Born in 1981 in the United States, Han Ye-seul was a familiar face in Korean dramas and an A-list star. She reached the peak of her career, starring in widely acclaimed roles across Asia and winning major Korean awards at prestigious ceremonies such as the Baeksang Arts Award, the Blue Dragon Film Awards, and the Grand Bell Awards. However, her fame has faded over the last 5 years without any new roles, and she’s now more known for controversial relationships and a seemingly carefree attitude toward her own career.
Han Ye-seul entered the Korean entertainment industry as a model in 2001, quickly gaining fame with her stunning figure, attractive curves, and high-end, chic appeal. This led to modeling gigs with several luxury brands.
She also appeared in popular projects like “Couple or Trouble” (2006), “Tazza” (2008), “Birth of a Beauty” (2014), “Miss Gold Digger” (2007), and “Penny Pinchers” (2011). During this time, Han Ye-seul became both a fashion icon and a well-known vlogger in Korea, securing a strong fanbase and proving her acting skills through various awards.
However, Han Ye-seul’s fame dimmed due to her allegedly “unpredictable and unprofessional” behavior. In 2008, she sparked controversy by leaving the Korean Film Awards midway after a colleague won the Best New Actress award. The incident led to significant backlash on social media, with the public calling her “rude.” Though she apologized, explaining that her departure was due to fatigue from filming, the damage was done.
Then, in 2011, Han Ye-seul made an even bigger misstep by abandoning the filming set of “Spy Myung Wol” without any prior notice. She was the lead actress in the drama, but on August 14-15, she was a no-show on set, and on August 16, she flew to Los Angeles without informing anyone. This led to a halt in production, and broadcaster KBS accused her of being “irresponsible and unforgivable.” Producers even considered suing Han Ye-seul for disrupting filming.
At the time, the actress’ agency, SidusHQ, defended her, citing disagreements with the director over working conditions.
Still, the industry heavily criticized Han Ye-seul, claiming she was exhibiting “diva” behavior that impacted hundreds of staff. The actress ended up returning to Korea shortly after and apologized at the airport but insisted her actions were justified due to the grueling Korean filming schedule.
Following this, Han Ye-seul struggled to regain her career. Although “Birth of a Beauty” in late 2014 brought her some renewed fame, her last notable projects were “Madame Antoine” (2016), “20th Century Boy and Girl” (2017), and “Big Issue” (2019). In recent interviews, she attributed her stalled career to the downturn in the film industry and ongoing controversies regarding her personal life.
In 2021, she began dating handsome model Ryu Sung-jae, and in May 2024, they officially registered their marriage. However, Ryu Sung-jae faced criticism due to rumors that he had previously worked at a high-end host club and allegedly dated wealthy clients. Despite public disapproval, Han Ye-seul defended her relationship.
Han Ye-seul’s changing appearance was also a hot topic of discussion. Initially, she denied undergoing cosmetic surgery, claiming such rumors hurt her. However, she later admitted to eyelid surgery, explaining it was due to drooping that had affected her eyes.
“I adjusted my eyelids, which is why my face may look different, especially my bigger eyes,” the actress shared.
However, her inconsistency on this matter left many disappointed. Currently, Han Ye-seul and her new husband are vacationing in the United States to unwind and refocus.
Source: K14