Han So-hee: The Life Story Behind Korea's Fierce Star

Han So-hee was born Lee So-hee on 18 November 1994 in Ulsan, a city on the south-east coast of South Korea, and she grew up far from the bright lights of Seoul. Ulsan is an industrial city, known for its shipyards, its car factories, and its working-class character, and it is a long way, in atmosphere, from the entertainment world that Han So-hee would one day join. She was a quiet, artistic child, who liked to draw, and who dreamed of a different life, and at nineteen she left Ulsan for Seoul, with little money and no connections, to try to become an actress. It was a brave decision, and it was the first step on a journey that would make her one of the most talked-about actresses in Korea, known for her beauty, her intensity, and a series of performances that have divided and delighted audiences in equal measure.

Her career is one of the fastest rises in Korean television. She debuted in Reunited Worlds in 2017, she had supporting roles in Money Flower and 100 Days My Prince, and then, in 2020, she took the role of Yeo Da-kyung in The World of the Married, a drama that became one of the highest-rated in Korean cable history, and that made her a star overnight. She followed it with Nevertheless in 2021, with My Name in 2021, an action series in which she performed her own stunts, and with Gyeongseong Creature in 2023, a Netflix series set in Japanese-occupied Korea. She is known for her tattoos, for her modelling, and for a public image that is both glamorous and controversial, and she is, at thirty-one, one of the most recognisable actresses in Korea. This is the story of a girl from Ulsan who became a star, and of the work that made her one.

Ulsan and the Girl Who Drew

Ulsan is a city on the south-east coast of South Korea, built around the Hyundai shipyards and car factories, and it is a place of industry, of work, and of a practical, no-nonsense character. Han So-hee, born Lee So-hee, grew up there in a family that was not involved in entertainment, and she was a quiet child who liked to draw, to make art, and to imagine a life beyond Ulsan. She attended Ulsan Girls’ High School, and she was a good student, but her heart was elsewhere, in Seoul, in the world of acting and modelling that she saw on television. She did not have a clear plan, and she did not have money, but she had a determination that would later define her career: a willingness to leave home, to take a risk, and to bet on herself.

At nineteen, she moved to Seoul, with little more than a suitcase and a dream, and she began to work as a model, appearing in commercials and in fashion shoots, while auditioning for acting roles. The early years in Seoul were hard, with little money, with rejection, and with the loneliness of a young woman far from home, but they were also a time of growth, in which she learned to survive in the city, to work, and to keep going. She has spoken about those years with a honesty that is characteristic of her, describing the difficulty, the doubt, and the determination that kept her going. Ulsan gave her a groundedness, a sense that she had come from a real place, and Seoul gave her a stage, and the combination is part of what makes her performances so compelling.

Modelling, Music Videos and the First Steps

Before she became an actress, Han So-hee worked as a model, appearing in commercials, in fashion editorials, and in music videos, including SHINee’s Tell Me What to Do in 2016. Modelling was a way to earn a living in Seoul, and it was also a way to be seen, to build a portfolio, and to make contacts in the entertainment industry. She was striking, with a distinctive face, a tall figure, and a presence that photographers loved, and her modelling work gave her a visibility that helped her get auditions. It also taught her how to perform in front of a camera, how to use her face and her body, and how to present herself, skills that would serve her as an actress.

The music video work was particularly important, because it was a form of acting, in miniature, in which she had to convey emotion, tell a story, and hold the viewer’s attention, all without dialogue. SHINee’s Tell Me What to Do was a major video, watched by millions, and Han So-hee’s appearance in it introduced her to K-pop fans, who would later follow her acting career. Modelling was not a detour. It was a training ground, and it gave her a foundation in performance that many actors, who come through drama school, do not have. She learned to act by doing it, in front of a camera, and that practical education is visible in her work, which is always physical, always present, and always grounded in the body.

Reunited Worlds, Money Flower and the Supporting Roles

Han So-hee’s acting debut came in 2017, in Reunited Worlds, an SBS drama about a man who returns from the dead, in which she played a supporting role. The part was small, but it was a start, and it showed that she could act, not only model. She followed it with Money Flower in 2017 and 2018, an MBC drama about power, money, and revenge, in which she played a more substantial supporting role, and with 100 Days My Prince in 2018, a tvN historical drama, in which she played a villainous character. Each role was different, and each one taught her something, about acting, about the industry, and about herself. She was not an overnight success. She was a working actress, building a filmography, one role at a time.

The supporting years were also the years in which she developed her screen presence, a quality that is hard to define but easy to recognise: a intensity, a focus, and a willingness to be unlikeable on screen. In 100 Days My Prince, she played a character who was manipulative and cruel, and she did so without softening the performance, which impressed viewers and casting directors. That willingness to play a villain, to be disliked, is a sign of a serious actress, one who cares about the role rather than about her image. It is also the quality that would make her famous, when she took on the role that would define her career, in The World of the Married.

Abyss and the Move to Leading Roles

In 2019, Han So-hee took a leading role in Abyss, a tvN fantasy drama about two people who are reborn with new faces after death, in which she played a prosecutor. The drama was not a major success, but it was significant for her, because it was her first leading role, and it showed that she was ready to carry a series. She played the part with a confidence and a presence that suggested a star in the making, and the industry took notice. Abyss was a stepping stone, a role that proved she could lead, and it set the stage for the drama that would follow, and that would change her life. She was, by 2019, an actress on the verge of a breakthrough, and the breakthrough was coming.

Abyss also showed her range, because it was a fantasy, a romance, and a comedy, all at once, and it required her to be funny, romantic, and serious, often in the same episode. That versatility is part of why she was cast in The World of the Married, a drama that would require her to play a character who is both sympathetic and unlikeable, both a victim and a villain. Abyss was not a hit, but it was a necessary step, a role that taught her how to lead, and that gave casting directors the confidence to trust her with a bigger part. It is easy to overlook a drama that was not successful, but for an actor, the unsuccessful roles are often the most important, because they are the ones in which you learn.

The World of the Married and the Overnight Star

In 2020, Han So-hee took the role of Yeo Da-kyung in The World of the Married, a JTBC drama about a marriage destroyed by infidelity, and the series became one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable history. She played Da-kyung, the younger woman with whom the husband has an affair, a character who is, by turns, sympathetic, selfish, naive, and cruel, and her performance was the talk of Korea. Audiences loved to hate her, and they hated to love her, and the drama’s success was due, in large part, to the complexity of her character and the intensity of her performance. The World of the Married made her a star overnight, and it did so in a way that few dramas do: by making her the most discussed actress in the country.

The role also won her the Best New Actress award at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2020, one of the highest honours in Korean entertainment, and it established her as a leading actress, not only as a supporting player. The drama’s ratings were extraordinary, peaking at over twenty-eight percent, a figure that is almost unheard of for a cable drama, and its success was a national event, discussed in newspapers, on social media, and in everyday conversation. For Han So-hee, it was a turning point, because it gave her fame, it gave her a reputation, and it gave her the freedom to choose her next roles. She was no longer a young actress looking for work. She was a star, and the industry was offering her leading roles.

Nevertheless and the Netflix Romance

In 2021, Han So-hee starred in Nevertheless, a JTBC drama, also released on Netflix, about a young woman who falls in love with a man who does not believe in commitment. She played Yoo Na-bi, an art student who is drawn to a charming, unreliable man, played by Song Kang, and the drama was a hit with international audiences, especially on Netflix, where it was watched by millions. Nevertheless was a different kind of role from The World of the Married: Na-bi was softer, more vulnerable, and more romantic, and Han So-hee played her with a tenderness and a honesty that showed a new side of her talent. The drama was praised for its visual style, its music, and its performances, and it confirmed that Han So-hee could carry a romance as well as a melodrama.

The Netflix release was also significant, because it introduced her to a global audience, beyond Korea. Nevertheless was watched in many countries, and Han So-hee’s face became familiar to viewers who had never seen The World of the Married. That global exposure is part of why she is now one of the most internationally recognised Korean actresses, with fans in Asia, in Europe, and in the Americas. Nevertheless was not only a drama. It was a bridge, from a national star to a global one, and Han So-hee crossed it with a performance that was both intimate and universal, a portrait of a young woman in love that resonated across cultures.

My Name and the Action Transformation

Also in 2021, Han So-hee took on a completely different role: Yoon Ji-woo, in My Name, a Netflix action series about a woman who joins a drug cartel to avenge her father’s death. The role required her to perform intense action scenes, to fight, to train, and to transform her body, and she did so with a commitment that surprised everyone. She trained in martial arts, she learned fight choreography, and she performed many of her own stunts, and the result was a performance that was physical, fierce, and completely different from anything she had done before. My Name was a major success on Netflix, and it showed that Han So-hee could do action, and that her range was far wider than anyone had assumed.

The transformation was also a statement. She had been known for her beauty, for her glamour, and for romantic roles, and My Name was a deliberate break from that image, a role that required her to be tough, to be dirty, and to be violent. That willingness to break her own image is a sign of a serious actress, one who cares about the work rather than about her appearance. My Name is now one of her best-known works, and it is the series that many international viewers associate with her first, because it is available on Netflix and because it is so different from the typical Korean drama. It is a reminder that Han So-hee is not only a beautiful face. She is an actress who can fight, literally and figuratively, for a role.

Soundtrack #1, Gyeongseong Creature and the Global Star

In 2022, Han So-hee starred in Soundtrack #1, a Disney+ romance drama about two friends who fall in love, a gentle, musical series that showed a softer side of her talent. In 2023, she starred in Gyeongseong Creature, a Netflix series set in Japanese-occupied Korea in 1945, in which she played Yoon Chae-ok, a woman searching for her missing mother, alongside Park Seo-joon. The series was a major production, with a large budget, with action, horror, and historical drama, and it was watched by audiences around the world. Han So-hee’s performance was praised for its intensity, its physicality, and its emotional depth, and the series ran for two seasons, in 2023 and 2024, confirming her status as a global star.

Gyeongseong Creature was also significant because it dealt with a difficult period in Korean history, the Japanese occupation, and it required Han So-hee to play a character who is living through trauma, loss, and resistance. She did so with a seriousness and a commitment that showed her growth as an actress, from the romantic lead of Nevertheless to the action hero of My Name to the historical figure of Gyeongseong Creature. The series was not without controversy, and it was criticised by some for its historical accuracy, but Han So-hee’s performance was widely praised, and it remains one of her most important works. She is now, at thirty-one, an actress with a global audience, with a filmography that spans romance, action, and history, and with a reputation as one of the most versatile performers in Korea.

The Tattoos, the Image and the Public Person

Han So-hee is known for her tattoos, which she had before her debut, and which she later had removed, and the subject has been a part of her public image since she became famous. In Korea, tattoos are still stigmatised, especially for women, and especially for actresses, and Han So-hee’s tattoos were discussed in the media, on social media, and by fans, with opinions divided between admiration and criticism. She has spoken about the tattoos with a honesty that is characteristic of her, explaining that she got them when she was young, that she later decided to remove them for her career, and that she does not regret them. That honesty is part of why she is respected, even by people who disagree with her choices.

Her public image is also notable for its glamour, its fashion, and its presence on social media, where she is one of the most followed Korean actresses. She is known for her beauty, for her style, and for a confidence that is both alluring and intimidating, and she has been the face of major brands, in Korea and abroad. That image is a significant part of her stardom, and it is one reason she is so popular. But it is also a burden, because it creates an expectation that she will always be glamorous, always be perfect, and always be the image. Han So-hee has pushed back against that expectation, by taking on roles like My Name, by speaking honestly, and by showing that she is more than a face. That pushback is part of what makes her interesting, as an actress and as a person.

The Actress, the Model and the Star

Han So-hee’s career is unusual because it contains several careers at once: the model, the actress, the action star, and the global celebrity, and she has succeeded in all of them. She moved to Seoul at nineteen with little money, she worked as a model, she took supporting roles, and she became a star at twenty-five, with a speed that is rare even in Korean entertainment. That speed is the result of talent, of hard work, and of a willingness to take risks, from The World of the Married to My Name to Gyeongseong Creature, each one a different kind of role, each one a challenge. She is not a star who was made overnight. She is a star who was made over years, role by role, and the overnight fame was only the moment when the public noticed what had been building for a long time.

Her personal life has been lived largely in public, and she has handled it with a openness that is characteristic of her. She has spoken about her family, about her tattoos, and about her life in Seoul, with a candour that many Korean celebrities avoid. She is known as a direct, honest person, who says what she thinks, and who does not pretend to be someone she is not. That honesty is part of why she is loved, and part of why she is controversial, because honesty is not always comfortable. She is, in the end, a person, and her work, like her life, is full, complicated, and honestly lived.

The Future and the Star from Ulsan

Han So-hee’s career is still young, and its future is open. She has starred in some of the most popular dramas in Korean history, she has performed in action, in romance, and in historical drama, and she has built a global audience, all before her thirty-second birthday. The question now is what she will do next, and the answer is likely to be as varied as everything that came before. She could take another drama role, she could move into film, or she could explore new genres, and any of those choices would be consistent with the actress she has become. She is not tied to a single image, and that freedom is the most valuable thing an actress can have.

Her place in Korean entertainment is already secure. She is one of the most popular and most discussed actresses of her generation, a star whose performances have divided and delighted audiences, and whose career is a model for young performers who come to Seoul with little more than a dream. She is the girl from Ulsan who became a star, and her story is a reminder that talent, when combined with determination, can take a person further than they ever imagined. That is a legacy worth having, and it is one that is still being written, with new chapters to come.

My Take:

When I think about Han So-hee, the first thing that comes to mind is the intensity. She is an actress who commits fully to a role, whether it is the adulteress in The World of the Married, the fighter in My Name, or the survivor in Gyeongseong Creature, and that commitment is visible in every scene. She does not hold back, she does not play it safe, and she does not worry about whether the audience will like her character. That fearlessness is rare, and it is the reason her performances are so compelling. An actress who is afraid to be disliked will never be great, because greatness requires risk, and Han So-hee takes risks, role after role, and the risks pay off.

The second thing is the speed of her rise. She debuted in 2017, she became a star in 2020, and by 2021 she had starred in two of the most talked-about series of the year, Nevertheless and My Name. That is a remarkably fast trajectory, and it is a sign of both her talent and the industry’s recognition of it. She did not spend a decade in supporting roles. She spent three years, and then she was a leading lady, and the speed of that rise is a testament to how clearly her talent was visible, even in small parts. Casting directors saw it, audiences saw it, and the industry moved quickly to give her the roles she deserved. That is a rare thing, and it is worth noting.

The World of the Married is the drama that made her a star, and it deserves to be discussed, because it is one of the highest-rated Korean cable dramas in history, and her performance as Yeo Da-kyung is central to its success. Da-kyung is a difficult character, a younger woman who has an affair with a married man, and Han So-hee plays her with a complexity that makes the audience both hate her and understand her. That is a difficult balance, and she achieves it, by showing Da-kyung’s vulnerability, her naivety, and her selfishness, all at once. The performance won her the Best New Actress award at the Baeksang Arts Awards, and it established her as a leading actress. It is a role that could have defined her, and in some ways it did, but she has since proved that she is more than Da-kyung.

My Name is the performance that proves her range, because it is completely different from The World of the Married. She plays Yoon Ji-woo, a woman who joins a drug cartel to avenge her father, and she does so with a physicality, a fierceness, and a commitment that are extraordinary. She trained in martial arts, she performed her own stunts, and she transformed her body for the role, and the result is a performance that is as convincing as any action star’s. My Name was a major success on Netflix, and it showed international audiences a side of Han So-hee they had not seen before. It is a reminder that she is not only a beautiful face. She is an actress who can fight, and who is willing to do the work to make a fight believable.

Nevertheless is the drama that shows her softer side, as Yoo Na-bi, an art student who falls in love with a man who cannot commit. The performance is tender, vulnerable, and honest, and it is a contrast to the intensity of My Name and The World of the Married. That contrast is important, because it shows that Han So-hee can play romance as well as drama, and that her range is wider than a single image. Nevertheless was a hit on Netflix, and it introduced her to a global audience, many of whom had never seen her earlier work. It is a gentle drama, and her performance in it is gentle too, which is a different kind of strength, and one that deserves to be recognised.

Gyeongseong Creature is the most recent major work, and it shows her growth as an actress, from a romantic lead to a historical figure. She plays Yoon Chae-ok, a woman searching for her missing mother in Japanese-occupied Korea, and the role requires her to be tough, emotional, and historically grounded, all at once. The series was a major Netflix production, with a large budget and a global audience, and Han So-hee’s performance was praised for its intensity and its depth. It is a role that deals with a difficult period in Korean history, and she handles it with a seriousness that shows her maturity as an actress. Gyeongseong Creature is not only a popular series. It is a significant one, and her presence in it is a sign of her status.

Her tattoos are a subject that deserves an honest discussion, because they are part of her public image and part of the conversation around her. She had tattoos before her debut, she later had them removed, and she has spoken about them openly, explaining her choices without apology. In Korea, where tattoos are still stigmatised, especially for actresses, that openness is brave, and it is part of why she is respected by many fans. She does not hide who she is, and she does not pretend to be someone she is not. That honesty is refreshing in an industry where image is often carefully managed, and it is one reason her fans feel a personal connection to her. She is not a polished product. She is a person, and the tattoos are part of that person.

For a new viewer, I would suggest a simple path. Start with The World of the Married, because it is the essential drama and the breakthrough, then watch My Name, because it shows her action side, then watch Nevertheless, because it shows her romantic side, and then watch Gyeongseong Creature, because it shows what she can do now. That order takes you from melodrama to action to romance to history, and it shows the full scope of a career that has lasted for less than a decade but that already contains remarkable variety. If you only have time for one series, make it My Name, because it is the most surprising, and if you only have time for one drama, make it The World of the Married, because it is the most famous.

One more thought: Han So-hee’s career is a useful answer to anyone who thinks that beauty and talent are in conflict. She is beautiful, and she is talented, and the two are not in opposition. Her beauty opened doors, but her talent kept them open, and her performances are the reason she is still a star, not her appearance. That is an important distinction, because the entertainment industry often confuses the two, and Han So-hee’s career is a reminder that the work matters more than the image. She is not famous because she is beautiful. She is famous because she can act, and the beauty is a bonus, not the reason.

Finally, I would say this: Han So-hee matters not only for what she has performed but for what she represents. She represents a generation of Korean actresses who came to Seoul with little, who worked as models, who took supporting roles, and who became stars through talent and determination. She is a reminder that stardom is not only for people who grow up in the industry. It is for anyone with the courage to leave home, to take a risk, and to bet on themselves. That is a hopeful story, and it is a true one, and it is why, at thirty-one, she is already one of the most important actresses in Korea.

There is a last detail that stays with me, which is the way she talks about Ulsan. She does not talk about it as a place she left. She talks about it as home, as the source of her identity, and as the place she returns to, in her mind, whenever she needs to remember who she is. That loyalty to home is the thread that runs through her whole career, from Reunited Worlds to Gyeongseong Creature, and it is why her performances feel grounded. She did not become famous by leaving Ulsan behind. She became famous by carrying it with her, and the world came to listen.

Her move to Seoul at nineteen is another thread worth following, because it shows a courage that is easy to overlook. She left home with little money, with no connections, and with only a dream, and she survived, she worked, and she succeeded. That is a brave thing to do at nineteen, and it is a sign of a person who believes in herself. Many young people dream of Seoul. Few of them go, and fewer still succeed. Han So-hee went, and she succeeded, and that success is a testament to her determination as much as to her talent.

Soundtrack #1 is a smaller work worth mentioning, because it shows a softer, more musical side of her talent. The series is a gentle romance, with a soundtrack that is central to its story, and Han So-hee’s performance is warm, funny, and romantic, a contrast to the intensity of My Name. That ability to move between genres, from action to romance to history, is the mark of a versatile actress, and it is why directors keep casting her in varied roles. She is not limited to a single type, and that freedom is the most valuable thing an actress can have.

One more practical note: if you want to understand Korean drama in the 2020s, watch Han So-hee. Her filmography is a map of the genre, from The World of the Married to My Name to Gyeongseong Creature, and watching her dramas is the best way to understand how Korean television has changed, and how it has become global. She is not only an actress. She is a history, and her career is the story of Korean drama itself, told through the performances of one of its most compelling stars.

Looking ahead, the question is what she will do next, and the answer is likely to be as varied as everything that came before. She could take another drama role, she could move into film, or she could explore new genres, and any of those choices would be consistent with the actress she has become. She is not tied to a single image, and that freedom is the most valuable thing an actress can have. The next chapter is unwritten, but the chapters so far suggest that it will be worth watching.

Her Baeksang award for Best New Actress deserves a final word, because it is one of the highest honours in Korean entertainment, and winning it for The World of the Married was a vindication of her talent. The Baeksang is voted on by critics and by industry professionals, and winning it means that the people who know acting best have recognised your work. Han So-hee won it at twenty-five, for her first major role, and that is a remarkable achievement. It is a sign that her talent was visible from the start, and that the industry knew it, even before the public did.

One more thought on her modelling: her work as a model gave her a foundation in performance that is visible in her acting, in the way she uses her face, her body, and her presence. A model learns to communicate without words, and Han So-hee’s performances have a physical quality, a sense of the body, that purely trained actors sometimes lack. She does not only say her lines. She embodies them, and that embodiment is part of what makes her so compelling on screen. The modelling was not a detour. It was a training, and it shows.

One more thought on her honesty: she has spoken openly about her tattoos, about her move to Seoul, and about the difficulty of her early years, and that openness is rare in Korean entertainment, where image is often carefully managed. Her honesty is part of why fans trust her, and it is a significant part of her appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Han So-hee born?

Han So-hee was born on 18 November 1994 in Ulsan, South Korea. Her birth name is Lee So-hee.

What was Han So-hee’s breakthrough role?

Her breakthrough was Yeo Da-kyung in The World of the Married in 2020, a JTBC drama that became one of the highest-rated Korean cable dramas in history. She won Best New Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards for the role.

What is My Name on Netflix?

My Name is a 2021 Netflix action series in which Han So-hee plays Yoon Ji-woo, a woman who joins a drug cartel to avenge her father’s death. She trained in martial arts and performed many of her own stunts.

What is Gyeongseong Creature?

Gyeongseong Creature is a Netflix series set in Japanese-occupied Korea in 1945, in which Han So-hee plays Yoon Chae-ok, a woman searching for her missing mother, alongside Park Seo-joon. It ran for two seasons in 2023 and 2024.

Did Han So-hee start as a model?

Yes. Before acting, she worked as a model in Seoul, appearing in commercials and music videos, including SHINee’s Tell Me What to Do in 2016.

Does Han So-hee have tattoos?

She had tattoos before her debut, which she later had removed. She has spoken openly about them, explaining that she got them when she was young and later decided to remove them for her career.