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Han Chae-young
Han Chae-Young in September 2009 (2).jpg
Han Chae-young in September 2009
Born
Kim Ji-young

(1980-09-13) September 13, 1980 (age 44)
Daegu, South Korea
Other names Rachel Kim
Alma mater Dongguk University
Occupation Actress
Years active 2000–present
Agent J-Flex Entertainment
Spouse(s)
Choi Dong-joon
(m. 2007)
Children 1
Korean name
Hangul 한채영
Hanja 韓彩英
Revised Romanization Han Chae-yeong
McCune–Reischauer Han Ch'aeyŏng
Birth name
Hangul 김지영
Hanja 金志英
Revised Romanization Gim Ji-yeong
McCune–Reischauer Kim Chiyŏng

Kim Ji-young (Hangul: 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.

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.

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.

2005–2008: Breakthrough

In 2005, Han achieved success with the South Korean romantic comedy television series Sassy Girl Chun-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.

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. 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 and starred in the films Good Morning President alongside Jang Dong-gun 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." The horror film Soul Mates, a Korea-New Zealand co-production, was supposed to have been Han's English-language international debut, but the project was later cancelled.

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. The ₩10 billion-budget action-romance series is based on the 1999 comic book of the same title by manhwa writer Park Bong-seong, and achieved higher than average ratings during its run.

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. The English-speaking actress signed with agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) that same year.

Considered a Korean Wave star due to the popularity of Sassy Girl Chun-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. 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.

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. The series also reunited Han with Jo Hyun-jae who previously worked together in the 2005 TV series Only You. Her next series was Pretty Man, playing the glamorous, successful woman that the main character (played by Jang Keun-suk) pines after. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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

Personal life

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

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
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 Sassy Girl Chun-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
Bel Ami Hong Yoo-ra
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
2024 Snow White's Revenge Moon Jeong-in / Moon Gyeong-sook

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 Sassy Girl Chun-hyang Won
KBS Drama Awards Popularity Award, Actress Sassy Girl Chun-hyang Won
2007 Korea Best Dresser of the Year Awards Recipient N/A Won
2008 Asia Model Awards Model Star Award N/A Won
Grand Bell Awards Best New Actress Love Now Nominated
2009 Andre Kim Best Star Awards Female Star Award N/A Won
2010 Asia Model Awards Model Star Award N/A Won
2011 CETV Awards Top 10 Asian Stars Won
Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards 2011's Most Stylish Actress N/A Won
China Trend Awards Shining Artist N/A Won
TV Drama Awards Made in China 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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Han Chae-young para niños

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