Park Soo Ae stars as Kim In Hye in the film "The Flu." When a deadly strain of avian influenza or bird flu breaks out at the rate of 2,000 new cases an hour, Kim In Hye risks her own life to find a cure.
Park took the role because she says that she often catches the flu herself and was intrigued by the idea that it could spread so quickly and cause so many deaths. But she also took the part because she is an actress who constantly likes to challenge herself with new and interesting roles.
Her most popular roles were in the films "Sunny" and "Midnight FM." She played an empress in love in the film "The Sword With No Name" and a woman with Alzheimer's disease in the drama "A Thousand Years Promise." She starred as an ambitious woman who wants to be First Lady in the drama "Yawang."
Here are a few facts you may not know about this actress.
1. She nearly became a member of an idol group. Recruited by an agent while she was still in high school, she practiced for six months but never made an album.
"I didn't sing well," she said. "But the six months I spent with the team was fun. I was lucky to get into acting."
2. She has long been friendly with actor Uhm Tae Woong. They enjoy sharing meals and talking about acting but it remains a brother-sister relationship.
3. Several stars have described her as their ideal woman. Those stars include Jang Geun Suk and Kim Tae Won, but she has never dated either of them.
What does she look for in a man? Someone who can communicate well remains a top priority.
"Dramas and movies are full of attractive men," she said. "But I would like someone who will support me and cheer me on. Tall, good-looking men are common. But it's difficult to meet someone who really communicates well."
4. Her hobbies are swimming, tennis and playing pool. Soo Ae learned to swim for her role in "A Thousand Day's Promise" which featured an underwater kissing scene. She unintentionally drank a lot of water filming that scene, but you would never know how inexperienced she was by looking at her performance.
5. Her own background has helped the actress to understand the importance of a helping hand.
Last year she donated around $93,000 to charity.
"I hope that my donation can be used to help underprivileged children living in Bong Cheon city," said the actress of the neighborhood she grew up in. "This is a small way of showing my appreciation for all the love and support I received from everyone."
