Han Ji-hye

Han Ji-hye (born Lee Ji-hye on June 29, 1984) is a South Korean actress.

Background Born Lee Ji-hye, she used the stage name "Han Ji-hye" upon learning that her real name would cause confusion among fans since an older actress, Lena Lee, also has the same Korean name.

Career 2001–2007 Han made her entertainment debut as a model, then started acting in supporting roles in TV dramas such as Summer Scent. The next couple of years saw Han starring in low-rating dramas, but her 2007 daily drama Likeable or Not became very popular, topping the ratings chart during its run and recording the highest rating for a daily drama since 2000. Han then displayed newfound maturity and great improvement in her acting in the 2008 epic drama East of Eden.

2008–2011 In 2008, Han along with Leon Jay Williams sang the Korean and Chinese versions of Olympic theme song "Friends." She was brought to the project via a proposal from the Chinese Olympic committee to sing "Friends" as the official swimming theme of the Beijing National Aquatics Centre at the Beijing Olympics. Less than a year later, she again recorded a digital single, an upbeat electro-pop song titled "Luv Luv".

After studying the craft of shoemaking and design in Florence, Italy, Han collaborated with existing shoe brand Jinny Kim to design and produce her own line, called "H by Jinny Kim." This was documented on Han Ji-hye: Shoes! My Dream! which aired on cable channel O'live TV. The Fall/Winter 2009 collection were sold in major department stores in Seoul and the surrounding metro areas, as well as in a well-known department store in Singapore and various online shopping malls.

Han then published My Fair Lady, a collection of autobiographical lifestyle essays. The volume focused on Han's hobbies and daily life rather than on her onscreen work and contained Han's writings about her experiences as a twentysomething single woman, as well as her reflections on her life. It also touched on the various projects she has undertaken such as designing shoes, studying tea ceremony, learning about ceramics, DIY furniture making, and fabric art.

Director Lee Joon-ik cast Han in his 2010 period action film Blades of Blood without auditioning her — not for her talents, but for her Asian-looking eyes. Aside from finding her single eyelid unique and difficult to find in recent years, Lee liked that she related to him in a natural manner. Han said that Lee scolded her a lot in the beginning of the shoot for not acting well, so she used the pain in her heart to portray her character such that she improved towards the middle of the filming and learned a lot from him. She also sang on the soundtrack, having played a gisaeng in the film.

After starring in her first period drama series in 2011's The Duo, she played a woman who helps a young man achieve his dreams in the single-episode drama Pianist, and a visually impaired teacher in the 2-part Chuseok special The Great Gift. She also starred in her first Chinese drama, Heavenly Embroidery.

2012–present Han played the protagonist in the 2012 drama May Queen, the success story of a woman in the shipbuilding industry during Korea's modernization. In 2013, she portrayed dual roles in Pots of Gold (also known as I Summon You, Gold! or Gold, Appear!), a family comedy that explores money, love and marriage. This was followed by leading roles as a cold-hearted heiress in The Full Sun, and as a wrongfully convicted prisoner turned baker in 4 Legendary Witches in 2014.

In January 2016, Han signed with management agency KeyEast. In 2018, she made a comeback in the family drama Shall We Live Together.

Personal life On September 21, 2010, Han married public prosecutor Jung Hyuk-joon in a private ceremony in Hawaii. On December 31, 2020, Han announced on social media that she is expecting her first child, due in the Summer of 2021. On June 23, 2021, Han's agency announced that had given birth to a daughter, Jung Yoon-seul. Both her husband and daughter appeared on public television for the first time via Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 2002 Saving My Hubby Convenience store clerk 2003 Singles Ji-hye, Jeong-joon's new girlfriend 2005 My Boyfriend Is Type B Ha-mi 2008 Humming Mi-yeon 2010 Blades of Blood Baek-ji

Television series Year Title Role 2002 Great Luck Family 2003 The Bean Chaff of My Life Shin Hee-jung Scent of a Man Ha Soo-min Summer Scent Park Jung-ah Open Drama Man and Woman:"One More Step Than Love" 2004 Sweet 18 Yoon Jung-sook Island Village Teacher Hong Eun-soo Banjun Drama 2005 The Secret Lovers Seo Young-ji 2006 Cloud Stairs Yoon Jung-won 2007 Likeable or Not Na Dan-poong 2008 East of Eden Kim Ji-hyun 2010 KBS Drama Special:"Pianist" Yoon In-sa 2011 The Duo Dong-nyeo Heavenly Embroidery Quan Cai Xi The Great Gift Kim Ha-yeon 2012 May Queen Chun Hae-joo 2013 Pots of Gold Jung Mong-hee / Son Yoo-na 2014 Beyond the Clouds Han Young-won 4 Legendary Witches Moon Soo-in 2018 Marry Me Now Park Yoo-ha 2019 The Golden Garden Eun Dong-joo 2023 Han River Police Eun-sook (special appearance)

Music video appearances Year Song title Artist 2002 "그댄 행복에 살텐데" Leeds 2003 "잊을 수 있을까요?" 2004 [Part 1] "Whistle to Me (Hwilili)" Lee Soo-young [Part 2] "Andante" 2005 "Forever You" "Gwanghwamun Love Song"

Discography Year Song title Notes 2008 "Love You Forever" duet with Lee Chun-hee; 2 tracks from Humming OST "Friends" Beijing Olympics swimming theme song 2009 "Luv Luv" digital single feat. Soul Tronik 2010 "Sangsamong" track from Blades of Blood OST

Book Year Title ISBN 2010 My Fair Lady

Shoe line Year Brand Notes 2009 H by Jinny Kim

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2001 Supermodel Contest Dodo Makeup Award 2003 KBS Drama Awards Best New Actress Summer Scent 2004 40th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actress (TV) Sweet 18 MBC Entertainment Awards Best Female Newcomer in a Variety Show KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress Sweet 18 2005 42nd Grand Bell Awards Best New Actress My Boyfriend Is Type B 26th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actress MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress The Secret Lovers Popularity Award, Actress 2006 Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards Best Dressed, TV Actress category 2007 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Daily Drama Likeable or Not 2008 2nd Korea Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress East of Eden 2009 4th Asia Model Awards Model Star Award Korea Cadastral Survey Corporation Plaque of Appreciation 45th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress (TV) East of Eden 2010 Korea International Jewelry & Watch Fair Best Jewelry Lady KBS Drama Awards Best Actress in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama Pianist 2012 20th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama May Queen MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Best Couple Award Popularity Award, Actress 2013 2nd APAN Star Awards Excellence Award, Actress Pots of Gold MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Best Couple Award Popularity Award, Actress 2014 KBS Drama Awards Best Couple Award The Full Sun Netizen Award, Actress MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama 4 Legendary Witches Best Couple Award Popularity Award, Actress 2015 4th APAN Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama 2018 11th Korea Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Marry Me Now 6th APAN Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Best Couple Award Netizen Award, Actress 2019 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence, Actress in a Weekend/Daily Drama The Golden Garden