'Yonder' on Paramount+: How K-Drama star Han Ji-min is an inspiration on and off screen
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Streaming platforms such as Netflix are showcasing a wide range of shows and movies from all parts of the world. From 'Money Heist' to the recent hit 'Squid Game', content from all around the world has been appreciated by audiences. Paramount+ is also looking forward to expanding its content.
Paramount+, which is developing its show catalogue with several genres including the recent musical 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies' and the Western drama 'Yellowstone', is gearing up to release K-Dramas, including 'Yonder'. The official synopsis of 'Yonder' reads, "Set in the 2040s in the large city area of South Korea. It depicts the story of a man who lives in agony, unable to forget his wife who died of cancer. Then one day, he receives an unknown email and chooses to abandon his body to go live with his wife. It will portray a world where one can live forever without death, and will question the meaning of eternal life, death, memory and oblivion, and happiness and misery." While the show releases on April let us take a look at Han Ji-min, who plays the lead character Chai Yi-hoo on the sci-fi show.
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Han Ji-min's impressive career
Born on November 5, 1982, in Seoul, South Korea, Han ji-min is among of the prominent leading ladies in K-town. From a very young age, Ji-min was drawn towards acting though she did not have a serious interest in becoming a professional actress at the time. Her passion for acting helped her bag her first role while she was in high school. Ji-min appeared in several commercials and in various music videos while still in school. While she appeared in several smaller roles, Ji-min's popularity role came from her appearance in the two hit dramas, 'All In' and 'Dae Jang Geum'. After starring in 'All In', Ji-min changed her mind and started taking acting seriously. ]
In 2005, she had her first breakout role in 'Resurrection' and in that same year, Ji-min starred in the movie 'Blue Swallow', where her performance as Lee Jeong-hee, a girl aspiring to become a pilot, showed her acting skills.
Despite a relatively small career, each of Ji-min's performances showed her versatility, be it a cynical veterinarian in the 2011 series 'Padam Padam' or a dual role in 2012's 'Rooftop Prince'.
Ji-min is beloved for her acting skills and choice of scripts. Some of her notable work includes playing Queen Jeongsun in the 2014 period film 'The Fatal Encounter', mysophobic librarian Yoo So-jung in the 2014 romantic comedy 'The Plan Man' and ex-convict Baek Sang-ah in the 2018 movie, 'Miss Baek'. Ji-min always chooses unique out-of-the-box roles.
In 'Yonder' Ji-min plays Cha Yi-hoo, the wife of Kim Jae-hyun (Shin Ha-kyun). Yi-hoo dies of cancer and uploads her memories into the virtual world to live there forever.
Han Ji-min's activism
Ji-min's interest go beyond acting as she has a lot of interest in activism. Ji-min is an active participant in welfare activities. It is to be noted that she is a social welfare major from Seoul Women's University. She spent time helping out at a remote school in Phillippines and she wrote about her experience there in the 2009 book 'We’re Already Friends: Han Ji-min's Philippines Donation Book'. She donated all the royalties she earned from the book for children's education in North Korea and other underdeveloped countries of Asia. She had been appointed as the goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme in 2012.
Ji-min has also donated millions of dollars to various causes. In 2022, Ji-min donated ₩50M (~$37,912) through the National Disaster Relief Association Hope Bridge to people who are at risk by supporting their heating costs. Most recently, Ji-min has donated ₩100M (~$75,825) through UNICEF of Korea to aid victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.
'Yonder' will release on Paramount+ on April 11.