Han Hye-jin is a well-known South Korean actress who has appeared in films and on television. She is well recognized for her award-winning performance in the drama series ‘Be Strong Geum-soon,’ in which she played a young widow in the lead role. As the host of the reality show ‘Healing Camp, Aren’t You Happy,’ she became a household celebrity, and she also featured as a guest on a couple of episodes of the popular variety show ‘Running Man.’ ‘1 percent of Anything,’ ‘Jumong,’ ‘The Thorn Birds,’ and ‘Doctor Crush’ are some of her other popular television series in Korea, Japan, and China. She has also appeared in films such as ‘No Mercy,’ ‘Rise of the Guardians,’ and ‘Man in Love,’ all of which were box office successes. She is married to Ki Sung-yueng, a South Korean soccer player who is significantly younger than her.
Childhood and Adolescence
Han Hye-jin was born in Damyang County, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, on October 27, 1981. Her parents raised her and her sister in the same household.
She graduated from Eunkwang Girl’s High School and moved on to the Seoul Institute of Arts to pursue a degree in Films. Han had a passion for dance and acting since she was a child. Her parents encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming an actress.
Han Moo-young, her older sister, is married to actor Kim Kang-woo. During their courtship, Han Hye-jin met a number of well-known figures in the entertainment world.
Career of Han Hye-jin
In 2001, Han Hye-jin made her acting debut in the short film ‘Magic Thumping.’ Her performance in the film ‘RU Ready’ the following year was closely observed. On the MBC network, she had minor roles in the serials ‘Friends,’ ‘Romance,’ ‘I Love You Hyun-jung,’ and ‘Inspector Park Mun-su.’
In 2001, she made her first significant appearance in the television romantic comedy serial ‘1 percent of Anything,’ in which she played Yoo Hyin-jin. She spent the following five years concentrating on television, appearing in shows such as ‘Drama City Sweet 18’, ‘New Human Market,’ and ‘The Age of Heroes.’
Her big break on television came in 2005, when she won the Top Excellence Award and the Korea Visual Arts Festival: Photogenic Award for her lead part as a young widow of 20 in the MBC network drama series “Be Strong Geum-soon.”
Her award-winning streak was extended with her outstanding performance as Lady Soseono in the historical drama ‘Jumong.’ At the 2006 MBC Drama Awards, she received the Top Excellence Award for her acting.
She continued to focus on her television appearances over the next few years, starring in the SBS network’s serials ‘Terroir’ and ‘Jejungwon,’ where her lead roles got favorable reviews from critics and fans alike. In 2011, she won an award for her performance in the KBS2 network’s series “The Thorn Birds.”
With her performance as Min Seo-young in the crime thriller ‘No Mercy,’ she made a comeback to the big screen. She starred in the films ’26 Years’ and ‘Rise of the Guardians’ in 2012.
Her most recent film is the romance drama ‘Man in Love,’ in which she co-stars with actor Hwang Jung-min.
From 2011 to 2013, she hosted the variety show ‘Healing Camp, Aren’t You Happy,’ for which she received the Excellence Award in a Talk Show. From 2013 through 2016, she was a guest on the variety show ‘Running Man.’ This brought her closer to her admirers and improved her social media ratings significantly.
She has recently participated in the medical dramas ‘Doctor Crush’ and ‘Syndrome,’ in which she played the major role. She also stars alongside Ji Jin-hee, Kim Ji-soo, and Ji Jin-hee in the television drama ‘One Warm World.’
Major Projects of Han Hye-jin
Han Hye-jin has starred in the television series ‘Friends’ (2002), ‘Inspector Park Mun-su’ (2002), ‘1 percent of Anything’ (2003), ‘Drama City Sweet 18’ (2003), ‘Be Strong Geum-soon’ (2005), ‘Jumong’ (2006–2007), ‘The Thorn Birds’ (2011), ‘Syndrome’ (2012), ‘One Warm Word’ (2013), and ‘Doctor (2016).
She was a guest on the variety show ‘Running Man’ and hosted the variety show ‘Healing Camp, Aren’t You Happy.’
‘Magic Thumping’ (2001), ‘RU Ready?’ (2002), ‘Hi Dharma2: Showdown in Seoul’ (2004), ‘No Mercy’ (2010), ’26 Years’ (2012), ‘Rise of the Guardians’ (2012), and ‘Man in Love’ (2013) are among her cinematic credits (2014).
Achievements & Awards
Her performance in ‘You Are a Star’ earned her the Best Actress Award at the 2004 KBS Drama Awards.
For her portrayal in ‘Be Strong Geum-soon,’ she received the Top Excellence Award (Actress) at the 2005 MBC Drama Awards and the Photogenic Award (Drama Category) at the 2005 Korea Visual Arts Festival.
For her portrayal in ‘Jumong,’ Han received the Top Excellence Award (Actress) at the 2006 MBC Drama Awards.
At the 2010 SBS Drama Awards, she earned the Producers’ Award for her work on ‘Jejungwon.’
At the 2011 KBS Drama Awards, she received the Popularity Award for her participation in ‘The Thorn Birds.’
She earned many honors for her work on ‘Healing Camp,’ including the SBS Entertainment Awards’ Excellence Award in a Talk Show, the Korean Womenlink Awards’ Green Media Award, the Mnet 20’s Choice Awards’ 20’s Variety Star, and the SBS Entertainment Awards’ Best MC (Talk Show Category).
Personal Experiences of Han Hye-jin
From 2003 through 2012, she was in a relationship with singer Naul. They parted up, and she began dating soccer player Ki Sung-yueng, who is eight years her junior.
In July 2013, she married Ki Sung-yueng. Her father died a year before the wedding, and her father-in-law carried her down the aisle in his place. They are both Christians, and they have a daughter, who was born in September 2015.
Estimated Net Worth
Han Hye-jin is one of the wealthiest TV actresses and one of the most popular. Han Hye-net jin’s worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.
Trivia
Following a two-month courtship, she married her current husband. According to social media accounts, she is very close to her father-in-law, who filled the vacuum left by her father’s death.
In 2007, she was named Best Jewellery Lady at the Korean International Jewellery & Watch Fair.