In South Korea, Kim Ha Neul is an actress who rose to fame from being a mere high school student admired for her looks, having been first spotted by the entertainment industry.
Kim's rise to fame is amazing, not just in itself but where she came from as well.
If you think Kim Ha Neul looks a little familiar, it might be because the Seoul native was born on February 21, 1978, and she started out with hopes of meeting her idol, Kim Sung-Jae (a member of the popular music duo Deux).
She was still a high school student when she spotted a notice for scouting models for the clothing brand "Storm" that had her idol as a model.
Kim was inspired by her and applied for a job but never heard back. Disheartened, she devoted her time to preparing for her college entrance after high school graduation.
Well, a year later, fate took an unexpected turn. Kim applied to a male-only position, so she stood out from the rest. All the team at Storm remembered the application.
The designer responsible for the brand at the time found Kim Ha Neul through local government when the label decided to hire models for their women's clothing launch.
The designer then contacted her after several attempts and asked her to audition. Kim was mostly nervous about being able to go because she needed her parents' permission, and her family was a little reluctant to allow her.
She did so anyway, and that was the start of her modeling and acting career—despite what her parents feared.
Kim made her film debut in 1998 with the model Yoo Ji-tae in "Bye June." Faster than we could blink, she became a household name, headlining hit dramas such as Happy Together and Into the Sunlight.
She has grown into one of the most loved actresses in South Korea over the years, renowned for her versatility and dedication to her craft.
