Han Hyo-joo

Han Hyo-joo is a South Korean actress born Han Ji-yeong on February 22, 1987. She established herself as a major television and film figure following leading roles in hit series such as Brilliant Legacy and Dong Yi. Throughout her career, she has performed across diverse genres, including melodramas, historical features, crime thrillers, and science-fiction projects. Recognized as a top Hallyu star, Han has served as a commercial face for major Korean corporate brands and international luxury fashion houses.

Han was born in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. Her mother was an elementary school teacher who later became a public school inspector, and her father served as an air force lieutenant colonel. Born Han Ji-yeong, she changed her name to Han Hyo-joo in the third grade. She attended local schools in Cheongju before moving to Seoul during high school to attend Bulgok High School. She subsequently studied in the Theater and Film department at Dongguk University, graduating in 2010.

Discovered in a 2003 teenage beauty pageant, Han made her acting debut in projects including the sitcom Nonstop 5 and the drama Spring Waltz. She earned critical acclaim for her role in the 2006 independent film Ad-lib Night before gaining wider recognition through television dramas like Heaven & Earth and Iljimae. Her breakthrough came in 2009 with the high-rating drama Brilliant Legacy, followed by her acclaimed portrayal of the title role in the 2010 historical drama Dong Yi.

Han transitioned into prominent film roles throughout the 2010s. She starred in the melodrama Always, the blockbuster period film Masquerade, and the romantic drama Love 911. Her role in the 2013 action thriller Cold Eyes earned her the Best Actress award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. Her subsequent film projects included her Japanese debut in Miracle: Debikuro-kun no Koi to Maho, the musical biopic C'est Si Bon, the romantic comedy The Beauty Inside, and the historical film Love, Lies.

In 2016, Han returned to television with the fantasy series W. She made her American television debut in the 2019 series Treadstone, and later starred in the apocalyptic thriller Happiness and the period sequel The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure. In 2023, she starred in the supernatural sci-fi series Moving, winning a Grand Bell Award for her performance. Her recent work includes the sci-fi series Blood Free and the Netflix project Romantics Anonymous.

Han is fluent in Korean, English, and Japanese, and plays the piano and guitar. An active sports enthusiast, she engages in golf, tennis, running, and free-diving, participating in the 2023 World Triathlon Cup. She also regularly contributes to charitable causes, making donations to medical facilities, disaster relief funds, and organizations supporting children, single mothers, and the elderly.