Kim Hae-sook

Kim Hae-sook (born December 30, 1955) is a prolific South Korean actress widely recognized for her extensive contributions to television dramas and cinema. Often referred to across the industry as a quintessential maternal figure or veteran performer, she has maintained a steady and prominent acting career spanning several decades.

Acting Career

Kim began her acting career in the late 20th century, making appearances in television series and films since the early 1980s, including credits in Lover (1982) and Die to Live (1982). Over the years, she transitioned into playing foundational supporting and maternal characters in numerous acclaimed South Korean projects.

Her extensive filmography features major motion pictures such as Park Chan-wook's psychological thriller Thirst (2009), the heist film The Thieves (2012), Assassination (2015), and The Handmaiden (2016). In television, she has taken on memorable roles across diverse networks and streaming platforms, appearing in popular series such as Hospital Playlist (2020), Start-Up (2020), Under The Queen's Umbrella (2022), and Gyeongseong Creature (2023–2024).

Selected Filmography

Notable Television Series

• Autumn in My Heart (2000)
• Winter Sonata (2002)
• Life is Beautiful (2010)
• I Can Hear Your Voice (2013)
• Pinocchio (2014)
• My Father is Strange (2017)
• Hospital Playlist (2020–2021)
• Start-Up (2020)
• Under The Queen's Umbrella (2022)
• Gyeongseong Creature (2023–2024)
• Mr. Plankton (2024)

Notable Films

• Marrying the Mafia (2002)
• My Brother (2004)
• Sunflower (2006)
• Open City (2008)
• Thirst (2009)
• The Thieves (2012)
• The Throne (2015)
• The Handmaiden (2016)
• Herstory (2018)