Actress Kim Min Ha has become one of the hottest stars in the entertainment industry. While much of the public’s recent attention has focused on her physical transformation, this change is actually tied to her upcoming projects, heightening anticipation for her new starring roles.
The first glimpse of Kim Min-ha’s transformation will be in the film Hana Korea, directed by Frederick Schölber. Set to premiere on July 8, this art-house drama is inspired by true events, following the journey of Hyesun, a North Korean defector navigating a new life. The Korean-Danish co-production is helmed by Danish filmmaker Schölber, with a screenplay co-written by Sharon Choi, known for her work as translator for acclaimed director Bong Joon Ho.
Kim Min Ha portrays Hyesun, a North Korean defector starting anew in South Korea. The film, which debuted in the Flash Forward section of last year’s Busan International Film Festival, showcases Kim Min Ha’s mastery of dialect and nuanced emotional performance as Hyesun struggles to adapt to life in Seoul.
Kim Min Ha shot to stardom in 2022 with her breakout role as young Sunja in the Apple TV+ series Pachinko. Based on the bestselling novel by Korean-American author Min Jin Lee, the epic saga spans four generations of a Korean family, from Japanese-occupied Korea to present-day Japan.
In the critically acclaimed series, which has aired two seasons, Kim Min Ha brilliantly embodies Sunja, a resilient woman who perseveres through adversity, representing the experiences of many Korean women in Japan. Her authentic portrayal of Busan-born Sunja, complete with a flawless Gyeongsang dialect, earned widespread praise. Despite her relatively short career, Kim Min Ha held her own alongside veteran actors like Lee Min Ho and Jung Eun Chae. Her seamless portrayal of young Sunja, in tandem with Youn Yuh Jung’s older version, further cemented her acting prowess.
Kim Min Ha continued to impress audiences with diverse roles, including intensive care unit (ICU) nurse Yoon Sun-hae in Disney+’s Light Shop (2024) and the lead in the coming-of-age drama Way Back Love (2025). In last year’s hit tvN series Typhoon Family, she transformed into Oh Mi-sun, a determined young woman fighting to survive during the International Monetary Fund (IMF)crisis. Her compelling performance alongside Lee Jun Ho’s Kang Tae-poong showcased her character’s growth and resilience.