Kim So-yeon (; born November 2, 1980) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for starring in a number of well-known television dramas, notably All About Eve (2000), Iris (2009), Prosecutor Princess (2010), Happy Home (2016), and The Penthouse: War in Life (2020–2021).
Career When she was 14, Kim So-yeon entered the Miss Binggrae beauty pageant without her parents' approval. She had no makeup, so she used a marker pen as her eyeliner and ended up winning the top prize, thus launching her entertainment career. She debuted with a role in the SBS Drama Dinosaur Teacher, and continued to star in popular TV shows such as Reporting for Duty (1996) and Soonpoong Clinic (1998). She also hosted the music program Inkigayo and appeared in numerous commercials, becoming the first Korean teen star to earn more than from commercial modeling. Because of her preternaturally mature looks and poise, she was often cast in older roles notably as a manipulative, villainous, anchorwoman in All About Eve, which drew a peak viewership rating of 45.2% when it aired in 2000.
However, being typecast as prim, cold-hearted characters had a negative effect on Kim's career, and her fame went downhill in the mid-2000s. Her attempt to crossover to China via Hong Kong director Tsui Hark's wuxia film Seven Swords (in which she played a Joseon noblewoman-turned-slave) and the Chinese dramas Just Like a Beautiful Flying ButterflyTransliterated as Jiu Xiang Mei Li Hu Die Fei. and Anhui MerchantsTransliterated as Da Qing Hui Shang. also proved unsuccessful. Kim took a break for three years, questioning whether she wanted to continue being an actress. She returned to television in 2008 with Gourmet (adapted from Huh Young-man's titular manhwa).
A year later, Kim's career saw a resurgence with the 2009 high-budget series Iris. She cut her trademark long hair and worked hard on her action scenes in order to look convincing in her role as a North Korean spy, drawing praise for her portrayal of a tough woman conflicted about her loyalty to her country and her love for a South Korean agent.
Kim was cast in the leading role in romantic comedy Prosecutor Princess in 2010 and showcased her versatility by playing a Legally Blonde-inspired newbie district attorney who's initially more interested in shopping and dating, yet surprises her colleagues with her intelligence and learns to strive for justice. Kim said that the cheerful, unpredictable character was similar to her own real-life personality. Later in the year, she played a rigid doctor in sports drama Dr. Champ.
In 2012, Kim appeared on the big screen as a royal barista embroiled in a plot to assassinate Emperor Gojong in Gabi, adapted from the historical fiction novel by Kim Takhwan. She spent months studying the Russian language and coffee brewing even before shooting began. Gabi was Kim's first Korean feature film in 15 years, since Change in 1997. This was followed by another period drama The Great Seer, where she played a healer in Goryeo.
Kim reunited with Prosecutor Princess screenwriter So Hyun-kyung in Two Weeks (2013), in the role of a prosecutor who teams up with a fugitive to bring down a corrupt politician and her gangster henchman. In 2014, she played a fashion merchandiser who falls for her much younger childhood friend in I Need Romance 3. Kim then appeared in the "Female Soldier Special" of military boot camp reality show Real Men.
In 2015, she starred in her second cable series Beating Again, about a businessman who falls for his secretary after he gets a heart transplant. Kim also joined the fourth season of We Got Married, pairing up with Kwak Si-yang.
In 2016, Kim starred MBC's weekend drama Happy Home, playing a mother who has lost her son in an accident.
In March 2018, Kim left her previous agency Namoo Actors and signed an exclusive contract with J Wide Company on April 3, 2018. She was then cast in SBS weekend drama Secret Mother.
In March 2019, Kim returned to small screen with the KBS weekend drama Mother of Mine.
In 2020, she starred in the SBS TV series The Penthouse: War in Life, playing the role of a wicked but famous soprano and musical school director. Kim compared the role to her famous villain role in All About Eve 20 years earlier, commenting "The goal for this drama is that when people think of a female villain, they think of Cheon Seo-jin, just like how Heo Young-mi was remembered." The series drew a peak viewership rating of 28.8% nationwide, and was renewed for 2 more seasons, where Kim reprised her role. Additionally, Kim won the Award for Best Actress – Television at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards and the Grand Prize (Daesang) at 2021 SBS Drama Awards.
In 2023, Kim made a special appearance in the SBS drama Taxi Driver 2 playing the role of the organization's first deluxe taxi driver. She was cast as the female lead for the tvN drama Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 alongside actor Lee Dong-wook. She made a special appearance as "Ryu Hong-joo" for the SBS drama The Escape of the Seven.
In 2024, Kim was cast for the JTBC drama A Virtuous Business, as a housewife who sells adult products.
Personal life
Kim married actor Lee Sang-woo in June 2017. Their romantic relationship started in 2016. The pair met on the set of MBC's weekend drama Happy Home.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1997 Change Ko Eun-bi 2005 Seven Swords Luzhu/Green Pearl 2007 The Pictures Photographer Short film 2010 Iris: The Movie Kim Seon-hwa 2012 Gabi Tanya 2015 Love Forecast Kang Joon-soo's ex-girlfriend 1 Cameo 2022 It's Alright TVING Shorts Film
Television series Year Title Role Notes 1994 Dinosaur Teacher Daughters of a Rich Family Hye-ri (Kwon Il-ryung's daughter) 1995 Drama Game:"Min-woo vs. Min-woo" Drama Game:"Their Summer" 1996 You Can't Stop Mom Eldest daughter Drama Game:"Come Back Home" Park Mi-kyung City Men and Women Yoo Won-hee 1.5 Reporting for Duty Woo Ji-soo Open Your Heart Jung Yoo-kyung Seven Spoons Hye-joo 1997 Because of Love KBS Drama Special:"Christmas in May" Yesterday Lee Seung-hye Friday Night Theater:"On Her First Night" 1998 Soonpoong Clinic Oh So-yeon I Love You, I Love You Lee Soon-young Winners Kim Seo-joo 1999 Sunday Best:"Pickpocket by Name" Kim Ji-hyun We Saw a Little Lost Bird Seo Ga-hee Ad Madness Lee Ye-rin 2000 All About Eve Heo Young-mi Mom and Sister Noh Seung-ri / Jang Yoo-kyung 2002 Sunlight Upon Me Kim Yeon-woo Trio Choi Seo-young 2004 Human Market Hong Si-yeon Just Like a Beautiful Flying Butterfly Jin Zhi Xiu 2005 Autumn Shower Lee Kyu-eun 2007 Anhui Merchants Hu Yu Ling 2008 Gourmet Yoon Joo-hee 2009 Iris Kim Seon-hwa 2010 Prosecutor Princess Ma Hye-ri Dr. Champ Kim Yeon-woo Athena: Goddess of War Kim Seon-hwa Cameo (Episode 17 & 19) 2012 The Great Seer Hae-in 2013 Iris II: New Generation Kim Seon-hwa Cameo (Episode 20) Two Weeks Park Jae-kyung 2014 I Need Romance 3 Shin Joo-yeon 2015 Beating Again Kim Soon-jung 2016 One More Happy Ending Divorced woman Cameo (Episode 1) Happy Home Bong Hae-ryung 2017 Children of the 20th Century Director Kim Cameo 2018 Secret Mother Kim Lisa 2019 Mother of Mine Kang Mi-ri 2020–2021 The Penthouse: War in Life Cheon Seo-jin Season 1–3 2023 Taxi Driver 2the first deluxe taxi driver Cameo (Episode 16)Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 Ryu Hong-JooThe Escape of the Seven Cameo 2024 A Virtuous Business Han Jung-sook
Web series Year Title Role Notes 2015 High-End Crush Entertainment news anchor Cameo
Television shows Year Title Role Notes 1997 Inkigayo (Popular Music) Best 50 Host 1998–2000 Inkigayo (Popular Music) 2009 KBS Drama Awards 2014 Real Men: Female Soldier Special - Season 1 Cast member 2015 We Got Married - Season 4 2016 King of Mask Singer Contestant As "Nice to Meet You Squirrel" (Episode 77)
Music videos appearances Year Title Artist 1996 "Why Is the Sky" Lee Ji-hoon 1997 "Beautiful Goodbye" Jung Jae-wook 1998 "Endless Sorrow" Sa Joon 2008 "Classic" KCM "Diary of a Day" "Fluttering"
Theater Year Title Role 2009 Hamlet Ophelia
Ambassadorship Government Lottery Ambassador (2021–2023)
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 APAN Star Awards 2013 Excellence Award, Actress Two Weeks 2016Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Happy Home 2022 The Penthouse: War in Life 2 and 3 Asia Model Awards 2011 Asia Special Award Kim Soo-yeon Baeksang Arts Awards 2010 Best Actress – Television Iris 2021 The Penthouse: War in Life Blue Dragon Film Awards 1998 Best New Actress Change Brand of the Year Awards 2023 Female Actress of the Year (Drama) Kim So-yeon Broadcast Advertising Festival 2022 CF Star Award Kim So-yeon Busan International Film Festival 2013 Female Fashionista Award Grimae Awards 2021 Best Actress The Penthouse: War in Life Herald-Donga TV Lifestyle Awards 2013 Best Style Award Kim So-yeon KBS Drama Awards 1995 Best Young Actress Daughters of a Rich FamilyDrama Game Minwoo vs. MinwooWhat Summer of Two Girls 2009 Popularity Award, Actress Iris Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama 2019 Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Mother of Mine Korean Broadcasting Awards 2021 Popularity Award The Penthouse: War in Life 1,2 Korea Drama Awards2016 Grand Prize (Daesang) Happy Home Star of the Year Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards 2012 Best Actress (Film) Gabi MBC Drama Awards 2000 Viewer's Favorite Character (Actress) All About Eve 2013 Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Two Weeks 2016 Grand Prize (Daesang) Happy Home Top Excellence Award, Actress in Serial Drama Best Couple Award Kim So-yeon (with Lee Sang-woo)Happy Home MBC Entertainment Awards 2015 Top Excellence Award for Variety Show We Got Married Miss Binggrae Pageant 1994 Miss Binggrae June Kim So-yeon SBS Drama Awards 1994 Best Young Actress Dinosaur Teacher 1998 Popularity Award, Actress Soonpoong ClinicWinnersI Love You, I Love You 2008 Best Supporting Actress in a Special Planning Drama Gourmet 2010 Top 10 Stars Prosecutor Princess, Dr. Champ Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama Dr. Champ Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama SpecialProsecutor Princess 2012 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special The Great Seer 2018 Excellence Award, Actress in a Daily/Weekend Drama Secret Mother 2020 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-Length Drama The Penthouse: War in Life Grand Prize (Daesang) 2021The Penthouse: War in Life 2 and 3 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Fantasy Drama Best Couple Award Kim So-yeon (with Um Ki-joon)The Penthouse: War in Life 2 and 3 Seoul International Drama Awards 2021 Outstanding Korean Actress The Penthouse: War in Life Best Actress
Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2021Korea Power Celebrity 40 2022
Notes
References
External links
Official website