The Unfading Glory of 'Tae-Hye-Ji': Icons Kim Tae-hee, Song Hye-kyo, and Jun Ji-hyun Enter Their 40s, Who's Next?
The legendary trio known as 'Tae-Hye-Ji', consisting of Kim Tae-hee, Song Hye-kyo, and Jun Ji-hyun, has maintained their illustrious reputation for beauty and acting prowess into their 40s, since their rise to stardom in their 20s at the turn of the millennium.
Kim Tae-hee was the first among them to reach 40 and continue her acting career. In 2020, she returned to the screen after a long hiatus due to her marriage, with the tvN series 'Hi Bye, Mama!' She continued the 'Tae-Hye-Ji' legacy with a critically acclaimed performance that conveyed the profound love of a mother, a role that extended beyond her usual image as South Korea's representative beauty.
Kim Tae Hee opted to stay with her current managing label!, Story J Company!
The following year, Song Hye-kyo turned 40 and appeared in the SBS melodrama 'Now We Are Breaking Up.' She demonstrated a stable performance and a believable chemistry with her co-star despite an age difference. However, the series garnered less attention than expected due to mediocre viewership ratings.
Regardless, Song Hye-kyo rebounded with her performance in the Netflix series 'The Glory' that was released in 2022, marking another peak in her career. She displayed her versatility with a gritty and raw character that contrasted her usual 'lovely' image, along with an explosive performance. Moreover, 'The Glory' achieved monumental success globally, with a record 124.6 million hours watched across 79 countries within just three days of its release, even reaching the top spot in non-English TV shows.
Song Hye Kyo did not ask to delete her photos and videos according to the producers of "The Glory".
Kim Tae-hee made a comeback to the small screen after three years with the GenieTV original thriller 'The House with a Yard', her first venture into the thriller genre since her debut. As expected, her performance was captivating. Her tense gaze and crazed expressions contributed to an immersive experience for the viewers, reaffirming the reasons for the enduring 'Tae-Hye-Ji' fame over nearly two decades.
On the other hand, Jun Ji-hyun has yet to leave a memorable mark in her 40s, which is somewhat disappointing. Despite her success with 'My Love from the Star', 'Legend of the Blue Sea', and 'Kingdom: Ashin of the North', her most recent series 'Mount Jiri' ended with less than stellar ratings.
Jun Ji Hyun is finally back after four years of hiatus as she set to star in a new drama, “Jiri Mountain”!
However, Jun Ji-hyun is reportedly considering a role in the upcoming series 'Polaris', a collaboration between writer Jung Seo-kyung of 'Little Women' fame and director Kim Hee-won. 'Polaris' is known to be a spy-themed drama.
The spotlight is on whether Jun Ji-hyun can maintain the legacy of 'Tae-Hye-Ji', following the spectacular performances of Kim Tae-hee and Song Hye-kyo in their 40s.
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