In the ever-changing world of South Korean entertainment, few actors have been able to maintain a successful career for over two decades with the poise and consistency of Seo Ji-hye. Born on August 24, 1984, she has seamlessly transitioned from appearing in music videos to becoming an internationally recognized star, largely due to her iconic role in the global sensation “Crash Landing on You.”
However, her career is defined by much more than just one breakout performance, featuring early recognition from critics, a wide variety of roles, and a graceful yet relatable public image.
Biography
- Name: Seo Ji-hye
- Birth Name: Seo Ji-hye (서지혜)
- Birthday: August 24, 1984
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Height: 168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
- Instagram: @jihye8024
- Twitter: N/A
Fun Facts
- She forms a heart shape with her lips when she smiles.
- While attending Sungkyunkwan University, she was ranked 1st in her department’s appearance ranking and also worked as a model for the university’s newspaper cover.
- She is not familiar with selfie apps. According to a video uploaded by fans, when asked, “Unnie, do you use Soda (selfie app)?” she responded, “Soda? Did you say spilled?” and admitted that she wasn’t familiar with the app.
- It is said that she rarely makes mistakes during filming.
- She started Pilates when it was first introduced to Korea and has been practicing it for 12 years.
- She has been training in Hapkido since 2004 and holds a 4th Dan certification.
- She once saved a woman from a drunk man at a train station.
- She secretly covered the medical treatment expenses for her manager’s cancer treatment without letting him know. Later, when her manager found out, he was grateful and shared the story.
- She is often said to resemble Red Velvet’s Irene.
- She has very large eyes, which has sometimes made her the topic of attention. She once mentioned that insects occasionally get into her eyes.
- She has a significant fear of water.
- She is believed to reside in the Seoul Forest Riverview apartment complex in Hangdang-dong.
- She is said to be close to Yang Hee-jong, a basketball player from Anyang KGC.
Career
Entering the Spotlight: Debut and Early Career (2002-2010)
Seo Ji-hye’s very first foray into the entertainment industry wasn’t on television or film, but in music videos. She was reportedly discovered by a talent scout on the street while still in high school. This led to her appearance in music videos for singer Taemu, specifically “Stars” and “The Snow is Falling” in 2002. Her official acting debut is often cited as 2003, with a role in the popular SBS drama “All In.”
The year 2005 proved pivotal. Seo Ji-hye first captured significant public attention starring as Kang Seon-min in the fourth installment of the popular horror film franchise, “Voice.” Appearing in a well-known horror series provided substantial visibility early in her career.
Remarkably, in the same year, she took on a demanding dual role in the MBC historical drama “Shin Don,” portraying both the historical figure Princess Noguk and the fictional character Ban-ya. This complex performance did not go unnoticed. She won the Best New Actress award at the 2005 MBC Drama Awards, a significant achievement that solidified her status as a rising star with demonstrable talent. Gaining recognition for both a contemporary horror film and a period drama within the same year showcased an impressive early versatility.
She continued to build her filmography with various projects during this period, including the drama “Over the Rainbow” (2006), the film “The Mafia, the Salesman” (2007), the drama “Legend of Hyang Dan” (2007), “I Love You” (2008), the historical drama “Kim Su-ro, The Iron King” (2010), and the film “A Lone Tree” (2010).
Mid-Career Momentum: Solidifying Her Status (2011-2018)
Entering the 2010s, Seo Ji-hye maintained a consistent presence on screen, taking on roles that further solidified her reputation as a capable and versatile actress. In 2011, she played the significant role of Shin In-jung in the popular SBS fantasy drama “49 Days.” Her performance earned her a nomination for the Excellence Award at the SBS Drama Awards. The following year, she took the lead role in the KBS daily drama “The Moon and Stars for You” (2012), winning the Excellence Award at the KBS Drama Awards for her portrayal of Han Chae-won. She also appeared in the JTBC drama “The Noblesse” (2014).
Her role as the sharp-witted prosecutor Choi Yeon-jin in the critically acclaimed SBS drama “Punch” (2014-2015) brought further recognition. This performance earned her the Best TV Star award at the 15th Gwangju International Film Festival in 2015 and another nomination at the SBS Drama Awards.
In 2016, Seo Ji-hye showcased her comedic timing and chic appeal as announcer Hong Hye-won in the SBS romantic comedy “Don’t Dare to Dream” (also known as Jealousy Incarnate). This role was particularly well-received, earning her the Special Acting Award for Actress in a Romantic Comedy Drama at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards. In an interview, Seo mentioned improvising some of her lines, aiming to “out power” her co-star Jo Jung-suk’s character, highlighting her engagement with the role.
This period demonstrated Seo Ji-hye’s remarkable ability to make a strong impact in prominent supporting or second-lead roles. Characters like Choi Yeon-jin in “Punch” and Hong Hye-won in “Don’t Dare to Dream” were complex, often possessing strong personalities, and garnered significant audience attention and critical praise. This pattern suggests a talent for stealing scenes and bringing depth to characters who weren’t necessarily the central protagonist, proving her ability to deliver memorable performances regardless of screen time.
Her successful streak continued with the fantasy drama “Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me” (2017-2018), where she played the complex, centuries-old character Sharon/Choi Seo-rin. This role, highly recommended by fans for her performance , earned her another Excellence Award nomination at the KBS Drama Awards. In 2018, she starred in the medical drama “Heart Surgeons” as Yoon Soo-yeon, winning the Excellence Award at the SBS Drama Awards. She also returned to the big screen in the historical action film “Rampant” (2018) as Concubine Jo.
Global Recognition: The Crash Landing Effect and Leading Roles (2019-Present)
While Seo Ji-hye had steadily built a successful career over nearly two decades, her role in the tvN drama “Crash Landing on You” (2019-2020) catapulted her to unprecedented international fame. Her portrayal of Seo Dan—a sophisticated, talented North Korean heiress and cellist, engaged to Captain Ri Jeong-hyuk but ultimately finding her own path—resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. The drama itself became a global phenomenon, significantly boosting the profiles of its cast members. Seo Ji-hye’s performance earned her the Bazaar Icon Award at the prestigious 56th Baeksang Arts Awards in 2020, along with nominations for Best Supporting Actress (TV) at the same ceremony and an Excellence Award at the APAN Star Awards.
The immense success of “Crash Landing on You” appeared to serve as a significant catalyst in her career trajectory, leading to a consistent stream of prominent lead roles in subsequent projects. While she had prior experience as a lead, the period following CLOY saw her frequently cast as the central female character in high-profile productions.
Immediately following CLOY, she starred opposite veteran actor Song Seung-heon in the MBC romance drama “Dinner Mate” (2020), playing the quirky web channel PD Woo Do-hee. This role garnered her a nomination for Excellence Award, Actress at the 2021 Seoul International Drama Awards.
In 2021, she ventured into the burgeoning web series market, taking on the role of Lieutenant Choi in “Dr. Brain,” Apple TV+’s first original Korean-language series. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with the renowned director Kim Jee-woon on this project.
She continued with lead roles in web series, playing Hong Ye-sool, a woman who can see the future when she kisses someone, in Disney+’s “Kiss Sixth Sense” (2022). She also starred as the mysterious Eun Hye-soo in the tvN mystery drama “Adamas” (2022) alongside Ji Sung.
Her demanding schedule continued with the lead role of Jo Eun-kang in the TV Chosun drama “Red Balloon” (2022-2023), a character grappling with feelings of relative deprivation. Seo Ji-hye mentioned needing significant mental strength to film “Red Balloon” after working on several projects consecutively. Most recently, she starred as Jang Tae-hee in the tvN romantic comedy “Love Next Door” (2024).
Personal Life
Early Life
Seo Ji-hye was born in Seoul, South Korea. Details about her family and specific upbringing remain largely private, aligning with the generally controlled public image she maintains. However, her path towards acting appears to have begun relatively early.
She pursued higher education at the prestigious Sungkyunkwan University, where she majored in Acting. Her time at university hinted at her striking presence; she was reportedly considered one of the ‘top faces’ in the acting department, recognized for her beauty even then.
Lifestyle
Despite her long and public career, Seo Ji-hye maintains a notable degree of privacy regarding her personal life. Much of what is known comes from controlled public appearances, such as variety shows and interviews tied to her projects.
In 2020, she offered viewers a rare glimpse into her daily life on the popular MBC reality show “I Live Alone.” Having lived independently for about seven years at that point (since roughly 2013), she revealed a home characterized by a minimalistic and clean aesthetic. The episode showcased her daily routine: waking up, checking her weight (a habit, she explained), engaging in surprisingly intense exercises rather than light yoga, using a thermotherapy device for her scalp, and enjoying walks to lift her mood. It also depicted her enjoying beer and virtually connecting with childhood friends during the COVID-19 pandemic. She expressed comfort with living alone, though admitted feeling a touch lonely after the lively video call, ultimately describing her solo life as “time where I can focus on myself”.
Her appearances on the variety show “Running Man” have also offered hints of her personality off-screen. Some viewers and commentators have described her guest spots as revealing a “weird (in a good way), unique, outgoing” side , contrasting with the elegant, sometimes cool or “ice princess” image projected by some of her roles or public appearances.
Relationship
In an interview in early 2023, Seo Ji-hye stated that she was single and hadn’t dated in a long time, expressing that marriage is something she believes will happen if it’s fated, rather than something she actively seeks out. She humorously added that it had been so long since she dated, she wasn’t even sure of her dating style anymore.
This privacy was notably defended in April 2021 when dating rumors surfaced linking her with her “Crash Landing on You” co-star, Kim Jung-hyun. Both actors’ agencies issued swift and strong denials. Seo’s agency, Culture Depot, stated they had checked with her personally and found the rumors bewildering. They provided context for photos published by Dispatch showing the actors near her residence, explaining that Kim Jung-hyun, whose contract with his then-agency was ending, had met with Seo Ji-hye to discuss the possibility of joining her agency, Culture Depot. The meeting reportedly took place at her home due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time. Kim Jung-hyun’s representatives similarly denied the rumors, stating the two maintained a close senior-junior relationship after working together.
These denied rumors surfaced while Kim Jung-hyun was embroiled in a separate and significant controversy involving actress Seo Ye-ji related to his behavior during the filming of the 2018 drama “Time.” Seo Ji-hye herself was not implicated in the “Time” controversy; the timing of the denied dating rumor merely coincided with the public discussion surrounding Kim Jung-hyun’s past actions and relationships.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2005 | Voice | Kang Seon-min |
| 2007 | The Mafia, the Salesman | Han Soo-jung |
| 2010 | A Lone Tree | Kim Soon-young |
| 2011 | The Suicide Forecast | Lee Hye-in |
| 2018 | Rampant | Concubine Jo |
Television Series
| Year | Title | Role | Network/Platform |
| 2003 | All In | Ae-sook / Mi-hee | SBS |
| 2003 | Marriage Story: “Pickpocket Love” | Choi Soo-jin | KBS2 |
| 2004 | Into the Storm | Yoo-ri | SBS |
| 2004 | The Woman Who Wants to Marry | Song Yoo-ri | MBC |
| 2004 | My 19 Year Old Sister-in-Law | Kang Ye-rim | SBS |
| 2005 | Ice Girl (aka She Has Come Back!) | Cha Joo-ha | KBS2 |
| 2005 | Shin Don | Princess Noguk / Ban-ya | MBC |
| 2005 | MBC Best Theater: “Bird…” | Jung Eun-seo | MBC |
| 2006 | Over the Rainbow | Ma Sang-mi | MBC |
| 2006 | MBC Best Theater: “Who Is Living in That House?” | Tae-young | MBC |
| 2007 | Legend of Hyang Dan | Hyangdan | MBC |
| 2008 | I Love You | Na Young-hee | SBS |
| 2008 | Chunja’s Special Day | Yeon Boon-hong | MBC |
| 2010 | Kim Su-ro, The Iron King | Heo Hwang-ok | MBC |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Special: “Snail Gosiwon” | Mi-roo | KBS2 |
| 2011 | 49 Days | Shin In-jung | SBS |
| 2012 | The Moon and Stars for You | Han Chae-won | KBS1 |
| 2013 | Drama Festival: “Me, Dad, Mom, Grandma and Anna” | Mom | MBC |
| 2014 | The Noblesse | Yoon Shin-ae | JTBC |
| 2014-2015 | Punch | Choi Yeon-jin | SBS |
| 2015 | Snow Lotus (aka Lucid Dream) | Choi Yoo-ra | SBS |
| 2016 | Yeah, That’s How It Is | Lee Ji-sun | SBS |
| 2016 | Don’t Dare to Dream (aka Jealousy Incarnate) | Hong Hye-won | SBS |
| 2017 | Whisper | Choi Yeon-jin (Cameo) | SBS |
| 2017-2018 | Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me | Sharon / Choi Seo-rin | KBS2 |
| 2018 | Heart Surgeons | Yoon Soo-yeon | SBS |
| 2019-2020 | Crash Landing on You | Seo Dan | tvN |
| 2020 | Dinner Mate | Woo Do-hee | MBC |
| 2022 | Adamas | Eun Hye-soo | tvN |
| 2022-2023 | Red Balloon | Jo Eun-kang | TV Chosun |
| 2024 | Love Next Door | Jang Tae-Hui | tvN |
Web Series
| Year | Title | Role | Platform |
| 2021 | Dr. Brain | Lieutenant Choi | Apple TV+ |
| 2022 | Kiss Sixth Sense | Hong Ye-sool | Disney+ |
