Lee So-hee (Korean: 이소희; born November 18, 1993), better known by the stage name Han So-hee (한소희), is a South Korean actress and model. She began her career as a supporting character in the television series Money Flower (2017), 100 Days My Prince (2018), and Abyss (2019) before transitioning into lead roles in The World of the Married (2020), Nevertheless (2021), My Name (2021), and Gyeongseong Creature (2023–2024).
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Early life
Han was born as Lee So-hee on November 18, 1993, in Ulsan, South Korea. She attended Ulsan High School of Arts where she majored in arts. In her senior year of high school, Han moved to Seoul to live with her grandmother, where she worked various part-time jobs to make ends meet. Han originally had no plans of entering the entertainment industry and wanted to continue pursuing higher education, stating that, "I got into a university in France, but I couldn't go because I didn't have enough money in my bank account. I had to have at least ₩60 million (approximately US$46,000) in my bank account to get a visa. I didn't have that, of course." While working part-time at pubs, modelling, and filming commercials to save up money, the head of the agency to which she belonged persuaded Han to try acting.
Career
2017–2019: Career beginnings
Han appeared in SHINee's "Tell Me What To Do" music video in 2016. She made her acting debut in a minor role in Reunited Worlds (2017). She got her first main roles in MBC TV's Money Flower in 2017 and tvN's 100 Days My Prince in 2018. Later in 2018, she starred in KBS2's After The Rain and made an appearance in Roy Kim's "The Hardest Part". In 2019, Han played a supporting role in the tvN series Abyss, alongside lead actors Ahn Hyo-seop and Park Bo-young.
2020: Breakthrough
In 2020, Han starred in JTBC's The World of the Married alongside Kim Hee-ae and Park Hae-joon in which she played a main role as Yeo Da-kyung, a young mistress. The television series ended its run as the highest-rated television series in Korean cable television history. Han received widespread recognition thanks to the success of the television series. For her performance she was nominated for Best New Actress – Television at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.
2021–present: Leading roles
In 2021, Han starred in JTBC romance drama Nevertheless alongside Song Kang. Later the same year, she starred in the Netflix original crime-action drama My Name as a woman seeking revenge for her father's murder. For her performance in My Name, she was nominated for Best Actress – Television at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards.
In March 2022, Han appeared in the four-episode Disney+ mini-series Soundtrack#1 alongside Park Hyung-sik. In September, she appeared as Princess Kayena in a live-action teaser for the Kakao Webtoon series The Villainess is a Marionette. The following year, she featured in BTS' Jungkook music video for his single "Seven", which was released on July 14, 2023. In 2023, Han co-starred in the 1945 historical drama Gyeongseong Creature, which aired on Netflix.
Endorsements
Han has been active as a model since 2016. Her advertisements include brands such as CJ Group, J.Estina, Banila Co., Eider, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, L'Oréal, and Giordano International.
In 2022, Han became a global brand ambassador for luxury fashion house brand Balenciaga and Swiss luxury watch brand Omega SA. She modeled for Balenciaga's 2023 Spring/Summer collaborational campaign with Adidas.
In 2023, she was announced as the global brand ambassador for Singaporean fashion house label Charles & Keith, French luxury jewelry house Boucheron, and Korean-owned sportswear brand Fila. Also in 2023, Lotte Chilsung selected Han as the new face of Chum Churum soju.
In 2024, Han became a global brand ambassador for home appliance brand Shark.
Public image
Han has been referred to in Korean media as part of the "MZ Troika" alongside fellow actresses Go Youn-jung and Shin Ye-eun. The title of actress troika has historically been used by Korean media to refer to the representative actresses of the generation, such as with Song Hye-kyo, Jun Ji-hyun, and Kim Tae-hee of the 2000s. In naming Han, The Chosun Ilbo pointed to Han's "box office success, charming visuals, and impeccable acting skills".
In several news sources, Han has been widely recognized as a prominent "fashion icon" and trendsetter. Elle Singapore called Han an "epitome of a girl crush", and Korean fashion publications have noted that her personal style deviates from the conventional, polished celebrity aesthetics.
