Kim Hyun-joo[1] (Korean김현주), better known by the stage name Han Ga-in (한가인), is a South Korean actress and model. She starred in television series Yellow Handkerchief and Terms of Endearment early in her career, and became a sought-after model in commercials. Her projects in 2012 were hugely successful, with her period drama Moon Embracing the Sun topping the TV ratings chart, and her film Architecture 101 becoming a box office hit.

Han Ga-in
Kim in May 2024
Born
Kim Hyun-joo[1]

Seoul, South Korea[2]
EducationKyung Hee University (BSc. HCM)[3]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active2002–present
AgentBH Entertainment
Spouse
(m. 2005)
Children2
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2024–present
GenreVlog
Subscribers156 thousand[4]
Total views4 million[4]
Contents are inKorean
100,000 subscribers

Last updated: October 12, 2024
Korean name
Hangul
한가인
Revised RomanizationHan Gain
McCune–ReischauerHan Kain
Birth name
Hangul
김현주
Revised RomanizationGim Hyeonju
McCune–ReischauerKim Hyŏnju
Signature

Early life and education

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Han Ga-in was born as Kim Hyun-joo on February 16, 1981.[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 the South Korean University entrance examinations.[5][6] 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.[7]

Career

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As a high school student, Han Ga-in appeared on KBS's TV show called The Golden Bell Challenge (도전! 골든벨)[5][8] 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.[9] She decided to use her current stage name as she shares a birth name with another actress who debuted earlier than her.[10]

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.[11][12]

In 2005, Han acted in Super 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 the MBC Drama Awards.[13] The drama was also reportedly well received by Japanese viewers and contributed to Han's popularity in the country.[14] This was followed by leading roles in Dr. Kkang and Witch Yoo Hee.[15] 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.[11]

Mainly categorized as a "CF star," Han wanted to change that misconception with her comeback in 2010.[16] 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.[17][18]

 
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.[19] The drama not only ranked number one in its time slot throughout its run but achieved a peak recorded viewer rating of 42.2%,[20] thereby earning "national drama" status.[21][unreliable source?] 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.[11][22][23] Han also appeared on episode 87 of the popular variety show, Running Man.[24]

Han was managed by J. One Plus Entertainment from 2009 to 2011,[25][26][27] and when her contract expired, she signed with Lee Byung-hun's agency, BH Entertainment in December 2012.[28]

In 2018, Han returned to the small screen after six years with mystery thriller Mistress.[29][30]

In February 2022, 4 years after Mistress, Han returned to television as a host of SBS talk show Circle House.[31] In April 2022, she made a guest appearance in KBS2 reality-variety show 2 Days & 1 Night, in which her husband Yeon Jung-hoon is a fixed cast member.[32][33]

Personal life

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Han with her husband Yeon Jung-hoon for a fashion photoshoot in 2024

Han married actor Yeon Jung-hoon on April 26, 2005; they first met as co-stars in the 2003 daily drama Yellow Handkerchief.[34][35][36] Their wedding attracted much media attention due to the rarity of actresses marrying in their early twenties, at the prime of their careers.[37][38] Han had a miscarriage in 2014,[39][40][41][42] and later gave birth to a daughter on April 13, 2016.[43] On May 13, 2019, she gave birth to a son.[44][45]

Filmography

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Film

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

Television series

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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

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2003 Comedy Town
Entertainment Weekly Host
2022 Circle House with Oh Eun-young, Lee Seung-gi, Noh Hong-chul and Lee Jung [31][46]
Sing for Gold Manager with Lee Mu-jin [47]
Greek Roman Myths-Private Life of the Gods Host [48]
Day Without Hands with Shin Dong-yup [49]
2024 Europe Outside the Tent Cast Member Season 4 [50]

Radio shows

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 Park So-hyun's Love Game Special DJ April 4, 2022 [51]

Music video appearances

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Year Song Title Artist
2005 "Only Wind, Only Wind" SG Wannabe
2012 "Yeosu Night Sea" Busker Busker

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2003 KBS Drama Awards Best New Actress Yellow Handkerchief Won
2004 40th Baeksang Arts Awards[52] Most Popular Actress (Film) Once Upon a Time in High School Won
25th Blue Dragon Film Awards[53] Best New Actress Nominated
3rd Korean Film Awards Best New Actress Nominated
KBS Drama Awards[12] Excellence Award, Actress Terms of Endearment Won
Best Couple Award with Song Il-gook Won
2005 MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress Super Rookie Won
Best Couple Award with Eric Mun Nominated
Popularity Award, Actress Nominated
2012 7th Seoul International Drama Awards Outstanding Korean Actress Moon Embracing the Sun Nominated
1st K-Drama Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Nominated
MBC Drama Awards[54] Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Won
Best Couple Award with Kim Soo-hyun Nominated
Popularity Award, Actress Nominated

State honors

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Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given
Organization Year Award Ref.
47th Taxpayer's Day 2013 Presidential Commendation [55]

References

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  1. ^ a b c 김수형 (February 16, 2023). 이 얼굴이 마흔 두 살..한가인, 생일에 또 인증한 모태미인 [★SHOT!]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 6, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  2. ^ 한가인. Cinefox (씨네폭스) (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "한가인" Archived March 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Nate (in Korean). Retrieved October 8, 2012.
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