Kim Hee-sun

Quick Facts: Who was Kim Hee-sun?

Subject:

Kim Hee-sun

Known for:

Acclaimed South Korean actress known for her versatile roles in dramas and films.

Born:

1977-06-11

Century / Era:

1977s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Kim Hee-sun (Korean: 김희선; born June 11, 1977) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in the 1990s with leading roles in television series such as Men of the Bath House (1995), Propose (1997), Wedding Dress (1997), Forever Yours (1998), Mister Q (1998), Sunflower (1998), and Tomato (1999). Kim also starred in the martial arts films Bichunmoo (2000) and The Myth (2005), historical medical series Faith (2012), teen series Angry Mom (2015), melodrama The Lady in Dignity (2017), and fantasy series Tomorrow (2022). Kim Hee-sun won the Fair Face Beauty Contest in 1992 while in middle school and began modeling in teen magazines. In 1993, Kim, then a high school sophomore, appeared in a commercial for Lotte Samkang's crab chips, which led to her acting debut in Dinosaur Teacher; and an MC gig for music show Live TV Music 20 that same year.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She enjoyed peak popularity in the mid-to-late 1990s, starring in one hit Korean drama after another. These include Men of the Bath House (1995) written by Kim Soo-hyun, Propose (1997), Wedding Dress (1997) with Lee Seung-yeon, Forever Yours (1998) with Ryu Si-won, Mister Q (1998) with Kim Min-jong and Song Yun-ah, Sunflower (1998) with Ahn Jae-wook, and Tomato (1999) with Kim Suk-hoon. Kim won the top prize at the 1998 SBS Drama Awards for Mister Q, making her at the time the youngest-ever Grand Prize (Daesang) winner, at age 21. During this period, she also appeared in numerous advertisements and rose to fame both at home and abroad as one of Korea's most beautiful and trend-setting actresses. Unlike her success in television, the silver screen proved to be a bigger challenge for Kim's career.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

She made her film debut in 1997's Repechage opposite Jang Dong-gun, and the film's director Lee Kwang-hoon subsequently put her in his next film, Ghost in Love (1999). In her most high-profile role to date, Kim played the daughter of a Mongolian general in the big-budget martial arts fantasy Bichunmoo, shot in China and released in summer 2000. Although criticized for her acting in the film, it gave her more domestic and international exposure than any of her other films. Along with her popular TV dramas, it cemented her position as a Korean Wave star in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and throughout Southeast Asia. In late 2001, Kim took on a completely different kind of role, cutting her hair short and starring as an animator in Wanee & Junah.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1977 (1977-06-11): Birth of Kim Hee-sun — Acclaimed South Korean actress known for her versatile roles in dramas and films.
2. 1992: 1992 Milestone — Kim Hee-sun won the Fair Face Beauty Contest in 1992 while in middle school and began modeling in teen magazines.
3. 1993: 1993 Milestone — In 1993, Kim, then a high school sophomore, appeared in a commercial for Lotte Samkang's crab chips, which led to her acting debut in Dinosaur Teacher; and an MC gig for music show Live TV Music 20 that same year.
4. 1995: 1995 Milestone — She rose to fame in the 1990s with leading roles in television series such as Men of the Bath House (1995), Propose (1997), Wedding Dress (1997), Forever Yours (1998), Mister Q (1998), Sunflower (1998), and Tomato (1999).
5. 1997: 1997 Milestone — She made her film debut in 1997's Repechage opposite Jang Dong-gun, and the film's director Lee Kwang-hoon subsequently put her in his next film, Ghost in Love (1999).
6. 1998: 1998 Milestone — Kim won the top prize at the 1998 SBS Drama Awards for Mister Q, making her at the time the youngest-ever Grand Prize (Daesang) winner, at age 21.
7. 2000: 2000 Milestone — Kim also starred in the martial arts films Bichunmoo (2000) and The Myth (2005), historical medical series Faith (2012), teen series Angry Mom (2015), melodrama The Lady in Dignity (2017), and fantasy series Tomorrow (2022).
8. 2001: 2001 Milestone — In late 2001, Kim took on a completely different kind of role, cutting her hair short and starring as an animator in Wanee & Junah.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kim Hee-sun

True or False: “Kim Hee-sun won the top prize at the 1998 SBS Drama Awards for Mister Q when she was only 20 years old.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): She actually won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at age 21.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada — Contemporary (Died in 1977) (1977): Pioneering global spread of Krishna consciousness teachings and the Hare Krishna mantra.
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• Abdel Halim Hafez — Contemporary (Died in 1977) (1977): Iconic Egyptian singer and actor, known as 'The Brown-Skinned Nightingale'.
• Alexander Kerensky — Shared historical date (06-11 · Died) (1970): Russian revolutionary who led the Provisional Government during the tumultuous period of 1917.
• Alfred Kroeber — Shared historical date (06-11 · Born) (1876): Pioneering American cultural anthropologist, influential in early museum and academic departments.
• Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani — Historical peer (Died in 1977) (1977): Emir of Qatar (1960–1972) whose reign oversaw the nation's oil boom and independence.
• Aki Hoshino — Historical peer (Born in 1977) (1977): Japanese bikini idol known for modeling, acting roles, and fashion collaborations.
• Adolf Butenandt — Historical peer (Died in 1995) (1995): Pioneering German biochemist known for sex hormones and pheromone discovery.
• Adolfo Pedernera — Historical peer (Died in 1995) (1995): Argentine football legend, nicknamed 'El Maestro,' pivotal in the 1940s.
• Adriana Caselotti — Historical peer (Died in 1997) (1997): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• 1977 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1977
• June 11 (06-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on June 11

Frequently Asked Questions about Kim Hee-sun