Profile Song Ha-yoon: Rose to Fame with Villain Role, Faces Similar Downfall? (2024 Updated)
Song Ha-yoon, born Kim Mi-sun on December 2, 1986, is a versatile South Korean actress who rose to prominence with roles in Fight for My Way (2017) and Marry My Husband (2024). After debuting in 2003 under the name Kim Byul, she adopted the stage name Song Ha-yoon in 2012. Known for her charismatic portrayals, especially as Jung Soo-min in Marry My Husband, Song has recently faced controversy. In April 2024, JTBC’s Crime Chief aired allegations that she assaulted a classmate for 90 minutes back in high school, leading to her forced transfer from Banpo High School. Her agency acknowledged the transfer but denied her involvement in the specific incident and stated their intention to pursue legal action.
Profile
- Birth name: Kim Mi-sun
- Stage name: Song Ha-yoon (formerly Kim Byul)
- Date of birth: December 2, 1986
- Instagram: @hayoonsong1202
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
Career
Song Ha-yoon’s acting journey began in 2003 with a role in the KBS2 series Sang Doo! Let’s Go to School! Early in her career, she appeared in numerous commercials, notably one alongside Hyun Bin, which gained significant popularity. She also joined the cast of the high school sitcom Nonstop 5, a common starting point for many South Korean stars.
Her talent began to receive recognition with film roles such as Members of the Funeral (2008) and Stray Cats (2009), both of which were invited to prestigious film festivals (Berlin and Busan, respectively). In television, her performance in the 2012 SBS cyber-investigation drama Ghost earned her a Special Acting Award nomination, showcasing her dramatic capabilities. She further diversified her portfolio with roles in the cable series Sweden Laundry (2014) and the KBS2 period drama In Still Green Days (2015), where she received an Excellence Award nomination. Her portrayal of a mentally challenged character in My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol (2015) was so well-received that her role, initially intended to be brief, was extended due to audience demand.
A pivotal moment in her career arrived with the 2017 KBS2 drama Fight for My Way, where her nuanced performance as Baek Seol-hee garnered critical acclaim and multiple Best Supporting Actress nominations, including from the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards, and an Excellence Award at the 10th Korea Drama Awards. She then took on a lead role opposite Choi Jin-hyuk in the 2018 romantic comedy Devilish Joy.
Most recently, Song Ha-yoon commanded widespread attention for her transformative portrayal of the antagonist Jung Soo-min in the highly successful 2024 tvN drama Marry My Husband. Her ability to convincingly embody a complex and malicious character earned her significant praise and positioned her among the most talked-about actors during the drama’s broadcast. She is currently under the agency King Kong by Starship.
Relationships
In 2016, South Korean actress Song Ha-yoon was reported to be in a relationship with Chinese actor Huang Xuan (黄轩). A Chinese media outlet released paparazzi photos and videos of the couple, which included footage of Huang Xuan arriving in Korea for Song Ha-yoon’s birthday. The videos showed the two meeting, dining together, and walking hand-in-hand, sparking widespread attention due to the unexpected nature of the romance. However, in 2017, Huang Xuan appeared on a Chinese talk show and revealed, “I wanted to be in love, but we soon realized we weren’t compatible. We had to use a translator every time we talked,” confirming their breakup.
Earlier in her career under the name Kim Byul, Song Ha-yoon was also rumored to have dated actors Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Min-ki, and Lee Joon-gi.
Controversies
Right after her rise to stardom in 2024, Song Ha-yoon faces a serious school violence controversy.
In April 2024, Song Ha-yoon became the subject of school bullying allegations. An online post claimed that she was involved in a physical assault on a younger student in 2004, leading to her alleged forced transfer from high school. The accuser also claimed that Song Ha-yoon once slapped him for as long as 90 minutes. Additionally, other informants emerged later on, alleging Song Ha-yoon of being forced to transfer schools due to group school violence.
Song Ha-yoon and her agency, King Kong by Starship (her agency at the time the allegations surfaced, though her contract has since expired as of early July 2025), have vehemently and consistently denied these claims, asserting their falsity.
Her legal representatives filed a criminal complaint for defamation against the original accuser, identified as “A,” in July 2025. The legal team stated that Song Ha-yoon has suffered severe mental distress due to the false accusations and has been actively gathering evidence to disprove them. They emphasize that public records, notarized statements, and testimonies from her former homeroom teacher and classmates confirm no such incident occurred. Police are pursuing an investigation, but “A,” who claims to be a U.S. citizen (though confirmed to hold Korean citizenship), has repeatedly refused to cooperate with summons, leading to a wanted person notice being issued. Song Ha-yoon’s legal team is also reviewing potential legal measures in the U.S. and preparing civil and criminal suits against others who spread false information.
Filmography
Television Series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Network |
| 2003 | Sang Doo! Let’s Go to School! | Debut as Kim Byul | KBS2 | |
| 2005 | Nonstop 5 | MBC | ||
| 2005 | MBC Best Theater: “Taereung National Village” | Jung Ma-roo | MBC | |
| 2008 | Strongest Chil Woo | Yeon-doo | KBS2 | |
| 2011 | KBS Drama Special: “Guardian Angel Kim Young-goo” | Choi Na-young | TV Movie | KBS2 |
| 2012 | Phantom | Choi Seung-yeon | Changed name to Song Ha-yoon during this period | SBS |
| 2013 | KBS Drama Special: “Chagall’s Birthday” | Joon-hee | TV Movie | KBS2 |
| 2014 | Reset | Choi Yoon-hee | OCN | |
| 2014 | Sweden Laundry | Kim Bom | MBC Drama / MBC every1 | |
| 2014 | KBS Drama Special: “I Introduce My Father” | Choi Hee-young | TV Movie | KBS |
| 2015 | Dream Knight | Joo In-hyung | Web drama | |
| 2015 | In Still Green Days | Lee Young-hee | KBS2 | |
| 2015–2016 | My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol | Lee Hong-do / Joo Oh-wol | MBC | |
| 2016 | Touching You | Jin Hee-young | Web drama | |
| 2017 | Band of Sisters | Sera Park | Cameo | SBS |
| 2017 | Fight for My Way | Baek Seol-hee | KBS2 | |
| 2018 | Devilish Charm | Joo Gi-Bbeum | MBN / Dramax | |
| 2020–2021 | Please Don’t Date Him | Seo Ji-seong | MBC / MBC Every 1 | |
| 2023 | Oh! Youngsim | Oh Young-sim | ENA / Genie TV | |
| 2024 | Marry My Husband | Jung Soo-min | tvN | |
| 2025 | A History of Losers | Yoon Seol-ha | Announced; web series | Wavve / Watcha |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Dasepo Naughty Girls | Bellflower | |
| 2006 | Love House | ||
| 2008 | Baby and I | Kim Byul | |
| 2008 | Members of the Funeral | Woo Ah-mi | |
| 2009 | Flight (also known as Fly High) | Soo-kyung | |
| 2009 | Stray Cats | ||
| 2012 | Helpless | Han-na | |
| 2012 | Dangerously Excited | Mi-sun | |
| 2014 | The Whistleblower | Kim Yi-seul | |
| 2018 | Intimate Strangers | Se-gyeong |
