Kim Hye-eun is a South Korean actress recognized for her sharp, versatile supporting and character roles across film and television. A former MBC weathercaster and announcer, she transitioned into acting in the mid-2000s and gained wider notice with her memorable performance in the 2012 film Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time. Since then she has become a familiar face in dramas such as Secret Love Affair, Itaewon Class, Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Family by Choice, and Iron Family, often bringing quiet intensity or distinctive edge to her characters.
Kim Hye-eun was born on March 1, 1973, in Busan, South Korea (specifically the Bugok-dong area of what is now Geumjeong-gu). As she is 53 years old. She is South Korean by nationality, and her zodiac sign is Pisces.
Personal Details
| Full Name | Kim Hye-eun (김혜은) |
| Profession | Actress (former announcer/weathercaster) |
| Date of Birth | 1 March 1973 |
| Age | 53 |
| Birthplace | Busan, South Korea |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Religion | Christian (reported) |
| Friends | Lee Yoo-mi (이유미) |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Current Residence | South Korea |
| Qualification | Seoul National University – College of Music, Vocal Music (bachelor’s) |
Career
Kim Hye-eun began her professional career in broadcasting. In 1997 she joined MBC as an announcer, first working at the local Cheongju affiliate before moving to Seoul, where she became a main weathercaster on the network’s news desk. She remained with MBC for about eight years, resigning in 2004 after experiencing significant job-related stress that contributed to temporary hearing issues in one ear.
She had already made minor on-screen appearances while still in broadcasting, including a cameo as a weathercaster in the sitcom Nonstop 3 (2002) and a small role in The Woman Who Wants to Marry (2004). After leaving MBC she studied acting for several years and made her formal acting debut in 2007 in the MBC daily drama Ahyeon-dong Madam (also known as Queen of Ahyeon).
Her breakthrough came with the 2012 film Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time, in which she played a nightclub manager opposite Choi Min-sik. The performance earned her Best New Actress nominations at the Baeksang Arts Awards and Buil Film Awards. She followed with strong supporting work in the JTBC series Secret Love Affair (2014), winning Best Supporting Actress at the APAN Star Awards. Over the years she has appeared steadily in both film and television, taking on a wide range of characters—from elegant professionals and mothers to more sharp-edged or regional-dialect roles.
Notable later credits include Itaewon Class (2020), Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022, as fencing coach Yang Chan-mi), Family by Choice (2024), and Iron Family (2024–2025), for which she shared a Best Couple Award at the 2024 KBS Drama Awards. In 2025 she continued working in projects such as Spirit Fingers and others. She has also taken on teaching roles, including a special professorship in broadcasting and entertainment studies. As of 2026 she remains active under FN Entertainment representation.
Personal Life
Kim Hye-eun married Kim In-soo, a dentist, in June 2001. The couple has one daughter, Kim Ga-eun, born in February 2006. She has spoken about early resistance from her husband when she decided to pursue acting seriously after giving birth, but he later became supportive. She maintains a relatively private family life while balancing professional commitments.
Physical Appearance
| Height | Approximately 165 cm (5 feet 5 inches) |
| Weight | |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Body Type | Slim |
Kim Hye-eun Drama List
Television / Drama (selected)
- Nonstop 3 (2002) – Weathercaster
- The Woman Who Wants to Marry (2004) – Friend role
- Ahyeon-dong Madam / Queen of Ahyeon (2007) – Shin Sook-young
- New Heart (2007)
- Women of the Sun (2008) – Jang Shi-eun
- Kim Su-ro, The Iron King (2010)
- You’re So Pretty (2011) – Go Yoo-jung
- Man from the Equator (2012)
- Secret Love Affair (2014) – Seo Young-woo
- My Lovely Girl (2014)
- Unkind Ladies (2015)
- Monster (2016)
- Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim (2016–2017)
- Mr. Sunshine (2018)
- The Guest (2018)
- Encounter (2018–2019)
- Itaewon Class (2020) – Kang Min-jeong
- Graceful Friends (2020)
- The Road: Tragedy of One (2021)
- Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022) – Coach Yang Chan-mi
- The Sound of Magic (2022)
- May It Please the Court (2022) – Oh Ha-ran
- My Perfect Stranger (2023) – Go Mi-sook
- Not Others / Strangers (2023) – Kim Mi-jeong
- Family by Choice (2024) – Kwon Jeong-hee
- Iron Family (2024–2025) – Baek Ji-yeon
- Spirit Fingers (2025) – Seong-kyeong (Woo-yeon’s mother)
- Additional projects including Typhoon Family (2025, cameo) and others through 2026
Film (selected)
- Scent of a Man (1998) – Beautician
- Heaven’s Soldiers (2005)
- Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2012) – Miss Yeo / nightclub manager
- Man in Love (2014) – Mi-young
- Pandora (2016) – First Lady
- My Little Brother / Yes, Family (2017) – Soon-im
- The Mayor (2017)
- The Sheriff in Town (2017) – Mi-sun
- Okay! Madam (2020) – Flight attendant
- Revolver (2024) – Shaman
- Family Secrets (2025) – Yeon-jeong
Kim Hye-eun Net Worth
Given her long career as a working actress with consistent supporting and character roles in film and high-profile dramas, plus earlier broadcasting experience and limited brand or teaching activities, a conservative realistic estimate places her net worth in the range of roughly $1–3 million USD .
Social Media Presence
- Instagram: @kimhyeeun11 (primary public account; she shares professional and occasional personal updates)
FAQs
How old is Kim Hye-eun ?
She was born on March 1, 1973, so she is 53 years old throughout .
Is Kim Hye-eun married?
Yes. She has been married to dentist Kim In-soo since 2001. They have one daughter, Kim Ga-eun (born 2006).
What was Kim Hye-eun’s job before acting?
She worked as an MBC announcer and weathercaster from 1997 to 2004, first in Cheongju and later on the main Seoul news desk.
What is Kim Hye-eun famous for?
Her transition from broadcasting to acting, her breakout role in Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time, and consistent supporting performances in dramas such as Secret Love Affair, Itaewon Class, Twenty-Five Twenty-One, and Iron Family.
Is Kim Hye-eun related to the author of Pachinko?
Yes. She is a cousin of writer Min Jin Lee.
What is Kim Hye-eun’s educational background?
She graduated from Seoul National University’s College of Music with a degree in vocal music.