Jeon Hye-won

Jeon Hye-won (Korean: 전혜원; born April 2, 1998) is a South Korean actress known for her supporting roles in popular television dramas.^[1] She made her acting debut in the 2015 short film 0000, portraying the character Ui-jeong.^[2] Born in Busan, she rose to prominence through diverse characters in youth-oriented and romantic series.^[1] Jeon's breakthrough came with her role as the antagonistic Park Sae-mi in the webtoon adaptation True Beauty (2020–2021), where her portrayal of a complex high school rival contributed to the drama's success.^[3] She followed this with Jung Chae-ran, a cheerful junior colleague, in the nostalgic romantic comedy Our Beloved Summer (2021–2022), which highlighted her comedic timing alongside leads Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi. In 2021, she also appeared in the family melodrama Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) as a young family member navigating relational tensions. Her career continued to build with fantasy and historical roles, including a minor part in Alchemy of Souls (2022) and Cho-wol, a courtesan and lover of Grand Prince Muan, in Under the Queen's Umbrella (2022).^[1] In 2023, she took on a supporting role in the historical romance My Dearest.^[1] In 2024, Jeon appeared as Kwon Yi-rin, an HR team member, in the romantic comedy No Gain No Love, further showcasing her range in ensemble casts.^[1]

Early life and education

Birth and background

Jeon Hye-won was born on April 2, 1998, in Busan, South Korea.^[1] She stands at a height of 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m).^[4]

Academic training

Jeon Hye-won, originally from Busan, relocated to Seoul to pursue formal training in acting. She attended the Seoul Institute of the Arts, majoring in acting within the Department of Performing Arts.^[5] Her studies there provided a foundation for her career, focusing on professional preparation in the performing arts before her debut.^[1] The Acting Program at the institute offers comprehensive training designed to cultivate versatile performers capable of working across theater, musicals, motion pictures, and broadcasting. Key components include vocalization, speech, singing, movement, and improvisation skills, with an emphasis on building imagination, creativity, and collaborative abilities through ensemble work and character development.^[6] Practical experiences form a core part of the curriculum, such as internships with professional companies and masterclasses led by industry experts, enabling students to apply techniques in real-world settings and refine their approach to diverse media formats.^[6] This rigorous education equipped Jeon with essential tools for embodying complex roles.

Career

Debut and early roles (2015–2019)

Jeon Hye-won made her acting debut in 2015 while still a student at Seoul Arts University, where she studied drama, providing her with foundational training that helped secure initial opportunities in the industry.^[7] Her first role was a supporting part as a council member in the short film 0000, marking her entry into professional acting with limited screen time but essential experience.^[7] That same year, she appeared as Soo-young in another supporting role in the film Consideration Job, further building her portfolio through smaller ensemble casts.^[7] In 2016, Jeon took on more prominent positions in short films, showcasing her versatility early on. She portrayed the lead character Hee-young in Too Far Away, a role that allowed her to explore emotional depth in a concise narrative.^[7] She also starred in the main role in Just One Day, demonstrating her ability to carry a story independently in the short format.^[7] These projects highlighted her transition from student exercises to professional commitments, often under the constraints of low-budget productions with minimal public exposure. Jeon's television debut came in 2017 with the special drama Barabom (also known as Barabom Prologue), where she played the main role of Kim Na-ri across three episodes, earning recognition for her nuanced performance in a family-oriented storyline.^[7] Later that year, she had a supporting role as Lee Eun-sol, the sister-in-law of the protagonist Ji-ho, in the slice-of-life series Because This Is My First Life, appearing in 16 episodes and contributing to the ensemble dynamics of modern relationships.^[7] Her early TV work emphasized relatable, everyday characters, aligning with her emerging style. By 2018, Jeon continued to diversify her resume with both film and television appearances. She had a bit part as a high school student in the sports drama film Champion, a minor but energetic role in a larger production.^[8] On television, she supported as Choi Yoon-hee in the medical romance A Poem a Day (16 episodes), guest-starred as Choi Seon-yeong in the thriller Sketch (16 episodes), and led as Shin Se-hee in the web series MU:D Vol. 1 (4 episodes, main role).^[7] These roles, ranging from guest spots to leads in shorter formats, reflected her growing adaptability amid the competitive landscape of minor parts. In 2019, Jeon closed out this formative period with a main role as Hye-jin in the web drama Daily FIFA, a 4-episode series that focused on youthful friendships and daily struggles.^[7] Throughout 2015–2019, her career involved navigating supporting and lead opportunities in short films and episodic dramas, often with agencies providing initial management before her later affiliation with Y.ONE Entertainment.^[9] This phase laid the groundwork for her development, emphasizing persistence in roles that offered practical on-set experience despite varying visibility.

Breakthrough and rising prominence (2020–2022)

In 2020, Jeon Hye-won achieved a significant breakthrough with her lead role as Oh Yeon Ah in the web series Kiss Goblin, where she starred opposite Bae In-hyuk in a fantasy romance about a goblin seeking human transformation through kisses.^[10] This performance marked her first major leading part, boosting her visibility and leading to subsequent opportunities, including a feature photoshoot with bnt news.^[7] Later that year, she portrayed the supporting character Park Sae-mi, a popular but antagonistic high school student, in the hit web series True Beauty, which drew widespread attention for its adaptation of a popular webtoon and helped solidify her presence in youth-oriented dramas.^[11] Jeon continued her ascent in 2021 with a supporting role as Park Hyang-ki in the family drama Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce), playing the daughter of a long-married couple navigating infidelity and relational strains across its multiple seasons.^[12] She also made a guest appearance as Kim Myung-jae's daughter in the action thriller Undercover (episodes 7-8).^[7] Her nuanced portrayal earned praise from Korean netizens for her emotional depth and clear enunciation, positioning her as a rising talent capable of handling complex family dynamics.^[13] From late 2021 into 2022, she appeared as Jung Chae-ran in Our Beloved Summer, a nostalgic romance series that highlighted her ability to deliver memorable supporting performances amid a star-studded ensemble, contributing to the show's strong viewership and her growing fanbase.^[14] The year 2022 further elevated Jeon's profile with diverse supporting roles across genres. In the coming-of-age film 20th Century Girl, she played the classmate nicknamed "Darn It," adding levity to the story of first love set in 1999.^[15] She then took on the role of Courtesan Cho Wol, a literate and beautiful consort to a prince, in the historical drama Under the Queen's Umbrella, marking her debut in sageuk and drawing positive feedback for her poised depiction.^[16] Additional appearances included Ae-hyang, a courtesan in the fantasy series Alchemy of Souls, and Yang Sung-sil in the sports romance Love All Play, showcasing her versatility in period, supernatural, and modern settings.^[17][18] That December, she returned to a lead role as Im Da-in in the KBS Drama Special episode "Silence of the Lambs," a thriller exploring police corruption and moral dilemmas.^[19] During this period, Jeon signed with Y.ONE Entertainment as her agency, providing professional support for her expanding career.^[16] Media outlets recognized her range in embodying both antagonistic figures like bullies and vibrant, multifaceted characters, which contributed to a notable surge in her Instagram following from under 50,000 in early 2020 to over 200,000 by late 2022, reflecting heightened public interest.^[13][20]

Recent projects (2023–present)

In 2023, she portrayed Kang Bin, the Crown Princess Consort Sohyeon, in the historical drama My Dearest (Parts 1 and 2) on MBC, a supporting role depicting the resilient wife of Crown Prince Sohyeon amid the backdrop of the Qing invasion of Joseon.^[21] Her performance as the poised yet vulnerable royal consort earned praise for adding emotional depth to the series' exploration of love and survival, with viewers noting her graceful handling of period attire and dialogue.^[22] Building on this momentum, Jeon starred in 2024's No Gain, No Love on tvN and TVING, playing Kwon I-rin, a human resources employee and supportive colleague to the protagonist in this 12-episode romantic comedy about calculated relationships and career ambitions.^[23] As the wife of a fellow office worker, her character provided comic relief and grounded workplace dynamics, receiving positive feedback for her natural chemistry with co-stars like Shin Min-a and Kim Young-dae.^[24] This role highlighted her versatility in modern settings, transitioning from historical ensembles to contemporary office humor while maintaining a consistent presence in high-rated broadcasts. Jeon's recent projects reflect an evolution toward more nuanced supporting roles in ensemble-driven narratives, allowing her to showcase range across genres from fantasy romance to sageuk and rom-com, often as empathetic allies or family members that enhance lead storylines without overshadowing them.^[1] As of November 2025, no new projects have been announced, though her affiliation with Y.ONE Entertainment continues to position her for selective opportunities in the competitive Korean drama landscape.^[7] Her steady involvement in popular series has solidified her reputation as a reliable rising talent, with industry observers crediting her clear enunciation and expressive subtlety for boosting scene impact.^[25]

Filmography

Film

Jeon Hye-won's film career began with short films in the mid-2010s, progressing from supporting roles to leads in independent projects before securing parts in higher-profile features. Over the course of her work in cinema, she has appeared in six films, showcasing versatility in genres ranging from drama to coming-of-age stories, with her roles evolving from ensemble pieces to more prominent supporting characters in mainstream releases.^[7]

Television series

Jeon Hye-won's television work spans broadcast dramas and specials, where she has portrayed a range of supporting characters in genres including romance, historical, fantasy, and sports, alongside lead roles in anthology specials. Her roles often highlight nuanced emotional depth, contributing to ensemble casts in high-profile series aired on major networks like tvN, KBS2, SBS, MBC, and TV Chosun.^[30]

Web series

Jeon Hye-won's involvement in web series began to elevate her profile in the digital streaming space, particularly through lead and supporting roles in short-form content tailored for online platforms. These projects, often characterized by their episodic format and accessibility via apps like Viki and Naver TV, allowed her to showcase versatile performances in romantic and fantastical narratives, distinct from traditional broadcast television. In 2020, she landed her breakthrough lead role as Oh Yeon-ah in Kiss Goblin, a 12-episode fantasy romance web series where her character, a misanthropic college student, forms an unlikely bond with a goblin seeking humanity through kisses. Produced for Naver TV Cast and vLive, with international streaming on Rakuten Viki, the series highlighted her chemistry with co-star Bae In-hyuk and contributed significantly to her rising visibility in the industry, leading to subsequent opportunities in major dramas.^[39] These web series roles marked a pivotal entry point in Jeon Hye-won's career, bridging her early work with mainstream recognition by leveraging the interactive, on-demand nature of online content.^[40]