Jeon Hae-rim (; born 28 June 1978), better known by her stage name Ha Ji-won () is a South Korean actress. She is best known for the historical dramas '' Damo'' (2003), ''

Hwang Jini Hwang Jini or Hwang Jin-Yi (; 1506 – 1560), also known by her gisaeng name Myeongwol ("bright moon", ), was one of the most famous gisaeng of the Joseon Dynasty. She lived during the reign of King Jungjong. She was noted for her exceptional ...

'' (2006), and '' Empress Ki'' (2013), as well as the melodrama ''

Something Happened in Bali ''Something Happened in Bali'' (; also known as ''What Happened in Bali'' or ''Memories of Bali'') is a 2004 South Korean television series, starring Ha Ji-won, Jo In-sung, So Ji-sub and Park Ye-jin. It aired on SBS on Saturdays and Sundays at ...

'' (2004), the

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

series '' Secret Garden'' (2010), ''

The King 2 Hearts ''The King 2 Hearts'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series, starring Ha Ji-won and Lee Seung-gi in the leading roles. It is about a South Korean crown prince who falls in love with a North Korean special agent. The series aired on MBC fr ...

'' (2012) and the medical drama ''

Hospital Ship A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital. Most are operated by the military forces (mostly navies) of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones. I ...

'' (2017). She has starred in several films and television series, and is one of South Korea's most sought after and critically acclaimed actresses, particularly known for her versatility in pulling off roles in various genres such as action, comedy, horror, drama, sports and medical., translated to English at , translated to English at

Early life and education

Jeon Hae-rim was scouted by an agency when she was a senior high school student. The actress stated, "Ever since I was a little kid, I dreamed of becoming an actress. When I was a senior in high school, an agency contacted me after seeing my picture at a photography studio." She later graduated with a degree in

Bachelor of Film and Television Bachelor of Film and Television (usually BF&TV or BFTV) is an undergraduate bachelor's degree awarded to students who have studied elements of Filmmaking and Television production accredited university or accredited college. This degree is a relat ...

(BFTV) in

Dankook University Dankook University (commonly referred to as Dankook), abbreviated as DU or DKU, is a prestigious private research university in Yongin and Cheonan, South Korea. The university was established in 1947. It was the first university established after ...

. In 2012, the actress revealed that she had failed over 100 auditions before her debut, "I passed my college entrance and written exams and was accepted to the department of theater and film. Before my debut, I auditioned for 100 or so projects but didn't get the roles." Jeon candidly revealed that she adopted "Ha Ji-won" as her stage name as a favor for her previous manager as it was the name of his first love. "When I was about to debut, the first love of my manager's name was Ha Ji-won. I think he wanted to at least use the name of his love that was not fulfilled. The first time I heard the name Ha Ji-won, I thought it was pretty and also bold."

Career

1996–2001: Beginnings

Ha Ji-won made her TV debut in the 1996 teen drama, ''New Generation Report: Adults Don't Understand Us''. She continued playing supporting roles in dramas, ''Dragon's Tears'' and ''Dangerous Lullaby'' in 1998 and 1999 respectively. But it was through the popular high school drama ''School 2'', in which she played the role of a troubled teen, that she started to gain fame as an actress. Ha Ji-won at the premiere of Miracle on 1st Street 116

Ha Ji-won at the premiere of Miracle on 1st Street 116

In 2000, Ha made her film debut in the thriller, ''Truth Game'', alongside

Ahn Sung-ki Ahn Sung-ki (born January 1, 1952) is a South Korean actor. One of the country's most respected actors, he has appeared in more than 130 films during his career of over 60 years. Career A native of Seoul, Ahn was the son of a veteran filmmaker ...

, where she was chosen for the role from a pool of 1,500 prospective candidates. For her portrayal of a bipolar character, Ha was awarded Best New Actress at the 37th Grand Bell Awards and 1st Busan Film Critics Awards. The same year, she starred in Ahn Byeong-ki's horror movie '' Nightmare'', and sci-fi romance film ''

Ditto DITTO is a company that sells software that aids eyewear companies sell their products online using virtual fitting. Originally DITTO was a retailer that sold designer prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses. The company is based in San Francisco, ...

'', which won her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 21st Blue Dragon Film Awards. Later, Ha reunited with ''Ditto'' co-star

Kim Ha-neul Kim Ha-neul (; born February 21, 1978) is a South Korean actress. After starting her career as a model, she rose to fame by starring in romantic-comedy films ''My Tutor Friend'' (2003) and ''Too Beautiful to Lie'' (2004) and the action-comedy f ...

in the drama, ''

Secret Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controvers ...

'', playing an antagonist role. The drama earned her Best Rookie Actress recognition at the

MBC Drama Awards The MBC Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony presented by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for outstanding achievements in Korean dramas aired on its network. It is held annually in December. Unlike its counterparts in KBS and SBS, MB ...

and 37th

Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were first introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the Hankook Ilbo newspap ...

. In 2001, Ha had her first leading role in ''Beautiful Life'', where she played the role of a chaebol hotelier's daughter, opposite

Kim Rae-won Kim Rae-won (Korean: 김래원; born 19 March 1981) is a South Korean actor. He first rose to fame with his appearances in the 2003 romantic comedy series ''Cats on the Roof'', and movies such as ''My Little Bride'' (2004), ''Sunflower'' (2006), ...

. This was followed by another starring role in ''Days in the Sun'' opposite

Ji Sung Ji Sung (born Kwak Tae-geun on 27 February 1977) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the television dramas '' All In'' (2003), '' Save the Last Dance for Me'' (2004), ''New Heart'' (2007), ''Protect the Boss'' (2011), ' ...

. In 2002, she appeared in Ahn Byeong-ki's in horror movie, '' Phone''. The film was a huge success in South Korea and was also a hit in Italy, officially dubbing her as "Asia's Horror Princess". Following '' Phone'' in the same year was

Yoon Je-kyoon Yoon Je-kyun (born 1969) is a South Korean film director . His debut ''My Boss, My Hero'' is about a gangster who is sent back to school, while ''Sex Is Zero'' has been compared with '' American Pie''. However, his disaster movie '' Haeundae'' ...

's '' American Pie''-inspired movie, ''

Sex Is Zero ''Sex Is Zero'' () is a 2002 South Korean film written and directed by Yoon Je-kyoon, starring Im Chang-jung and Ha Ji-won. In the style of American gross-out comedies like '' American Pie'', it follows the exploits of a group of college student ...

'', co-starring

Im Chang-jung Im Chang-jung (; born November 30, 1973) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He is often referred by Koreans as "the original multi-entertainer" for being active in all three fields: music, film and entertainment. He made his acting ...

. The movie was the third most popular Korean movie in 2002 and ranked fifth among all films released in that year, winning Ha the Popularity Award at the 39th

. In 2003, Ha starred in her first historical drama, '' Damo''. ''Damo'' was highly popular among viewers in their 20s and 30s and turned into a cultural phenomenon. Ha's performance as a lowly police detective was highly praised and she was given the Top Excellence award at the

In 2004, she starred in the heavy melodrama, '' What Happened in Bali'', alongside

Jo In-sung Zo In-sung (, born July 28, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the Korean television dramas ''Something Happened in Bali'' (2004), '' Spring Day'' (2005), '' That Winter, the Wind Blows'' (2013), and ''I ...

and So Ji-sub. ''What Happened in Bali'' was a huge success, with its final episode reaching a peak rating of 39.7%, and won Ha the coveted Best Actress recognition at the 40th

. Ha also appeared in two films,

internet fiction Web fiction is written works of literature available primarily or solely on the Internet. A common type of web fiction is the web serial. The term comes from old serial (literature), serial stories that were once published regularly in newspapers an ...

themed movie, ''

100 Days with Mr. Arrogant ''100 Days with Mr. Arrogant'' (aka ''My Love Ssagaji'') is a 2004 South Korean romantic comedy film. History The film originates from a genre called '' internet fiction'' (인터넷 소설) (movies such as ''My Sassy Girl'' (엽기적인그녀), ...

'' opposite

Kim Jae-won Kim JaewonThe actor indicates a preference of spelling his name "Jaewon" (without a space or hyphen) on hiofficial website (born 18 February 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for the Korean drama, television dramas ''Romance (2002 T ...

and romantic comedy, ''

Love, So Divine ''Love, So Divine'' is a 2004 South Korean romantic comedy film starring Ha Ji-won and Kwon Sang-woo, and the directorial debut of Heo In-moo. Released in Korea on August 6, 2004, the film sold over 1,242,476 tickets nationwide. Plot After getti ...

'' with

Kwon Sang-woo Kwon Sang-woo (in Korean: 권상우, ''Kweon Sang-u''; born August 5, 1976) is a South Korean actor. He rose to stardom in 2003 with the romantic comedy film ''My Tutor Friend'' and the melodrama series ''Stairway to Heaven''. Career Kwon Sang ...

. However, both films were not as successful with audiences. Ha then played the role of the female protagonist in '' Daddy-Long-Legs'', which was inspired by the novel of the same title written by

Jean Webster Jean Webster was the pen name of Alice Jane Chandler Webster (July 24, 1876 – June 11, 1916), an American author whose books include '' Daddy-Long-Legs'' and '' Dear Enemy''. Her best-known books feature lively and likeable young female prot ...

. She also starred in

Lee Myung-se Lee Myung-se (; born August 20, 1957) is a South Korean filmmaker. Lee began his career as an assistant producer under Bae Chang-ho for the films ''Hwang Jin-I'' (1986), ''Our Sweet Days of Youth'' (1988), and ''Dream'' (1990). At the 1991 Asia- ...

martial arts film Martial arts films are a subgenre of action films that feature numerous martial arts combat between characters. These combats are usually the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often are a method of storytelling and character expres ...

, '' Duelist'', opposite Kang Dong-won. At the 26th Blue Dragon Awards where Ha won the Popularity Award, she quoted Director Lee's line, "An actor never stops learning." which she said she had always been applying in her life as an actress. In 2006, Ha starred in ''

'', a period drama based on the real-life history of the character of

, who lived in 16th-century Joseon and is considered the most famous gisaeng in the Korean history. The series was a huge ratings success, giving rise to a boom in gisaeng-themed entertainment—musicals, TV dramas, films, even cartoons. Ha's performance won her the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2006 KBS Drama Awards. Ha Ji-won on 26 July 2011 (4)

In 2007, Ha challenged herself in the role of a female boxer in the comedy film, ''

Miracle on 1st Street ''Miracle on 1st Street'' is a 2007 South Korean comedy-drama film. Written and directed by Yoon Je-kyoon, it reunited him with actors Im Chang-jung and Ha Ji-won, the stars of his earlier film '' Sex Is Zero''. With 2,750,457 admissions, ''Miracl ...

''. Coming from the team behind ''Sex Is Zero'', the movie became the fifth most popular movie in that year. She then took on the role of a pianist in '' Miracle of a Giving Fool'', which was based on a popular

webcomic Webcomics (also known as online comics or Internet comics) are comics published on a website or mobile app. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers, or comic books. Webcomics can be c ...

and won her the Popularity Award at the 44th

. In 2009, Ha worked with Director

for the third time in the blockbuster disaster film '' Haeundae''. The movie was funded by

CJ Entertainment CJ Entertainment (Hangul: CJ 엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean film production and distribution company under CJ ENM. The company operates as a film production company, film publishing house, investment and exhibition. History During early 1 ...

with a budget estimated at US$10–15 million, one of the largest for a Korean production. ''Haeundae'' was met with both critical and commercial success. It was the fourth highest-grossing film in South Korea then, giving Ha the honor of "The 10 Million Movie Actress" for bringing more than 10 million audiences. She then starred in

Park Jin-pyo Park Jin-pyo (born 1966) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He directed ''Too Young to Die'' (2002), ''You Are My Sunshine'' (2005), '' Voice of a Murderer'' (2007), '' Closer to Heaven'' (2009), and '' Love Forecast'' (2015). Car ...

's melodrama '' Closer to Heaven''. Ha's heartfelt performance in the film won her the Best Actress Award at the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards and 46th

2010–2013: International popularity

After taking a four-year break from dramas, Ha made a very successful comeback through the 2010 hit drama, '' Secret Garden'', written by famous writer

Kim Eun-sook Kim Eun-sook (Korean: 김은숙, born 1973) is a South Korean screenwriter. She wrote the popular television dramas ''Lovers in Paris'' (2004), '' On Air'' (2008), '' Secret Garden'' (2010), ''A Gentleman's Dignity'' (2012), ''The Heirs'' (20 ...

. She played the role of a stunt woman, who magically switches bodies with a wealthy CEO character (played by

Hyun Bin Kim Tae-pyung (born September 25, 1982), better known as Hyun Bin, is a South Korean actor. He gained widespread recognition for his role in the 2005 romantic comedy TV drama '' My Name is Kim Sam-soon''. Since then, he has appeared in leading ...

). Proven to be a commercial success, the drama series brought in high domestic ratings and garnered much interest regarding its fashion, catchphrases and music. Ha was awarded the prestige Best Actress at the

Grimae Awards Grimae Awards is an awards ceremony held annually by the Korean Television Producers Association since 1993. The award aims to promote the development of innovative visuals due to the phenomenon of media convergence both inside and outside th ...

. Ha then starred in

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

3D film, ''

Sector 7 Sector Seven, Sector 7, or variations thereon may refer to: * Sector 7 (book), ''Sector 7'' (book), a wordless picture book created and illustrated by David Wiesner * Sector 7 (film), ''Sector 7'' (film), a 2011 South Korean 3D science fiction acti ...

''. Although the film failed to do well in South Korea, it was a hit in China, garnering over 20 million yuan in China after just one week, beating previous records set by ''

200 Pounds Beauty ''200 Pounds Beauty'' (; "Beauty is painful") is a 2006 South Korean musical romantic comedy film written and directed by Kim Yong-hwa. It is based on the Japanese manga by Yumiko Suzuki about an overweight ghost singer who undergoes intensive pl ...

'' at 16 million yuan. Ha had spent eight hours a day swimming and training with weights to get in shape for the role, obtained a scuba diving certificate and motor license in a week to "immerse" herself in character. (허삼관) 새해 인사 영상 하지원

In 2012, Ha starred in alternate history drama ''

'' opposite

Lee Seung-gi Lee Seung-gi (; born January 13, 1987) is a South Korean singer, actor, host, and entertainer. He has numerous hit songs as a singer such as "Because You're My Woman", "Will You Marry Me", "Return" and "The Ordinary Man". He has garnered furt ...

, playing the role of a

North Korean Special Forces The Korean People's Army Special Operations Forces (KPASOF; Korean: 조선인민군 특수작전군; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍特殊作戰軍; Chosŏn-inmin'gun teugsujagjeongun) are the special forces of Korean People's Army. It consist of special ...

Officer who married a South Korean crown prince as a political strategy. It was also revealed that Ha had studied the North Korean dialect to make her portrayal of the character more realistic and genuine. Ha then acted in sports film '' As One'', playing the role of a South Korean

table tennis Table tennis, also known as ping-pong and whiff-whaff, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball, also known as the ping-pong ball, back and forth across a table using small solid rackets. It takes place on a hard table div ...

player. As Ha had simultaneously portrayed a North and South Korean character on the small and big screen, she was dubbed as "The Flower of Reunification" for crossing boundaries of the two nations. In 2013, Ha was awarded her second Daesang award for her performance as the

titular character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piece. The title of ...

in the hit historical drama '' Empress Ki''. The drama achieved high viewership ratings throughout its run on MBC, and was also well-received overseas; particularly in Taiwan.

2014–present: Returning to the mainstream

In 2014, Ha, together with

Kang Ye-won Kang Ye-won (born Kim Ji-eun; March 15, 1979) is a South Korean actress best known for her roles in '' Tidal Wave'', '' Harmony'' and '' Quick''. Filmography Film Television series Variety show Musicals Awards and nominations Persona ...

and

Son Ga-in Son Ga-in (; born September 20, 1987), known mononymously as Gain, is a South Korean singer, actress and entertainer, best known as a member of the South Korean girl group Brown Eyed Girls. Having debuted with her home group earlier in 2006, G ...

of '' Brown Eyed Girls'', then starred in the '' Charlie's Angels''-inspired action fusion saeguk, ''

The Huntresses ''The Huntresses'' (; lit. "Joseon Beautiful Lady Three Musketeers") is a 2014 South Korean film directed by Park Jae-hyun. A ''Charlie's Angels''-inspired action/adventure comedy, it stars Ha Ji-won, Kang Ye-won and Son Ga-in as the three most le ...

''. In 2015, Ha was cast by

Ha Jung-woo Kim Sung-hoon (born March 11, 1978), better known as Ha Jung-woo (), is a South Korean actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer. One of the highest grossing actors in South Korea, Ha's starring films have accumulated more than 100 mil ...

to play his character's wife in his self-directed movie, ''

Chronicle of a Blood Merchant ''Chronicle of a Blood Merchant'' () is a 1995 novel composed by Chinese writer Yu Hua. It is his third published novel after ''Cries in the Drizzle'' and '' To Live''. It is the story of a silk factory worker, Xu Sanguan, who sells his blood o ...

'', a film adaption of the bestselling 1995 Chinese novel of the same title written by

Yu Hua Yu Hua (; born April 3, 1960, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province) is a Chinese author. Shortly after his debut as a fiction writer in 1983, his first breakthrough came in 1987, when he released the short story '' On the Road at Age Eighteen''. Yu ...

. Following that, Ha, alongside actor

Lee Jin-wook Lee Jin-wook ( Korean: 이진욱; born September 16, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading role in the romance series ''Glass Castle'', the time-traveling series '' Nine'' (2013), romance series ''The Time We Were Not i ...

starred in the Korean remake of the 2011 hit

Taiwanese drama Taiwanese drama (, also known as T.W. drama) refer to dramatic programming of television programming extended stories usually dramatizing relationships through the general range of ten to forty one-hour episodes. They are produced in Taiwan and hav ...

'' In Time with You'', titled '' The Time We Were Not in Love''. However, in contrast to her previous dramas, ''The Time We Were Not in Love'' received low ratings and Ha's performance was called into question. However, the show has received popular ratings among international post-broadcast audiences. In 2016, Ha starred in the South Korea-China co-production film, ''

Life Risking Romance ''Life Risking Romance'' () is a 2016 South Korean-Chinese film directed by Song Min-kyu. It stars Ha Ji-won, Chun Jung-myung and Chen Bolin. Plot Je-in is a mystery novel writer who chases after a serial killer with her longtime detective frie ...

'', alongside Taiwanese actor

Chen Bolin Chen Bolin (; born 27 August 1983), also known as Wilson Chen, is a Taiwanese actor. Early life and education Chen was born on 27 August 1983. While in high school, Chen participated in the Taiwanese variety show ' due to his similarity to Ta ...

. In 2017, Ha starred in ''

Manhunt Manhunt may refer to: Search processes * Manhunt (law enforcement), a search for a dangerous fugitive * Manhunt (military), a search for a high-value target by special operations forces or intelligence agencies Social organisations * Manhun ...

'', an international co-production by Hong Kong director

John Woo John Woo Yu-Sen SBS (; born September 22, 1946) is a Hong Kong filmmaker, known as a highly-influential figure in the action film genre. He was a pioneer of heroic bloodshed films (a crime action film genre involving Chinese triads) and the gun ...

. She played a female assassin in the film. Ha returned to the small screen with MBC's medical drama ''Hospital Ship'', which started airing in August 2017. She plays an ambitious surgeon who finds herself on a hospital ship. She won the Top Excellence Award at the

for her role. In 2018, Ha joined tvN's space themed variety show, ''Galileo: Awakened Universe'', her first variety show since debut. In 2019, Ha returned to the big screen with the romance melodrama ''

Chocolate Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cacao seed kernels that is available as a liquid, solid, or paste, either on its own or as a flavoring agent in other foods. Cacao has been consumed in some form since at least the Olmec civ ...

''. In 2020, she starred in ''

Pawn Pawn most often refers to: * Pawn (chess), the weakest and most numerous piece in the game * Pawnbroker or pawnshop, a business that provides loans by taking personal property as collateral Pawn may also refer to: Places * Pawn, Oregon, an his ...

'', a COVID-19 delayed, human drama film. In 2022, it was announced that Ha would hold fan meetings in Japan on November 25 in Tokyo and November 27 in Osaka.in october Ha made a comeback to the small screen with '' Curtain Call'', which is his return to terrestrial dramas in five years.

Other activities

Music

Ha Ji-won made an appearance in the

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...

Wax Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic, malleable solids near ambient temperatures. They include higher alkanes and lipids, typically with melting points above about 40 °C (104 °F), melting to giv ...

's debut song, ''Mother's Diary'' in 2000. Soon after, she performed

's song, ''Oppa'' on stage. Ha released her debut album ''Home Run'' in 2003. The eponymous

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

from the album ''Home Run'', featuring singer

Psy Park Jae-sang (, ; born December 31, 1977), known professionally as Psy (stylized in all caps as PSY) (; ; ), is a South Korean singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Psy is known domestically for his humorous videos and stage per ...

, was later used as the OST for '' Reversal of Fortune''. After an eight-year hiatus on stage, Ha performed with her labelmates AA for their debut at the K-pop Super Concert in 2011. On 13 June 2014, Ha released a digital single, ''Now in This Place'', for the fans who had been supportive of her drama '' Empress Ki''. The lyrics of the song was written by the scriptwriter of ''Empress Ki'', Jung Kyung Soon; and composed and produced by popular music producer ''

Jae Chong Jae Chong (born January 8, 1972) is a musician and producer known for his works in the Asian music scene. He has written and produced for many artists such as L.A. Boyz, Stanley Huang, and more recently Aziatix and Royal Pirates. Career Cho ...

'' (also known as Jung Jae-yoon). In June 2015, Ha released a self-written song, ''You Are Zoe'', featuring ZE:A's Heechul. She personally wrote the song while working on ''

OnStyle tvN STORY is a South Korean cable and satellite television channel owned by CJ ENM E&M Division. The channel is targeted to women, originate from OnStyle. Programs * '' Project Runway Korea'' (February 7, 2009 – May 18, 2015) * '' Korea' ...

''s ''Go Go with Sister'' in Grasse, France. The track was composed by singer The Film.

Fashion, books and film

In 2012, Ha gave a lecture on movie production in China as part of CJ CGV's cultural exchange program Toto's Workroom. As part of her contract with fashion label Crocodile Lady, Ha launched her own "Secret Jeans" line and designed a handbag for the brand which was sold for 179,200 won ($157). The same year, she published her first book "This Moment".

Social activities

Ambassadorship

* Ha Ji-won is the first Asian woman and second Asian after

Jackie Chan Fang Shilong (born 7 April 1954), known professionally in English as Jackie Chan and in Chinese as Cheng Long ( zh, c=成龍, j=Sing4 Lung4; "becoming the dragon"), is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman known for ...

to be named promotional ambassador for Operation Smile.

Charity

Although

organ donation Organ donation is the process when a person allows an organ of their own to be removed and transplanted to another person, legally, either by consent while the donor is alive or dead with the assent of the next of kin. Donation may be for re ...

was not common in South Korea at that time in January 2005, Ha Ji-won made the pledge to donate her

cornea The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Along with the anterior chamber and lens, the cornea refracts light, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical ...

through the Organ Donation Center of Love. The actress shared, "When I was in crisis of becoming blind in because of damaged cornea in my left eye while filming, but one prisoner sent me a letter expressing his willing to donate his own cornea to me, I was very thankful and greatly touched. I want to be of help to the visually impaired. It's shocking and pitiful that we import cornea from other countries." Ha has also played an active role in helping underprivileged and disabled children, running a donation project named ''Smile Again Foundation'' with Gangnam-gu Family Welfare Center. The project was supplemented by Ha Ji-won's fan club members while she went the extra mile to ensure the sustainability of the project. Ha was conferred the ''Prime Minister's Award'' for the '2008 Family Month Event', in recognition of her consistent and active hard work in contributing to programs for poor and handicapped families. In 2012, Ha donated the proceeds from her first book, ''At This Moment'', to charity. The recipients of the book earnings, children's aid group Choi Kyung Joo Foundation and Yonsei University Hospital, announced their decision to set up a scholarship for prospective arts students and to subsidize treatment for deaf and blind children respectively. Sponsored by Ha, the organization has set up a "Hartist" (Ha + artist) scholarship to sponsor students who dream of careers in art. Together with fellow actor

Song Joong-ki Song Joong-ki (; born September 19, 1985) is a South Korean actor. He rose to fame in the historical coming-of-age drama ''Sungkyunkwan Scandal'' (2010) and the variety show '' Running Man'' (2010–2011) as one of the original cast members. S ...

, Ha attended ''Medical Korea 2013 Sharing Medical Treatment Commemorative Event'', an event hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, promoting greater international co-operation for medical technology and positive medical tourism. During the event, both actors spent time with recovering children and received an award for their previous efforts in promoting the sharing of medical services. In 2015, Ha, fashion icon

Ko So-young Ko So-young (; born October 6, 1972) is a South Korean actress and model. Early life Ko was born in Seoul, South Korea. She attended an all-female high school before gaining early admission to Chung-Ang University, where she studied computer sci ...

, and figure skater

Yuna Kim Yuna Kim (; born September 5, 1990), also credited in eastern name order as Kim Yuna or Kim Yeon-a, is a retired South Korean competitive figure skater. She is the 2010 Olympic champion and 2014 Olympic silver medalist in ladies' singles, ...

designed bags in cooperation with the Italian luxury brand

Fendi Fendi () is an Italian high-end luxury fashion house producing fur, ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, fragrances, eyewear, timepieces and accessories. Founded in Rome in 1925, Fendi is known for its fur, fur accessories, and leather goods. ...

. The bags were offered via Seoul Peekaboo Project auction to raise funds for the charity. As Operation Smile's Ambassador, Ha decided to donate the proceeds from the bag she designed to Operation Smile, a

NGO A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

that performs cleft lip and cleft palate surgery and delivers postoperative and ongoing medical therapies to children in low and middle income countries. In 2016, Ha donated W100 million (US$83 604) to help victims of ferry disaster.

Management

In 2013, Ha was reported to be leaving Wellmade STARM, her agency for ten years. She declined all the calls sent by other agencies with giant contracts and decided to establish her own one-person agency Haewadal Entertainment (lit. Sun and Moon Entertainment) instead. Also in the same year, Ha signed with

United Talent Agency United Talent Agency (UTA) is a global talent agency based in Beverly Hills, California. Established in 1991, it represents artists and other professionals across the entertainment industry. , the company has more than 1,400 global employees. U ...

, one of the largest

talent agencies Talent has two principal meanings: * Talent (measurement), an ancient unit of mass and value * Talent (skill), a group of aptitudes useful for some activities; talents may refer to aptitudes themselves or to possessors of those talents Talent may ...

in the world, for her Hollywood venture. After establishing her own agency, Haewadal Entertainment, Ha simultaneously signed a contract with BM+ Entertainment to manage her activities abroad. In the same year, Ha signed with Invincible Plan to manage her Chinese ventures.

Filmography

Discography

Albums

Digital singles

Bibliography

Awards and nominations

, , - ! scope="row" rowspan="1", Golden Cinematography Awards , 2001 , Popularity Award , ''Truth Game'' , , , - ! scope="row",

BNT The Bulgarian National Television (Bulgarian: Българска национална телевизия, ''Balgarska natsionalna televizia'') or BNT (БНТ), stylized as ·Б·Н·Т· since 2018, is a public television broadcaster of Bulgaria. ...

Golden Chest International TV Festival , 2007 , Best Actress , ''

'' , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan="2" , Grand Bell Awards , rowspan="2" , 2000 , Best Actress , rowspan="2" , ''Truth Game'' , , , - , rowspan="1" , Best New Actress , , , - ! scope="row" ,

, 2011 , Best Actress , '' Secret Garden'' , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan="4" ,

KBS Drama Awards The KBS Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony presented by the Korean Broadcasting System The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean te ...

, rowspan=4, 2006 , Grand Prize (Daesang) , rowspan="3" , ''

'' , , , - , Top Excellence Award, actress , , , - , Netizen Popularity Award , , , - , Best Couple Award , Ha Ji-won with

Jang Keun-suk Jang Keun-suk () is a South Korean actor and singer. He is best known for starring in the Korean television dramas ''Beethoven Virus'' (2008), '' You're Beautiful'' (2009), ''Mary Stayed Out All Night'' (2010), '' Love Rain'' (2012), ''Pretty M ...

'' , , , - ! scope="row", Korean Broadcasting Awards , rowspan="2" , 2007 , rowspan=1, Best Actress , rowspan="2" , ''

'' , , , - ! scope="row", Korea Dance Association Seoul Dance Festival , Beautiful Mind Award , , , - ! scope="row",

Korea Drama Awards The Korea Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony for excellence in television in South Korea. It was established in 2007, and is held annually in October in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province as the official main event of the annual Korea Drama Fes ...

, 2011 , rowspan="2" , Best Actress , '' Secret Garden'' , , , - ! scope="row", Korean University Films Festival , 2009 , '' Haeundae'' , , , - ! scope="row", Korea Visual Arts Festival , 2002 , Photogenic Award , rowspan=1 , ''

'' , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan="2", Korea Youth Film Festival , 2009 , rowspan="2" , Favorite Film Actress , '' Closer to Heaven'' , , , - , 2012 , '' As One'' , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan="12" ,

, 2000 , Best New Actress , rowspan=1 , ''

'' , , , - , rowspan=4, 2003 , Grand Prize (Daesang) , rowspan=3 , '' Damo'' , , , - , Top Excellence Award, actress , , rowspan=3, , - , Popularity Award , , - , Best Couple Award , Ha Ji-won with

Lee Seo-jin Lee Seo-jin (born January 30, 1971) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for the reality shows '' Three Meals a Day'' and '' Grandpa Over Flowers''. As an actor, he came to prominence with his leading roles in television series '' Damo'' ( ...

'' Damo'' , , - ,

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...

, Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries , ''

'' , , , - , rowspan="4" ,

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fa ...

, Grand Prize (Daesang) , rowspan="4" , '' Empress Ki'' , , , - , Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama , , , - , PD Award , , rowspan=2, , - , Popularity Award, actress , , - , rowspan="2" ,

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...

, Grand Prize (Daesang) , rowspan="2" , ''

'' , , , - , Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries , , , - ! scope="row" ,

Mnet 20's Choice Awards The Mnet 20's Choice Awards was a major music awards show that was held annually in South Korea, organized by CJ E&M through its Mnet (TV channel), Mnet channel. 2013 The 2013 20's Choice Awards were held on July 18, 2013, at the Korea Internati ...

, 2009 , HOT Movie Star (Female) , rowspan=1 , '' Haeundae'' , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan="7" ,

SBS Drama Awards The SBS Drama Awards (), also known as SBS Awards Festival, is an awards ceremony presented annually by Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) for outstanding achievements in Korean dramas aired on its network. It is held annually on December 31. The hi ...

, rowspan=2, 2004 , Top Excellence Award, actress , rowspan=2 , '' What Happened in Bali' , , rowspan=2, , - , Top 10 Stars , , - , rowspan=4, 2010 , Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special , rowspan="3" , '' Secret Garden'' , , rowspan=4, , - , Netizen Popularity Award , , - , Top 10 Stars , , - , Best Couple Award , Ha Ji-won with

'' Secret Garden'' , , - , 2015 , Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries , '' The Time We Were Not in Love'' , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan="2" ,

Seoul International Drama Awards Seoul International Drama Awards (), simply known as SDA, is an annual award ceremony based in Seoul, South Korea which honors excellence in television drama productions worldwide. Winners Grand prize (''Daesang'') Program Winners are given ...

, 2012 , rowspan="2" , Best Actress , ''

'' , , , - , 2014 , '' Empress Ki'' , , , - ! scope="row" rowspan=3, Style Icon Asia , rowspan="2" , 2009 , Actress of the Year , rowspan="3" , Ha Ji-won , , rowspan=2, , - , Fun Fearless Female , , - , 2016 , Style Icon , , , -

Other recognition

Listicles

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ha, Ji-won South Korean film actresses South Korean television actresses South Korean television presenters South Korean women television presenters Dankook University alumni 1979 births Living people Actresses from Seoul 20th-century South Korean actresses 21st-century South Korean actresses 21st-century South Korean women singers Best Actress Paeksang Arts Award (film) winners Best Actress Paeksang Arts Award (television) winners