Kim Jong-min (; born September 24, 1979) is a South Korean singer, dancer and television personality. He has been a member of the co-ed vocal group Koyote since 2000 and a cast member of the variety show 2 Days & 1 Night since 2007.
Kim has won numerous awards including the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2016 KBS Entertainment Awards for his work on 2 Days & 1 Night.
Career
Pre-debut Before debuting as a member of Koyote, Kim worked as a backup dancer for Uhm Jung-hwa, Lee Jung Hyun, Kim Wan-sun, R.E.F and many other artists. He was on the dance team "Friends" for five years.
Variety appearances Kim is known for being a mainstay of many Korean variety shows (such as KBS' Heroine 6 and Choi Hong Man Strong Friends and formerly SBS' Real Romance Love Letter), as he has become a goofy, naïve on-screen character known for silly comments and actions. He was also an assistant soccer coach on KBS' FC Shoot Dori and has also made appearances on MBC's King Saturday Driving School and Happy Shares Company, SBS' Love Choice (Selection Couple), X-Man, and Ya Shim Man Man, and KBS' Star Golden Bell and Happy Together Friends.
In 2007, Kim became a cast member of KBS' Happy Sunday lineup as part of 1 Night 2 Days and has been with the program to date, being the only pioneer member who witnessed 1 Night 2 Days from Season 1 till Season 4. From November 2007 until December 2009, he served his mandatory military service as a public service worker. He was initially due to enlist in March but received a six-month postponement as his medical examination revealed a herniated disc, leading to him being assigned as a public service worker rather than in an army unit.
Kim won multiple awards during his television career, including the Best Entertainer Award at the 2013 SBS Entertainment Awards for Star King in 2013, the Top Excellence Award at the 2015 KBS Entertainment Awards for 1 Night 2 Days, and the Grand Prize Award for his commitment and loyalty with KBS 1 Night 2 Days at the 2016 KBS Entertainment Awards.
In September 2017, it was confirmed that Kim would be a fixed cast member in Netflix's variety show Busted!.
Solo career In the first quarter of 2011, he released his very first single entitled "Oppa Find Strength". His promotional clip from the MV depicted the negative comments that he received after his return from military service.
He made his solo comeback on September 3, 2014, as he released his third single, "Sali Go Dali Go", an electronic dance music composed by DanDi. The music video of featured Chun Myung-hoon (NRG) and comedian Ahn Young-mi. His new track peaked at ranking number eight on China's popular music video sharing site, Yinyuetai.
Personal life Kim married his non-celebrity girlfriend, who is 11 years younger than him, on April 20, 2025.
Discography
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales AlbumKOR "Oppa Find Strength" (오빠 힘내요) 2011 60 KOR: 173,004Cumulative sales of "Oppa Find Strength": rowspan="4" "Pit-A-Pat" (두근두근) 2012 — KOR: 39,986 "Sali Go Dali Go" (살리고 달리고) 2014 — rowspan=2 "The Path I Choose" (내가 선택한 길) 2021 —
Soundtrack appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Sales AlbumKOR "I Need Your Love" 2012 — rowspan="3" Music and Lyrics Season 2 OST "Could I Love Again" (다시 만날 수 있을까) 2018 — Love Alert OST "Happy People" (행복을 주는 사람) — Hometown Sounds Samcheok OST
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2002Emergency Act 19Cameo; Appeared with Koyote.2010Autumn DestinyCheongmin
Music video appearances
Kang Ho-dong & Jeong Chae-eun — "Look Out of the Window" VASIA — "Love Story" — "따따블" Charlie & Shinba — "Good Zombie" (feat. Zingo)
Television series Year Title Role Notes 2005Can We Refill the Love? Cameo 2012Reply 1997Cameo (episode 5) My Husband Got a FamilyKim Jong-minCameo (episode 46) Seoyoung, My DaughterLee Seo-young's fake boyfriendCameo (episode 1) 2013Reply 1994 Doctor and Senior of GarbageCameo (episode 5) 2014Plus Nine BoysGu Kwang-soo's younger generationCameo (episode 2) 2017Idol Drama Operation TeamDeliverymanCameo (episode 4) Hit the TopCameo (episode 8) 2020Gracious RevengeCameo (episode 103)
Variety shows
Present shows YearTitleRole Notes/2018–presentBrain-fficialMC2019–presentThose Who Cross the Line S3 Cast Member Happy Sunday: 2 Days & 1 Night Season 4Main Cast 2021–2022 Tteokbokki House That Brother Co-host with Lee Yi-kyung and Jee Seok-jin 2021–PresentMy Little Old Boy Main Cast 2022–2023 Golf Battle: Birdie Buddies Contestant Season 4–5* Season 4; Season 5; 2023 Show King Night Judge
Former shows YearTitleRole Notes/2004Happy Sunday: Heroine 6Main Cast 2005Happy Sunday: Shooting Kid Season 1 2006Happy Sunday: Choi Hong-man and Strong Friends 2007Happy Sunday: Are You Ready? Happy Sunday: 2 Days 1 Night Season 1 2010 Three Suspicious Men Dream IslandCast 2011SumiokMain Cast 2012Happy Sunday: 2 Days 1 Night Season 2 2013Escape Crisis No. 1Special MC 2014I'm Going to SchoolCast MemberAppeared on Episodes 1–5 (Sunjung High School) • 6–9 (Shinjang High School)2015Shin Dong Yup's Bachelor PartyCast Episodes: 1–12Law of the Jungle in IndochinaCast MemberPart of second half tribe member. Episode 158–162.2016HostAppeared on Episode 53–103.God's WorkplacePilot CastSBS 2016 Pilot ProgramCast MemberAppeared on Episode 1–10 Master of StraightAppeared on Episode 1–6 2017My Little Old BoySpecial Host Boat Horn Clenched Fists (Pilot Program)Pilot CastSBS 2017 Pilot ProgramJust Friends (Pilot Program) Order & CookMain Cast Countryside Bakery My Little Old BoySpecial CastMaster KeyMain Cast Episode: 1–3 • 8–9 • 11–12.1% Friendship (Pilot Program)Pilot CastOne Night Sleepover Trip (Pilot Program)2018Box LifePilot program Main CastThe program premiered on January 19, 2018, and ended on March 16, 2018.One Night Sleepover Trip Law of the Jungle in PatagoniaCast MemberPart of second half tribe member. Episodes: 305–310Great Escape Season 1Human IntelligenceHometown Sounds Samcheok (동네앨범) 2018 – 2019My English Puberty 100 Hours Taste of Dating Season 1 2019Gotcha!MCWe Will Channel You Great Escape Season 2Main CastEarthian LiveCast MemberPrison Life of FoolsCastThe Night of Hate CommentsMC2013 – 2019Happy Sunday: 2 Days & 1 Night Season 3 Main CastSeason 3 2019 – 2020NaturallyCast2020HostGreat Escape Season 3Main Cast Idol on QuizFixed Cast/Temporary MC Episode 7-18 (Senior-dols) & 19-20 (Temporary MC) 2020–2021Hangout with YooGuest 2021Upgrade HumanMC Great Escape Season 4 Main Cast I'm Going to Meet You Host 2022–2023 Saturday Meals Love Cast Member
Web shows Year Title Role Notes 2018–2021Busted! Main Cast Season 1–3 2018We Have a New Dad Season 2–3 2020–2021Kim Dumb Host with Kim Jun-ho 2021 Sold Out KingHost Pong Disparue with Lee Chan-won 2022 Idol Hit Song Festival with Shin Ji The Door: To Wonderland Cast Member Season 1–2 2022–2023 Benefit Host with Satire
Other activities
PR Ambassador
2016 – PR Ambassador of Dobong-gu for two years.
Accolades Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Baeksang Arts Awards 2017 Best Variety Performer – Male2 Days & 1 Night Brand Customer Loyalty Awards 2020Entertainer Award Kim Jong-min KBS Entertainment Awards 2006 Top Entertainer Award Happy Sunday: Heroine 6 2011 Grand Prize (Daesang)(shared with other cast members) 2 Days & 1 Night 2014Top Excellence Award for Variety Show 2015 2016 Grand Prize (Daesang) 2018 Top Excellence Award for Variety Show Best Couple Award Kim Jong-min with Kim Joon-ho 2 Days & 1 Night 2020 Grand Prize (Daesang) 2 Days & 1 NightIdol on Quiz 20212 Days & 1 Night Season 4 Entertainer of the Year rowspan=2 2022Entertainer of the YearGrand Prize (Daesang)2023Entertainer of the Year (shared with other cast members)rowspan=2 Grand Prize (Daesang) (shared with other cast members) 2024Grand Prize (Daesang)Entertainer of the YearProducer Special Award 2025Entertainer of the Year Grand Prize (Daesang) MBC Entertainment Awards 2019Excellence Award in Variety Category (Male)Those Who Cross the Line 2020Best Couple Award Kim Jong-min with Jung Jae-hyung Hangout with YooExcellence Award in Music/Talk Category (Male)Those Who Cross the LineHangout with Yoo 2021 Popularity Award Those Who Cross the LineHangout with Yoo 2023 Popularity Award (Show/Variety) One Top Hangout with Yoo SBS Entertainment Awards 2013 Best Entertainer Award Star King 2023 Top Excellence Award (Male Category) My Little Old Boy, Golf Battle: Birdie Buddies
Listicle + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year List Placement KBS 2023 The 50 people who made KBS shine 15th
Notes
References
External links Koyote Official Site Kim Jong-min's Cyworld