If you’ve ever watched a K-drama and thought, "Wait, is she actually that tall or is everyone else just really short?" you’re definitely not alone. It’s a common thing with Lee Sung Kyung. She walks into a frame and suddenly the geometry of the entire scene shifts.
Honestly, it’s her most defining physical trait. But there is a lot of noise online about the actual numbers. Some sites say one thing, her official profile says another, and fans on Reddit have spent years squinting at her shoes to see if she’s wearing "lifts" or just has naturally long legs.
Basically, the Lee Sung Kyung height conversation is about more than just a number on a measuring tape. It's about how she broke the mold for what a leading lady looks like in South Korea.
The Official Number: How Tall is Lee Sung Kyung, Really?
Let’s get the hard data out of the way first. Lee Sung Kyung stands at 175 cm. For those of us who think in feet and inches, that is exactly 5 feet 9 inches.
In the world of Korean actresses, that is massive. To give you some context, the average height for a woman in South Korea is roughly 161 cm (about 5'3"). She’s nearly half a foot taller than the average woman she passes on the streets of Seoul.
But here is the kicker: she actually grew after high school. On an episode of the talk show Radio Star, she admitted that she was around 174 cm in her senior year of high school. Once she started modeling, she managed to squeeze out another centimeter.
Why the "175 cm" Figure Matters
- Modeling Roots: She didn't start as an actress. She was a professional runway model first. In that world, 175 cm is actually "standard," but in the acting world, it’s a hurdle.
- The Co-Star Dilemma: Producers often struggle to cast her because they need a male lead who doesn't look like her younger brother.
- Screen Presence: Her height gives her a "statuesque" vibe that earned her the nickname "Gigi Hadid of Korea."
It’s kinda funny because 175 cm is her official Fantagio profile height (her new agency as of 2025). Some older profiles occasionally listed her at 176 cm, but 175 seems to be the sweet spot she sticks to in interviews.
Weightlifting Fairy and the Height Illusion
You can’t talk about her height without talking about Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo. This was the role that made her a global superstar.
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In that show, she played a college weightlifter. Now, usually, weightlifters are known for having a lower center of gravity—they're often "compact" and muscular. Lee Sung Kyung is the opposite. She’s all limbs.
To make the character believable, she had to undergo a pretty intense transformation. She gained about 5 to 10 kilograms (roughly 11–22 pounds) to get rid of her "runway model" frame. She also wore incredibly baggy clothes—oversized hoodies, wide-leg sweatpants—to mask her lean proportions.
The Nam Joo-hyuk Factor
Her co-star in that drama, Nam Joo-hyuk, is 187 cm (6'2").
This is the only reason she didn't look like a giant in every scene. Because he was so much taller, the producers could film them using traditional romance angles. If she had been paired with a shorter actor, the "visual chemistry" would have looked very different.
Honestly, the way she carried her height in that show was brilliant. She slumped her shoulders and walked with a heavy, awkward gait to make herself seem "stout" even though she’s basically a gazelle in real life.
Why Producers Used to Be Afraid of Her Height
For a long time in the K-drama industry, there was this unwritten rule: the girl has to be significantly shorter than the guy. It creates that "protective" visual that romance fans supposedly love.
When Lee Sung Kyung first transitioned from modeling to acting in It's Okay, That's Love (2014), people were skeptical. They thought her height would make her "un-castable" for romantic leads.
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Comparing Her to Other Tall Actresses
She isn't the only "tall queen" in the industry, but she's in a very exclusive club.
- Lee Da-hee: Often cited as her closest rival in the height department, standing at 176 cm.
- Jun Ji-hyun: The legend herself is about 173 cm.
- Sooyoung (Girls' Generation): Stands at roughly 172 cm.
Most of these women have one thing in common: they are often cast as "rich girls," "bosses," or "tough professionals." Why? Because height is socially associated with authority and power. It took a while for Lee Sung Kyung to prove she could also play the "soft" or "vulnerable" lead despite being the tallest person in the room.
The "Call It Love" Height Dynamics
If you want to see her height used as a storytelling tool, look at the 2023 Disney+ drama Call It Love.
In this show, she’s paired with Kim Young-kwang. He is a former model too, standing at 188 cm (6'2"). Because both leads were so tall and lean, the cinematography changed. There were a lot of wide shots showing their full bodies.
It felt more like a European arthouse film than a standard K-drama. Her height wasn't something to be hidden; it was part of her character’s weariness and "heavy" life. Sorta fascinating how a few centimeters can change the entire mood of a TV show, right?
Real-Life Sightings: Is She Actually 175 cm?
Fans who meet her in person at fan meetings or fashion shows usually say the same thing: "She’s even taller than I thought."
Part of this is her proportions. In Korea, they talk a lot about "ratio"—the size of the head compared to the total body height. Lee Sung Kyung has a very small face and extremely long legs (the "8-head figure" or "9-head figure"). This makes her look like she's 180 cm even when she's in flats.
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Also, she almost never wears massive heels on the red carpet. If you look at her award show photos, she’s usually in modest pumps or even stylish boots. She doesn't need the extra help, and honestly, she probably doesn't want to tower over the presenters.
The Fashion Impact of Being 5'9"
Being 175 cm has made her a darling of brands like Chanel and Fendi. Clothes just hang differently on her.
Most sample sizes in high fashion are designed for women who are 175 cm to 180 cm. While other actresses have to get their gowns heavily tailored and hemmed, Lee Sung Kyung can basically walk off a plane and onto a runway.
What You Can Learn from Her Style (If You're Tall)
If you're a taller woman looking for style cues, Lee Sung Kyung is the blueprint.
- Monochrome works: She often wears one color from head to toe, which highlights her length rather than breaking it up.
- Don't fear the "oversized": She proves that you can wear baggy clothes without looking like you're drowning in them.
- Footwear confidence: She wears loafers and sneakers with dresses constantly. It’s a vibe.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Models
If you’re following Lee Sung Kyung’s career or you’re a tall girl trying to find your footing, here are a few takeaways from her journey.
First, own the space. Early in her career, she could have easily developed a "tall girl slouch" to fit in. Instead, she leaned into her modeling background and maintained impeccable posture. That confidence is what makes her look like a star rather than just a "tall person."
Second, versatility is key. She proved that your physical stats don't define your "vibe." She played a bubbly student, a cold surgeon in Dr. Romantic, and a grieving woman in Call It Love. Her height was just a tool she used differently for each role.
Finally, if you're looking for her most accurate current stats, stick to the 175 cm figure. While the internet loves to debate whether she's 5'8" or 5'10", her long-term consistency in interviews points to 175 cm as the truth.
To see her height in action compared to a variety of co-stars, your next step should be watching the "behind the scenes" clips of Dr. Romantic 3. Seeing her stand next to the medical staff in flat surgical shoes gives you the most honest look at how her 175 cm frame actually compares to "regular" people in a professional setting.