Ha Ji-won facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ha Ji-won
Ha in 2023
Born	Jeon Hae-rim (1978-06-28) 28 June 1978 (age 47) Seoul, South Korea
Education	Bachelor of Film and Television
Alma mater	Dankook University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1996–present
Agent	Haewadal Entertainment
Relatives	Jun Tae-soo (brother)
Korean name
Hangul	전해림
Hanja	田海林
RR	Jeon Haerim
MR	Chŏn Haerim
Stage name
Hangul	하지원
Hanja	河智苑
RR	Ha Jiwon
MR	Ha Chiwŏn

Jeon Hae-rim (Hangul: 전해림; born on June 28, 1978), known as Ha Ji-won (Hangul: 하지원), is a famous South Korean actress. She is well-known for her roles in movies like Phone (2002), Miracle on 1st Street (2007), Tidal Wave (2009), Closer to Heaven (2009), and Pawn (2020). She also starred in popular TV shows such as Damo (2003), Something Happened in Bali (2004), Hwang Jini (2006), Secret Garden (2010–2011), The King 2 Hearts (2012), and Empress Ki (2013–2014).

Ha Ji-won is one of South Korea's most popular actresses. She is known for being able to play many different kinds of characters. She has acted in action, comedy, horror, drama, sports, and medical stories.

Early Life and Education

Jeon Hae-rim was discovered by an agency when she was in high school. She always dreamed of becoming an actress. She shared that an agency contacted her after seeing her picture at a photo studio.

She later studied Film and Television at Dankook University. In 2012, Ha Ji-won shared that she failed over 100 auditions before she got her first role. She said, "I passed my college entrance exams and was accepted to the theater and film department. Before my debut, I auditioned for about 100 projects but didn't get the roles."

Jeon Hae-rim chose "Ha Ji-won" as her stage name. She did this as a favor to her first manager. It was the name of his first love. She thought the name was pretty and strong.

Career Highlights

Early Acting Roles (1996–2001)

Ha Ji-won started her TV career in 1996 in a teen drama called New Generation Report: Adults Don't Understand Us. She played smaller roles in other dramas like Dragon's Tears and Dangerous Lullaby. She became more famous after starring in the high school drama School 2. In this show, she played a troubled teenager.

In 2000, Ha Ji-won made her movie debut in the thriller Truth Game. She was chosen for the role from 1,500 people. She won the Best New Actress award for playing a character with big mood changes. That same year, she was in the horror movie Nightmare and the sci-fi romance film Ditto. For Ditto, she won the Best Supporting Actress award. She also played a bad guy in the drama Secret, which earned her a Best Rookie Actress award.

In 2001, Ha Ji-won got her first main role in Beautiful Life. She played the daughter of a rich hotel owner. She then starred in Days in the Sun.

Rising to Stardom (2002–2009)

In 2002, she appeared in the horror movie Phone. This movie was very successful in South Korea and also popular in Italy. This led to her being called "Asia's Horror Princess." Later that year, she starred in the movie ... Is Zero. This movie was very popular and won her a Popularity Award.

In 2003, Ha Ji-won starred in her first historical drama, Damo. This show was very popular and became a cultural hit. Her acting as a police detective was highly praised, and she won a Top Excellence award. That year, she also released her first music album, Home Run, with the song "Home Run" featuring Psy.

In 2004, she starred in the drama What Happened in Bali. This show was a huge success, and Ha Ji-won won the Best Actress award for her role. She also appeared in two movies, 100 Days with Mr. Arrogant and Love, So Divine, but these were not as popular.

Ha Ji-won then played the main character in Daddy-Long-Legs, based on a famous novel. She also starred in the martial arts film Duelist. She won a Popularity Award for this movie.

In 2006, Ha Ji-won starred in Hwang Jini. This historical drama was about a famous artist from the 16th century. The show was a big success and made gisaeng-themed entertainment very popular. Ha Ji-won won the Grand Prize for her performance.

In July 2011

In 2007, Ha Ji-won played a female boxer in the comedy film Miracle on 1st Street. This movie was one of the most popular films that year. She then played a pianist in Miracle of a Giving Fool, which was based on a popular online comic.

In 2009, Ha Ji-won worked on the disaster film Haeundae. This movie was a huge success and made her known as "The 10 Million Movie Actress" because over 10 million people watched it. She then starred in the drama Closer to Heaven. Her emotional acting in this film won her the Best Actress Award.

Global Recognition (2010–2013)

After a four-year break from TV dramas, Ha Ji-won made a very successful return in 2010 with the hit drama Secret Garden. She played a stunt woman who magically switches bodies with a rich CEO. The show was a big hit, and Ha Ji-won won the Best Actress award.

Ha Ji-won then starred in the 3D science fiction film Sector 7. Even though it didn't do well in South Korea, it was very popular in China. Ha Ji-won trained hard for this role, swimming and lifting weights for hours each day. She even got a scuba diving certificate and a motor license in a week.

In January 2015

In 2012, Ha Ji-won starred in the drama The King 2 Hearts. She played a North Korean Special Forces Officer who marries a South Korean prince. She even learned the North Korean accent to make her character more real. Ha Ji-won also acted in the sports film As One, playing a South Korean table tennis player. Because she played both North and South Korean characters, she was called "The Flower of Reunification."

In 2013, Ha Ji-won won her second Grand Prize award for her role as the main character in the historical drama Empress Ki. This drama had very high viewership ratings and was also popular in other countries, especially Taiwan.

Recent Work (2014–Present)

In 2014, Ha Ji-won starred in the action film The Huntresses.

In 2015, she was cast in the movie Chronicle of a Blood Merchant. She also starred in The Time We Were Not in Love, a Korean version of a popular Taiwanese drama.

In 2016, Ha Ji-won starred in the movie Life Risking Romance, a film made with South Korea and China.

In 2017, Ha Ji-won appeared in Manhunt, an international film by director John Woo. She played a female assassin. She also returned to TV with the medical drama Hospital Ship, playing a skilled surgeon. She won a Top Excellence Award for this role.

In 2018, Ha Ji-won joined her first variety show, Galileo: Awakened Universe, which was about space.

In 2019, Ha Ji-won returned to the big screen with the romance drama Chocolate.

In 2020, she starred in Pawn, a human drama film.

In October 2022, Ha Ji-won returned to TV after five years with Curtain Call.

Other Activities

Music

Ha Ji-won appeared in the music video for Wax's song "Mother's Diary" in 2000. She also performed Wax's song "Oppa" on stage.

She released her first album, Home Run, in 2003. The main song from the album, "Home Run," featured singer Psy.

In 2014, Ha Ji-won released a digital song called "Now in This Place." She released it for fans who supported her drama Empress Ki. The writer of Empress Ki wrote the lyrics.

In 2015, Ha Ji-won released a song she wrote herself called "You Are Zoe." She wrote the song while working on a TV show in France.

Books and Fashion

In 2012, Ha Ji-won gave a lecture about making movies in China. She also launched her own "Secret Jeans" line and designed a handbag for a fashion brand.

The same year, she published her first book called This Moment.

Helping Others

Ha Ji-won is known for her charity work. In 2005, she promised to donate her corneas. She was inspired by a prisoner who offered to donate his cornea to her when she had an eye injury. She wanted to help people who couldn't see well.

She also helps children who are less fortunate or have disabilities. She runs a project called Smile Again Foundation. She received an award from the Prime Minister in 2008 for her work helping poor and handicapped families.

In 2012, Ha Ji-won donated the money from her first book, At This Moment, to charity. The money helped set up scholarships for art students and paid for treatments for deaf and blind children.

In 2015, Ha Ji-won designed bags with other famous people to raise money for charity. She donated the money from her bag to Operation Smile. This group helps children in poorer countries get surgery for cleft lip and cleft palate.

In 2016, Ha Ji-won donated 100 million won (about US$83,604) to help victims of a ferry disaster.

Management

In 2013, Ha Ji-won left her agency of ten years. She decided to start her own company called Haewadal Entertainment (which means Sun and Moon Entertainment). In the same year, she signed with a big talent agency in the United States to help with her Hollywood career. She also signed contracts with other companies to manage her activities in other countries, like China.

Filmography

Discography

Albums

Digital Singles

Awards and Recognitions

Ha Ji-won has won many awards throughout her career for her amazing acting. Some of her notable awards include:

• Best New Actress at the 37th Grand Bell Awards (2000) for Truth Game.
• Best Supporting Actress at the 21st Blue Dragon Film Awards (2000) for Ditto.
• Best New Actress – Television at the Baeksang Arts Awards (2001) for Secret.
• Best Actress – Television at the Baeksang Arts Awards (2004) for What Happened in Bali.
• Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2006 KBS Drama Awards for Hwang Jini.
• Best Leading Actress at the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards (2009) for Closer to Heaven.
• Best Actress at the Grimae Awards (2011) for Secret Garden.
• Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2013 MBC Drama Awards for Empress Ki.
• Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries at the 2017 MBC Drama Awards for Hospital Ship.
• Top Excellence Award, Actress at the 2022 KBS Drama Awards for Curtain Call.

She has also received special honors from the South Korean government, including the Prime Minister's Award in 2008 and the Presidential Commendation in 2014, for her contributions to society and her work.

See also

In Spanish: Ha Ji-won para niños