Kim Tae Hee and her younger brother have always shared a close and protective bond. Her brother, four years younger, is named Kim Hyung Soo, better known by his stage name Lee Wan. Like his sister, he entered the acting industry, but unlike Kim Tae Hee’s stellar career, Lee Wan’s journey has been relatively modest, earning him the label of the “less famous sibling.”
Despite his quieter career, Lee Wan has played an irreplaceable role in his sister’s life. On the latest episode of You Quiz On The Block, Kim Tae Hee fondly recalled moments when her brother shielded her like a personal bodyguard. During high school, she was unaware that many boys admired her because Lee Wan intercepted all their approaches. “He received tons of letters meant for me but never gave them to me,” Kim Tae Hee laughed. “He wanted to protect me.” Even host Jo Se Ho once experienced his protective nature when he asked about meeting Kim Tae Hee and was bluntly shut down by Lee Wan with, “Why should I tell you that?”
The actress then shared a chilling memory from her school days: she was once stalked by a stranger late at night. After school ended around 10 PM, she entered her building’s elevator. When it reached the seventh floor, where her family lived, the stalker suddenly attacked. “I screamed and rang the doorbell, and my younger brother came rushing out,” she recalled. The man fled down the stairs with Lee Wan chasing after him. Kim Tae Hee believes her brother saved her life that night because of his habit of always waiting by the elevator for her return. To this day, she still remembers the terror of that incident.
Born in 1980, Kim Tae Hee is celebrated as one of Korea’s most beautiful and respected actresses, often called the “nation’s beauty treasure.” Beyond her flawless looks, she is admired for her intelligence and spotless reputation. A graduate of Seoul National University in Fashion Design, she began acting in 2001 and rose to fame with her villainous role in the iconic drama Stairway to Heaven. She went on to star in hit series such as Love Story in Harvard, IRIS, Yong-pal, and Hi Bye, Mama!.
Her romance with singer-actor Rain is considered one of the most enduring love stories in Korean entertainment. The couple met in 2011 while filming a commercial, officially confirmed their relationship in 2013, and tied the knot in 2017. Their wedding was modest, held in a church with only close family and friends, reflecting their down-to-earth values. They now have two daughters and maintain a private but loving family life, often praised as one of Korea’s power couples.
As for Lee Wan, born in 1984, he debuted in 2003 and initially attracted attention with his good looks and promising acting in Stairway to Heaven and Tree of Heaven. However, his career never reached the same heights as his sister’s, and he became better known as “Kim Tae Hee’s brother.” In late 2019, he married professional golfer Lee Bo Mee in a private ceremony. Since then, he has stepped back from the limelight, focusing on personal life rather than pursuing big projects. Although his acting career remains overshadowed, his deep bond with Kim Tae Hee and his heroic act of saving her during a terrifying incident have made his role in her life unforgettable.
Sources: kenh14
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