Han Hyo-joo was born in Yullryang-dong,Cheongju,North Chungcheong Province.[1] Her mother was an elementary school teacher before becoming an inspector for public schools, and her father was an air force lieutenant colonel who served at a reserve. At the time of her birth, Han was given the name Han Ji-yeong (Korean: 한지영) but when she entered the third grade, she changed it to her current name. She also has a younger brother and attended Deokseong Elementary School. As a child, she was good in sports, particularlytrack and field.
After graduating from Yullyang Middle School in 2002, she attended Cheongju Girls' High School until 2004. In her sophomore year of high school, she moved toSeoul and transferred to Bulgok High School inBundang District,Seongnam, despite the objections of her strict and conservative father. After graduating in March 2005, she enteredDongguk University's College of Arts, where she joined the Theater and Film department, and eventually graduated in 2010.[3]
Han was first discovered in a teenage beauty pageant organized by food corporation Binggrae in 2003. She began her acting career in the sitcomNonstop 5 and the gangster comedy filmMy Boss, My Teacher.[4][5] Han later raised her profile by starring inSpring Waltz, the fourth and final installment of TV directorYoon Seok-ho's "season drama" series.[6]
Han then starred in two highly successful TV projects and rose to fame -KBS daily dramaHeaven & Earth withPark Hae-jin in 2007,[8] andSBS masked-adventurer seriesIljimae withLee Joon-gi in 2008.[9] Both dramas drew solid viewership ratings nationwide throughout its run with high viewer ratings and launched Han into a household name. Afterwards, she was cast in another indie film,Ride Away, which debuted at the 2008Jeonju International Film Festival.[10]
Han then filmed the Korean-Japanese telecinema co-productionHeaven's Postman, which also featured pop starJaejoong fromTVXQ (nowJYJ).[11] After several postponements, it was released in theaters in late 2009, and broadcast on TV in 2010.
Han's breakthrough came inBrilliant Legacy costarringLee Seung-gi, which became a massive hit in 2009, reaching a peak viewership rating of 47.1%.[12][13][14] It catapulted Han to stardom, and after the drama's conclusion, she experienced a sharp rise in endorsement deals and media requests for interviews, as well as increased pan-Asian popularity.[15][16] Later that year Han wrapped up her starring role in the musical dramaSoul Special, which aired onKBS Joy.[17]
Han in 2010
In 2010, Han took on the titular character inMBC's 49th anniversary projectDong Yi.[18][19] The series became a hit during its run both domestically and across Asia.[20][21] Han won several acting awards for her portrayal ofChoi Suk-bin, including theDaesang (Grand Prize) award atMBC Drama Awards and the coveted Best Actress award atBaeksang Arts Awards.[22][23]
In 2014, Han andLove 911 costarGo Soo reunited inMyohyangsangwan ("View ofMyohyangsan"), which depicts the rendezvous of a South Korean painter and a North Korean waitress in a North Korean restaurant. Theshort film is a collaboration bycontemporary artists Moon Kyung-won and Jeon Joon-ho, and combined a theatrical plot, experimental imagery, dance andperformance art.[39][40]
She then ventured into the overseas market by starring in her first Japanese film,Isshin Inudo'sMiracle: Debikuro-kun no Koi to Maho ("Miracle Devil Claus' Love and Magic"). Set during the Christmas season, the film is a love story about a kind bookstore employee (played byMasaki Aiba fromJ-popboybandArashi) who meets three women.[41][42]
In 2015, Han starred in themusicalbiopicC'est Si Bon, which depicted the ups and downs of the folk music group Twin Folio, which was active from the 1960s to 80s. Famous for its live performances, C'est Si Bon was the name of a popular music lounge located inMugyo-dong in the 1970s, where Twin Folio got its start; Han played the group'smuse.[43] This was followed by romantic comedy filmThe Beauty Inside, where Han's character falls in love with a man who changes to different people every day.[44][45]
Later that year, Han got together withYoo Yeon-seok andChun Woo-hee, both of her co-stars inThe Beauty Inside, again forLove, Lies, a movie which depicts the last story of gisaeng during the Japanese occupation in the 1940s.[46][47]
2016–present: Television comeback and American advancement
In 2019, Han was confirmed as part of the main cast of American television seriesTreadstone, an offshoot from Universal'sBourne franchise.[55][56]
In 2020, Han was cast in a Japanese action filmTaiyō wa Ugokanai ("The Sun Stands Still"), directed by Eiichiro Hasumi. Based on the novel of the same name, Han played an elusive and mysterious spy who travels across the world on adventures whilst hiding her true intentions.[57]
Han in November 2021
In 2021, Han acted as a member of a counter-terrorist squad in the apocalyptic thriller dramaHappiness, starring oppositePark Hyung-sik. Directed by Ahn Gil-ho, the drama depicted class discrimination, conflicting human desires and the struggle for survival amongst a group of house-owners in an apartment in Korea due to a mysterious virus outbreak that threatens the livelihood of the inhabitants in a city.[58]
In May 2022, Han donated₩50 million to Asan Medical Center, and also donated₩50 million in 2021. It will be used for the cost of treatment such as surgery so that young patients do not miss treatment due to economic burdens.[64]
In November 2013, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office indicted Han's ex-manager from her former agency Fantom Entertainment for attemptedextortion. According to the police, the ex-manager surnamed Lee illegally transferred 16 photos of Han and her ex-boyfriend from her digital camera to his mobile phone. Lee then threatened to publish the compromising photos unless he and his two accomplices were paid₩400 million; Han's father paid them₩10 million. In a press release, Han's agencyBH Entertainment said the actress did not engage in any activities that deserve public criticism and threatened "strong measures" to deal withblackmail.[65][66]
In September 2014, the South Korean media reported that a petition was being circulated toboycott Han's appearance in TV commercials.[67] The petition stemmed from Han's younger brother allegedlybullying a fellow airman while both were inmandatory military service that resulted in the latter's suicide. The negative publicity was exacerbated by Han herself having once been appointed as agoodwill ambassador for theRepublic of Korea Air Force.[68]
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^abKim, Ji-hye (October 29, 2021).해적2', 내년 설 연휴 개봉...강하늘X한효주X이광수 호흡 ['Pirates 2' to be released next year for the Lunar New Year holiday... Kang Ha-neul X Han Hyo-joo X Lee Kwang-soo Breathing] (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System.Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. RetrievedOctober 29, 2021 – viaNaver.
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^Park, Ji-yoon (May 6, 2022).한효주, 어린이날 맞아 서울아산병원에 총 1억 원 기탁 [Han Hyo-joo donates 100 million won to Asan Medical Center in Seoul on Children's Day] (in Korean). The Fact.Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. RetrievedMay 6, 2022 – viaNaver.
^한효주 광고 중지해주세요, 요청 쇄도..이병헌 사건에 남동생 문제까지 불똥 [Stop using Han Hyo-joo in commercials. Requests Flooded].Seoul En (in Korean). September 20, 2014.Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. RetrievedSeptember 22, 2014.
^Yang, Yu-jin (October 7, 2021).후지와라 타츠야X타케우치 료마X한효주X변요한 '태양은 움직이지 않는다', 이달 개봉 [Fujiwara Tatsuya X Takeuchi Ryoma X Han Hyo-joo X Byun Yo-han 'The Sun Doesn't Move' to be released this month].My Daily (in Korean).Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. RetrievedOctober 7, 2021 – viaNaver.
^Noh, Gyu-min (January 26, 2022).[공식] 한효주, 넷플릭스 영화 '20세기 소녀' 특별출연 [[Official] Han Hyo-joo to make a special appearance in Netflix movie '20th Century Girl] (in Korean). Ten Asia.Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. RetrievedJanuary 26, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Yang, Yu-jin (June 20, 2022).넷플릭스, '독전2' 제작 확정...한효주·오승훈 합류 [공식] [Netflix confirms production of 'Believer 2'... Hyo-Joo Han and Seung-Hoon Oh joined [Official]] (in Korean).My Daily.Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. RetrievedJune 20, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Jo, Joong-hyun (April 16, 2021).한효주, 근황? '드라마월드' 특급출연 특급의리.digitalchosun (in Korean).Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. RetrievedApril 17, 2021.
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^Hwng, Hye-jin (August 11, 2021).바퀴달린집3' 측 "강하늘→세훈 '해적' 배우 9人 스핀오프 출연"(공식) ['House on Wheels 3' side "Kang Ha-neul → Sehun's 'Pirates' cast 9 people spin-off appearance" (official)].Newsen (in Korean).Naver.Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. RetrievedAugust 11, 2021.
^Moon, Ji-yeon (July 6, 2022).제1회 청룡시리즈어워즈 후보 공개..'오징어 게임'·'SNL코리아' 최다노미 [The 1st Blue Dragon Series Awards nominees revealed.. Most Nominees for 'Squid Game' and 'SNL Korea'] (in Korean).Sports Chosun.Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. RetrievedJuly 6, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Jo, Ji-young (July 19, 2022).정해인X한효주X강다니엘X박재찬X박서함X이용진, 핫대세 입증한 인기스타상[청룡시리즈어워즈] [Jung Hae-in X Han Hyo-joo X Kang Daniel X Park Jae-chan X Park Seo-ham X Lee Yong-jin, Popular Star Award [Blue Dragon Series Awards]] (in Korean).Sports Chosun.Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. RetrievedJuly 19, 2022 – viaNaver.
^한효주 알고 보니 미인대회 출신...'미스 빙그레 대상' [Han Hyo-joo turns out to be a beauty contestant... 'Miss Binggrae Grand Prize'].Segye Ilbo (in Korean). August 8, 2017.Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. RetrievedApril 29, 2024.
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