Kim Hee-sun (; born June 11, 1977) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in the 1990s with leading roles in television series such as Men of the Bath House (1995), Propose (1997), Wedding Dress (1997), Forever Yours (1998), Mister Q (1998), Sunflower (1998), and Tomato (1999). Kim also starred in the martial arts films Bichunmoo (2000) and The Myth (2005), historical medical series Faith (2012), teen series Angry Mom (2015), melodrama The Lady in Dignity (2017), and fantasy series Tomorrow (2022).
Career Kim Hee-sun won the Fair Face Beauty Contest in 1992 while in middle school and began modeling in teen magazines. In 1993, Kim, then a high school sophomore, appeared in a commercial for Lotte Samkang's crab chips, which led to her acting debut in Dinosaur Teacher; and an MC gig for music show Live TV Music 20 that same year.
She enjoyed peak popularity in the mid-to-late 1990s, starring in one hit Korean drama after another. These include Men of the Bath House (1995) written by Kim Soo-hyun, Propose (1997), Wedding Dress (1997) with Lee Seung-yeon, Forever Yours (1998) with Ryu Si-won, Mister Q (1998) with Kim Min-jong and Song Yun-ah, Sunflower (1998) with Ahn Jae-wook, and Tomato (1999) with Kim Suk-hoon. Kim won the top prize at the 1998 SBS Drama Awards for Mister Q, making her at the time the youngest-ever Grand Prize (Daesang) winner, at age 21. During this period, she also appeared in numerous advertisements and rose to fame both at home and abroad as one of Korea's most beautiful and trend-setting actresses.
Unlike her success in television, the silver screen proved to be a bigger challenge for Kim's career. She made her film debut in 1997's Repechage opposite Jang Dong-gun, and the film's director Lee Kwang-hoon subsequently put her in his next film, Ghost in Love (1999). In her most high-profile role to date, Kim played the daughter of a Mongolian general in the big-budget martial arts fantasy Bichunmoo, shot in China and released in summer 2000. Although criticized for her acting in the film, it gave her more domestic and international exposure than any of her other films. Along with her popular TV dramas, it cemented her position as a Korean Wave star in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and throughout Southeast Asia.
In late 2001, Kim took on a completely different kind of role, cutting her hair short and starring as an animator in Wanee & Junah. Although her acting in this film drew a favorable response from critics, the film itself was a commercial flop. Her career took a downturn in 2003, when the environmentally-themed melodrama A Man Who Went to Mars, also known as A Letter From Mars, costarring Shin Ha-kyun became an utter bomb at the box office. She returned to television, however My Fair Lady (2003) which was adapted from the Japanese television drama Yamato Nadeshiko, and Sad Love Story (2005) where she played a blind singer, both received low ratings.
Due to her popularity among Chinese viewers, Kim was then cast opposite Jackie Chan in The Myth, for which she learned to speak Mandarin. Back in Korea, her career slump continued with Smile Again in 2006.
Kim married in 2007, and she left the entertainment scene to devote her time to being a wife and mother. During this five-year hiatus from acting, apart from appearing in magazines, Kim published a book in 2009 on childcare and how to lose post-pregnancy weight, titled Kim Hee-sun's Happy Mom Project.
Though she had a minor role in the Chinese epic The Warring States (2011), Kim officially made her comeback in 2012 as a modern-day doctor who time-travels to Goryeo in the period romance Faith, the last collaboration by screenwriter Song Ji-na and television director Kim Jong-hak.
In 2013, Kim became one of the hosts of the revamped second season of variety talk show Strong Heart, titled Hwasin – Controller of the Heart. After Hwasin was cancelled, she was cast in the Lee Kyung-hee-penned weekend family drama Wonderful Days (2014). This was followed by Angry Mom in 2015, where Kim's portrayal of the titular character who returns to high school when she learns that her teenage daughter is being bullied was highly praised by critics. Kim then began filming for Chinese fantasy television drama Ice Fantasy, which started airing in July 2016.
In 2017, Kim starred in the television series, The Lady in Dignity alongside Kim Sun-ah. The series achieved a rating of 12.6% for its finale, becoming JTBC's highest rated drama at the time. Kim's performance was well received by critics and audience.
In 2018, Kim starred in tvN's mystery drama Room No. 9. The same year she confirmed her return to the big screen with independent film Paper Flower. In 2020, Kim starred in the science fiction romance drama Alice which was broadcast on SBS in 2020 and released worldwide on Netflix in 2021.
In 2022, Kim starred in the MBC fantasy drama Tomorrow, playing the role of grim reaper Goo-ryeon.
Personal life Marriage and family Kim wed businessman Park Ju-young in a lavish ceremony at the Seoul Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel on October 19, 2007. She gave birth to daughter Park Yeon-ah on January 21, 2009.
Philanthropy On March 9, 2022, Kim donated million to the Korean Red Cross to help the victims of the massive forest fire that started in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province, and spread to Samcheok, Gangwon Province. On April 25, 2022, Kim donated million to Asan Medical Center to pay for the treatments of low-income patients.
Discography Singles TitleYearAlbum "Endless Love" (無盡的愛 )(Kim Hee-sun with Jackie Chan) 2005The Myth OST "No Matter How Many Times We Part" (몇번을 헤어져도 )(Kim Hee-sun with Yoon Gun)Sad Love Story OST "Love Is" (사랑이란 )(Mighty Mouth ft. Kim Hee-sun) 2011 Mighty Fresh
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1997 Repechage Eun-hye 1999 Ghost in Love Jin Chae-byul Calla Kang Ji-hee 2000 Bichunmoo Sullie 2001 Wanee & Junah Wa-ni 2003 A Man Who Went to Mars So-hee 2005 The Myth Princess Ok-soo Hong Kong-Chinese film 2011 The Warring States Pang Wan Chinese film 2023 Honey Sweet Il-yeong 2024A LegendMysterious WomanChinese film New Police Story 2 Chinese film
Television series Year Title Role Notes 1993 Dinosaur Teacher Kim Hee-sun 1994 The Story of Chunhyang Seong Chunhyang 1995 Agatha Christie Lee Joon-hee Sons of the Wind Lee Yeon-hwa Men of the Bath House Kim Soo-kyung 1996 Colors "White Side" Kim Hye-jin / Song Eun-young A Faraway Country Seo Woon-ha1997 Propose Kim Yoo-ra New York Story Jae-in Wedding Dress Kim Doo-na 1998 Forever Yours Han Seo-hee Mister Q Han Hye-won Sunflower Han Soo-yeon 1999 Tomato Lee Han-yi Goodbye My Love Seo Yeon-joo 2003 My Fair Lady Ha Min-kyung 2005 Sad Love Story Park Hye-in 2006 Smile Again Oh Dan-hee 2007 Tai Chi Chasers Phoebe Voiced in the Korean version 2012 Faith Yoo Eun-soo 2014 Wonderful Days Cha Hae-won 2015 Angry Mom Jo Kang-ja / Jo Bang-wool 2016Ice FantasyLian Ji Chinese drama 2017 The Lady in Dignity Woo Ah-jin 2018 Room No. 9 Eulji Hae-yi 2020 Alice Yoon Tae-yi / Park Sun-young 2022 Tomorrow Goo-ryeon 2024 Bitter Sweet Hell Noh Young-won2025Don't Call Me Ma'amJo Na-jeong
Web series Year Title Role 2022 Remarriage & Desires Seo Hye-seung
Television shows Year Title Role Notes 1993 Live TV Music 20Host 1995 TV Time Travel 1996–1998 Live TV Music 20 1999 There Is Something Special with Kim Hee-sun 2001 A Very Special Gift with Kim Hee-sun 2009 Human Documentary Love: I Want to Be Thumbelina's Mom IIINarratorDocumentary 2013 Hwasin: Controller of the HeartHost2017My Little Old BoysSpecial Host episodes 48–50Island Trio Cast member2018TalkmonHost 2021 Honeymoon Tavern Cast Member Episode 1–9 2024 Watcha Up To? Cast Member Episode 1–
Bibliography Year Title Publisher ISBN 2009 Kim Hee-sun's Happy Mom Project L Company
Accolades Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Andre Kim Best Star Awards 2003 Star Award Kim Hee-sun 2007 2009 APAN Star Awards2014Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Wonderful Days 2015Top Excellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesAngry Mom 2016 Best APAN Star Award Kim Hee-sun 2021Top Excellence Award, Best Actress in a MiniseriesAlice Asia Artist Awards2017Grand Prize (Daesang) The Lady in Dignity Asian Influence Awards Oriental Ceremony 2015 Most Influential Asian Award Kim Hee-sun Baeksang Arts Awards 1996 Best New Actress – TelevisionMen of the Bath House 2000Most Popular Actress (TV)Tomato 2002 Best Actress – Film Wanee & Junah Most Popular Actress (Film) 2018 Best Actress – TelevisionThe Lady in Dignity Blue Dragon Film Awards 2000 Popular Star Award Bichunmoo 2001 Best Leading Actress Wanee & Junah Popular Star Award Chunsa Film Art Awards 2023 Best ActressHoney Sweet Cosmo Beauty Awards 2012 Beauty Icon of the Year Kim Hee-sun Fair Face Beauty Contest 1992 Grand Prize (Daesang) Grand Bell Awards 2001Best ActressBichunmoo Hong Kong Film Awards2006Best Original Film SongThe Myth KBS Drama Awards 1994 Best Young Actress The Story of Chunhyang 1995 Best New Actress Sons of the Wind 1996 Excellence Award, Actress A Faraway Country, Colors 1997 Popularity Award Propose 2014Top Excellence Award, ActressWonderful Days Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards 2012 Best Actress Faith Korea Drama Awards2015 Top Excellence Award, Actress Angry Mom MBC Drama Awards1998 Popularity Award Forever Yours, Sunflower 2015Grand Prize (Daesang)Angry Mom Top 10 Stars Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries 2022 Tomorrow 2024Bitter Sweet Hell Grand Prize (Daesang) Best Couple Award SBS Drama Awards1998 Grand Prize (Daesang)Mister Q 2000 SBSi Award Tomato Big Star Award 2012 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesFaith 2020 Grand Prize (Daesang)Alice Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Fantasy/Romance Drama The Seoul Awards 2017 Best Actress The Lady in Dignity
State honors + Name of country, year given, and name of honor Country Or Organization Year Honor Or Award Chung-Ang University 2005 Blue Dragon Achievement Award National Tax Service Prime Minister's Commendation
Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2018 Korea Power Celebrity 40 19th
Notes
References
External links
Kim Hee-sun on Daum
Kim Hee-sun on Naver