A five-time Baeksang Arts Awards winner, veteran Korean actor Kim Hee-ae has successfully solidified her position in the Korean entertainment world — her astounding net worth is a testament to the same.
Kim has come a long way from being an advertising model initially to becoming one of the most acclaimed Korean actors. Hits from her portfolio include highest-rated TV shows and movies like Wife (2003), My Husband’s Woman (2007), Midas (2011), How Long I’ve Kissed (2012), The Vanished (2018), Herstory (2018), Moonlit Winter (2019), The World of the Married (2020) and Queenmaker (2023).
Talking about her craft in an interview with K-media outlet Soompi, Kim said, “I think I have to work hard to improve myself, even when I am not acting. That’s something that’s ongoing for me.”
All the details about Kim Hee-ae: Net worth, career, brand endorsements and more
Kim Hee-ae’s net worth
According to multiple K-media sources, Kim Hee-ae enjoys a net worth of USD 10 million, as of 2022.
While it is difficult to quote an exact figure in 2024, Kim Hee-ae is one of the most popular veteran Korean actors. Most of her fortune comes from her acting projects, advertisements, brand endorsements and social media earnings.
Career and filmography
Early years
South Korean actress Kim Hee-ae was studying at Chung-Ang University as a Theater and Film major when she made her acting debut in the movie The First Day of the Twentieth Year in 1983. A Jo Myeong-hwa directorial, her appearance in the movie garnered attention nationwide.
Following this, she appeared in her first K-drama on KBS in 1986 and landed roles in several other hit titles. These include Korean dramas like Beyond the Mountains (1991) and Sons and Daughters (1992). While the former showcased her versatility as a naive nun falling for a Buddhist monk, the latter earned her the Daesang (Grand Prize) at the MBC Drama Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards.
Over the years, Kim Hee-ae entertained audiences with multiple hit movies and TV shows. Some of her most significant releases are Wife (2003), My Husband’s Woman (2007), Midas (2011) and How Long I’ve Kissed (2012).
A Jung Eul-young directorial, My Husband’s Woman became one of the most popular Korean dramas of 2007. Additionally, Kim once again won the Daesang at the SBS Drama Awards for portraying a bold and worldly woman having an affair with her best friend’s husband. The K-drama went on to record a solid 38.7 per cent nationwide viewership rating, according to Nielsen Korea.
Meanwhile, in the JTBC original Korean drama series How Long I’ve Kissed, Kim played a vulnerable housewife bothered by her husband’s obsession with wealth, who eventually finds solace in her son’s dentist. The role earned her widespread critical acclaim, and she won Best Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2012.
Kim Hee-ae ventured into reality TV and made her debut in 2013 with the travel show Sisters Over Flowers. The series allowed Kim to explore Croatia and Turkey with hosts Youn Yuh-jung, Kim Ja-ok, Lee Mi-yeon and Lee Seung-gi. The first episode of the South Korean reality series, which was released on 29 November 2013, topped the viewership chart with a solid 9.8 per cent nationwide rating, according to Nielsen Korea.
Big-screen comeback, The Whirlwind and more
In 2014, Kim Hee-ae made her big-screen comeback with the Korean thriller Thread of Lies, after a 21-year-long hiatus. The movie is adapted from acclaimed author Kim Ryeo-ryeong’s novel Elegant Lies, which deals with teen bullying. In an interview with K-media The Chosun Ilbo, Kim said she accepted the project because the script was “faultless”.
Following this, Kim became a part of various other successful projects, including the family drama Second to Last Love (2016), the psychological thriller movie The Vanished (2018), the drama Herstory (2018) and the critically acclaimed movie Moonlit Winter (2019). Directed by Lim Dae-hyung, Moonlit Winter tells the heartwarming story of a mother and daughter finding their own self. The movie enjoyed its world premiere as the closing film for the 24th Busan International Film Festival.
In 2020, Kim entertained her fans with The World of the Married, one of the most popular K-dramas of all time. The JTBC hit broke its record by surpassing the 15th episode rating of 24.44 per cent with a solid 28.371 per cent finale rating, according to Nielsen Korea. Not to forget, Kim Hee-ae’s salary per episode for the show was USD 57,000 to USD 65,000 per episode, as discussed on the variety TV show Rumor Has It.
Kim Hee-ae played a powerful campaign manager Hwang Do-hee in the 2023 Netflix hit series The Queenmaker. The Korean drama was an instant success and was included in TIME’s list of The 10 Best Korean Dramas of 2023 on Netflix.
The Vanished actor plays Jeong Su-jin, the Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea, in the 2024 Netflix political thriller The Whirlwind. Directed by Kim Yong-wan, The Whirlwind makes for one of the highest-rated K-dramas of 2024. The Netflix original limited series is penned by acclaimed scriptwriter Park Kyung-soo, known for the hit political K-drama trilogy — The Chaser (2012) and Punch (2014).
Luxury brand endorsements that add to the net worth of Kim Hee-ae
Besides Korean movies and dramas, Kim Hee-ae has been featured in multiple commercial films (CF). The actor has also endorsed prestigious brands, which adds to her ever-growing net worth. These include Tiffany and Co., Gucci, Cledbel, Headspa7, Ferragamo and Loro Piana.
Kim was also the brand ambassador for Japanese cosmetics brand B SK-II for over 10 years.
Personal life
Born on 23 April 1967 in Jeju Island, Kim later moved to Seoul with her family. She was studying at the Hyehwa Girls’ High School when an advertising agency employee discovered her. This landed Kim her first modelling job in a commercial for a school uniform brand in 1982. Following this, Kim pursued a career in the Korean entertainment industry.
As for her relationship status, Kim has been married to Lee Chan-jin, CEO of the web portal DreamWiz, since 1996. The couple have two sons.
(Hero and Featured image credit: Kim Hee-ae/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Kim Hee-ae has been married to Lee Chan-jin, CEO of the web portal DreamWiz, since 1996. The couple have two sons.
Tags
Written by
Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
