Kim Soo-hyun
Photo Gallery
Who is Kim Soo-hyun?
Kim Soo-hyun (Korean: 김수현) is a renowned South Korean actor. Recognized as one of the highest-paid actors in South Korea in 2020, he has earned numerous accolades, including five Baeksang Arts Awards, two Grand Bell Awards, and a Blue Dragon Film Award. His influence has been acknowledged by Forbes, featuring him in their Power Celebrity 40 and 30 Under 30 Asia lists. Additionally, Gallup Korea named him Television Actor of the Year.
Encouraged by his mother to overcome his introverted nature, Kim began taking acting classes during his school years. His early career included theatrical performances before making his television debut in 2007 with the sitcom Kimchi Cheese Smile. He later gained widespread recognition with leading roles in Dream High (2011) and Moon Embracing the Sun (2012). His portrayal of King Lee Hwon in Moon Embracing the Sun earned him the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actor in Television. He also showcased his versatility in box office hits such as The Thieves (2012) and Secretly, Greatly (2013).
Kim solidified his status as a top Hallyu star with the fantasy romance My Love from the Star (2013–14) and the variety drama The Producers (2015), winning three Daesang (Grand Prize) awards. In October 2017, he temporarily stepped away from acting to fulfill his mandatory military service. He made a successful comeback with the romantic drama It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020), followed by roles in One Ordinary Day (2021) and Queen of Tears (2024).
In March 2025, Kim became the subject of controversy following grooming allegations, which led to public and industry scrutiny.
Quick Details
| Korean name | 김수현 |
| Also known as | 金秀賢, Gim Suhyeon, Kim Suhyŏn |
| Date of Birth | February 16, 1988 |
| Birthplace | Seoul, South Korea |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Gender | Male |
| Birthday | February 16 |
| Age | 37 years |
| Height | 5′ 10¾″ (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 65kg (143 lbs) |
| Zodiac Sign (Horoscope) | Aquarius |
| Blood Type | AB |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eyes Color | Brown |
| Education | Chung-Ang University |
| Parents | Kim Chung-hoon (father) |
| Relatives | Kim Ju-na (younger half-sister) |
| Profession | Actor |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Agent | Gold Medalist |
| Social media |
Early Life & Education
Kim Soo-hyun was born on February 16, 1988, in Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea. His father, Kim Chung-hoon, was the lead singer of the 1980s band Seven Dolphins. However, his parents separated during his early childhood, and he was primarily raised by his mother, considering himself an only son.
To help him overcome his shy and introverted nature, Kim’s mother encouraged him to take acting classes during his school years. His passion for acting grew between middle school and high school, leading him to his first major role as Puck in a stage production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He later took on roles such as Kenickie in the musical Grease and the titular character in Hamlet, further honing his theatrical skills.
By 2006, Kim had completed his primary and secondary education in Gangnam, Seoul. He made his television debut in 2007 after successfully auditioning for roles. In 2009, he pursued formal training in acting by enrolling in the Film and Theater Department at Chung-Ang University.
Career
Kim made his television debut in 2007 with a supporting role in the family sitcom Kimchi Cheese Smile. The following year, he landed his first lead role in KBS’s critically acclaimed youth drama Jungle Fish, a series inspired by real events that explored academic pressure, cheating, and the impact of blogging. The drama received several awards, including a Peabody Award.
Later that year, Kim took on hosting duties for the food-themed variety show Delicious Quiz (also known as The Taste of Life) and appeared in the short film Cherry Blossom.
In 2009, he starred in the short film Worst Friends, which won Best Film in Social Drama at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. He also appeared in the SBS drama special Father’s House alongside veteran actor Choi Min-soo and co-hosted Boys & Girls Music Countdown with Kara’s Han Seung-yeon.
Kim signed an exclusive contract with KeyEast in January 2010, marking a new phase in his career. He gained further recognition by portraying younger versions of the male leads in Will It Snow for Christmas? and Giant, with the latter earning him the Best New Actor award at the SBS Drama Awards.
Kim rose to fame in 2011 with his role in the high school musical drama Dream High, where he portrayed a country boy with hidden musical talent. The drama achieved high domestic ratings and gained international popularity, earning several awards. As the only non-idol among the main cast, Kim trained for three months at JYP Entertainment to master singing and dancing. He contributed two songs to the soundtrack: his solo track Dreaming and the ensemble title song Dream High.
His breakthrough came in 2012 when he starred as King Lee Hwon in the historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun. The series peaked at a 42.2% viewership rating, earning the title of a “national drama” and becoming a top export across Asia. Kim also lent his voice to the soundtrack with Only You and Another Way. His immense popularity led to a record-breaking 17 product endorsements, and he won Best Actor (TV) at the 48th Baeksang Arts Awards, surpassing industry veterans.
Kim made his film debut in the 2012 blockbuster The Thieves, often compared to Ocean’s Eleven. The movie attracted over 12.9 million viewers, making it the second highest-grossing Korean film at the time. In 2013, he took on a vastly different role in Secretly, Greatly, playing a North Korean spy disguised as a village fool. The film, based on the webtoon Covertness, became one of the year’s biggest hits with 7 million admissions. His performance earned him Best New Actor (Film) at both the Grand Bell Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards.
From 2013 to early 2014, Kim starred in the SBS fantasy romance My Love from the Star alongside Jun Ji-hyun. The drama became a massive hit across Asia, particularly in China, where it amassed over 14.5 billion views on iQIYI by February 2014. It also set off trends in fashion, makeup, and dining culture. Kim contributed to the soundtrack with the singles In Front of Your House and Promise.
His skyrocketing fame led him to become one of the most sought-after endorsers, representing 35 brands. He dominated popularity polls across Asia and won the prestigious Daesang (Grand Prize) at the 7th Korea Drama Awards, along with Most Popular Actor (TV) at the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards.
In 2015, Kim reunited with My Love from the Star writer Park Ji-eun for KBS’s variety drama The Producers. The show achieved strong domestic ratings and was sold internationally. He was named one of South Korea’s most beloved TV stars by the Korea Broadcast Advertising Corporation. His performance earned him multiple Daesang awards at the Korea Drama Awards, APAN Star Awards, and KBS Drama Awards.
His wax figures were unveiled at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong and Musée Grévin Seoul in 2015. The following year, Forbes recognized him in their 30 Under 30 Asia list for his influence in the entertainment industry.
In 2017, Kim starred in the action-noir film Real, directed by his cousin Lee Sa-rang. The film received negative reviews for its direction and storyline but gained a better reception in Taiwan. Despite the criticism, Kim’s performance was praised, with some critics citing his acting as the film’s saving grace. Real was later included in a list of the top 15 Korean films of 2017 for its originality.
Later that year, Kim took a break from acting to fulfill his 21-month mandatory military service.
Kim made a notable return to acting with special appearances in Hotel del Luna and Crash Landing on You. In December 2019, reports emerged that he was leaving KeyEast to establish a new agency with his cousin. By January 2020, he officially signed with the newly founded entertainment agency, Gold Medalist.
In 2020, Kim starred in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, portraying Moon Gang-tae, a psychiatric aide with a troubled past. Though its television ratings were modest compared to his previous works, it became the most popular romance series on Netflix Korea that year. The New York Times recognized it as one of “The Best International Shows of 2020,” while La Tercera called it one of the year’s most popular Asian dramas. Critics praised Kim’s nuanced performance, and he won the Daesang (Grand Prize) at the 5th Asia Artist Awards.
In 2021, he took on the lead role in One Ordinary Day, a remake of Criminal Justice, playing a college student falsely accused of murder. That same year, Gold Medalist announced the development of Kim’s digital human in collaboration with EVR Studio, aiming for use in entertainment, metaverse, and advertising.
In 2022, Studio Dragon confirmed Kim’s role in Queen of Tears, marking his third collaboration with writer Park Ji-eun. The drama, which premiered on March 9, 2024, became a massive hit, achieving a peak national viewership rating of 24.85%, the highest ever for a tvN series. It also dominated Netflix’s Global Top 10 Non-English TV rankings for 15 consecutive weeks. Kim recorded the song Way Home for the soundtrack, his first OST contribution in a decade. His performance earned him a fourth Best Drama Actor nomination and a third Most Popular Actor win at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards.
In 2024, Kim was confirmed to star in the Disney+ black comedy Knock-Off, set to release in 2025, where he plays an ordinary office worker who rises to power in the global counterfeit market.
Philanthropy
Since 2012, Kim and his fans have contributed 20 tons of rice annually to charity.
During his 2014 Asia tour, he donated ₩200 million to the China Children & Teenager’s Fund through a Gucci charity event. That same year, he joined the Yellow Ribbon Campaign and contributed ₩300 million to support victims of the Sewol ferry tragedy.
In 2017, Kim participated in the Give Love online fundraising event alongside 32 top South Korean celebrities to aid NGOs focused on children’s rights.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he donated ₩100 million to support low-income families affected by the crisis.
Military enlistment
Kim enlisted for his mandatory military service on October 23, 2017. Initially assigned to public service due to a past heart surgery, he voluntarily underwent re-examinations and was eventually cleared for active duty. He began his training at a military camp in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.
In November 2017, his agency announced that he had completed five weeks of basic training, ranking fourth as an outstanding trainee. As a result, he was rewarded with a vacation by the division commander and self-deployed to the First Reconnaissance Battalion.
By February 2019, Kim earned an early promotion to Sergeant for his exemplary conduct. He completed his service and was officially discharged on July 1, 2019.
Controversy
Grooming allegations
On March 24, 2024, Kim denied dating rumors with actress Kim Sae-ron after a close-up photo she briefly posted and deleted on Instagram circulated online. His agency, Gold Medalist, dismissed the speculation, stating that the photo was taken when they were under the same management and that they were unaware of her reasons for sharing it. They also warned against spreading defamatory content.
On February 16, 2025, Kim Sae-ron passed away from suicide, coinciding with Kim’s birthday.
In March 2025, allegations surfaced accusing Kim of grooming, based on statements and photos shared by Kim Sae-ron’s family. They claimed he had been in a six-year relationship with her starting in 2015, when she was 15 and he was 27.
Gold Medalist denied the allegations, vowing to take strong legal action. On March 13, the agency announced they would release a statement the following week. The next day, they confirmed that Kim and Kim Sae-ron had dated but asserted that their relationship lasted from 2019 to 2020, after she was no longer a minor. They also denied pressuring her to repay a debt related to her 2022 DUI incident and stated they had decided against pursuing repayment due to her financial struggles. Additionally, they refuted claims that a letter Kim wrote to her at age 17 was inappropriate, explaining that the phrase “I miss you” was a common expression used by soldiers for close acquaintances.
Reactions
Kim faced significant backlash following the allegations, with calls for his removal from television programs, including MBC’s variety show Good Day. In response, brands he endorsed began distancing themselves, either removing advertisements featuring him or terminating contracts.
On March 14, CJ Foodville, a longtime partner, announced the end of their contract with Kim due to the controversy. Ahn Ji-hye, CEO of cosmetics brand Dinto, also suspended all model-related activities with him. Additionally, Italian luxury fashion house Prada issued a brief statement confirming the mutual termination of their collaboration.
Personal Life
In March 2015, Kim was awarded for being a model taxpayer by the local tax office for paying taxes every Tax Day.
In July 2015, it was revealed that Kim has a paternal half-sister named Kim Ju-na, a singer.
Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, Gold Medalist, confirmed that he dated Kim Sae-ron from the summer of 2019 until the fall of 2020. The agency emphasized that Kim Sae-ron was a legal adult when they began dating.
