 [ko]. Costume designer Choi Se-yeon, who was also the producer of the musical Laundry, recommended her for an audition, which led to her landing a minor role in Bong Joon-ho's 2009 film Mother. This marked her first collaboration with director Bong Joon-ho.