2006–2018: Early career at MBC

After graduating from Korea National University of Arts, Kim Hee-won joined MBC in 2006, where she began her career as an assistant director. Notably, she served as an assistant director for Moon Hee-jung's The Last Scandal of My Life.^[1]

In 2011, Kim Hee-won joined Cable Channel MBN, which made history as the first domestic broadcasting company in Korea to hold an open audition for actors for the sitcom Come, Come, Absolutely Come [ko]. The sitcom revolves around the daily lives of three funny men and women who start living together under one roof. The audition event took place on October 11 at the Maekyung Media Center in Seoul. The series presented a unique combination of an American drama and a sitcom, showcasing the creative talents of a team of graduates from Korea National University of Arts, including Kim Hee-won for her directorial debut, Hwang Yeo-reum, and writer Kim Gyeong-mi. Notably, director Lee Jang-soo from Logos Film also served as the producer of the show.^[2][3][4][5]

In 2012, Kim returned to MBC and reunited with screenwriter Moon Hee-jung for her miniseries Missing You. In this project, Kim served as the assistant director under the guidance of director Lee Jae-dong, who had previously directed dramas such as Can't Lose and Thank You.^[6]

In 2014, Kim took on the role of Team B director for the MBC drama You Are My Destiny, with Lee Dong-yoon as the main director.^[7] This drama was a remake of the Taiwanese drama Fated to Love You starring Joe Chen and Ethan Ruan, which originally aired in 2008 and garnered high ratings.^[8] The adaptation was done by scriptwriter Joo Chan-ok and Jo Jin-kook. The series also brought together Jang Hyuk and Jang Na-ra, who had previously co-starred in the drama Successful Story of a Bright Girl back in 2002, marking their reunion after twelve years.^[9][10]

In the one-act drama "MBC Drama Festival 2014: Old Farewell," Kim teamed up once again with Jang Hyuk and Jang Na-ra. The drama, written by Min Ji Eun, delves into a time travel narrative. The story follows Soo Hyuk, a former boxer who unexpectedly inherits his ex-wife Chae Hee's house. During his exploration of the house, he stumbles upon a hidden attic containing old Polaroid photos that possess the ability to transport him back in time. In this past timeline, Chae Hee is confronted with an impending death, prompting Soo Hyuk to embark on a desperate mission to rescue her.^[11][12][13]

Kim took on the role of Team B director for several MBC dramas. In Warm and Cozy, the main director was Park Hong-kyun.^[14] Glamorous Temptation was directed by Kim Sang-hyub,^[15] while Golden Pouch was helmed by Kim Dae-jin.^[16]

Kim received recognition in 2017 for her directing skills as the main director of Money Flower, featured Jang Hyuk, Park Se-young, Lee Mi-sook, and Lee Soon-jae in the leading roles. This drama, which concluded its run in early February, garnered widespread popularity and achieved a peak viewership rating of 23.9% (Nielsen Korea, nationwide).^[1][17]

2018–2021: Studio Dragon

Kim left MBC in June 2018. According to a statement from a broadcasting official in July 2018, Kim signed a directing contract with Supermoon Pictures and Studio Dragon. It was anticipated that she would alternate between the two production companies to take on directing roles.^[1]

Kim's first project at Studio Dragon was The Crowned Clown.^[18] Co-authored by Kim Seon-deok and Shin Ha-eun, it is a remake of the 2012 film Masquerade and features Yeo Jin-goo, Kim Sang-kyung, and Lee Se-young in the lead roles and revolved around the story of a Joseon King and his doppelganger, a clown. In order to escape the power struggles within the royal court, the king places the clown on the throne.^{[19][20][21][22]} The series introduces new characters and storylines while staying true to the original movie. The production presentation for the drama was held at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul.^[23]

Kim played a significant role in the success of The Crowned Clown. She captured the essence of a well-crafted historical drama and skillfully brought the recreated narrative to life while showcasing the actors' talents. She effectively utilized natural lighting and meticulous mise-en-scène, creating visually pleasing scenes. Through the skillful use of various camera angles, such as diagonal and high angles, she maximized the impact of each scene and heightened the viewers immersive experience. Viewers gave her the nickname "God Hee-won" because she had a remarkable talent for creating beautiful visuals similar with a film.^[23]

In May 2020, director Kim and screenwriter Park Jae-beom teamed up for Vincenzo, which served as the final part of Park Jae-beom's "Justice Trilogy."^[24][25] Vincenzo is 2021 television series starring Song Joong-ki as the title character Vincenzo alongside Jeon Yeo-been, Ok Taec-yeon, Kim Yeo-jin, and Kwak Dong-yeon. The first script reading took place on January 5, 2021.^[26] It aired on tvN from February 20, 2021, to May 2, 2021l It was broadcast every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 (KST). Subsequently, each episode was made available on Netflix in South Korea and internationally after its television broadcast.^[27][28]

Kim Hee-won said, "I also met the author as a fan of his previous work, so I have a great desire to make it well. In fact, from a directing perspective, writer Park Jae-beom's script is a burdensome script to direct. Since it is implemented in so much detail in the script, if a review comes back saying that it was not implemented properly, it is 100% the directing's fault. It's that attractive. In addition, because the main character's setting is unique and the situations he encounters are also unique, the most important thing from a directing perspective is to ensure that the comical and dark parts are delivered in a balanced manner so that the overall balance of the drama is not lost."^[29]

Kim's directorial work on Vincenzo earned her a nomination for Best Director at 57th Baeksang Art Awards.^[30] Furthermore, she was honored with the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Commendation in the Broadcast Video Industry Development Contribution category during the 2021 Korea Content Awards.^[31][32]

Kim Hee-won collaborated with two frequent collaborators of Park Chan-wook, writer Jeong Seo-kyeong and production designer Ryu Seong-hui, in the Korean mini-series adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women. Writer Jeong Seo-kyeong expressed her desire to work with Kim on the project after being captivated by her visionary approach and talent for conceptualizing abstract ideas while watching Vincenzo. Kim Hee-won was known for her strong dedication, often sacrificing meals and sleep to fully commit herself to projects. Despite her busy schedule, CP Cho Moon-joo from Studio Dragon promptly presented her with the script after she finished working on Vincenzo. They successfully assembled a remarkable team, with 70% of the cast and crew being women, marking a significant milestone in drama production history. This was the first time that women held all key positions such as Chief Producer (CP), writer, director, and production designer.^[33][34]

Mini-series Little Women follows the story of three sisters (Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, and Park Ji-hoo) who grew up in poverty but bravely confront the wealthiest and most influential family in Korea.^[35][36] The collaboration between Kim and production designer Ryu Seong-hui led to breathtaking scenography, characterized by opulent set designs and meticulous props.^[37] At the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards, the drama received four nominations, including nominations for Best Art Director, Best Director and Best Drama.^[38][39][40]

2020–present: Showrunner, Studio Abit and Imaginus

Directors Jang Young-woo [ko] and Kim joined forces on January 31, 2020, to establish the content company Showrunners (쇼러너스).^[41][42] Their inaugural project, Park Ji-eun's drama Queen of Tears, features Jang Young-woo [ko] and Kim as co-directors. Filming for the series commenced in the first half of 2023.^[43] In addition to Showrunners, the production is a collaborative effort involving Culture Depot and Studio Dragon as co-producers.^[44]

tvN's weekend drama Queen of Tears is a story about the complicated love between Hong Hae-in (played by Kim Ji-won), a powerful businesswoman from the Queen's Group company, and Baek Hyun-woo (played by Kim Soo-hyun), the son of a supermarket owner. Despite being married for three years, their relationship faces many challenges and unexpected events. The production presentation for held at Radama Seoul Hotel in Sindorim on March 7, 2024.^[45]

In August 2023, reports emerged that Kim had joined Studio Abit (스튜디오어빗), as leader of drama department. Studio Abit is a joint venture between Imaginus and Innocean, with Hwang Ji-young appointed as the CEO of Studio Abit and also the leader of the entertainment department.^[46][47] The primary objective of Studio Abit is to produce relatable and enjoyable commercial content, including entertainment shows, dramas, and movies.^[46][48]

In March 2024, Ryu Hyung-jin, the vice president of Imaginus, provided exclusive insights into ten labels under Imaginus and their respective leaders in an interview with Cine21. Among these labels were Showrunners (쇼러너스), which housed directors Jang Young-woo [ko], Kim Hee-won, Choi Jeong-gyu, Song Kyung-hwa, and other creators; and Studio AA (스튜디오 AA), co-led by Gang Dong-won. Imaginus is a content production company established by Choi Jin-hee, the former CEO of Studio Dragon, in December 2021.^[42][49]

Ryu also announced several upcoming projects of Imaginus, including Polaris, which will be co-produced by Showrunner and Studio AA.^[42][50] Prior to that, in March 2023, it was reported that Kim and writer Jeong Seo-kyeong, who previously collaborated on Little Woman, joined forces again for Polaris. The drama is a spy melodrama exploring the journey of spies who have lost their identities and must find themselves. Jun Ji-hyun has been offered the female lead role opposite Gang Dong-won.^[51][52] Imaginus, announced that Polaris had entered the preparation stage on March 28, 2024. The first meeting took place on the 25th. Imaginus further stated that filming for Polaris is planned to commence in April, with the possibility of shooting in international locations being taken into account.^[53]

Television series

Web series

Awards and nominations

State honors

Listicle