Kim So-eun (; born September 6, 1989) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in 2009 in the popular television drama Boys Over Flowers. She has since starred in Happiness in the Wind (2010), A Thousand Kisses (2011–12), Liar Game (2014), Scholar Who Walks the Night (2015), Our Gap-soon (2016–17), Evergreen (2018), and Three Bold Siblings (2022–23). She has won various accolades such as Best New Actress, Special Acting Award and was nominated in different years for Excellence Award and Best Actress in A Special.
Career 2004–2009: First films and rising popularity Kim So-eun made her acting debut with a bit part in the 2004 film Two Guys, when she was in junior high school. She then appeared in minor roles on TV and film, including Sisters of the Sea and The Show Must Go On (where she played Song Kang-ho's daughter).
Kim rose to fame in 2009 with her supporting role as the heroine's best friend in the hit drama Boys Over Flowers. The same year, Kim gained praise for her versatility since for her portrayal of Chae Shi-ra's childhood counterpart Hwangbo Soo in the period epic Empress Cheonchu, for which she learned how to ride a horse and shoot with a bow and arrow. Kim then portrayed an older mid 20s woman in the romantic comedy series He Who Can't Marry, a remake of Japanese drama Kekkon Dekinai Otoko.
2010–2012: Transition to leading roles
Kim landed her first leading role in the 2010 daily drama Happiness in the Wind (also known as A Good Day For The Wind To Blow), which further raised her Korean Wave profile.
She then starred in weekend drama A Thousand Kisses (2011–2012), which explored age differences in relationships.
In 2012, she starred in the ten-episode Chinese drama Secret Angel (Chinese: 秘密天使), which aired on the portal website Sohu.com. She returned to Korean television in the cable drama Happy Ending. That same year, she also appeared in Music and Lyrics, a reality show in which an actress and a male musician are paired together to collaborate, as lyricist and composer respectively, in creating a song. Kim and Lee Junho (from boyband 2PM) composed the song "Love is Sad," which Lee also recorded; it was released as a single and featured on the soundtrack of Feast of the Gods.
After playing Princess Sukhwi in the period epic Horse Doctor (also known as The King's Doctor, 2012–2013), Kim starred in After School: Lucky or Not (in the Korean title, bokbulbok refers to a game of chance, literally meaning "Luck, No Luck"), opposite the 5 members of actor-idol group 5urprise, which was distributed via SK Telecom's online and mobile portals.
She and Victoria Song (member of girl group f(x)) were also chosen to host Glitter, a variety show on the lives of trendy twenty-somethings.
2014–present: Return to screen television In 2014, Kim starred in the horror film Mourning Grave, playing a ghost girl who forms a friendship with a ghost-seeing high school boy Kang Ha-neul. This was followed by a leading role in Liar Game, a Korean drama adaptation of the titular Japanese manga by Shinobu Kaitani. Kim also joined the fourth season of reality show We Got Married, where she was paired with Song Jae-rim in a "virtual" marriage; it boosted their popularity as a couple and as individual celebrities.
In 2015, Kim starred in the webtoon adaptation Scholar Who Walks the Night, playing dual roles as a nobleman's daughter and a vampire's past love. She was set to launch her activities in China through the romance film Sky Lantern (also known as Lover of Days Past), a Korean-Chinese co-production film in which she stars opposite Taiwanese singer-actor Aaron Yan. The same year, she starred in the web drama Falling for Challenge alongside Xiumin.
In 2016, Kim signed with new management agency Will Entertainment.
From 2016 to 2017, she starred in the family drama Our Gap-soon as the title character.
In 2017, Kim starred in the KBS Drama Special You're Closer than I Think together with actor Lee Sang-yeob. The same year, Kim confirmed her return to the silver screen with romance fantasy film Are you in love? opposite Sung Hoon.
In 2018, Kim starred in the romance comedy series That Man Oh Soo with CNBLUE's Lee Jong-hyun.
In August 2021, Kim signed with new agency Ascendio Reserve.
Other activities Skiing As a child, Kim trained professionally as a national athletic skier. Her training was put on indefinite hold after being scouted as a professional model in a 2003 junior advanced skiing and snowboarding competition in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. She retained her interest in the sport, appearing in 2012 instructional videos for Hongcheon's Vivaldi ski resort.
Endorsements Kim has endorsed various products, and has appeared in magazines such as Allure Korea, High Cut, Vogue Korea, InStyle Korea, Elle Girl Korea, Harper's Bazaar, CeCi, L'Officiel, Esquire Korea, and Nylon Korea.
Ambassadorship A regular advocate of art films, youth activism, and eco-living, she served as the goodwill ambassador for the 2009 Korea International Youth Film Festival, the 2009 University Fashion Week, the 2011 Jeonju International Film Festival, the Golden Cinema Festival in 2013 and 2014, and the 2014 Green Film Festival.
Filmography Film Year English title Korean title Role Notes 2004 Two Guys 투가이즈 bit part2006 Family Matters 모두들, 괜찮아요? Su-jeong Fly, Daddy, Fly 플라이대디 Jang Da-mi 2007 The Show Must Go On 우아한 세계 Hee-soo Someone Behind You 두 사람이다 Kim Ga-yeon 2014 Mourning Grave 소녀괴담 Se-hee Entangled 현기증 Kkot-nip 2015 Sky Lantern 풍등 Mei Lin 2020 Are We In Love? 사랑하고 있습니까 So-jung 2022 The Distributors 유포자들 Im Seon-ae waave film
Television series Year English title Korean title Role Notes 2005 Sisters of the Sea 자매바다 young Song Jung-hee Sad Love Story 슬픈연가 young Park Hye-in 2006 First Love 드라마 시티 Jung-hee Drama City 2007 Chosun Police 1 별순검 Soo-hee Cameo appearance (episode 9) 2009 Empress Cheonchu 천추태후 young Hwangbo Soo Boys Over Flowers 꽃보다 남자 Chu Ga-eul He Who Can't Marry 결혼 못하는 남자 Jeong Yoo-jin 2010 Happiness in the Wind 바람 불어 좋은날 Kwon Oh-bok 2011 A Thousand Kisses 천번의 입맞춤 Woo Joo-mi 2012 Happy Ending 해피엔딩 Kim Eun-ha The King's Doctor 마의 Princess Sukhwi 2014 Liar Game 라이어 게임 Nam Da-jung 2015 The Scholar Who Walks the Night 밤을 걷는 선비 Choi Hye-ryung / Lee Myung-hee 2016–2017 Our Gap-soon 우리 갑순이 Shin Gap-soon 2017 You're Closer Than I Think 당신은 생각보다 가까이에 있다 Hong Tae-ra Drama Special 2018 Evergreen 그남자 오수 Seo Yoo-ri 2020 Lonely Enough to Love 연애는 귀찮지만 외로운 건 싫어! Lee Na-Eun 2021 Monthly Magazine Home 월간 집 Cutie Pie Cameo appearance (episode 8–9) 2022The Distributors 드라마 스페셜 :유포자들Im Seon-ae Drama Special 2022–2023 Three Bold Siblings삼남매가 용감하게 Kim So-rim
Web series Year English title Korean title Role 2012 Secret Angel 시크릿 엔젤 Angel L 2013 After School: Lucky or Not 방과 후 복불복 Kim So-eun 2015 Falling for Challenge 도전에 반하다 Ban Ha-na 2016 Thumping Spike 2 두근두근 스파이크 2 Han Da-woon
Television shows Year English title Korean title Role Notes 2012 Music and Lyrics 그 여자 작사 그 남자 작곡 with Lee Junho 2013 Glitter 글리터 글리터 MC with Victoria Song 2014–2015 We Got Married Season 4 우리 결혼했어요 시즌4 Cast Member with Song Jae-rim 2017 Battle Trip 배틀트립 Contestant Episode 59–60; with Jo Bo-ah 2019 Wednesday Food Talk 수요미식회 Panelist (Episode 204 - Present) 2021–2023 Style Me스타일미 Host Season1–2,4–5
Music video appearances Year Song title Korean title Artist Co-star2005 "Let's Separate" 헤어지자고 Yoon Gun "Bye Bye Bye" Monday Kiz Monday Kiz2009 "Bodyguard" 보디가드 Shinee Kim Bum, Boom "Goodbye My Love" 잘가요 내사랑 8Eight Jeong Jinwoon, Jung Gyu-woon 2012 "First Love's Melody" 첫사랑의 멜로디 Acoustic Collabo Lee Hyun-woo 2013 "Spring Expectation" 봄에게 바라는 것 The Position
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result2009 Mnet 20's Choice Awards Hot New Star Boys Over Flowers Arirang TV 1000th Episode Poll Best Couple Award (with Kim Bum) Boys Over Flowers KBS Drama Awards Best New Actress Boys Over Flowers, He Who Can't Marry, Empress Cheonchu 2010 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Daily Drama Happiness in the Wind 2011 MBC Drama Awards Best New Actress A Thousand Kisses 2012 MBC Drama Awards Best New Actress The King's Doctor 2014 Korean Wave Awards Popular Culture Award MBC Entertainment Awards New Star of the YearWe Got Married Best Female Newcomer Best Couple Award (with Song Jae-rim) 2016SBS Drama Awards Special Acting Award, Actress in a Serial DramaOur Gap-soonBest Couple Award with Song Jae-rim2022KBS Drama Awards Best Actress in Drama Special/TV Cinema The Distributors Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Three Bold Siblings Best Couple Award with Kim Seung-soo
References
External links
Kim So-eun fan cafe at Daum