Kim Hee-ae

Kim Hee-ae (김희애) is one of South Korean dramatic television most accomplished actresses. Born April 23, 1967, in Daegu, she debuted in 1984 and rose to prominence through a career spanning four decades. She graduated from Chung-Ang University with a major in theatre. Her defining role came with The World of the Married (2020), a JTBC drama that became the highest-rated Korean cable television program in history at the time, reaching 28.4% viewership. The psychological thriller about marriage, betrayal, and revenge earned her Baeksang Arts Award and APAN Star Award nominations. Earlier career highlights include Secret Love Affair (2014), a critically acclaimed drama about a scandalous relationship between a forty-something married woman and a young piano prodigy. A four-decade career spans hits like Precious You (1989), Men of the Bath House (1995), and A Wife Story (2010). Kim married Lee Chan-jin, CEO of SidusHQ, in 1996 and has two children. In March 2025, she signed with KeyEast Entertainment after leaving her longtime agency. In 2026, she stars in Bonjour Bakery alongside Kim Seon-ho, a Coupang Play variety series about celebrity-operated bakeries. She was named Goodwill Ambassador for the UN World Food Programme Korea in 2020.