Kim Tae-hee

Kim Tae-hee is a South Korean actress who has been one of Korea's most loved stars for more than twenty years. Born on 29 March 1980 in Busan and raised in Ulsan, she is famous for Stairway to Heaven (2003), Iris (2009) and Hi Bye, Mama! (2020). Many fans also admire her as a symbol of natural beauty and smart charm.

Kim Tae-hee is 162 cm (5 ft 4 in) tall and weighs 45 kg, according to her published profile.

Early life

Kim Tae-hee grew up in Ulsan and was a top student at school. She studied clothing and textiles at Seoul National University, one of the best universities in Korea. While she was a student, a talent scout saw her in the Seoul subway and offered her work as a model. She soon appeared in TV ads and became a popular face.

Career and breakthrough

She started acting in 2001 with a small role in the film Last Present. Her big break came in 2003, when she played the jealous stepsister Han Yu-ri in the hit melodrama Stairway to Heaven. The role made her famous across Asia. She then led Love Story in Harvard (2004) and played a top agent in the spy blockbuster Iris (2009), one of the most expensive Korean dramas of its time.

Popular roles

In Iris, her role as profiler Choi Seung-hee showed her strong and calm side, and the drama became a landmark of the Korean wave. She played a playful heiress in My Princess (2011) and a rich heiress in a coma in Yong-pal (2015), another huge ratings hit. Viewers praise her clear acting, warm smile and steady work in both romance and action stories.

Recent work

After a five-year break for her family, she returned in Hi Bye, Mama! (2020) as Cha Yu-ri, a mother who comes back to life for 49 days. The touching role won her great reviews. She later starred in the thriller Lies Hidden in My Garden (2023) and the American series Butterfly (2025). She is married to singer and actor Rain.