Yeom Hye-ran (; born October 30, 1976) is a South Korean film, television, and theater actress. Her career began on stage, where she established herself as a notable theater actress from 1999 onwards. She was a member of the Yeonwoo Theater Company and a founding member of Theater Iru, earning critical recognition and several awards in the Daehakro theater district. She made her screen debut with a minor role in director Bong Joon-ho's 2003 film Memories of Murder (2003).
In 2016, Yeom transitioned into television after being discovered by writer Noh Hee-kyung, making her small-screen debut in Noh's drama Dear My Friends (2016). It was followed by a supporting role as villain in Kim Eun-sook's drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016). She later reunited with Noh Hee-kyung on two subsequent projects, The Most Beautiful Goodbye (2016) and Live (2018). She achieved mainstream recognition for her supporting performance in Lim Sang-choon series When the Camellia Blooms (2019) and in the two seasons of the action drama The Uncanny Counter (2020–2023).
In film, Yeom took her first title role in the 2021 mystery film Black Light, a critically acclaimed performance that earned her multiple Best Actress awards. More recently, she has garnered critical acclaim and international recognition for her work in Netflix original productions, including The Glory (2022–2023), Mask Girl (2023), and When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025). Her most recent project is Park Chan-wook's film No Other Choice (2025).
Filmography
Film + Year Title RoleNotes 2003Memories of MurderSo-hyeon's mother 2004Fighter in the WindCircus troupe middle-aged woman2006Les FormidablesTeacher GongHoliday2007Our TownRice cake vendorSecret SunshineHusband's family member 2008Open CityGarbage bag woman 1 201071: Into the FireFierce nurse 2011AlwaysBeauty parlor owner 2012All About My Wife 2014Sea FogShipowner's wife2015The MagicianNannySalut d'AmourMilk woman2017I Can SpeakJin Joo-daekMan of WillVisitor2018Golden SlumberStore middle-aged womanDefault2019Innocent WitnessMi-ranAnother ChildPregnant woman's momMiss & Mrs. CopsJuror 8Kim Ji-young: Born 1982Woman with scarf in the pastCameoBaseball GirlShin Hae-sook2020Best FriendWoman from YeosuSecret GardenJung won's auntIndependent film2021IMi-jaNew Year BluesYong-miBlack LightYoung-namRecalledSoo-jin's friendChun Tae-il: A Flame That Lives OnLee So-sunVoice2022Special DeliveryMi-youngLife Is BeautifulThe BoysKim Kyeong-mi 2023Ungnam-iJang Gyeong-sookDocumentary2024Citizen of a KindBong-rimAmazon BullseyeCha Soo-hyeon2025VirusMak-soonWall To WallEun-hwaNo Other ChoiceA-ra2026Mad Dance OfficeKuk-heeMy NameJeong-sun
Television series + Year Title Role Notes2016Dear My FriendsKim Soon-youngThe K2Housekeeper 2016–2017Guardian: The Lonely and Great GodJi Yeon-suk 2017Queen for Seven DaysChae-kyung's personal nursemaidLive Up to Your NameRestaurant ownerSpecial appearancePrison PlaybookYoo Han-yang's motherThe Most Beautiful GoodbyeYang-soon2018LiveSang-soo's motherLawless LawyerNam Soon-jaLifeKang Kyung-ah 2019 When the Camellia Blooms Hong Ja-yeong 2019–2020ChocolateNurse Ha2020Hospital PlaylistMin-young's motherSpecial appearanceMystic Pop-up BarGod of the UnderworldSF8Choi Jung-gilEpisode: "The Prayer" 2020–2023The Uncanny CounterChoo Mae-ok2022Juvenile JusticeOh Seon-jaAlchemy of SoulsMysterious middle-aged womanSpecial appearance 2022–2023The GloryKang Hyeon-nam 2023Mask GirlKim Kyung-ja2025When Life Gives You TangerinesJeon Gwang-ryeLaw and the CityKim Hyung-min
Web series YearTitleRole2014Love CellsDae-chung's landlord
Television show YearTitleRoleEnglishKorean2024My Name is Gabriel마이 네임 이즈 가브리엘Cast member
References