Han Ga-in

Kim Hyun-joo On December 22, 2000, while attending high school, Han participated in KBS1 quiz show Challenge Golden Bell and reached the 34th stage. She studied hospitality management at Kyung Hee University; after entering the entertainment industry, she continued her studies part-time and graduated in 2007.

Career As a high school student, Han Ga-in appeared on KBS's TV show called The Golden Bell Challenge and was also captured in footage of interviews with other students. Entertainment executives spotted her in the news clip and immediately went to her school to offer her a part. She decided to use her current stage name as she shares a birth name with another actress who debuted earlier than her.

Han debuted in an Asiana Airlines commercial in 2002, and was cast in the KBS2 drama Sunshine Hunting. She subsequently appeared in a supporting role in the popular daily drama Yellow Handkerchief and made her big-screen debut in Once Upon a Time in High School. In 2004, she took on the leading role in Terms of Endearment and won an Excellence award at the KBS Drama Awards. The drama was also reportedly well received by Japanese viewers and contributed to Han's popularity in the country. This was followed by leading roles in Dr. Kkang and Witch Yoo Hee. In the latter drama, Han sported a bob cut as she portrayed a career woman who cared about her appearance and job rather than relationships.

After Witch Yoo Hee wrapped in 2007, Han publicly criticized the director and writers for the drama's poor quality. She went on a three-year hiatus afterwards, merely starring in advertisements. Han struggled to shake the perception that she was only a lovely face and not a professional actor, having only portrayed stereotypical characters, even though she quickly rose to the top of the TV advertising industry's most sought-after faces list. In Bad Guy, she attempted to transform her image as a pure and innocent girl to a materialistic woman who dreams of climbing the social ladder at the expense of others.

Han at the Seoul production sneak preview of Architecture 101 in 2012.2012 was the most successful year of Han's career yet. She first starred in period drama, Moon Embracing the Sun, in which she played the heroine, an amnesiac noblewoman-turned-shaman. The drama not only ranked number one in its time slot throughout its run but achieved a peak recorded viewer rating of 42.2%, thereby earning "national drama" status. This was followed by a leading role in romantic film Architecture 101, which got rave reviews and set a new box-office record as the highest-grossing Korean melodrama. Han also appeared on episode 87 of the popular variety show, Running Man.

Han was managed by J. One Plus Entertainment from 2009 to 2011, and when her contract expired, she signed with Lee Byung-hun's agency, BH Entertainment in December 2012.

In 2018, Han returned to the small screen after six years with mystery thriller Mistress.

In February 2022, 4 years after Mistress, Han returned to television as a host of SBS talk show Circle House.

In September 2024, Han launched the YouTube channel 자유부인 한가인, where she shares videos featuring various aspects of her personal life and experiences. The channel has documented her participation in a variety of activities and challenges, including makeup transformations and other lifestyle-oriented content.

Personal life

Han married actor Yeon Jung-hoon on April 26, 2005; they first met as co-stars in the 2003 daily drama Yellow Handkerchief. Their wedding attracted much media attention due to the rarity of actresses marrying in their early twenties, at the prime of their careers. Han had a miscarriage in 2014, and later gave birth to a daughter on April 13, 2016. On May 13, 2019, she gave birth to a son.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 2004 Once Upon a Time in High School Eun-joo 2012 Architecture 101 Yang Seo-yeon

Television series Year Title Role 2002 Sunshine Hunting Joo-Young 2003 Yellow Handkerchief Jo Sun-joo 2004 Terms of Endearment Kang Eun-pah 2005 Super Rookie Lee Mi-ok 2006 Dr. Kkang Kim Yoo-na 2007 Witch Yoo Hee Ma Yoo-hee 2010 Bad Guy Moon Jae-in 2012 Moon Embracing the Sun Heo Yeon-woo / Wol 2018 Mistress Jang Se-yeon

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2003 Comedy Town Entertainment Weekly Host 2022 Circle House with Oh Eun-young, Lee Seung-gi, Noh Hong-chul and Lee Jung Sing for Gold Manager with Lee Mu-jin Greek Roman Myths-Private Life of the Gods Host Day Without Hands with Shin Dong-yup 2024 Europe Outside the Tent Cast Member Season 4

Radio shows Year Title Role Notes 2022 Park So-hyun's Love Game Special DJ April 4, 2022

Music video appearances Year Title Artist 2005 "Only Wind, Only Wind" SG Wannabe 2012 "Yeosu Night Sea" Busker Busker

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 APAN Star Awards 2012 Top Excellence Award, Actress Moon Embracing the Sun Baeksang Arts Awards 2004 Most Popular Actress – Film Once Upon a Time in High School Blue Dragon Film Awards 2004 Best New Actress Once Upon a Time in High School KBS Drama Awards 2003 Best New Actress Yellow Handkerchief 2004 Best Couple Award Han Ga-in Terms of Endearment Excellence Award, Actress Terms of Endearment Korean Film Awards 2004 Best New Actress Once Upon a Time in High School MBC Drama Awards 2005 Excellence Award, Actress Super Rookie Best Couple Award Han Ga-in Super Rookie Popularity Award, Actress Super Rookie 2012 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Moon Embracing the Sun Best Couple Award Han Ga-in Moon Embracing the Sun Popularity Award, Actress Moon Embracing the Sun Seoul International Drama Awards 2012 Outstanding Korean Actress Moon Embracing the Sun

State honors + Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given Organization Year Award 47th Taxpayer's Day 2013 Presidential Commendation