While concerns about career breaks due to marriage and childbirth were common, more actresses nowadays are thriving even after these life changes, reducing worries about such breaks.
Actresses like Park Shin-hye, Kang So-ra and Jo Bo-ah boldly chose marriage during the height of their careers, managing to balance both their work and personal lives. Let’s take a look at these three actresses who are not only building happy families in their early 30s but also displaying an unwavering passion for acting.
On October 12th, Jo Bo-ah, who is currently at the peak of her popularity, got married. Without any prior dating rumors, Jo Bo-ah surprised the public with her wedding news. She had been in a long-term relationship with her now-husband, and they built deep trust and affection for each other. The wedding took place in a private outdoor ceremony at Walkerhill Aston House with only family and close friends.
Jo Bo-ah, who has seen her career soar in both dramas and variety shows, drew even more attention with her marriage. Since her debut in the 2012 drama “Flower Band”, she has appeared in various works such as “The King’s Doctor”, “The Idle Mermaid”, “All About My Mom”, “Temperature of Love”, “My Strange Hero” and the “Tale of the Nine Tailed” series. Her lovely charm and sharp sense also made her a standout on variety shows like “Law of the Jungle”, “Baek Jong-won’s Alley Restaurant” and “Europe Outside the Tent”.
Despite her status as a “newlywed”, Jo Bo-ah shows no signs of slowing down. She has multiple projects lined up, including Netflix’s “Hong Rang” and Disney+’s “Knock-Off”. In these global OTT originals, Jo Bo-ah will take on lead roles alongside Hallyu stars like Lee Jae-wook in “Hong Rang” and Kim Soo-hyun in “Knock-Off”, positioning herself for a leap into global stardom.
Park Shin-hye is another actress who chose marriage at the peak of her career. Debuting in 2003, she became a leading figure in K-dramas and shocked fans in 2024 when she announced her marriage and pregnancy. Though she had been in a public relationship with actor Choi Tae-joon for four years, the news was surprising given her continuous work on projects. In January 2024, Park Shin-hye married Choi Tae-joon, and in May of that year, she became a mother.
However, Park Shin-hye quickly returned to acting, reclaiming her spot as a representative actress in her 30s. She starred in “Doctor Slump” earlier this year and immediately secured another drama, making her even busier post-marriage. She’s now starring as the evil but lovable anti-hero Kang Bit-na in SBS’s “The Judge from Hell”, which is enjoying high ratings thanks to her impressive performance.
Kang So-ra, another prominent actress in her 30s, debuted in 2009 and has made a name for herself in both films and dramas. She is known for her roles in films like “Sunny” and “My Paparotti”, and dramas such as “Dream High 2”, “Ugly Alert”, “Doctor Stranger”, “Misaeng: Incomplete Life”, “Warm and Cozy” and “My Lawyer, Mr. Jo”.
After giving birth to her first daughter in 2024 and her second in 2024, Kang So-ra continues to be active in her career. She appeared in the drama “Strangers Again” (2024) and also started a YouTube channel in 2020, expanding her presence as a YouTuber.