Kim Hyun-joo[1] (Korean: 김현주), better known by thestage nameHan Ga-in (한가인), is a South Korean actress and model. She starred in television seriesYellow Handkerchief andTerms of Endearment early in her career, and became a sought-after model in commercials. Her projects in 2012 were hugely successful, with her period dramaMoon Embracing the Sun topping the TV ratings chart, and her filmArchitecture 101 becoming a box office hit.
Han Ga-in was born as Kim Hyun-joo.[1] She attended Seoul Gusan Elementary School (서울구산초등학교), Sunjung Middle School (선정중학교) and Baehwa Girls' High School (배화여자고등학교). She excelled academically and scored 384 points out of 400 points on theSouth Korean University entrance examinations.[4][5] On December 22, 2000, while attending high school, Han participated in KBS1 quiz showChallenge Golden Bell and reached the 34th stage. She studied hospitality management atKyung Hee University; after entering the entertainment industry, she continued her studies part-time and graduated in 2007.[6]
As a high school student, Han Ga-in appeared onKBS's TV show calledThe Golden Bell Challenge (도전! 골든벨)[4][7] 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.[8] She decided to use her current stage name as she shares a birth name withanother actress who debuted earlier than her.[9]
Han debuted in anAsiana Airlines commercial in 2002, and was cast in theKBS2 dramaSunshine Hunting. She subsequently appeared in a supporting role in the popular daily dramaYellow Handkerchief and made her big-screen debut inOnce Upon a Time in High School. In 2004, she took on the leading role inTerms of Endearment and won an Excellence award at theKBS Drama Awards.[10][11]
In 2005, Han acted inSuper Rookie, a satire on Korea's corporate culture and unemployment among the country's younger generation. It drew solid viewership ratings in the 20% range, and won Han the Excellence Award at theMBC Drama Awards.[12] The drama was also reportedly well received by Japanese viewers and contributed to Han's popularity in the country.[13] This was followed by leading roles inDr. Kkang andWitch Yoo Hee.[14] In the latter drama, Han sported abob cut as she portrayed a career woman who cared about her appearance and job rather than relationships.
AfterWitch 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.[10]
Mainly categorized as a "CF star," Han wanted to change that misconception with her comeback in 2010.[15] InBad 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.[16][17]
Han at the Seoul production sneak preview ofArchitecture 101 in 2012.
2012 was the most successful year of Han's career yet. She first starred inperiod drama,Moon Embracing the Sun, in which she played the heroine, an amnesiac noblewoman-turned-shaman.[18] The drama not only ranked number one in its time slot throughout its run but achieved a peak recorded viewer rating of 42.2%,[19] thereby earning "national drama" status.[20][unreliable source?] This was followed by a leading role in romantic filmArchitecture 101, which got rave reviews and set a new box-office record as the highest-grossing Korean melodrama.[10][21][22] Han also appeared on episode 87 of the popular variety show,Running Man.[23]
Han was managed by J. One Plus Entertainment from 2009 to 2011,[24][25][26] and when her contract expired, she signed withLee Byung-hun's agency,BH Entertainment in December 2012.[27]
In 2018, Han returned to the small screen after six years with mystery thrillerMistress.[28][29]
Han with her husbandYeon Jung-hoon for a fashion photoshoot in 2024
Han married actorYeon Jung-hoon on April 26, 2005; they first met as co-stars in the 2003 daily dramaYellow Handkerchief.[33][34][35] Their wedding attracted much media attention due to the rarity of actresses marrying in their early twenties, at the prime of their careers.[36][37] Han had amiscarriage in 2014,[38][39][40][41] and later gave birth to a daughter on April 13, 2016.[42] On May 13, 2019, she gave birth to a son.[43][44]
^abJang Jin-ri (January 5, 2022).한가인, '써클 하우스'로 4년 만에 활동 재개..."육아 봉인 해제"[공식] [Ga-in Han resumes activities with 'Circle House' after 4 years... "Release the Parenting Seal" [Official]] (in Korean). SPOTV News.Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. RetrievedJanuary 5, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Gong Young-joo (March 24, 2022).한가인, '1박 2일' 녹화...연정훈과 동반 출연(공식) [Ga-in Han, '2 Days & 1 Night' recording... Appearance with Yeon Jung-hoon (official)] (in Korean).YTN.Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. RetrievedMarch 25, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kim Yang-soo (April 18, 2022).'연정훈♥' 한가인, '1박2일' 3주연속 출격..."언제든 불러주세요" 활짝 ['Yeon Jeong-hoon ♥' Han Ga-in, '1 Night 2 Days' 3 weeks in a row... "Call me anytime" wide open] (in Korean). Joy News.Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. RetrievedApril 23, 2022.
^Kang Seon-ae (January 10, 2022).오은영X이승기X한가인X노홍철X리정, '써클 하우스' 출연 확정...2월 3일 첫방 [Oh Eun-young X Lee Seung-gi X Han Ga-in X Noh Hong-cheol X Ri-jeong confirmed to appear in 'Circle House'... First episode on February 3rd].SBS Entertainment News (in Korean).Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 20, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Oh Ji-won (August 4, 2022).싱포골드' 박진영·한가인·김형석·리아킴·이무진, MC 라인업 공개 [Singfor Gold' Park Jin-young, Han Ga-in, Kim Hyeong-seok, Lia Kim, Lee Moo-jin, MC lineup revealed] (in Korean).YTN.Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. RetrievedAugust 4, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Jin Hyang-hee (September 15, 2022).한가인·설민석·김헌·한젬마, '신들의 사생활' 10월 첫방 [Ga-in Han, Min-seok Seol, Heon Kim, and Gemma Han, 'Private Life of the Gods' premiered in October] (in Korean). Star Today.Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. RetrievedSeptember 15, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Hwang Hyo-yi (October 7, 2022).한가인, 신동엽-'유퀴즈' PD와 호흡 (손 없는 날)[공식] [Ga-in Han, Dong-yeop Shin - 'You Quiz' PD and Breathing (Day Without Hands) [Official]] (in Korean).Sports Kyunghyang.Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. RetrievedOctober 7, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Gong, Yeo-ju (September 21, 2023).텐트 밖은 유럽4' 이번엔 여배우들...남프랑스 간다 [Tent Outside Europe 4': Actresses go to the South of France] (in Korean).YTN.Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. RetrievedSeptember 27, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Kang Min-kyung (April 4, 2022).[공식] 한가인, 오늘(4일) '박소현의 러브게임' 스페셜 DJ...브이로그도 촬영 [[Official] Ga-in Han, special DJ for 'Park So-hyun's Love Game' today (4th)... Vlog shooting] (in Korean). Ten Asia.Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. RetrievedApril 4, 2022 – viaNaver.
^모범납세자 포상후보자된 연예인 공유·하지원씨 [Mr. Lee Ji-won, a celebrity who was a candidate for the model taxpayer].www.taxtimes.co.kr (in Korean).Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. RetrievedOctober 28, 2023.
