Kim Hee-ae (born April 23, 1967) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading roles in

Korean drama Korean dramas (; RR: ''Han-guk deurama''), more popularly known as K-dramas, are television series in the Korean language, made in South Korea. They are popular worldwide, especially in Asia, partially due to the spread of Korean popular cultu ...

s such as ''Sons and Daughters'' (1992), ''Perfect Love'' (2003), ''

My Husband's Woman ''My Husband's Woman'' (; lit. "My Man's Woman") is a 2007 South Korean television series starring Kim Hee-ae, Bae Jong-ok, and Kim Sang-joong. It aired on SBS from April 2 to June 19, 2007 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. Writ ...

'' (2007), ''

How Long I've Kissed ''How Long I've Kissed'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series starring Kim Hee-ae, Lee Sung-jae, Lee Tae-ran and Jang Hyun-sung. It aired on JTBC from February 29 to April 19, 2012. Synopsis The story of a struggling housewife who starts ...

'' (2012), ''

Secret Affair Secret Affair are a mod revival band, formed in 1978 and disbanded in 1982 during which period their work is predominantly best-known. They reformed in 2002 and have since then produced an album in 2012. Career Formed after the demise of the ...

'' (2014), and ''

The World of the Married ''The World of the Married'' () is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Kim Hee-ae, Park Hae-joon, and Han So-hee. Based on BBC One's drama series '' Doctor Foster'' written by Mike Bartlett, it tells a story of a married couple who ...

'' (2020). She has received multiple acting awards including two Daesang (Grand Prize) and four Best Actress Awards for Television at the

Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were first introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the Hankook Ilbo newspap ...

. In 2020, she was selected as Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year.

Early life

Kim Hee-ae was born in

Jeju City Jeju City ( ko, 제주시, Jeju-si; ) is the capital of the Jeju Province in South Korea and the largest city on Jeju Island. The city is served by Jeju International Airport ( IATA code CJU). Located on an island off the Korean Peninsula, Jeju ...

, and her family later moved to

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

. Kim was a freshman at Hyehwa Girls' High School when she was discovered by the younger brother of one of her teachers; he had been visiting the school by chance and worked for an advertising agency. This led to her first

modeling A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure. Models c ...

job in a commercial for a school uniform brand in 1982. This was actually her debut activity.

Career

1983–2003: Acting debut and stardom

In 1983, Kim made her acting debut in the film ''The First Day of the Twentieth Year''. While studying at

Chung-Ang University Chung-Ang University (CAU; ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. It is widely regarded as one of the best universities in South Korea. The university operates two campuses: main campus located in Dongjak District, Seoul, and ...

as a Theater and Film major, she appeared in her first

television drama In film and television show, television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or docudrama, semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humour, humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms t ...

on KBS in 1986. Over the next decade, she would go on to have a successful career on Korean television, alongside fellow top actresses Chae Shi-ra and

Choi Jin-sil Choi Jin-Sil (December 24, 1968 – October 2, 2008) was a South Korean actress. She was considered one of the best actresses in South Korea, nicknamed "The Nation's Actress". She played leading roles in 18 films and 20 television dramas, appea ...

. Among her most significant dramas during this period were ''Beyond the Mountains'' (1991) and ''Sons and Daughters'' (1992), for which she won the highest award at the

MBC Drama Awards The MBC Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony presented by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for outstanding achievements in Korean dramas aired on its network. It is held annually in December. Unlike its counterparts in KBS and SBS, MB ...

and the

, called the Daesang ("Grand Prize").

2003–2009: Hit dramas

She again drew praise in 2003 for two consecutive hit dramas. In ''Wife'', her husband vanishes and reappears years later as an amnesiac with another family, while in ''Perfect Love'' (written by

Kim Soo-hyun Kim Soo-hyun (; born February 16, 1988) is a South Korean actor. One of the highest-paid actors in South Korea, his accolades include four Baeksang Arts Awards, two Grand Bell Awards and one Blue Dragon Film Award. From 2012 to 2016 and in ...

), her role as the perfect wife and mother who gets diagnosed with a terminal illness earned her another Daesang from the Baeksang Arts Awards. She worked again with Kim a year later in ''

Precious Family ''Precious Family'' (; lit. ''Letters to My Parents'') is a South Korean television series starring Kim Hee-ae, Heo Joon-ho, Song Jae-ho, Kim Hae-sook, Jang Hyun-sung, Lee Dong-wook, and Lee Yoo-ri. It aired on KBS2 from October 16, 2004 to July 5 ...

'' (also known as ''Letters to My Parents''), playing a woman who marries into a rich family who treats her badly after she gives birth to a baby with

autism The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...

. Kim next starred in the melodrama '' Snow Flower''. Her third collaboration with Kim Soo-hyun was 2007's ''

'', but unlike her previous saintly characters, this time she was cast against type as a sexy, worldly woman having an affair with her best friend's husband. The adultery drama was a hit with a peak viewership rating of 38.7%, and Kim yet again won the Daesang at the

Korea Drama Awards The Korea Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony for excellence in television in South Korea. It was established in 2007, and is held annually in October in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province as the official main event of the annual Korea Drama Fe ...

and the

SBS Drama Awards The SBS Drama Awards (), also known as SBS Awards Festival, is an awards ceremony presented annually by Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) for outstanding achievements in Korean dramas aired on its network. It is held annually on December 31. The hi ...

2010–2012: Hiatus and focus on commercials and magazines

Afterwards Kim went on a brief hiatus, during which she continued to appear in commercials and magazines, gaining a reputation as a style icon for Korean middle-aged women (called "

ajumma Ajumma ( ko, 아줌마), sometimes spelled ajoomma, is a Korean word for a married, or middle-aged woman. It comes from the Korean word ''ajumeoni'' ( ko, 아주머니). Although it is sometimes translated "aunt An aunt is a woman who is a s ...

") by inspiring them to wear younger and edgier clothes. Kim returned to acting four years later with ''

Midas Midas (; grc-gre, Μίδας) was the name of a king in Phrygia with whom several myths became associated, as well as two later members of the Phrygian royal house. The most famous King Midas is popularly remembered in Greek mythology for his ...

'', in the role of a wealthy

chaebol A chaebol (, ; ) is a large industrial South Korean conglomerate run and controlled by an individual or family. A chaebol often consists of multiple diversified affiliates, controlled by a person or group whose power over the group often exc ...

heiress who fosters greed and ambition in a young lawyer. She then won Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards for her portrayal of a housewife increasingly stifled by her husband's obsession with status who finds herself falling for her son's dentist in ''

'', one of the inaugural dramas in 2012 of new cable channel

jTBC JTBC (shortened from ''Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company'' (; stylized as jtbc) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on 1 December 2011. JTBC ...

2013–present: Return to the big screen and continued success

2013 marked Kim's first regular appearance in a

reality show Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

with ''

Sisters Over Flowers ''Sisters Over Flowers'' (), also known as ''Noonas Over Flowers'', is a South Korean travel- reality show that aired on tvN from 29 November 2013 to 17 January 2014. It featured veteran actresses Youn Yuh-jung, Kim Ja-ok, Kim Hee-ae and Lee Mi-y ...

'', in which she,

Youn Yuh-jung Youn Yuh-jung (, ; born June 19, 1947) is a South Korean actress, whose career in film and television spans over five decades. Her accolades include an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a British Academy Film Award, an Independent Spir ...

Kim Ja-ok Kim Ja-ok (October 11, 1951 – November 16, 2014) was a South Korean actress. Kim was born in Busan in 1951. Kim dropped out of Hanyang University majoring in Film. Kim started her acting career after admitted to a public recruit by MBC TV. ...

Lee Mi-yeon Lee Mi-yeon (born September 23, 1971) is a South Korean actress. Filmography Film Television series Variety show Music video Theater Discography Awards and nominations References External links * * * ...

and

Lee Seung-gi Lee Seung-gi (; born January 13, 1987) is a South Korean singer, actor, host, and entertainer. He has numerous hit songs as a singer such as "Because You're My Woman", "Will You Marry Me", "Return" and "The Ordinary Man". He has garnered furt ...

go on a

backpacker tourism Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent travel, which often includes staying in inexpensive lodgings and carrying all necessary possessions in a backpack. Once seen as a marginal form of travel undertaken only through necessity, it has b ...

trip around

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

and

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

. In 2014, Kim returned to the big screen after a 21-year absence in ''

Thread of Lies ''Thread of Lies'' (; lit. ''Elegant Lies'') is a 2014 South Korean film based on the 2009 bestselling novel ''Elegant Lies'' by Kim Ryeo-ryeong. Directed by Lee Han, it starred Kim Hee-ae (in her first film in 21 years), Go Ah-sung, Kim Yoo-jung ...

'', a

film adaptation A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dial ...

of Kim Ryeo-ryeong's novel ''Elegant Lies'' about teen bullying which leads to a young girl's suicide. Kim said she accepted the project because the script was "faultless" and she felt empathy for the characters, and one review described her performance as "excellent as the grieving mother ..understated but somehow believable, touching and honest." Shortly after, Kim reunited with the writer and

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

of ''

'' in ''Secret Affair'', about an art foundation director who embarks on a passionate affair with a poor but talented pianist 20 years her junior. She next played the

muse In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...

of real-life

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

group Twin Folio in the 2015 film ''

C'est Si Bon "" (; ) is a French popular song composed in 1947 by Henri Betti with the lyrics by André Hornez. The English lyrics were written in 1949 by Jerry Seelen. The song has been adapted in several languages. History In July 1947, Henri Bet ...

'', named after a music lounge located in

Myeong-dong Myeongdong () is a dong in Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro, and Namdaemun-ro. It covers 0.99km² with a population of 3,409 and is mostly a commercial area, being one of Seoul's main shopping, parade route and tourism ...

which was famous in the 1970s and 1980s for its live performances. She returned to the small screen with the police procedural drama ''

Mrs. Cop ''Mrs. Cop'' () is a 2015 Korean drama, South Korean drama series starring Kim Hee-ae, Kim Min-jong, Lee Da-hee, Son Ho-jun, Heo Jung-do and Lee Gi-kwang. It aired on Seoul Broadcasting System, SBS on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 18 episode ...

'', playing a violent crime detective who struggles to become a good mother. In 2016, Kim signed with

YG Entertainment YG Entertainment Inc. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1996 by Yang Hyun-suk. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management and concert production compa ...

. The same year, she starred in the family melodrama '' Second to Last Love''. Kim then returned to the big screen, starring in the psychological thriller '' The Vanished'' and drama film ''

Herstory Herstory is a term for history written from a feminist perspective and emphasizing the role of women, or told from a woman's point of view. It originated as an alteration of the word "history", as part of a feminist critique of conventional his ...

'', based on the real story of comfort women. In 2019 she starred in Lim Dae-hyung's film ''

Moonlit Winter ''Moonlit Winter'' () is a 2019 South Korean film directed by Lim Dae-hyung. It stars Kim Hee-ae. It had its world premiere as the closing film for the 24th Busan International Film Festival. Plot In winter, a mother (Kim Hee-ae) and her daught ...

''. In 2020, Kim made a comeback in television after four years in smash-hit drama ''

'', a remake of the British television series '' Doctor Foster''. The drama series is the highest-rated Korean drama in cable television history. Kim received critical appreciation for her acting performance as Ji Sun-woo in the series.

Personal life

Kim married Lee Chan-jin,

CEO A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...

of the

web portal A web portal is a specially designed website that brings information from diverse sources, like emails, online forums and search engines, together in a uniform way. Usually, each information source gets its dedicated area on the page for displayin ...

DreamWiz, in 1996. They have two sons. Kim is a Roman Catholic and was one of 30 Catholic celebrities who appeared in the 2014 music video for the digital single "Koinonia" to commemorate

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

's visit to South Korea, the first time in 19 years that the pope visited Asia.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web series

Television show

Radio program

Awards and nominations

State honors

Listicles

Notes

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kim, Hee-ae 1967 births 20th-century South Korean actresses 21st-century South Korean actresses South Korean television actresses South Korean film actresses Chung-Ang University alumni Living people YG Entertainment artists South Korean Roman Catholics People from Jeju Province Best Actress Paeksang Arts Award (television) winners