Lee You-mi stars in 'Mental Coach Jegal' series

Television

Published: 12 Sep. 2022, 13:55 Updated: 12 Sep. 2022, 18:41

Lee You-mi stars in 'Mental Coach Jegal' series

Actor Lee You-mi at a red carpet event for the 022 Blue Dragon Awards at KBS Hall in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Nov. 11, 2021 [NEWS1]

Emmy-winning actor and "Squid Game" (2021) star Lee You-mi will star in the new tvN series "Mental Coach Jegal," which premieres Monday evening.

"Lee You-mi, who has established herself as a reliable actor since her debut 13 years ago, will be starring as a lead for the first time in her career through tvN's 'Mental Coach Jegal,'" said her agency Baro Entertainment in a press release.

“Mental Coach Jegal” is a sports drama about taekwondo athlete Jegal Gil, played by actor Jung Woo, who has been forced off the national team due to a scandal. Jegal Gil becomes a “mental coach” for other athletes.

Lee plays a short track speed skater who is in a slump and needs help from Jegal Gil.

Other actors include Kwon Yul as the head of the Human Rights Center of the Sports Council and a former taekwondo Olympic gold medalist; Park Se-young as a psychiatrist for athletes; and Moon Yoo-kang as a professional swimmer.

"Mental Coach Jegal" airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. The series is also streamed on Tving.

Lee is best known for her role as Ji-yeong in "Squid Game." For that role, Lee won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series at the 74th Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Awards, which was held last week. She is the first Korean actor to win an Emmy.

On Tuesday, the Emmys will announce winners for other awards, and "Squid Game' director Hwang Dong-hyuk is nominated along with actors Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Oh Young-soo and Hoyeon.