Han Ye-seul (Korean: 한예슬; born Leslie Kim, September 18, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in the sitcom Nonstop 4 (2003), and has since played leading roles in television dramas such as Couple or Trouble (2006), Tazza (2008), and Birth of a Beauty (2014), as well as the films Miss Gold Digger (2007) and Penny Pinchers (2011).
Han Ye-seul | |
---|---|
Han in October 2020 | |
Born | Leslie Kim September 18, 1981 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Citizenship | South Korea United States (until 2004)[1] |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 2001–present |
Agent | High Entertainment |
Spouse | Ryu Sung-jae (m. 2024) |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 한예슬 |
Revised Romanization | Han Ye-seul |
McCune–Reischauer | Han Yesŭl |
Signature | |
Early life
editLeslie Kim was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.[2] She attended Cerritos High School and graduated from Cerritos College with an associate degree in Computer Graphics.[3] She is fluent in both English and Korean.[2][4]
Career
editActing debut
editShe began her modeling career in South Korea after winning the SBS Supermodel Contest in 2001.[5] Under the stage name Han Ye-seul, she made her acting debut in the popular sitcom Nonstop 4 in 2003.[6] Han quickly rose to fame, and she renounced her U.S. citizenship in 2004 and became a naturalized South Korean citizen to continue establishing herself in Korean entertainment.[7] Her performances in Forbidden Love (2004) and That Summer's Typhoon (2005) received poor reviews,[8][9] with critics dismissing her as primarily a commercial model and not a real actress.[10]
Breakthrough
editHan proved her detractors wrong with Couple or Trouble (also known as Fantasy Couple, 2006), a remake of Overboard written by the Hong sisters. Playing a spoiled heiress who becomes an amnesiac after a yacht accident, Han was praised for her comic timing and the series was a hit.[2][11]
She further embraced the screwball comedy genre with her first film Miss Gold Digger (2007).[12] Despite the film's lackluster box office, Han's portrayal of an advertising executive who juggles four different men in order to catch the ideal husband won her several Best New Actress accolades from local award-giving bodies, including the prestigious Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards.[13][14][15][16][17]
Han next starred in Tazza (2008), a TV adaptation of Huh Young-man's manhwa of the same name about gamblers and card sharks.[18] This was followed up with the Lee Kyung-hee-penned Will It Snow for Christmas?, a melodrama about childhood sweethearts who reunite as adults in 2009.[19][20]
Spy Myung-wol controversy
editIn 2011, Han was cast as the titular character in Spy Myung-wol, as a North Korean agent on a mission to kidnap a top South Korean Hallyu star, who ends up falling for him.[21][22][23] The series gained notoriety when Han failed to show up for her scheduled filming on August 14–15 and instead flew to Los Angeles on August 16; it was the first instance of a leading actor abruptly leaving in the middle of a Korean drama shoot.[24] Her then-agency SidusHQ cited conflicts with television director Hwang In-hyuk over her hectic working conditions, and that exhaustion had compromised her judgment.[25][26] Han's absence effectively halted production, and the KBS network lambasted her actions as "unilateral, irresponsible and will not be tolerated," while the drama's production company Victory Contents (then known as Victory Productions) threatened legal action.[26][27] After extensive press coverage, Han returned to Korea and continued filming Spy Myung-wol on August 18.[28] Upon arrival at Incheon International Airport, she apologized but maintained that her demands had been legitimate, stating "I want to believe that I did the right thing."[29] Han drew harsh criticism from TV industry professionals and viewers, but some fans defended her, saying the stressful Korean drama live-shoot system was at fault.[24][30]
Romantic comedy film Penny Pinchers was released two months after Spy Myung-wol finished airing. In it, Han shed her glamorous image to play an extremely frugal woman who considers love a frivolous expense and teaches an unemployed playboy the art of penny pinching.[31][32]
Comeback
editAfter the Spy Myung-wol fiasco, public backlash forced Han to go on a three-year hiatus from acting.[33][34][35]
In late 2014, she made a successful comeback in Birth of a Beauty, where Han played a warm-hearted ajumma who overcomes her husband's infidelity by undergoing a head-to-toe makeover involving plastic surgery and weight loss.[36][37][38] This was followed with leading roles in romantic comedies Madame Antoine: The Love Therapist (2016) where she plays a fake fortune teller,[39] and 20th Century Boy and Girl (2017).[40]
In 2019, Han starred in SBS drama Big Issue, playing a paparazzi journalist who chases after celebrity scandals.[41][42]
In June 2021, Han signed with new agency High Entertainment.[43]
Personal life
editOn May 2, 2011, Han hit a man surnamed Do on the hip with the wing mirror of her Porsche while driving into the parking lot of her home in an apartment building in Samseong-dong. Do sustained minor injuries and Han's lawyers offered him ₩5 million in compensation, but Do claimed that she had fled the scene.[44] Her then-agency SidusHQ denied this, saying she had apologized and checked if he was okay, but did not step out of her vehicle.[45] After an investigation, police cleared Han of the hit-and-run allegations.[46][47]
Han began dating YG Entertainment record producer Teddy Park in May 2013.[38][48][49] The two were reported to have broken up on October 24, 2016.[50]
In January 2015, the FSS included Han in a list of people who were found to have violated the foreign currency-related law by failing to report their asset acquisition, such as real estate overseas, to relevant authorities.[51] This referred to a commercial building in Koreatown, Los Angeles that Han had bought in 2011, but her then-agency KeyEast issued a statement that the omission had been a technical mistake, because Han had transferred the building's ownership to a company in which she was the major shareholder and was unaware that she should report it.[52]
On May 13, 2021, Han revealed through an update from her Instagram that she is currently dating theatrical actor Ryu Sung-jae, who is 10 years younger than her.[53][54] On May 7, 2024, Han announced that she had registered her marriage with her boyfriend.[55]
Filmography
editFilm
editYear | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Miss Gold Digger | Shin Mi-soo | |
2009 | Monsters vs. Aliens | Susan Murphy/Ginormica (voice, Korean dubbed) | [56] |
2011 | Penny Pinchers | Gu Hong-sil |
Television series
editYear | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Nonstop 4 | Han Ye-seul | |
2004 | Forbidden Love | Chae-yi | |
Nonstop 5 | Han Ye-seul (cameo) | ||
2005 | That Summer's Typhoon | Han Eun-bi | |
2006 | Couple or Trouble | Anna Jo / Na Sang-shil | |
2008 | Tazza | Lee Nan-sook / Mi-na | |
2009 | Will It Snow for Christmas? | Han Ji-wan | |
2011 | Spy Myung-wol | Han Myung-wol | |
2014 | Birth of a Beauty | Sara / Sa Geum-ran | |
2016 | Madame Antoine: The Love Therapist | Go Hye-rim | |
2017 | Children of the 20th Century | Sa Jin-jin | |
2019 | Big Issue | Ji Soo-hyun | |
TBA | The Queen Lives in Seoul | Nam Da-la | [57] |
Hosting and variety show
editYear | Title | Network | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Midnight TV Entertainment | SBS | Host | [58] | |
2004–2005 | Section TV | MBC | [59] | ||
Inkigayo (Popular Music) | SBS | [60] | |||
2007 | She's Olive: Han Ye-seul in L.A. | O'live | Cast | [61] |
Music video appearances
editYear | Song Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2003 | "With Me" | Wheesung |
2010 | "Love Song"[62] | Rain |
Discography
editYear | Title | Artist | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | "You Are Different" | Han Ye-seul | Track 6 on Nonstop 4 OST |
"Say It" | Shinhwa feat. Han Ye-seul | Track 11 on Winter Story 2004–2005 | |
2005 | "Memory" | Han Ye-seul | Track 2 on That Summer's Typhoon OST |
2007 | "Make Me Shine" | Han Ye-seul | Track 1 on Miss Gold Digger OST |
2009 | "Love Class" | Mighty Mouth feat. Han Ye-seul | Track 2 on Love Class EP |
Awards and nominations
editYear | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | SBS Supermodel Contest | Juliet Award | — | Won | |
2004 | 6th Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best OST | "You Are Different" - Nonstop 4 | Nominated | |
MBC Entertainment Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Sitcom/Comedy | Nonstop 4 | Won | [63] | |
2006 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress | Couple or Trouble | Won | [64] |
Popularity Award, Actress | Won | ||||
Best Couple Award with Oh Ji-ho | Won | ||||
2007 | 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress (TV) | Nominated | ||
Most Popular Actress (TV) | Won | [65] | |||
2008 | 3rd Asia Model Awards | Model Star Award | — | Won | [66] |
44th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actress (Film) | Miss Gold Digger | Won | [67] | |
45th Grand Bell Awards | BMW Popularity Award, Actress | Won | [68] | ||
Best New Actress | Won | [15] | |||
31st Golden Cinematography Awards | Won | [69] | |||
7th Korean Film Awards | Nominated | ||||
29th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actress | Won | [16] | ||
4th Asian Festival of First Films | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama | Tazza | Won | [70] | |
Top 10 Stars | Won | ||||
2009 | 45th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress (TV) | Nominated | ||
2014 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special | Birth of a Beauty | Won | [71] |
Best Couple Award with Joo Sang-wook | Won | [72] | |||
Top 10 Stars | Won | ||||
2015 | 15th Huading Awards | Best Global Actress in a TV series | Won | [73] | |
2016 | 9th Korea Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress | Madame Antoine | Nominated | |
2017 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama | 20th Century Boy and Girl | Nominated |
References
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- ^ a b c Yang, Sung-jin (December 12, 2007). "Herald Interview: Han Ye-seul, a bilingual beauty, eyes foreign entertainment markets". The Korea Herald via Hancinema. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ "Han Ye-seul (한예슬)". Korea Tourism Organization. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ "An Eclipse for Han Ye-seul?". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 8, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Lee, In-kyung (January 13, 2012). "Han Ye Seul to Rejoin Her Former Manager's Agency". enewsWorld. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ "Actors/Actresses Who Debuted from Sitcoms". Hancinema. March 30, 2017.
- ^ "Actress Han Ye-Seul's New Sexy Looks". The Seoul Times.
- ^ <인터뷰>한예슬 "섹시한 구미호 한번 보실래요?". Newsis (in Korean). July 5, 2004.
- ^ "<연합인터뷰> SBS 새 주말극 '그 여름의 태풍' 정다빈". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). April 12, 2001.
- ^ "When Stars Bank on Advertising Only". The Chosun Ilbo. September 5, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
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- ^ Yang, Sung-jin (December 18, 2007). "Movie Review: Gold Digger buffs Han's charm, but misses". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
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- ^ Lee, Hyo-won (June 29, 2008). "Daejong Film Fest Showcases Trends". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ a b D'Sa, Nigel (July 1, 2008). "The Chaser Top Winner at Grand Bell Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "Blue Dragon Award Goes to Sports Drama". The Chosun Ilbo. November 21, 2008. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ D'Sa, Nigel (November 26, 2008). "Forever Wins Korea's Top Blue Dragon". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Han, Sang-hee (July 8, 2008). "Movie-Based Dramas to Fill TV Screens". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ "SBS drama Will It Snow On Christmas? is all about love". 10Asia. November 27, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Han, Sang-hee (December 1, 2009). "New Drama to Bring Warmth This Christmas". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Oh, Jean (July 5, 2011). "Eric comes back with TV rom-com". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Hwang, Hyo-jin (July 7, 2011). "Preview: KBS TV series Spy Myung-Wol". 10Asia. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Kwon, Mee-yoo (July 10, 2011). "Drama explores inter-Korean love story". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "Han Ye-seul Walks Away from Soap Opera Flop". The Chosun Ilbo. August 16, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ "AWOL Actress Willing to Return to Set". The Chosun Ilbo. August 17, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ a b Kim, Yoon-mi (August 16, 2011). "Actress Han under fire for abandoning role". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Do, Je-hae (August 16, 2011). "Actress Han Ye-seul returns from LA". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Chung, Ah-young (August 16, 2011). "After much ado, actress Han to return to drama". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ "AWOL Soap Actress Returns". The Chosun Ilbo. August 18, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Choung, Hyuk-min (August 19, 2011). "Han mends fences with KBS, not crew". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Lee, Jin-ho (October 19, 2011). "Han Ye Seul at Love and Cash Press Conference". enewsWorld. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Lee, Jin-ho (November 2, 2011). "Love and Cash Director Praises Han Ye Seul". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Sunwoo, Carla (November 20, 2012). "Han Ye-seul talks about her off-year". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Yun, Chloe (October 2, 2013). "Han Ye Seoul gets on the stage as BEDNI creative director". BNTNews. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Lee, Min-ji (October 30, 2014). "Han Ye Seul Had a Tough Time Returning After Three Years". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Lee, Sung-eun (October 1, 2014). "Han Ye-seul makes comeback". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ "Han Ye-seul returns to acting". Korea JoongAng Daily. November 1, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ a b Lee, Min-ji (January 18, 2015). "Interview: Han Ye Seul Shares Boyfriend Teddy's Reaction to Her Acceptance Speech". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ "Han Ye-seul, Sung Joon in new JTBC drama". The Korea Times. October 26, 2015.
- ^ "Han Ye-seul and Kim Ji-seok to star in "Boy and Girl from the 20th Century"". Hancinema. July 10, 2017.
- ^ "Han Ye-seul to star in SBS drama". Korean Film Biz Zone. December 14, 2018.
- ^ "Han Ye-seul Excited to Try Something Different in New TV Series". The Chosun Ilbo. March 9, 2019.
- ^ "한예슬, '10살 연하♥' 열애→소속사 계약 직접 발표..조여정과 한솥밥". OSEN. June 1, 2021.
- ^ "Actress Charged in Hit-and-Run Accident". The Chosun Ilbo. May 6, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Kim, Jessica (May 6, 2011). "Han Ye-seul to be questioned for hit-and-run charge". 10Asia. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Kim, Rahn (May 20, 2011). "Actress Han cleared of hit-and-run allegations". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Kim, Jessica (May 20, 2011). "Actress Han Ye-seul cleared of hit-and-run charges". 10Asia. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Im, Woo-jung (November 25, 2013). "Han Ye-seul and Teddy in a relationship". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Lee, Sun-min (November 26, 2013). "Teddy, Han Ye-seul admit to dating". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ "New couples emerge, others break up in 2016 celebrity dating scene". Yonhap. December 20, 2016.
- ^ Bae, Hyun-jung (January 13, 2015). "FSS detects celebrities' illicit overseas asset deals". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Kim, Jae-won (January 13, 2015). "Chaebol scions, SM chief and actress in W130 bil. illegal FX deals". The Korea Times. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Jeon, Jae-kyung (May 13, 2021). "한예슬 "제 남자친구를 소개합니다"…깜짝 공개". Newsis via Naver. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ "'공개 열애' 한예슬, 10살 연하 배우 출신 훈남과 1년째 만남(종합)". star.ytn.co.kr (in Korean). May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ Moon, Ji-yeon (May 7, 2024). "[SC이슈] "나 이제 유부녀!"..한예슬, ♥10세 연하 남친 공개→혼인신고 직접 발표" [[SC Issue] “I am now a married woman!”..Han Ye-seul reveals her boyfriend who is 10 years younger than her → Announces marriage registration herself] (in Korean). SportsChosun. Retrieved May 7, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ 한예슬, 닮은꼴 애니 캐릭터 더빙…“색다른 경험 즐거워”. Nonews (in Korean). March 18, 2009.
- ^ Jang Jin-ri (January 11, 2023). "[단독]한예슬, 4년 만에 안방 컴백…'서울에 여왕이 산다' 캐스팅" [[Exclusive] Han Ye-seul, home screen comeback after 4 years... Casting for 'The Queen Lives in Seoul']. Spotv News (in Korean). Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ 얼짱 리포터 민송아? 원조는 배우 한예슬. TV Report (in Korean). February 9, 2001.
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- ^ "사장님 된 '한예슬' LA서 하는 사업? 역시". Asiae (in Korean). March 20, 2012.
- ^ "Rain's Love Story music video to be released today". 10Asia. April 2, 2010. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
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- ^ "MBC 연기대상 '3관왕' 한예슬 "쟁반짜장 쏠게요"". My Daily (in Korean). December 30, 2006.
- ^ 이범수 김태희 한예슬 이준기, 백상 인기상 수상. Star News (in Korean). April 25, 2007.
- ^ "2008 Asia Model Awards Model Star Award (Korea) Joo Ji Hun & Han Ye Seul". AMFOC. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- ^ 한예슬, 백상예술대상 여자 신인연기상 수상. Osen (in Korean). April 24, 2008.
- ^ 김윤석·한예슬, 대종상 남녀인기상 수상. My Daily (in Korean). July 27, 2008.
- ^ "Filmmakers Honored at Golden Cinematography Awards". HanCinema. KBS World. December 23, 2008.
- ^ "문근영 대상, '조강지처클럽' 10개 부문 수상...SBS 연기대상(종합)". edaily (in Korean). September 1, 2009.
- ^ "2014 SBS연기대상은 전지현…"김수현 너 덕분"". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). January 1, 2015.
- ^ Kim, Min-jin (January 1, 2015). "Four couples win best couple prize in SBS Drama Awards". K-pop Herald. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Sung, So-young (January 20, 2015). "Kim, Han take awards at Hwajeong". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
External links
edit- Han Ye-seul on Cyworld (in Korean)
- Han Ye-seul at HanCinema
- Han Ye-seul at IMDb