Han Chae-young
Han Chae-young in September 2009
Born
Kim Ji-young

(1980-09-13) September 13, 1980 (age 43)
Daegu, South Korea
Other namesRachel Kim
Alma materDongguk University
OccupationActress
Years active2000–present
AgentJ-Flex Entertainment
Spouse
Choi Dong-joon
​
(m. 2007)​
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
한채영
Hanja
韓彩英
Revised RomanizationHan Chae-yeong
McCune–ReischauerHan Ch'aeyŏng
Birth name
Hangul
김지영
Hanja
金志英
Revised RomanizationGim Ji-yeong
McCune–ReischauerKim Chiyŏng

Kim Ji-young (Korean: 김지영; born September 13, 1980), professionally known by the stage name Han Chae-young, is a South Korean actress. She first gained recognition as the antagonist in the television series Autumn in My Heart (2000) before gaining wider prominence as the titular character in Sassy Girl Chun-hyang (2005). Her other roles include Only You (2005), Fireworks (2006), Boys Over Flowers (2009), A Man Called God (2010), and Pretty Man (2013).

Early life

Han Chae-young was born as Kim Ji-young in Daegu, South Korea, but her family soon immigrated to the United States and she spent her childhood years in a Chicago suburb, where she attended Glenbrook South High School. During one of her visits to Korea, she was reportedly discovered by a famed Korean comedian who suggested that she put her college plans on hold and try acting.[1][2]

Career

2000–2004: Early career

Taking on the stage name Han Chae-young, she made her acting debut in 2000 with the horror film The Record. Her role as the antagonist in the popular television melodrama Autumn in My Heart gave her more exposure, though she was criticized for her awkward acting skills.[3]

She later gained the nickname "Barbie Doll of Korea," a reference to her tall, shapely proportions. Though this image would land her numerous commercial endorsements, her acting projects in the next few years saw Han typecast as an unapproachable beauty from a wealthy background.[4]

2005–2008: Breakthrough

In 2005, Han achieved success with the South Korean romantic comedy television series Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang, playing the titular role of a smart, lively high school girl who matured into a self-sufficient woman. A modern-day retelling of the famous folktale Chunhyangjeon, the series averaged 24.3% in viewership ratings, placing first in its slot for several episodes.[5]

Her next two roles saw her playing a single mother with culinary dreams in the television series Only You (2005) and a jilted girl looking for employment in Exhibition of Fireworks (2006). Both series underperformed and she reverted to a glamorous character for the couple-swapping film Love Now (2007). In 2006, she signed an exclusive contract with BH Entertainment owned by Lee Byung-hun, and became one of the 1st talents of the newly found agency; BH Entertainment also manages many actors including Go Soo, Jin Goo, and Han Hyo-joo.

Han surprised fans by acting on stage for the first time in Jang Jin's play Clumsy People, which had a sell-out theater run from December 7, 2007, to March 2, 2008.[6] Later that year she released her clothing line Rachel Han's (taken from her American name), produced in conjunction with online retailer G-Market.

2009–2012: International debut

In 2009 she made a special guest appearance in the smash hit drama Boys Over Flowers[7] and starred in the films Good Morning President alongside Jang Dong-gun[8][9] and Girlfriends. She later stated that her character in Girlfriend resembled her real self the most and was also the role she said she "had the most fun playing."[10] The horror film Soul Mates, a Korea-New Zealand co-production, was supposed to have been Han's English-language international debut,[11][12] but the project was later cancelled.[13]

After a lengthy hiatus from the small screen (her 2009 fashion drama Magazine Allo did not push through due to plagiarism charges), Han was cast as a down-to-earth rookie journalist in 2010's manhwa adaptation A Man Called God.[14] The ₩10 billion-budget action-romance series is based on the 1999 comic book of the same title by manhwa writer Park Bong-seong,[15][16] and achieved higher than average ratings during its run.[5]

She then played Lee Byung-hun's love interest in The Influence, an online mystery-fantasy movie about a love that transcends time and space.[17][18] The English-speaking actress signed with agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) that same year.[19]

Considered a Korean Wave star due to the popularity of Choon-hyang, Han began expanding her career to the mainland Chinese market. She starred in the 2011 fantasy-comedy A Big Deal opposite Blue Lan, Leon Jay Williams, and Chapman To.[1][20][21][22] She was also cast in a leading role in Chinese television drama Wu Xie Ke Ji Zhi Lan Se Meng Xiang (lit. "Dream in Blue") opposite Zhu Zi Xiao, which aired on Zhejiang TV in 2012.

2013–present

After being under BH Entertainment for six years, Han left after her contract expiration in 2013 and signed with SM C&C.[23]

She returned to the small screen with the 2013 television series Ad Genius Lee Tae-baek, which is loosely based on internationally renowned advertising designer and social activist Jeseok Yi (a.k.a. Jeski), who wrote the 2010 book Ad Genius Lee Je-seok.[24][25][26][27][28] The series also reunited Han with Jo Hyun-jae who previously worked together in the 2005 TV series Only You.[29] Her next series was Pretty Man,[30] playing the glamorous, successful woman that the main character (played by Jang Keun-suk) pines after.[31] In 2015, Han began hosting her first variety show, Take Care of My Dressing Table, where professionals in the beauty industry such as makeup artists and hairdressers share their styling tips.[32] But her career remained primarily in China, where Han filmed the web series Beauty Master, followed by the TV adaptation of the Chinese novel The Rebirth of a Celebrity Superstar.[33]

Since 2017, she has been a cast member of KBS2's Sister's Slam Dunk, and made her singing debut as member of a temporary group called Unnies. In September 2017 Han returned to the big screen with the comedy film The Star Next Door, playing a star actress who has a teenage daughter (portrayed by Jin Ji-hee) that is kept a secret from the public.[34]

In 2018, Han was cast in the MBC weekend drama A Promise with the Gods. This marks Han's first Korean drama appearance in four years.[35]

In December 2022, Han signed with new agency J-Flex Entertainment.[36]

Personal life

Han married Korean-American businessman Choi Dong-joon on June 2, 2007, at Hotel Shilla in Seoul.[37][38][39] She gave birth to a son on August 28, 2013.[40]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2000 The Record Eun-mi
2002 Bet on My Disco Bong-ja
2003 Wild Card Kang Na-na
2007 Love Now So-yeo
2009 Good Morning President Kim Yi-yeon
Girlfriends Jin
2010 The Influence J Online film
2011 A Big Deal Zhou Yun Chinese film
2016 The Guest Chinese film [41]
2017 The Star Next Door Han Hye-mi

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2000 Autumn in My Heart Choi/Yoon Shin-ae
2002 Affection Yoo Hae-mi
2004 Beijing My Love Jung Yeon-seok
2005 Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang Sung Chun-hyang
Only You Cha Eun-jae
2006 My Girl Choi Han-na Cameo appearance, episode 16
Exhibition of Fireworks Shin Na-ra
2009 Boys Over Flowers Min Seo-hyun
2010 A Man Called God Jin Bo-bae
Haru: An Unforgettable Day in Korea Tourism mini-movie
2012 Dream in Blue Lin Wei Wei Chinese television drama
2013 Ad Genius Lee Tae-baek Go Ah-ri
Pretty Man Hong Yoo-ra
My Love from the Star Guest appearance
2015 1931 Love Story Shang Wanting Chinese television drama
2016 The Rebirth of a Celebrity Superstar Chinese television drama
2018 A Pledge to God Seo Ji-young
2022 Sponsor Han Chae-rin [42][43]

Television shows

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 Sister's Slam Dunk Regular cast
2017–2018 Wizard of Nowhere Cast member
2018 Secret Unnie Regular cast With Yeri (Red Velvet)
2019 Why Not? Cast member With Oh Ha-young & Song Hae-na [ko]

Theater

Year Title Role
2007–2008 Clumsy People Yoo Hwa-yi

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2005 KBS Drama Awards Best Couple Award with Jae Hee Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang Won
KBS Drama Awards Popularity Award, Actress Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang Won
2007 Korea Best Dresser of the Year Awards Recipient — Won
2008 Asia Model Awards Model Star Award — Won
Grand Bell Awards Best New Actress Love Now Nominated
2009 Andre Kim Best Star Awards Female Star Award — Won
2010 Asia Model Awards Model Star Award — Won
2011 CETV Awards Top 10 Asian Stars Won
Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards 2011's Most Stylish Actress — Won
China Trend Awards Shining Artist — Won
TV Drama Awards Made in China[44] Best Online Popularity Won
2017 MBC Entertainment Awards Rookie Awards in Variety Wizard of Nowhere Won
2018 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Weekend Special Project A Pledge to God Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b Hong, Lucia (December 23, 2010). "Han Chae-young in China to film new movie". 10Asia.
  2. ^ Chaeyoung retold the story on Sister's Slam Dunk 2
  3. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (March 17, 2017). "한채영 "데뷔작 '가을동화' 망쳤다고 욕 많이 먹어, 창피했다" 눈물". Newsen.
  4. ^ Yoon, Hee-seong (March 9, 2010). "Han Chae-young's Song Picks". 10Asia.
  5. ^ a b "TNS Media Korea".
  6. ^ Cho, Chung-un (December 17, 2007). "Jang Jin's robbery-romance farce takes the Daehangno stage". The Korea Herald via Hancinema.
  7. ^ "Actress Han Chae-young Cast in Boys over Flowers". KBS Global. October 27, 2008. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  8. ^ Garcia, Cathy Rose A. (March 9, 2009). "Han Chae-young Cast in Good Morning, President". The Korea Times.
  9. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (September 22, 2009). "Actor Jang Dong-kun Returns as President". The Korea Times.
  10. ^ Lee, Ji-hye (December 18, 2009). "Press Conference - Movie Girlfriends". 10Asia.
  11. ^ "Actress Han Chae-young Cast in NZ Horror Flick". KBS Global. October 2, 2008. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013.
  12. ^ "Han Chae-young and Kiwi Director Become Cinematic Soul Mates". The Chosun Ilbo. October 15, 2008.
  13. ^ "Han Chae-Young to debut in Hollywood". The Korea Times. June 22, 2010.
  14. ^ Han, Sang-hee (February 8, 2010). "Top Actresses Heading Toward Small Screen". The Korea Times.
  15. ^ Han, Sang-hee (March 2, 2010). "Two Heroes to Captivate Drama Fans". The Korea Times. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  16. ^ Wee, Geun-woo (February 26, 2010). "PREVIEW: MBC TV series The Man Called God". 10Asia. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  17. ^ Oxenbridge, David (March 12, 2012). "Online Mystery Movie The Influence Debuts". Korean Film Biz Zone.
  18. ^ Hong, Lucia (January 21, 2010). "Han Chae-young to join Lee Byung-hun for Influence". 10Asia.
  19. ^ Kim, Jessica (August 11, 2010). "Han Chae-young signs with U.S. agency CAA". 10Asia.
  20. ^ Kim, Heidi (November 3, 2010). "Han Chae-young cast as heroine in Chinese film Big Deal". 10Asia.
  21. ^ "Han Chae-young to Make Chinese Film Debut". The Chosun Ilbo. November 6, 2010.
  22. ^ "巨額交易》終極預告發布 定檔期12月2日上映" Archived May 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine (in Chinese). Sina.com. November 17, 2011.
  23. ^ "Actress Han Chae Young in Talks to Join SM C&C". Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  24. ^ "이제석 광고연구소". www.jeski.org.
  25. ^ Kenedi, Aaron (March 30, 2011). "2011 NVA Winner: Jeseok Yi". Imprint. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  26. ^ "Social Graphics: The Art of Jeski (Jeseok Yi)". The Korea Society. Archived from the original on November 24, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  27. ^ "Social Graphics: The Art of Jeski". SVA Close Up. September 14, 2011. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  28. ^ Sung, So-young (February 21, 2012). "Ad man makes social advocacy his life's work". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "Jo Hyun Jae reunites with Only You Co-star Han Chae Young as the Second Leads in Advertising Genius Lee Tae Baek". A Koala's Playground. January 13, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  30. ^ Ho, Stewart (January 17, 2013). "Advertisement Genius Lee Tae Baek Actors Shoot Drama Poster". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013.
  31. ^ Lee, Sun-min (October 8, 2013). "Han Chae-young considers comeback". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  32. ^ Sung, So-young (November 10, 2015). "Barbie Doll actress to host beauty TV show". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  33. ^ "Han Chae-young stars in Chinese drama". The Korea Times. November 17, 2015.
  34. ^ Kim Jae-heun (September 13, 2017). "'Star Next Door' offers fun on Chuseok". The Korea Times. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  35. ^ "Actress Han Chae-young to Star in 1st TV Series in 4 Years". The Chosun Ilbo. October 3, 2018.
  36. ^ 한채영, 제이플랙스와 전속계약 체결…이준영・한상진 등과 한솥밥 [Han Chae-young signs an exclusive contract with J-Flex... Rice with Lee Joon-young and Han Sang-jin]. OSEN. December 19, 2022.
  37. ^ "Korean 'Barbie Doll' To Take Her Vows". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 20, 2007. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  38. ^ "Korean Actress Han Chae-Young Got Married". Anhui Daily Press Group. June 4, 2007. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  39. ^ "Actress Han Chae-Young got married". China Daily. June 4, 2007.
  40. ^ "Han Chae-young Has a Baby Boy". The Chosun Ilbo. August 30, 2013.
  41. ^ "《不速之客》曝终极预告及海报 黎明耿乐爱恨缠斗 危机四伏 – Mtime时光网". news.mtime.com.
  42. ^ Cheon Yoon-hye (June 17, 2021). "한채영, '욕망' 출연 확정..2년 반 만에 안방극장으로 화려한 컴백[공식]". Naver (in Korean). Herald POP. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  43. ^ Son Jin-ah (August 6, 2021). "한채영·이지훈·지이수·구자성 '욕망', 11월 26일 첫 방송 확정" [Han Chae-young, Lee Ji-hoon, Ji I-soo, and Koo Ja-seong's 'Desire' to premiere on November 26]. MK Sports (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  44. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (December 28, 2011). "Actress Han Chae-young awarded in China". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

External links

KBS Drama Awards for Popularity Award, Actress
Authority control databases
Categories