1. Overview
Ko Sung-hee (고성희Go Seong-huiKorean; born June 21, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She gained initial recognition through her modeling career before officially debuting as an actress in 2013 with the film An Ethics Lesson. She quickly rose to prominence by starring in the fantasy-period drama Diary of a Night Watchman in 2014, marking her first leading role. Throughout her career, Ko has appeared in numerous films, television series, and web series, earning nominations for her performances, including the Best New Actress award at the 2014 MBC Drama Awards. In November 2022, she married a non-celebrity.
2. Early life and background
Ko Sung-hee's formative years were shaped by her unique family background and international upbringing, leading to her proficiency in multiple languages and her eventual entry into the entertainment industry. She stands at 67 in (170 cm) and has a blood type A.
2.1. Birth and family
Ko Sung-hee was born on June 21, 1990, in Missouri, United States. Due to her father's profession as a foreign affairs professor, she spent her early life growing up in the United States. She holds dual citizenship in both the United States and South Korea. This international background contributed to her linguistic abilities, making her proficient in English, Korean, and Japanese.
2.2. Education
For her secondary education, Ko Sung-hee attended Gyeonggi Girls' High School in South Korea. Following high school, she pursued higher education at Sungkyunkwan University, where she specialized in the Department of Acting Arts, laying the foundation for her professional acting career.
2.3. Early career and debut
Ko Sung-hee began her foray into the entertainment industry as a model before making her official debut as an actress. Her acting debut came in February 2013 with the film An Ethics Lesson, where she played the role of Jin-ah. In October of the same year, she garnered significant attention for her role as Minamito, a Japanese flight attendant who speaks broken Korean, in the film Fasten Your Seatbelt, which was the directorial debut of actor Ha Jung-woo. Her career further advanced in December 2013 when she took on a prominent role as Kim Jae-hee, the rival to the protagonist Lee Yeon-hee, in the MBC drama Miss Korea, solidifying her position as a rising talent. In 2014, she secured her first leading role as Do-ha in the fantasy-period drama Diary of a Night Watchman.
3. Acting career
Ko Sung-hee has built a comprehensive acting portfolio across various mediums, including films, television series, and web series, demonstrating her versatility in portraying diverse characters.
3.1. Film
Ko Sung-hee has appeared in several films throughout her career.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | A Good Night's Sleep for the Bad | Female high school student | |
| 2013 | An Ethics Lesson | Jin-ah | |
| Fasten Your Seatbelt | Minamito | ||
| 2019 | Trade Your Love | Park Hae-joo | Also known as Our Disguised Marriage |
| 2021 | A Year-End Medley | Young-ju | Also known as Happy New Year; TVING Film |
3.2. Television series
Her television roles span various genres and networks, showcasing her range as an actress.
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Miss Korea | Kim Jae-hee | MBC | |
| 2014 | Diary of a Night Watchman | Do-ha | MBC | |
| 2015 | SPY | Lee Yoon-jin | KBS2 | |
| My Beautiful Bride | Yoon Joo-young / Yoon Ju-hee | OCN | ||
| 2016 | Don't Dare to Dream | Hong Soo-young | SBS | Cameo appearance in episode 17 |
| 2017 | While You Were Sleeping | Shin Hee-min | SBS | |
| 2018 | Mother | Shin Ja-young | tvN | |
| Suits | Kim Ji-na | KBS2 | ||
| Ms. Ma, Nemesis | Seo Eun-ji | SBS | ||
| 2020 | Kingmaker: The Change of Destiny | Hwang Bong-ryeon / Lee Bong-ryeon | TV Chosun | Also known as Wind and Cloud and Rain |
| 2022 | Gaus Electronics | Cha Na-rae | Seezn / olleh tv |
3.3. Web series
Ko Sung-hee has also taken on roles in web-based drama series, adapting to the evolving media landscape.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | My Holo Love | Han So-yeon | Netflix original series |
4. Other appearances
Beyond her acting roles, Ko Sung-hee has participated in various television and entertainment programs, as well as commercial endorsements, further establishing her presence in the public eye.
4.1. Television shows and variety programs
Ko Sung-hee has appeared on several television shows, taking on roles as a host and a guest.
- 2009: Style Studio - Season 1 (Elle TV) - Host
- 2017: Running Man (SBS) - Guest (Episode 377, aired November 19)
- 2017: Kind Knights (tvN) - Guest (aired February 7)
- 2017-2018: Master Key (SBS) - Guest (aired December 30, 2017, and January 12, 2018)
4.2. Advertisements
Ko Sung-hee has endorsed various brands through her commercial campaigns.
- Sky - Presto
- Evisu
- Amorepacific - Laneige
5. Personal life
Ko Sung-hee's personal life has seen significant public events, including her marriage. On October 17, 2022, her agency officially announced her upcoming marriage to a non-celebrity boyfriend in November of the same year. The couple held a private wedding ceremony in Seoul on November 20, 2022.
6. Awards and nominations
Ko Sung-hee has been recognized for her acting performances with various awards and nominations throughout her career.
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee / Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Korea Drama Awards | Best New Actress | Miss Korea | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | Best New Actress | Miss Korea, Diary of a Night Watchman | Nominated | |
| 2017 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama | While You Were Sleeping | Nominated |
| 2018 | APAN Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Mother | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Suits | Nominated | |
| The Seoul Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Drama) | Mother, Suits | Nominated | |
| SBS Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Ms. Ma, Nemesis | Nominated | |
| 13th Soompi Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Female) | While You Were Sleeping | Nominated |