No matter how many years pass, Ha Ji-won seems to retain her subtle charm and gracefulness in every show she becomes a part of. Widely recognized for her role in Damo, Something Happened In Bali, and Hospital Ship, Ha Ji-won has managed to carve a place for herself as one of the best actresses of this era.
Soon after she became a High school senior, Ha Ji-won was scouted by an agency. Born Jeon Hae-rim, she subsequently changed her name to Ha Ji-won when she first debuted on Korean television. It took her almost 100 trials to get selected for an audition, but the effort was worthwhile as she was able to become a part of shows that would propel her into popularity. Ha Ji-won’s first series was New Generation Report, followed by Dragon’s Tears in 1996 and 1998, respectively.
Asides from being a versatile K-Drama actress, Ha Ji-won is also known for her ability to perform any role, from melodrama to bone-chilling horror. She was even referred to as “Asia’s Horror Princess” after the 2002 movie, Phone became a worldwide hit. Throughout the 2000s, Ha Ji-won released multiple shows and movies like Daddy-Long-Legs, Hwang Jini, and Closer To Heaven.
Now that it’s been almost three decades since her debut, Ha Ji-won has been appearing in a lesser number of shows. Despite this, Ji-won still stands as one of the richest Korean actresses, along with other popular celebs like IU, Lee Young-ae, and Song Hye-Kyo.
Ha Ji Won: About The South Korean Actress
Born on 28th June 1978 in Seoul, Jeon Hae-rim had always envisioned herself becoming an actress one day. After successfully completing a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Television and Ji-won started auditioning for drama roles soon after. Her first drama debut came in 1996, and she was soon cast in many other series.
When asked about the inspiration behind her stage name, Ha Ji-won revealed that it used to be the name of her old manager’s first love. She liked the name and adopted it before she made her debut. Ha Ji-won starred in her first film, Truth Game, in 2000, which had the toughest auditions as over a thousand people were auditioning for the role. This movie was followed by Nightmare and Ditto, both of which required completely different acting skills.
Historical dramas never fail to grab the audience’s attention, and when Ha Ji-won became a part of the 2003 drama Damo, she became a sensation among people in their 20s and 30s. She was also awarded an MBC Drama Award for her perfect portrayal of a detective. What Happened In Bali was another drama Ha Ji-won starred in, which was aired in 2004. This role ended up giving her the best actress award at Baeksang Arts Awards.
What’s Ha Ji Won’s Net Worth?
Since the 2010s, Ha Ji-won has gained international popularity, making her one of the most recognized South Korean Actresses of her time. Ha Ji-won’s net worth hasn’t been revealed but is estimated to be around $30 Million. The actress was paid around $45,000 per episode for one of her dramas, which explains Ji-won’s net worth is in the millions. Although she can’t be considered the richest Korean actress, Ha Ji-won certainly is a part of the list.
Having awards like Asia Model Award, Busan Film Critic Awards, KBS Drama Awards, and Korea Drama Awards could have added to her net worth as only a few actors manage to gather so many awards in their whole careers. Asides from being a talented actor, Ha Ji-won has also been a part of various charities and even pledged to donate her corneas after almost losing her vision. She established her agency called Haewadal Entertainment but is also an active member of other agencies that help her get international roles.
Her most recent project was seen in 2022, called Curtain Call, in which she starred as Kang Ha-neul’s costar. Ha Ji-won has now become a part of a small group of actors that can perform any role given to them with perfection. Her diverse acting is what makes Ji-won stand out from the rest of the actors even after 30 years in the industry.
Also Read: What is Jang Na-Ra’s Net Worth? How Rich is The Korean Singer?