Generally considered one of South Korea’s most beautiful women,Song Hye-kyo, theK-dramasuperstar, model, singer, and philanthropist, has come a long way since she trained as a figure skater and won first place in the SunKyung Smart Model Contest. She has been in a dozen films, including theChinese martial arts dramaThe Grandmaster, the Chinese-Hong Kong epic franchiseThe Crossing, and the American indie flickFetish.
The multi-talented actress has also been featured in over 30 shows, includingAutumn in My Heart,All In,Encounter,Mnet KM Music Festival, Descendants of the Sun, andThe Glory; and three music videos. She even released a song in 2012 with Korean-American singer John Park.
Song’s journey hasn’t been a breeze, and she has oftencomplained about being typecastas the icy beauty with a troubled past, but now that she has achieved worldwide public and critical acclaim, the offers are pouring in more than ever. It’s no wonder she has amassed over 30 awards and made Forbes' Korea Power Celebrity list five times in her diverse career.
Song Hye-kyo’s Modeling and Acting Debut
Born in 1981, Song won a modeling contest at the age of 14 and was subsequently cast in a secondary role in the romance seriesFirst Love. She didn’t shoot to fame until the year 2000, when sheplayed a leukemia patientwho was switched at birth inAutumn in My Heart, the melodrama phenomenon that ushered in the Korean Wave.
Her stardom was cemented nationwide and beyond when she landed a leading role opposite the iconic Lee Byung-hun in the gambling dramaAll In. From then on, Song has shared the screen with many famous actors, including the singer Rain, Cha Tae-hyun, Zo In-sung, Hyun Bin, Kang Dong-won, Song Joong-ki, Park Bo-gum, and Lee Do-hyun.
How Descendants of the Sun and Her Marriage to Song Joon-ki Influenced Her Career
KBS’ action and romance dramaDescendants of the Sunwas an instant pan-Asian success. The plot centers on the witty, honorable, and bold Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki, who made his acting debut in 2008), a captain in the South Korean Army’s special forces who falls for the compassionate and assertive Dr. Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo). Their relationship then faces many trials when they are deployed on the same peacekeeping mission.
The series received wide acclaim, nabbing a whopping 45 awards, including: the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards’ Grand Prize and Most Popular Actress for Hye-kyo; the 5th APAN Star Awards’ Drama of the Year; and the 9th Korea Drama Awards’ Best Drama. Moreover, it was named Most Popular Show of the Year by the Korea Broadcasting Advertising Corporation.
Best Song Hye-kyo Movies and TV Shows, Ranked
You may have seen her in The Glory, but Song Hye-kyo’s other works were once huge hits, too.
All these honors were bound to popularize the two main characters even further, and the fans, who had been rooting for them on screen, were over the moon when the actors announced they were dating in real life. They would tie the knot on June 03, 2025; naturally, their marriage and subsequent divorce in July 2019 were heavily publicized, and rumors ran amok, jeopardizing both their careers. This was around the time Hye-kyo played the aloof hotel mogul Cha Soo-hyun inEncounter, opposite Park Bo-gum as heryounger and free-spirited love interest.
How Netflix’s The Glory Catapulted Her to the Top
After lying low for a while, the actress made aresplendent comeback in Netflix’sThe Gloryin 2022, thus reviving her career and leaving a lasting impression even among her critics. In the dark and stylish revenge drama, she plays the chilling Moon Dong-eun, a determined woman hellbent on destroying the lives of the posh students who bullied and tortured her in high school.
PerThe Times of India, Song had lost her passion for acting until that opportunity came along, stating: “I was always shown the same way. I started enjoying acting again when I didThe Glory. I’ve done a lot of melodramas. I want to try horror, thrillers, and I also want to play the villain.”
The show was the recipient of 20 awards, including: the Asian Academy Creative Awards’ Best Drama Series and Best Actress in a Leading Role; the Baeksang Arts Awards’ Best Drama and Best Actress; and Seoul International Drama Awards’ Best Picture and Best Drama.
Now that she is an international sensation, the star is focused on diversifying her future projects and will be taking on more challenging roles.
What’s Next for the Hallyu Star?
To answer many netizens’ burning questions,Song Hye-kyo’s net worth at the end of 2023is estimated at $37 million, rendering her one of the highest paid South Korean actresses and models. Based on her rare interviews and social media posts, she is not planning on starting a family in the near future, and is dividing her time between her shoots, her activism for Korea Animal Rights Advocates, her dog, and her friends.
As Chaumet’s and Fendi’s brand ambassador and an internationally recognized public figure, she was one of the mostphotographed guests at the 2023 Met Gala, where she hung out with Fendi CEO Serge Brunschwig, model Sora Choi, and BLACKPINK’s Jennie Kim — a dream come true for up-and-comers in the Hallyu sphere.
21 K-Dramas for Older Audiences
If you’re over 30 and not into high-school dramedy and young adult romance, then these complex South Korean series are for you.
Fans have long been curious about Song’s linguistic skills, as well. As it turns out, she is fluent in Japanese, Cantonese, and English, and that multilingualism, coupled with her acting prowess, may very well open new doors for her. Meanwhile,her cinematic comebackis due in Kwon Hyeok-jae’s much-anticipated 2024mystery and horror movieBlack Nuns, the female answer to the blockbuster hitThe Priests.
With such a wide range of talents and an impressive show of skills so far, Song Hye-kyo’s career is set to take off.
To catch up, here is a video featuring the 9 best K-dramas of 2023:
