In 1999, the year she turned 23, she applied to join Yeonwoo Theater Company and was accepted. She first stood on stage in a college theater club. In 2000, she made her stage debut in the play Teacher Choi.
In 2003, she first appeared on screen in a small role as Seo-hyeon’s mother in Bong Joon-ho’s Memories of Murder. In 2004, she won the popularity prize at the Beautiful Theater Person Awards. In 2006, she won the new actor prize at the Dong-A Theater Awards.
In 2009, she won the Promising Theater Person prize at the Heeseo Theater Awards. In 2010, she won the acting prize at the Seoul Theater Festival. Up to this time most of her work was on stage. In 2015, she appeared with Na Moon-hee in the play Good Night, Mother, and writer Noh Hee-kyung, who saw it, offered her a drama role.
The breakthrough yearThe year she turned 40, she appeared in the drama Dear My Friends as Kim Soon-young in May, and in December played Ji Eun-tak’s aunt Ji Yeon-sook in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin). The Hankook Ilbo wrote that Goblin was what made her known first.
In 2017, she played Jin Ju-daek in I Can Speak and signed with L&Company. In 2018, she appeared in JTBC’s Life as Kang Kyung-ah. In 2019, the film Innocent Witness passed 1 million admissions, and she won best supporting actress at the KBS Drama Awards for her role as Hong Ja-young in KBS2’s When the Camellia Blooms.
In 2020, she began OCN’s The Uncanny Counter and won the acting prize at the Jeonju International Film Festival for Black Light. In 2021, she won best supporting actress in TV at the Baeksang Arts Awards for The Uncanny Counter. In 2022, she played Kang Hyeon-nam in Netflix’s The Glory. In 2023, she played Kim Kyung-ja in Mask Girl.
In 2024, Citizen of a Kind opened, and she won best supporting actress in TV at the Baeksang Arts Awards and a presidential commendation at the Popular Culture and Arts Awards. In 2025, she won the Baeksang supporting actress prize for the second year in a row for her role as Jeon Gwang-rye in When Life Gives You Tangerines, and Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice opened.
In 2026, her first sole-lead film, Mad Dance Office, and Jeong Ji-young’s My Name opened, and she was named a winner of the Jeju Film Festival’s contribution award.
Yeom Hye-ran (born Oct 30, 1976) debuted in 2000, the year she turned 24, in the play Teacher Choi, and became known on Dec 2, 2016, the year she turned 40, as Ji Yeon-sook in tvN’s Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin). She won her first Baeksang Arts Awards supporting prize in 2021, the year she turned 45.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
She applied after seeing a company-member notice while working part-time in Daehangno, and was accepted. She first stood on stage in a college theater club.
Source 01 · Xports News (Korean) · The actor said to be the best in Korea right now · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Sports Seoul (Korean) · Interview on Citizen of a Kind · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran on Mask Girl · opens in a new tabShe began acting while studying Korean language and literature at Seoul Women’s University, and made her stage debut in this Yeonwoo Theater Company production.
Source 04 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran sweeps theater, drama and film · opens in a new tabSource 03 · Sisa Journal (Korean) · 84 Square Meters: Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Xports News (Korean) · The actor said to be the best in Korea right now · opens in a new tab Several outlets give 2000 as her debut year. Some articles give 1999, when she joined Yeonwoo Theater Company, as the start of her acting.She first appeared on screen in a small role in Bong Joon-ho’s film. Yonhap reported that Bong noticed her when he came to see a play and cast her in the film.
Source 01 · Xports News (Korean) · The actor said to be the best in Korea right now · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran on Mask Girl · opens in a new tabSource 13 · TV Report (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran in When the Camellia Blooms · opens in a new tab The release date was not confirmed.It is an award she won for her stage work.
Source 06 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Remembering great actors · opens in a new tabSource 39 · Wikipedia (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tab The year is the same in the Segye Ilbo column (2011) and in Wikipedia. The ceremony date was not confirmed.Sisa Journal says this prize made her stand out on stage.
Source 03 · Sisa Journal (Korean) · 84 Square Meters: Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Remembering great actors · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Side-B: Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tab The number and date of the ceremony were not confirmed.It is a prize given to stage actors.
Source 06 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Remembering great actors · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Side-B: Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tab The year is from the Segye Ilbo column (2011). The Hankook Ilbo gives only the name of the prize, without a year.Up to this time most of her work was on stage.
Source 06 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Remembering great actors · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Side-B: Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tab The year is from the Segye Ilbo column (2011).Writer Noh Hee-kyung, who came to see the production, offered her a part in the drama Dear My Friends, which aired the next year.
Source 01 · Xports News (Korean) · The actor said to be the best in Korea right now · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Sports Seoul (Korean) · Interview on Citizen of a Kind · opens in a new tabShe played mother and daughter with Na Moon-hee. The Hankook Ilbo says she caught the public’s eye with this role.
Source 08 · Sports Hankook (Korean) · Dear My Friends teaser released · opens in a new tabSource 09 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · My Name invited to Berlin · opens in a new tabShe played the aunt of Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun). The Hankook Ilbo wrote that Goblin was what made Yeom known first, and TV Report and OBS also said she made her face and name known with this work.
The contract came after Goblin ended.
Source 11 · TV Report (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran signs with L&Company · opens in a new tabShe played the owner of a supermarket next to Na Ok-bun (Na Moon-hee).
Source 15 · Financial News (Korean) · I Can Speak opens Sept. 21 · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Side-B: Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tabWoman Donga listed this role among scene-stealers.
Source 16 · Woman Donga (Korean) · A list of scene-stealers · opens in a new tab The first broadcast date was not confirmed.She played a housekeeper named a prime suspect in a murder. After the opening, it passed 1 million cumulative admissions.
Source 17 · Mydaily (Korean) · Innocent Witness passes 1 million · opens in a new tabSource 41 · SBS Entertainment News (Korean) · Innocent Witness: I did not recognize Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tabThe contract was announced the same day as that of Lee Kyu-hyung, who appeared with her in Innocent Witness.
Source 18 · Sports Donga (Korean) · Lee Kyu-hyung and Yeom Hye-ran sign with Ace Factory · opens in a new tabShe played a divorce lawyer. The first episode drew 6.3% and the last 23.8%.
Source 19 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran in When the Camellia Blooms · opens in a new tabSource 20 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · Goodbye When the Camellia Blooms · opens in a new tabShe won it for When the Camellia Blooms.
Source 21 · Hankyung (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran and Shin Dong-mi win at the KBS Drama Awards · opens in a new tabShe played Yeong-nam in director Bae Jong-dae’s first feature. The film opened the next February.
Source 23 · Newsis (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran’s Black Light opens in February · opens in a new tab The date of the festival was not confirmed.She played one of the Counters alongside Jo Byung-gyu, Yoo Jun-sang and Kim Se-jeong. Newsen said she closely matched the webtoon character.
Source 22 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · The Uncanny Counter to first air Nov. 28 · opens in a new tabSource 40 · Newsen (Korean) · The Uncanny Counter’s Yeom Hye-ran as Chu Mae-ok · opens in a new tabShe won it for The Uncanny Counter. The ceremony was held without an audience because of COVID-19.
Source 24 · Xports News (Korean) · 57th Baeksang Arts Awards supporting actress · opens in a new tabSource 39 · Wikipedia (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tab It was her first Baeksang prize after two nominations for best supporting actress in film. The nomination history is from Wikipedia.The series was written by Kim Eun-sook.
Source 25 · bnt News (Korean) · The Glory’s Kang Hyeon-nam · opens in a new tabKim Yong-hoon wrote and directed it.
Source 26 · Newsen (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran in Mask Girl · opens in a new tabShe played a character who speaks the Yanbian dialect and is fluent in Chinese, and who interprets for the group that goes to Qingdao.
Source 27 · Sports Today (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran in Citizen of a Kind · opens in a new tabShe won it for Mask Girl. The ceremony was held at COEX in Gangnam District, Seoul.
Source 28 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · 60th Baeksang, Mask Girl’s Yeom Hye-ran · opens in a new tabShe received it at the ceremony at the Haeoreum Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Jung District, Seoul.
Source 29 · News1 (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran receives a presidential commendation at the Popular Culture and Arts Awards · opens in a new tabShe played a Jeju haenyeo of the 1950s, the mother of Ae-sun. Lim Sang-choon wrote it and Kim Won-seok directed.
Source 30 · Newsen (Korean) · Yeom Hye-ran in When Life Gives You Tangerines · opens in a new tabSource 09 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · My Name invited to Berlin · opens in a new tabShe won the supporting actress prize for the second year in a row, for When Life Gives You Tangerines.
Source 31 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · 61st Baeksang Arts Awards supporting actress · opens in a new tabDirected by Park Chan-wook, the film was in competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and was the opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival.
Source 32 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · No Other Choice to open Sept. 24 · opens in a new tabIn director Jo Hyeon-jin’s film she played a district office section chief. SBS reported it as her first commercial film as sole lead.
Source 33 · The Fact (Korean) · Mad Dance Office to open Mar. 4 · opens in a new tabSource 34 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Mad Dance Office interview · opens in a new tabSource 35 · SBS (Korean) · Mad Dance Office, Yeom Hye-ran’s first film as sole lead · opens in a new tabDirector Jeong Ji-young’s film about the Jeju April 3 Incident was invited to the Forum section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival.
Source 36 · The Fact (Korean) · My Name to open Apr. 15 · opens in a new tabSource 09 · Hankook Ilbo (Korean) · My Name invited to Berlin · opens in a new tabSource 38 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · My Name interview · opens in a new tabShe is to receive it together with director Jeong Ji-young. My Name was picked as the closing film of the 21st Jeju Film Festival.
Source 37 · SBS Entertainment News (Korean) · Jeong Ji-young and Yeom Hye-ran get the Jeju Film Contribution Award · opens in a new tab The date is the day the winners were announced. The ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 4.END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1999–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
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Film & TV · South Korea
Oct 30, 1976 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1976: the year of the event minus 1976, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.21 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.