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Kim So-hyun (; born June 4, 1999) is a
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
n actress who began her career as a child in 2006, initially gaining public attention for playing pivotal roles in ''
Moon Embracing the Sun ''Moon Embracing the Sun'' (, also known as ''The Moon that Embraces the Sun'' or ''The Sun and the Moon'') is a 2012 South Korean television drama series, starring Kim Soo-hyun, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo, and Kim Min-seo. It aired on MBC from Jan ...
'' (2012) and '' Missing You'' (2013). She took on her first leading role in teen drama ''
Ma Boy "Ma Boy" is the first single by South Korean girl group Sistar's sub-unit ''SISTAR19''. It was released online as a digital single on May 3, 2011 through Starship Entertainment. The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the Gaon ...
'' (2012) and since then has starred in many TV series including high-school drama '' Who Are You: School 2015'' (2015), horror comedy ''
Hey Ghost, Let's Fight ''Bring It On, Ghost'' () is a South Korean television series starring Ok Taec-yeon, Kim So-hyun and Kwon Yul. It is adapted from webtoon of the same name which was serialised on Naver from 2007 to 2010. The series aired on cable network tvN on ...
'' (2016), historical melodrama '' The Emperor: Owner of the Mask'' (2017), romantic comedies '' Radio Romance'' (2018) and ''
The Tale of Nokdu ''The Tale of Nokdu'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Jang Dong-yoon, Kim So-hyun, Kang Tae-oh, and Jung Joon-ho. It is based on the webtoon by Hye Jin-yang which was published in 2014 on Naver Webtoon. It aired on KBS2 ...
'' (2019), teen suspense romance ''
Love Alarm ''Love Alarm'' () is a South Korean streaming television series starring Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, and Song Kang. Based on the Daum webtoon of the same name by Chon Kye-young, it follows the life of a high school girl in a society greatly inf ...
'' (2019 & 2021) and Korean folklore ''
River Where the Moon Rises ''River Where the Moon Rises'' () is a 2021 South Korean television series starring Kim So-hyun, Na In-woo, Lee Ji-hoon and Choi Yu-hwa. Based on the 2010 novel ''Princess Pyeonggang'' by film director and screenwriter Choi Sagyu, it aired on ...
'' as an assassin. '' Pure Love'' (2016) was her first movie as a lead. She was the regular host of MBC's music program ''
Music Core Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect o ...
'' and survival reality show ''
Under Nineteen Under Nineteen () is a survival show on Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation for trainees under the age of 19 years old. There are a total of 57 contestants competing to debut as a member of 1THE9. The trainees are put into groups that specializes i ...
'' in 2019. Kim has been nicknamed by the Korean medias as the "
Nation's Little Sister Nation's Little Sister () or Nation's Little Brother () is an informal title in South Korean Hallyu, entertainment industry. It refers to "a young female
r male R, or r, is the eighteenth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ar'' (pronounced ), plural ''ars'', or in Irela ...
celebrity in her
r his R, or r, is the eighteenth Letter (alphabet), letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the English alphabet, modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is English alphabe ...
late teens to early twenties...
ho is Ho (or the transliterations He or Heo) may refer to: People Language and ethnicity * Ho people, an ethnic group of India ** Ho language, a tribal language in India * Hani people, or Ho people, an ethnic group in China, Laos and Vietnam * Hiri Mo ...
cute, bright, and ...
", "Queen of Child Actresses", "Goddess of
Historical Drama A historical drama (also period drama, costume drama, and period piece) is a work set in a past time period, usually used in the context of film and television. Historical drama includes historical fiction and romance film, romances, adventure f ...
" and also the "
Sageuk (Hangul: 사극, Hanja: 史劇; ) in Korean language, Korean denotes historical dramas, including traditional drama plays, Cinema of Korea, films or Korean drama, television series. In English language literature usually refers to historical f ...
Goddess", after starring and appearing in various acclaimed historical period dramas throughout her career, and having gained experience working as an actress from childhood to the present day. Korean medias also recognised her as the next generation of "Nation's First Love" from her performance in '' Pure Love '' (2016) movie. She has established herself as a top Hallyu star. For her performance in ''
River Where the Moon Rises ''River Where the Moon Rises'' () is a 2021 South Korean television series starring Kim So-hyun, Na In-woo, Lee Ji-hoon and Choi Yu-hwa. Based on the 2010 novel ''Princess Pyeonggang'' by film director and screenwriter Choi Sagyu, it aired on ...
'', she was nominated for
Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress – Television The Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress – Television () is an award presented annually at the Baeksang Arts Awards ceremony organised by ''Ilgan Sports'' and JTBC Plus, affiliates of ''JoongAng Ilbo'', usually in the second quarter of each yea ...
, becoming one of the youngest nominees for the award. Kim consistently promotes her television work on
Instagram Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
. She was awarded the '2018 Most Grown Instagram Account' with 7.1 million followers. At the age of 21, Kim became the youngest
South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
n actress to have more than 10 million followers on social media, alongside actor
Lee Min-ho Lee Min-ho (, born June 22, 1987) is a South Korean actor, singer, model, creative director and businessman. He gained widespread fame worldwide with his role as Gu Jun-pyo in ''Boys Over Flowers'' (2009) which also earned him the Best New Acto ...
.


Early life and education

Kim So-hyun was born on June 4, 1999, in
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, and has a younger brother. She moved to South Korea in 2003, when she was four years old. Her father died when she was nine years old. Kim transferred from Hoe-ryong Elementary School in
Gyeonggi-do Gyeonggi-do (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Its name, ''Gyeonggi'', means "京 (the capital) and 畿 (the surrounding area)". Thus, ''Gyeonggi-do'' can be translated as "Seoul and the surrounding areas of Seoul". Seoul, the na ...
to Towol Elementary School and graduated in February 2012. She then graduated from Yongin Munjung Middle School in 2015. She was subsequently
homeschooled Homeschooling or home schooling, also known as home education or elective home education (EHE), is the education of school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than a school. Usually conducted by a parent, tutor, or an onlin ...
for her
secondary education Secondary education or post-primary education covers two phases on the International Standard Classification of Education scale. Level 2 or lower secondary education (less commonly junior secondary education) is considered the second and final pha ...
, and passed her high school graduation exams by 2017. The same year, she enrolled at
Hanyang University Hanyang University (Korean: 한양대학교) is a private research university in South Korea. The main campus is located in Seoul and its satellite campus, the Education Research Industry Cluster (ERICA campus), is in Ansan. ''Hanyang'' (한양, ...
's Department of Theater, through
rolling admission Rolling admission is a policy used by many colleges to admit freshmen to undergraduate programs. Many law schools in the United States also have rolling admissions policies. Under rolling admission, candidates are invited to submit their applicati ...
. Kim attended the 79th entrance ceremony held at Hanyang University in
Seongdong-gu Seongdong District (Seongdong-gu) is one of the 25 '' gu'' which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is situated on the north bank of the Han River. It is divided into 20 ''dong'' (neighbourhoods). Administrative divisions Seongdong Dist ...
,
Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
on February 28, 2018. In 2016, according to
Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...
's national newspaper ''
The Straits Times ''The Straits Times'' is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore and currently owned by SPH Media Trust (previously Singapore Press Holdings). ''The Sunday Times'' is its Sunday edition. The newspaper was established ...
'', Kim revealed in an email interview with the paper why she chose homeschooling instead of enrolling in high school. She said that while managing her acting career, she barely had time to study during her mid-school days (which made her have to take her exams unprepared) and missed out in activities with her classmates, and this similarly occurred in her elementary school days. Kim chose homeschooling for her high school education because she did not want to give up her education and career. With this decision, Kim felt it would allow her to dedicate more time to both filming and studying.


Career


2006–2011: Beginnings as a child actress

Kim debuted as a
child actress The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage or in movies or television. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associated t ...
in 2006, playing a supporting role in the ''
Drama City Drama City (''Deurama Siti'', 드라마 시티) is the KBS to broadcast via KBS2TV in a collection of usually single episode short dramas, shown weekly. Each episode is a different story, and the cast changes every week. 1984's "Drama Game" ...
'' special "Ten Minute Minor". Then, she diligently increased her appearances from ''
A Happy Woman ''A Happy Woman'' (; also known as ''Blissful Woman'') is a 2007 South Korean television series starring Yoon Jung-hee, Kim Suk-hoon and Jung Gyu-woon. It aired on KBS2 from January 6 to July 21, 2007 on Saturdays and Sundays at 19:55 for 58 e ...
'' (2007), ''
Que Sera Sera "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" is a song written by the team of Jay Livingston and Ray Evans that was first published in 1955. Doris Day introduced it in the Alfred Hitchcock film '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' (1956), singing it as ...
'' (2007), ''Hometown of Legends'' (2008), ''My Name Is Pity'' (2008), ''Wife and Woman'' (2009) and '' Ja Myung Go'' (2009). She signed a management contract with
SidusHQ iHQ Inc., doing business as SidusHQ () is one of the leading talent management agencies in South Korea. It was founded in January 2001 by Teddy Hoon-tak Jung. The company is involved in talent management (artist content), and TV drama/music prod ...
in 2010. That year, she would go on to be cast in ''
Becoming a Billionaire ''Becoming a Billionaire'' (; lit. "Birth of the Rich") is a 2010 South Korean television series starring Ji Hyun-woo, Lee Bo-young, Lee Si-young and Namkoong Min. It aired on KBS2 from March 1 to May 4, 2010 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 20 ...
'' and ''
King of Baking, Kim Takgu ''Bread, Love and Dreams'' () is a 2010 South Korean television drama starring Yoon Shi-yoon, Eugene, Joo Won and Lee Young-ah. It tells the story of how a determined young baker overcomes many trials towards his goal of becoming the best bak ...
''. Kim was confirmed to make her big-screen debut in ''
Man of Vendetta ''Man of Vendetta'' () is a 2010 South Korean film about a pastor whose life changes after the abduction of his daughter. Um Ki-joon was nominated for Best New Actor in Film at the 47th Baeksang Arts Awards in 2011. Plot Joo Young-soo (Kim Myung ...
'' (2010) as Joo Hye-rin, a daughter of a well-respected pastor who gets kidnapped. Kim was cast through a competition of 500:1. She continued to portray the child counterparts of the female protagonists in television series such as ''
The Thorn Birds ''The Thorn Birds'' is a 1977 novel by Australian author Colleen McCullough. Set primarily on Drogheda – a fictional sheep station in the Australian Outback named after Drogheda, Ireland, the story focuses on the Cleary family and spans 1 ...
'' (2011), '' The Duo'' (2011) and ''
Sin of a Family ''Sin of a Family'' () is 2011 South Korean crime film, produced by Shin Hyun-joon, about a detective who investigates the circumstances of a young autistic boy's death. Plot A body found at a lake is identified by police as Jeong Min-hwan, a yo ...
'' (2011). She then starred in a family comedy film, ''Spy Papa'', about parents and children's relationship during inter-Korean relations in 1974.


2012–2014: Rising popularity and teenage roles

In 2012, Kim appeared in six works in the first half of the year: a romantic
fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...
, ''
Padam Padam ''Padam Padam'' () is a 2011 South Korean television series starring Jung Woo-sung, Han Ji-min, and Kim Bum. The romance / fantasy series was written by Noh Hee-kyung, and the title is a reference to a 1951 French song by Edith Piaf, an onom ...
''; a historical comedy film, ''
I Am the King ''I Am the King'' (, also known as ''I Am a King'') is a 2012 South Korean historical comedy film, starring Ju Ji-hoon, Park Yeong-gyu, Baek Yoon-sik, Byun Hee-bong and Kim Su-ro. Inspired by Mark Twain's 1881 novel ''The Prince and the Pauper'', ...
''; a fantasy-period drama ''
Moon Embracing the Sun ''Moon Embracing the Sun'' (, also known as ''The Moon that Embraces the Sun'' or ''The Sun and the Moon'') is a 2012 South Korean television drama series, starring Kim Soo-hyun, Han Ga-in, Jung Il-woo, and Kim Min-seo. It aired on MBC from Jan ...
'', in which she gained recognition as the younger version of the second female lead, Kim received commend from the audience and the director of how well she portrayed the
antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the chief foe of the protagonist. Etymology The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, riv ...
's desire realistically the drama came to rank number one in its time slot throughout its run and achieved a peak recorded viewer rating of 42.2%, thereby earning the "national drama" status Kim simultaneously became "Korea's little sister"; followed by a fantasy-comedy ''
Rooftop Prince ''Rooftop Prince'' () is a 2012 South Korean fantasy romantic comedy television drama, starring Park Yoo-chun, Han Ji-min, Jeong Yu-mi, Lee Tae-sung, Lee Tae-ri, Jung Suk-won, and Choi Woo-shik. It is about a Joseon crown prince who, after ...
'' in the role as an evil sister; '' Love Again'' and a high school student whose roommate is a female idol star in ''
Ma Boy "Ma Boy" is the first single by South Korean girl group Sistar's sub-unit ''SISTAR19''. It was released online as a digital single on May 3, 2011 through Starship Entertainment. The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 2 on the Gaon ...
''. Kim reunited with co-stars from ''Rooftop Prince'' (
Park Yoo-chun Park Yoo-chun (born June 4, 1986), formerly known as Micky Yoochun and better known by the mononym Yoochun, is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He is a former member of the South Korean boy bands JYJ and TVXQ. He has starred in drama ...
) and ''Moon Embracing the Sun'' (
Yeo Jin-goo Yeo Jin-goo (, born August 13, 1997) is a South Korean actor. Yeo began his career as a child actor, debuting in the film '' Sad Movie'' (2005). Nicknamed "Nation's Little Brother", he went on to play the younger characters of the lead roles in ...
) respectively, in a melodrama '' Missing You''. Being dubbed the "Queen of Child Actors" by the Korean press, she was one of the most praised child actors of her generation. She played the role of Lee Soo-yeon, bullied by her schoolmates and called "the daughter of the murderer", who gets kidnapped and sexually assaulted while trying to save her friend. Kim and Yeo shared the highest one-minute viewer rating scene of 10.4% in the drama. She received her first acting award as "Best Child Actress" at the 1st K-Drama Star Awards for ''Ma Boy'' and ''Missing You''. In 2013, Kim made a surprise appearance on '' Iris II: New Generation'' as the childhood counterpart of the female protagonist and starred in ''
The Secret of Birth ''The Secret of Birth'' () is a 2013 South Korean television series that aired on SBS from April 27 to June 23, 2013, on Saturdays and Sundays at 22:00 for 18 episodes. It stars Sung Yu-ri as a genius amnesiac who pieces together her own life in ...
'' as a girl with a genius-level brain. Then, she played the younger version of
Lee Bo-young Lee Bo-young (; born January 12, 1979) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for starring in the television dramas ''My Daughter Seo-young'' (2012), ''I Can Hear Your Voice'' (2013), ''Whisper'' (2017), ''Mother'' (2018), ''When My Love ...
's character in the popular Korean drama ''
I Can Hear Your Voice ''I Can Hear Your Voice'' () is a 2013 South Korean television series starring Lee Bo-young, Lee Jong-suk, Yoon Sang-hyun, and Lee Da-hee. It aired on SBS from June 5 to August 1, 2013, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 18 episodes. Or ...
''. On June 20, Kim co-host MBC's music program ''
Music Core Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect o ...
'' along with Minho of
SHINee Shinee ( ; ko, 샤이니, Syaini; ja, シャイニー, Shainī; stylized as SHINee) is a South Korean boy band formed by SM Entertainment in 2008. The group's musical impact in their native country has earned them numerous accolades and th ...
and
Noh Hong-chul Noh Hong-chul ( ko, 노홍철 盧弘喆; born 31 March 1979) is a South Korean entertainer and entrepreneur. He is the co-host of the variety show ''Talents for Sale''. He previously appeared on the television programs ''Infinite Challenge'' a ...
. The three received much attention because of the combination of singers, actors, and broadcasters even though they initially showed a bit of immature progress, but amplified expectations of how they expressed their charms despite having different careers. She then was cast in ''
The Suspicious Housekeeper ''The Suspicious Housekeeper'' () is a 2013 South Korean television series starring Choi Ji-woo, Lee Sung-jae, Wang Ji-hye and Kim So-hyun. It aired on SBS from 23 September to 26 November 2013 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes. ...
'', a Korean
remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same ...
of the Japanese
drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...
,
Kaseifu no Mita is a 2011 Japanese television drama series. A family grieving their mother's recent death hires Akari Mita as a housekeeper to upkeep the house, which has been thrown into disarray. Mita, who is played by actress Nanako Matsushima, will do a ...
. In the same year, Kim was reported along with
Kim Yoo-jung Kim Yoo-jung (; born September 22, 1999) is a South Korean actress. She debuted as a model for a confectionery brand at the age of four. After her acting debut in 2003, she became one of the best known child actresses in Korea since then, aft ...
and Yeo Jin-goo as the top three child actors who earn above-average salaries for child actors. It was reported that Kim received 4-6 million won per episode. In 2014, Kim was cast as a child actor beside
Oh Yeon-soo Oh Yeon-soo (born October 27, 1971) is a South Korean actress. Career Oh Yeon-soo made her debut in 1989 among a batch of actors who passed an open audition by broadcaster MBC, and she soon became popular for her innocent image. But since her m ...
in the MBC drama, ''Triangle''. Kim challenged her first
dual role A dual role (also known as a double role) refers to one actor playing two roles in a single production. Dual roles (or a larger number of roles for an actor) may be deliberately written into a script, or may instead be a choice made during produc ...
and first genre through OCN's new drama '' Reset''. Later, she was cast in
KBS2 The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...
special drama, ''We All Cry Differently'', which won the 2013 KBS Screenplay Contest.


2015–2016: Transition to lead roles and hosting

In 2015, Kim made a special appearance as the sister of the male lead in ''
A Girl Who Sees Smells ''A Girl Who Sees Smells'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series adapted from the KTOON webtoon of the same title by Seo Soo-kyung a/k/a Man Chwi. Starring Park Yoo-chun, Shin Se-kyung, Namgoong Min and Yoon Jin-seo, it aired on SBS on W ...
'', played by Park Yoo-chun, whom she reunited with for the third time after ''Rooftop Prince'' and ''Missing You''. On April 18, Kim stepped down from her ''Music Core'' MC posts after two years. Kim starred in KBS's school series '' Who Are You: School 2015'', playing dual roles as twins Lee Eun-bi and Go Eun-byul. She was awarded "Star of the Year" at the eighth
Korea Drama Awards The Korea Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony for excellence in television in South Korea. It was established in 2007, and is held annually in October in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province as the official main event of the annual Korea Drama Fe ...
for her performance. On November 21, Kim held her first overseas promotion schedule at Sunshine City,
Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
. At the end of the year, Kim became the MC of the 2015 KBS Drama Awards with Jun Hyun-moo and
Park Bo-gum Park Bo-gum (; born June 16, 1993) is a South Korean actor. He gained recognition for his diverse range of roles in film and television, notably, a psychopathic lawyer in '' Hello Monster'' (2015), a genius Go player in ''Reply 1988'' (2015– ...
. In 2016, she returned to the big screen in a romance film '' Pure Love'' opposite
Do Kyung-soo Doh Kyung-soo (; born January 12, 1993), also known by his stage name D.O. (), is a South Korean singer and actor, best known as a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy group Exo. Apart from his group's activities, D.O. has starred in various t ...
, playing the heroine of the film who has a beautiful voice but suffers from a leg injury. Kim then starred in a mystery-school web drama ''Nightmare Teacher'' alongside Lee Min-hyuk, playing a class president who discovers mysterious secrets of the school. The drama was filmed and featured nine students at Hosan University. The same year, Kim starred in Park Hye-ryun's three-episode drama special '' Page Turner'' opposite actors
Ji Soo Kim Ji-soo (; born 30 March 1993), professionally known as Ji Soo, is a South Korean actor. Early life and education In elementary school, Ji Soo was a judo athlete and competed at national level before giving it up due to injuries. He was an ...
and
Shin Jae-ha Shin Jae-ha (born April 2, 1993) is a South Korean actor. Personal life Military service Shin enlisted in the mandatory military service Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people ...
. She played the role of a "piano genius" who lost her sight after an accident. The number of video previews released in the web and mobile achieved 600,000 views which was considered "an unusual number" as a
one-act play A one-act play is a play that has only one act, as distinct from plays that occur over several acts. One-act plays may consist of one or more scenes. The 20-40 minute play has emerged as a popular subgenre of the one-act play, especially in writi ...
. Kim's first fan meeting Lovely Day in
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
was held at
Ming Chuan University Ming Chuan University (MCU; ) is a private university in Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan, accredited in the United States of America and by AACSB. Ming Chuan University was ranked in the 451-500 range in QS Top Asia Universities Ranking 202 ...
on April 9. She was dubbed as the "Korean Wave Fairy" by the Taiwanese media. On June 4, Kim hosted the 2016 Dream Concert with
Leeteuk Park Jeong-su (born July 1, 1983), known professionally as Leeteuk (), is a South Korean singer, songwriter, presenter, radio personality and actor. He debuted as the leader of the boy band Super Junior in November 2005 and since then has part ...
and
Hong Jong-hyun Hong Jong-hyun (born February 2, 1990) is a South Korean actor and model. Career Hong began his entertainment career in 2007 as a professional model. He made his acting debut in 2008, and has appeared in the romantic comedy ''Oh! My Lady'' (201 ...
. She made her next acting move in the horror-comedy ''
Hey Ghost, Let's Fight ''Bring It On, Ghost'' () is a South Korean television series starring Ok Taec-yeon, Kim So-hyun and Kwon Yul. It is adapted from webtoon of the same name which was serialised on Naver from 2007 to 2010. The series aired on cable network tvN on ...
'' with
Ok Taec-yeon Ok Taec-yeon (; born December 27, 1988), known mononymously as Taecyeon, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and entrepreneur. He is the main rapper of the South Korean boy band 2PM. In 2010, Ok debuted as an actor in the Kor ...
, and played as the 13-year-old
Princess Deokhye Princess Deokhye (Korean: 덕혜옹주, ''Deokhye-Ongju''; Japanese: 徳恵姫, ''Tokue-hime''; 25 May 191221 April 1989) was the last princess of the Korean Empire. She was born on May 25, 1912, at Changdeok Palace, in Seoul, as the youngest ...
in the film '' The Last Princess'', for which Park A-reum of ''
K-pop Herald ''The Korea Herald'' is a leading English-language daily newspaper founded in 1953 and published in Seoul, South Korea. The editorial staff is composed of Korean and international writers and editors, with additional news coverage drawn from int ...
'' praised Kim for her in-depth emotional acting in the scene before her farewell to her mother (which Park called heartbreaking), as well as the high sync rate with
Son Ye-jin Son Ye-jin (born Son Eon-jin on January 11, 1982) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in 2003 for '' The Classic'' and '' Summer Scent'', which were followed by the commercially successful ''A Moment to Remember'' (2004) and ''April Snow ...
. Also, Jung An-ji of ''Sports Chosun'' praised her for the historical accuracy of portraying the princess: citing she acted "perfectly" with the life of a girl during the Korean Empire. She had a recurring guest role in the hit fantasy drama '' Guardian: The Lonely and Great God''. Kim showed an overwhelming presence and increased audience immersion in the early stage of the drama making a big impact as a cameo.


2017–2018: Adult roles, career instability and taking other activities

In 2017, Kim participated in Korean dubbing for the character Mitsuha Miyamizu in the
anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
''
Your Name is a 2016 Japanese animated romantic fantasy film produced by CoMix Wave Films. It depicts a high school boy in Tokyo and a high school girl in the Japanese countryside who suddenly and inexplicably begin to swap bodies. The film was commissi ...
''. She switched back to live-action and co-led the historical and political drama '' The Emperor: Owner of the Mask'' with
Yoo Seung-ho Yoo Seung-ho (; born August 17, 1993) is a South Korean actor who rose to fame as a child actor in the film '' The Way Home'' (2002). Since then, he has starred in many television series and movie films as a child and teenager. After his two-yea ...
, which premiered on May 10. This marked her first adult historical drama after five years since ''Moon Embracing the Sun''. Despite of its high ratings, the time of the drama's original run coincided with her slump period — Kim expressed how she made efforts to understand her character as a heroine. She felt lost and started losing confidence in herself as an actress. As everybody was praising her acting and visual, she felt embarrassed because she could not come to a full understanding of who her character was. Kim held her first domestic fan meeting "Lovely Day" on June 3. She made a special appearance in drama '' While You Were Sleeping'' to show her support for scriptwriter Park Hae-ryun, who she worked with on KBS's ''Page Turner''. In August 2017, she ended her contract with
SidusHQ iHQ Inc., doing business as SidusHQ () is one of the leading talent management agencies in South Korea. It was founded in January 2001 by Teddy Hoon-tak Jung. The company is involved in talent management (artist content), and TV drama/music prod ...
after seven years. On November 11, Kim completed her second Taiwan fan meeting ''Sweet Dream'' with Allets. In December, Kim launched her one-person agency, E&T Story Entertainment, in partnership with
LOEN Entertainment Kakao M (; formerly Seoul Records, YBM Seoul Records and LOEN Entertainment) was a South Korean entertainment company established by Min Yeong-bin in 1978. It is currently one of the largest co-publisher companies in South Korea. The company op ...
. The agency is currently led by Park Chan-woo, Kim's manager in her SidusHQ days. In 2018, Kim was cast in the romance drama '' Radio Romance'', which began airing on January 29. She played a radio scriptwriter who isn't exactly talented in writing. On January 24, a photo was shared on SNS saying that Kim was shooting underwater. The photo shows a woman wearing a hanbok in the water on January 21. On this day, the lowest temperature was recorded below minus 16 degrees. During the press conference for the premiere of ''Radio Romance'' held on January 25, the PD addressed online criticism regarding the outdoor water filming, despite the weather warnings. He issued an apology stating that "Kim So Hyun's outdoor water filming wrapped up on Sunday anuary 21 We debated on it a lot since she would be getting in the water. We ensured safety equipment nearby and a camping car on set and finished filming in the shortest amount of time possible. Due to time constraints, an action stunt double filmed additional outdoor water scenes yesterday anuary 24 It was filmed by an action actor, not Kim So-hyun, wearing a winter suit and shot in a similar situation. The number of shots was done with one take and protection was taken right away. We apologize for causing concerns with this matter. The filming set is our lives. Naturally, safety is important." At the press conference, Kim's hand was visually seen red. On the same day, she co-hosted the 27th
Seoul Music Awards The Seoul Music Awards (; SMA) is a major South Korean music awards show presented by the newspaper ''Sports Seoul''. The award winners are selected based on a combination of criteria, including music sales, popular votes, and expert judges' op ...
with
Kim Hee-chul Kim Hee-chul (; born July 10, 1983), better known mononymously as Heechul, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, presenter and actor. He is a member of the South Korean boy band Super Junior and has further participated in its subgroup Super ...
and Shin Dong-yup. She held her first
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
fan meeting ''Kim So Hyun 1st Premium Fanmeeting'' with 800 people on July 1. After 10 years of debut, Kim hosted her own travel reality show ''Because'' ''This is My First Twenty - Kim So-hyun's YOLO Solo California'', where she challenged herself and discovered her true identity in a foreign country. On October 12, she was named as one of the first tenth generation MCs to host a survival reality show ''
Under Nineteen Under Nineteen () is a survival show on Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation for trainees under the age of 19 years old. There are a total of 57 contestants competing to debut as a member of 1THE9. The trainees are put into groups that specializes i ...
'' on MBC. Kim received positive feedback from viewers of the premiere for her strengths as a host, as noted by ''Korea Economic TV'' — audience engagement, her "steady" voice, charisma, as well as her styling, which the publication deemed "colorful".


2019–present: Regaining acting acclaim

By early-2019, Kim So-hyun, Kim Hee-chul and Shin Dong-yup were selected for two consecutive years as the MCs for the Seoul Music Awards, hosting the 28th ceremony. She held her second fan meeting Sso.Affirmation.Happiness: Kim So Hyun's Little & Indeed, Happiness in Korea, ahead of her birthday with an attendance of 300 people. On June 29, she also held her first-anniversary fan meeting in
Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
, Japan. Kim played the lead role in
Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...
's original production ''
Love Alarm ''Love Alarm'' () is a South Korean streaming television series starring Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, and Song Kang. Based on the Daum webtoon of the same name by Chon Kye-young, it follows the life of a high school girl in a society greatly inf ...
'', based on the popular
webtoon Webtoons (), are a type of digital comic that originated in South Korea usually meant to be read on smartphones. While webtoons were mostly unknown outside of Korea during their inception, there has been a surge in popularity internationally ...
of the same name. Kim explained her character is experiencing the emotion of love for the first time, and it reminded of herself. She decided to tap into those feelings as she wanted to portray a living and breathing character with Jo-jo. Kim Yoo-jin of ''Exsports News'' said that Kim showed a high sync rate and a "rich and stable" acting performance in the series. ''
Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...
'' Joan MacDonald said that Kim fit well with the character Jojo. Further, the Netflix series was ranked the platform's 8th most loved work in South Korea in 2019. The same year, she was cast alongside
Jang Dong-yoon Jang Dong-yoon (born July 12, 1992) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the popular television series ''School 2017'' (2017), ''The Tale of Nokdu'' (2019), and ''Search'' (2020). Early life After finishing high ...
in a
romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...
drama set in the
Joseon dynasty Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
, ''
The Tale of Nokdu ''The Tale of Nokdu'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Jang Dong-yoon, Kim So-hyun, Kang Tae-oh, and Jung Joon-ho. It is based on the webtoon by Hye Jin-yang which was published in 2014 on Naver Webtoon. It aired on KBS2 ...
'' as a clumsy and hot-tempered
Kisaeng Kisaeng (Hangul: 기생, Hanja: 妓生, RR: ''Gisaeng''), also called ginyeo (Hangul: 기녀, Hanja: 妓女), were women from outcast or slave families who were trained to be courtesans, providing artistic entertainment and conversation to men ...
trainee. Chon Kye-young and Hye Jin-yang, the author of both webtoons named Kim as their first choice in casting the leading woman. Shin Ji-won of ''
Hankyung Han Geng (Chinese: 韩庚; Pinyin: Hán Gēng; ) (born February 9, 1984) is a Chinese Mandopop singer and actor. He started his career in 2001, when he was chosen by S.M. Entertainment to become a member of South Korean boy band Super Junio ...
'' said that Kim So-hyun's character was able to mesmerize the viewers because Kim blended well with her character. Jang Dong-yoon stated, "I was convinced that there would be no better actress to play Dong Joo other than So-hyun, I was very grateful to have met my best partner in her." The pair were donned the nickname "
Manhwa (; ) is the general Korean language, Korean term for comics and print cartoons. Outside Korea, the term usually refers to South Korea, South Korean comics. is greatly influenced by Japanese Manga comics. Modern Manhwa has extended its rea ...
tearing" chemistry by the viewers for capturing everything from laughter to excitement and adding their colours to the original characters. Her role as Dong Joo earned her the Excellence Award at the year end
KBS Drama Awards The KBS Drama Awards () is an awards ceremony presented by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) for outstanding achievements in Korean dramas aired on its network. It is held annually on 31 December. The highest honor of the ceremony is the "Gra ...
. The series was the 10th most talked primetime Korean dramas aired in 2019. On October 1, an official statement from
Kakao M Kakao M (; formerly Seoul Records, YBM Seoul Records and LOEN Entertainment) was a South Korean entertainment company established by Min Yeong-bin in 1978. It is currently one of the largest co-publisher companies in South Korea. The company op ...
revealed that Kim received 815 shares (about 100 million won) of it to resolve issue rights to strengthen solidarity with affiliates and entertainers. Kim is one of many Kakao M-affiliated artists who received stocks from the company, which, according to reports, is preparing to rejoin
Korea Exchange Korea Exchange (KRX) is the sole securities exchange operator in South Korea. It is headquartered in Busan, and has an office for cash markets and market oversight in Seoul. History The Korea Exchange was created through the integration of Ko ...
through a re-IPO. On October 29, Netflix confirmed that Kim would reprise her role as Kim Jo-jo in the second season of the drama series ''Love Alarm''. In 2020, Kim's travel reality show ''Because This Is My First Twenty'' surpassed 6 million views as of May 2020 on
YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
, Naver TV and
Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
. On January 15, 2021, E&T Story Entertainment released an official statement stating that Kim would be leaving the agency. On January 18, Kim signed an exclusive contract with the
Culture Depot Culture Depot () is a Korean drama production and artist management company. It is a subsidiary of Studio Dragon. History Culture Depot was founded in 2010 as an exhibition and performance planning company. Since 2012, it worked as a management a ...
. In February 2021, Kim starred as the alter-ego protagonists in the historical drama ''
River Where the Moon Rises ''River Where the Moon Rises'' () is a 2021 South Korean television series starring Kim So-hyun, Na In-woo, Lee Ji-hoon and Choi Yu-hwa. Based on the 2010 novel ''Princess Pyeonggang'' by film director and screenwriter Choi Sagyu, it aired on ...
'' which premiered on February 15. She plays as a female general, who was born as a princess but raised as a general, and chases for her goal to straighten the ruined status of her country,
Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...
. The drama was caught in a controversy following bullying accusations made against Ji Soo, who played the show's male protagonist. Director Yoon Sangho talked about Kim: "It is not easy to re-film the scenes that have already done with a different actor. That's why I told her before re-filming "we can't do this without you, you are the main priority in this drama, I hope you can persevere until the end as the lead. heaccepted and continued filming ..For this, I am nothing but thankful." Co-actors Lee Ji-hoon, Lee Hae-young, Kim Jung-young, Ki Eun-se, and writer Han Ji-hoon also conveyed their gratitude towards Kim and
Na In-woo Na Jong-chan (; born September 17, 1994) better known by his stage name Na In-woo ( Korean: 나인우), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in ''Mr. Queen'' (2020–2021) and '' River Where the Moon Rises'' (2021). He is a c ...
(
Ji Soo Kim Ji-soo (; born 30 March 1993), professionally known as Ji Soo, is a South Korean actor. Early life and education In elementary school, Ji Soo was a judo athlete and competed at national level before giving it up due to injuries. He was an ...
's replacement) who endured the difficult situations. In an interview with ''Y Noblesse'' magazine for the July 2021 edition, Kim revealed she did not get paid for the re-shoots out of love and affection for the drama and her character. She gained praises for her solid performance and sword skills, and her portrayal of three different characters; Assassin Yeom Ga-jin,
Princess Pyeonggang Princess Pyeonggang (died 595) was a Goguryeo Princess as the daughter of King Pyeongwon and sister of King Yeongyang She was married to General On Dal. In popular culture * Portrayed by Nam Sang-mi in the 2009 KBS2 TV series ''Invincible L ...
and the queen of Goguryeo Queen Yeon, for which she was nominated for a
Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were first introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the Hankook Ilbo newspap ...
in Best Actress - Television, becoming one of the category's youngest nominees. At the end of the year, Kim became the MC of the 2021 KBS Drama Awards with
Sung Si-kyung Sung Si-kyung (; born April 17, 1979) is a South Korean singer, entertainer and television host. He debuted in 2001 and has released eight studio albums in Korean and two studio albums in Japanese. He has also hosted and appeared on numerous So ...
and
Lee Do-hyun Lim Dong-hyun, (; born April 11, 1995) better known by his stage name Lee Do-hyun (), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in '' Hotel del Luna'' (2019), '' 18 Again'' (2020), '' Sweet Home'' (2020), and ''Youth of May'' (2 ...
This is a return to MC in 6 years since 2015. In 2022, Kim signed with Leeum Hashtag. She then returned to the small screen in a webtoon-based romantic comedy-drama ''
Is It Fate? ''Is It Fate?'' () is an upcoming South Korean television series directed by Song Hyun-wook and starring Kim So-hyun, Chae Jong-hyeop, Yoon Ji-on, and Kim Da-som. It is based on Naver webtoon of the same name by writer Nam Ji-eun and illustrat ...
'' by
Song Hyun-wook Song Hyun-wook () is a South Korean Television director. His debut TV drama was ''The Splendor of Youth'' in 2008. Presently he is attached with Next Entertainment World, Studio&NEW since 2017. He is known for his direction in TV series: ''Anot ...
, where she played a woman who meets her first love again after ten years.


Personal life

Kim suffered with "growing pains" and "transition period" after seven months of filming '' The Emperor: Owner of the Mask''. She felt emptiness in her schedule and feeling uncomfortable even though she was resting. In January 2018, the
Pyeongchang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) is an organisation that oversees the planning and development of the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. POCOG's headquarters is located in the host ...
(POCOG) chose Kim and Yoo Seong-min as the National Representative of Honorary Smile to represent Korea's smile and kindness.


Other ventures


Philanthropy

In 2014, Kim joined in the HAPPY Together Briquette Donation Campaign to donate 1 million briquette for the elderly, disabled families, and low-income families for heating during cold season. In 2017, Kim and
Ji Chang-wook Ji Chang-wook (born 5 July 1987) is a South Korean actor and singer. He rose to fame for playing the lead role of Dong-hae in daily drama series ''Smile Again'' (2010–2011), and had notable lead roles in television series such as '' Warrior B ...
donated their dubbing fees for
Your Name is a 2016 Japanese animated romantic fantasy film produced by CoMix Wave Films. It depicts a high school boy in Tokyo and a high school girl in the Japanese countryside who suddenly and inexplicably begin to swap bodies. The film was commissi ...
to the Korea Barrier-Free Film Commission. On April 21, 2018, Kim participated in S.E.S 10th Green Heart Bazaar held by the first generation
K-pop K-pop (), short for Korean popular music, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea as part of South Korean culture. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip hop, R&B, experimental, rock, jazz, gos ...
girl group A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female pop music singing groups, many of who ...
, S.E.S. Kim and many other celebrities gave generous good deeds by selling items at the bazaar. The proceeds that were collected are donated to the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation and
KARA Kara or KARA may refer to: Geography Localities * Kara, Chad, a sub-prefecture * Kára, Hungary, a village * Kara, Uttar Pradesh, India, a township * Kara, Iran, a village in Lorestan Province * Kara, Republic of Dagestan, a rural locality in Da ...
. On April 5, 2019, Kim donated ₩10 million to help support the victims of Sokcho Fire. Kim also donated ₩10 million with her fans to Ajou University Hospital Trauma Center. This is the result of the fans giving support towards Kim's idea who wanted to achieve and sharing on her June 4 birthday. Her fans also donated 61 blood donation certificates to the hospital along with the fund to help patients who were living with difficulties. On December 13, she donated 100 kg of rice to the social welfare corporation network for underprivileged and undernourished children in the future. On February 25, 2020, Kim donated 10 million won through Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief to prevent the spreading of the
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea The COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). The first case in South Korea was announced on 20 January 2020. The numbe ...
. According to the organization, the donation was to help the vulnerable people and purchasing health and hand sanitizers to prevent the spread of the disease. On August 5, Kim donated 20 million won to help flood victims who suffered from the heavy rain. In October, Kim participated in the "MANNA Charity Bazaar" to support the treatment costs of children suffering from rare diseases. A representative official said, "People who have been consistently sponsoring and volunteering have been together under the name of Manna."


Ambassadorship


Artistry


Influences

Kim has cited
Son Ye-jin Son Ye-jin (born Son Eon-jin on January 11, 1982) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in 2003 for '' The Classic'' and '' Summer Scent'', which were followed by the commercially successful ''A Moment to Remember'' (2004) and ''April Snow ...
and Canadian actress
Rachel McAdams Rachel Anne McAdams (born November 17, 1978) is a Canadian actress. After graduating from a theatre degree program at York University in 2001, she worked in Canadian television and film productions, such as the drama film ''Perfect Pie'' (200 ...
as her main influences because of their sophisticated and graceful look. She has also cited
Moon Geun-young Moon Geun-young (; born May 6, 1987) is a South Korean actress. Affectionately called the "Nation's Little Sister," Moon began modeling at the age of 10, then made her acting debut in 1999 as a child actress. She first rose to stardom through he ...
as someone who inspired her to digest various roles after watching Moon's acting in ''
Painter of the Wind ''Painter of the Wind'' () is a 2008 South Korean historical television series starring Moon Geun-young and Park Shin-yang. Based on the bestselling historical fiction novel by Lee Jung-myung that took artistic license with the premise that perha ...
''. In 2019, Kim expressed that she has no role models. She commented, "I don't even know myself. I think it's time to get to know myself more than the role model. If I find myself, I can find my role model then." Kim's work has influenced numerous child actresses, including Kim Ji-young, Lee Ja-in, Hwang Yeon-ji, Busters' Jisoo, Jeon Yu-lim, and Park Da-yeon.


Acting style

In an interview in 2013, she revealed she had never been formally trained for acting. While filming for ''Pure Love'', she lived in Goheung. Kim said that, when there was no filming, she went around the city alone and listened to the stories of the residents. She explained she looked around every corner of the village setting for how she could be part of it. To prepare for a role, Kim listens to music that matches the emotions of her role before shooting a scene. For the role of a blind person in ''Page Turner'', she changed everything from the tone and way of speaking to the eye contact when reciting her dialogues. She had stated that when she received a script, she set plenty of time to understand fully and know the character like a real person and try her best to express the character genuinely. Kim prefers having many projects because she feels more comfortable and happy continuing acting rather than resting. In particular, the charm of Kim's tone shines in the drama from a plump romantic comedy to a complex, subtle feeling of conflict between the family's revenge and the love she felt for the first time in her life. A broadcast official said, "The deeper the emotions in the play, the more shining of Kim's inner space will be".


Image

Kim plays a role in stimulating her colleague actors. ''Who Are You: School 2015'' co-star
Yook Sung-jae Yook Sung-jae (; born ), also known mononymously as Sungjae, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, host and entertainer. He is a member of the boy group BtoB and its sub-group, BtoB Blue. Aside from his group's activities, Yook has acted ...
shared, "Despite her young age, imSo-hyun leads the entire drama. When seeing her with a smile on her face during working in spite of the exhaustion due to lack of sleep, I feel and learn a lot."
Chun Jung-myung Chun Jung-myung (, born November 29, 1980) is a South Korean actor. Chun made his break into the entertainment industry in the KBS teen drama ''School 2'' (1999). He is best known for his leading roles in TV dramas such as '' Fashion 70's'' (200 ...
gave her his recognition, "She is polite and always looks strong. So Hyun possesses such an outstanding charm that I believe she might become the greatest actor of this era." Actor
Nam Joo-hyuk Nam Joo-hyuk (Korean: 남주혁; born February 22, 1994) is a South Korean model and actor. He began his career as a model, and appeared in several music videos before making his screen debut in 2014 with ''The Idle Mermaid''. He rose to promin ...
also praised, "Like an adult and trustworthy. She is a positive person that never shows any hints of negativity even when facing hardship. I have a lot to learn from her." As an experienced former child actress, Kim So-hyun has acted with many actors who are older than her. Many of her co-stars described her as an "older sister" to them. Such as, Yoo Seung-ho, who is six years older than her, confessed he couldn't stop speaking to her like she was older: "She seems like an older sister. She's extremely mature." L said, "So-hyun is very mature. Though she's seven years younger than me, she sometimes feels like an older sister", and the same goes to Yoon Do-joon. Various actors, actresses, and film crew praised Kim for her acting skills, strong mentality, work ethic, and kindness. Actress Jo Soo-hyang, "Kim So-hyun is amazing. When we were filming, her schedule was very hectic. At first, I would play around with her after we were done filming, but she looked more and more tired as the days went on, and I couldn't do that anymore." She continued, "But when the camera starts rolling, she puts on a smile and acts really well. As I saw her doing that, I just thought, she's amazing." Despite the freezing temperatures during filming ''The Emperor: Owner of the Mask'', Kim gave affection for the child actor that was working with her, be on set at a very early time and showed no signs of tiredness while on set. A staff member said, "Kim So-hyun is cheerful and kind both on and off-camera, making her the best energizer. Kim So-hyun's bright smile helps everyone on set have a good time while filming."
Jung Ga-ram Jung Ga-ram (born February 23, 1993) is a South Korean actor. He rose to prominence for his roles in the films ''4th Place'' (2016) and ''The Poet and the Boy'' (2017). He is also known for his roles in television series such as '' Standby'' (2 ...
describes her as "very serious and a really great actress".
Song Kang A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...
talked about working with Kim, saying that she gave a lot of advice about many heart-fluttering points. As a senior actor he saw on TV, he was worried that it would inconvenience her. Still, she contacted him whenever there were difficult scenes and congratulated him at the end of the day. Lee Na-jung, her director in ''
Love Alarm ''Love Alarm'' () is a South Korean streaming television series starring Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, and Song Kang. Based on the Daum webtoon of the same name by Chon Kye-young, it follows the life of a high school girl in a society greatly inf ...
'', said, "the acting skills were as important as the synchronisation rate. Jo-jo was a difficult role and needed great acting skills." She continued, "I saw Jo-jo's eyes in Kim So-hyun's eyes." According to director Kim Dong-hwi of ''The Tale of Nokdu'', "Kim So-hyun is a rainbow-like actress. She is pretty, cute and cool, and has colourful charms from laughter to tears. I am always admiring her detailed and sincere acting while filming".


In the media

Kim was given several nicknames throughout her career, such as "
Nation's Little Sister Nation's Little Sister () or Nation's Little Brother () is an informal title in South Korean Hallyu, entertainment industry. It refers to "a young female
r male R, or r, is the eighteenth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ar'' (pronounced ), plural ''ars'', or in Irela ...
celebrity in her
r his R, or r, is the eighteenth Letter (alphabet), letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the English alphabet, modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is English alphabe ...
late teens to early twenties...
ho is Ho (or the transliterations He or Heo) may refer to: People Language and ethnicity * Ho people, an ethnic group of India ** Ho language, a tribal language in India * Hani people, or Ho people, an ethnic group in China, Laos and Vietnam * Hiri Mo ...
cute, bright, and ...
", "Queen of Child Actresses" and "Korean Wave Fairy". Kim earned the nickname, "Little
Son Ye-jin Son Ye-jin (born Son Eon-jin on January 11, 1982) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in 2003 for '' The Classic'' and '' Summer Scent'', which were followed by the commercially successful ''A Moment to Remember'' (2004) and ''April Snow ...
", due to the resemblance of Ye-jin's early works, '' Lover's Concerto'' and '' The Classic''. Besides, the two actors, also resemble the coexistence of clean, pure and mature images with subtle expressions and perfect eyes acting. She was also dubbed as "3金 Troika" alongside
Kim Yoo-jung Kim Yoo-jung (; born September 22, 1999) is a South Korean actress. She debuted as a model for a confectionery brand at the age of four. After her acting debut in 2003, she became one of the best known child actresses in Korea since then, aft ...
and
Kim Sae-ron Kim or KIM may refer to: Names * Kim (given name) * Kim (surname) ** Kim (Korean surname) *** Kim family (disambiguation), several dynasties **** Kim family (North Korea), the rulers of North Korea since Kim Il-sung in 1948 ** Kim, Vietnamese f ...
due to impressive performances since childhood and a veteran actor with more than 10 years of acting career. Previously, the nickname was given to
Kim Tae-hee Kim Tae-hee (; born 29 March 1980) is a South Korean actress. Considered one of South Korea's most beautiful actresses, she is best known for her roles in Korean dramas such as ''Stairway to Heaven'' (2003), ''Love Story in Harvard'' (2004), '' ...
,
Song Hye-kyo Song Hye-kyo (; born November 22, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She gained international popularity through her leading roles in the television dramas ''Autumn in My Heart'' (2000), '' All In'' (2003), ''Full House'' (2004), ''That Winter, th ...
, and
Jun Ji-hyun Jun Ji-hyun (born Wang Ji-hyun on 30 October 1981), also known by her English name Gianna Jun, is a South Korean actress and model. She has received multiple awards, including two Grand Bell Awards for Best Actress and a Daesang (Grand Prize) f ...
in the early 2000s. Kim was named "Teardrop Goddess" for her deep sensitivity and dense tears in ''The Emperor: Owner of the Mask''. Following the release of hit dramas ''Love Alarm'' and ''The Tale of Nokdu'', the press gave Kim "Come-out-of-manhwa girl" due to the perfect sync rate with the original characters and emotional performance. After starring in several historical period dramas, she received the title "Goddess of Historical Drama" and "Sageuk Goddess" because of her quick character exploration skills, varied expressions through eye contact and emotional acting. In 2016, Kim was recognized by Korean medias as the next generation of "Nation's First Love" after she had successfully potrayed the first love character in '' Pure Love '' movie.


Endorsements and impact

Kim is an active celebrity endorser for several brands and products. Her first endorsements were fabric softener Downey and junior apparel brand, Apple Pink. She became the face of
Nintendo 3DS The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo. It was announced in March 2010 and unveiled at E3 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS. The system features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS video games. As an eighth-generatio ...
real-time Real-time or real time describes various operations in computing or other processes that must guarantee response times within a specified time (deadline), usually a relatively short time. A real-time process is generally one that happens in defined ...
pet simulation
video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
, ''
Nintendogs + Cats is a real-time pet simulation video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It was released in Japan, and was later released in: North America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and other regions ...
'' with Kim Yoo-jung, Yuhan-Kimberly's "Teen's Nature" brand, Union Bay with
Park Seo-joon Park Seo-joon (born Park Yong-kyu; December 16, 1988) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his starring roles in the television series ''Kill Me, Heal Me'' (2015), ''She Was Pretty'' (2015), ''Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth'' (2016– ...
and Lee Hyun-woo, and
Nongshim Nongshim Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean food and beverage company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Nongshim was founded in 1965 under the name Lotte (conglomerate), Lotte Food Industrial Company. The name was changed to Nongshim in 1978. The ...
's
Shin Ramyun Shin Ramyun is a brand of instant noodle (including Instant noodle#Korea, cup ramyeon) that has been produced by the South Korean food company Nongshim since 1 October 1986. It is now exported to over 100 countries, and is the best-selling insta ...
with Yoon Doo-joon. In 2015, Kim has become one of the most in-demand endorsers after her hit drama ''Who Are You: School 2015''. She was chosen to become the face of a women's clothing brand, Soup because of her "girl's liveliness and a romantic lady's vibe". Kim was selected as the 25th "Pocari Girl" for
Pocari Sweat , Pokari Suetto is a Japanese sports drink, manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical. It was launched in 1980, and is mostly well known across Asia and the Middle East; it is also available in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia and Mexico. Poca ...
due to her "pure innocence and cheerful image". A photograph went viral on social media after Kim retweeted and left a comment, "Graduation (Graduation Photo) ㅋㅋㅋ" of a Uijeongbu High School male-student who recreates Kim's signature drinking pose, wearing short shorts and almost lying on the floor for his graduation photo. In response, Dong-A Otsuka gifted the student several Pocari Sweats,
Oronamin C , produced by Otsuka Chemical Holdings Co., Ltd., (distributed and sold by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.) is a carbonated beverage available in Japan. It is commonly called Oronamin C or Oronamin. Its name is similar to the Takeda Pharmaceutical Co ...
and named him the "Pocari Man". In 2015–16, she was featured in
Domino's Pizza Domino's Pizza, Inc., trading as Domino's, is an American multinational pizza restaurant chain founded in 1960 and led by CEO Russell Weiner. The corporation is Delaware domiciled and headquartered at the Domino's Farms Office Park in Ann Arbor ...
's advertisement with
Kim Woo-bin Kim Woo-bin (born Kim Hyun-joong on July 16, 1989) is a South Korean actor and model. He began his career as a runway model and made his acting debut in the television drama ''White Christmas (TV series), White Christmas''. He subsequently gaine ...
. Two of Kim So-hyun's costume in Domino's Pizza advertisement went on for an online-auction and the donating proceeds to the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation. She also appeared in commercials for the
Post Post or POST commonly refers to: *Mail, the postal system, especially in Commonwealth of Nations countries **An Post, the Irish national postal service **Canada Post, Canadian postal service **Deutsche Post, German postal service **Iraqi Post, Ira ...
cereal Honey Oh's, and Korea's school uniform Elite. Kim became the longest Elite endorsement model from 2014 until 2016. She has worked alongside
Winner Winner(s) or The Winner(s) may refer to: * Champion, the victor in a game or contest *The successful social class in winner and loser culture Film * ''The Winner'' (1926 film), an American silent film starring Billy Sullivan * ''The Winner'' ...
,
Shin Ae-ra Shin Ae-ra (born March 7, 1969) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1989, and has since played leading roles in television dramas such as ''Love in Your Arms'' and ''Bad Housewife''. She married actor Cha In-pyo in 1995, and ...
, and
BtoB } BtoB ( ; ; acronym for Born to Beat; often stylized as BTOB) is a South Korean boy band formed in 2012 by Cube Entertainment. The group consists of Seo Eun-kwang, Lee Min-hyuk, Lee Chang-sub, Im Hyun-sik, Peniel Shin and Yook Sung-jae. Or ...
. By April 16, 2016, Kim was selected for two consecutive years to become the 2016 Pocari Sweat model to commemorate the brand's 30th anniversary. It is the first time in 15 years since Son Ye-jin in 2001. The same year,
G-Market Gmarket is an e-commerce website based in South Korea. The company was founded in 2000 as a subsidiary of Interpark, and was acquired by eBay in 2009. History and Incidents The predecessor of Gmarket was founded in 1999 by Young Bae Ku. At the ...
announced Kim as their model for the launch of Korea's first integrated brand lift package through cable channels and online. In 2015–17, Kim was appointed as the face for young girls' makeup brand Peripera. In three days, Peripera "Ink Airy Velvet" has sold 30,000 quantities. Kim's image was the main contributor that leads a successful product to sell 700,000 quantities in two months, sold out "Ink Airy Velvet No. 2" and "Ink Color Cara" winning in the Glow Peak Beauty Awards mascara category. In August 2019, Korean media reported Soup to become Korea's first young casual brand to record ₩100 billion sales in Korea after commissioning Kim as their promotional model for their 2019 Fall/Winter collection. Kim continued endorsing various products that ranged from food to clothing and cosmetics such as, Norwegian fashion shoes brand Skono, chicken brand Pelicana Chicken, Samsung Securities, naturalism-oriented cosmetics Hanyul, colour contact lenses
Bausch & Lomb Bausch + Lomb is an eye health products company based in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the world's largest suppliers of contact lenses, lens care products, pharmaceuticals, intraocular lenses, and other eye surgery products. The compan ...
's Lacelle, and Soup as a representative and model since 2015. In April 2020,
Samsung Electronics Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (, sometimes shortened to SEC and stylized as SΛMSUNG) is a South Korean multinational corporation, multinational electronics corporation headquartered in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, South Korea. It is the pinnacle of ...
introduced Bixby Celebrity Voice, an AI voice assistant with Kim as their speakers. Kim's "Celeb Alarm" gained popularity in South Korea and overseas, and topped the Popular Download Ranking in the
Galaxy Store Samsung Galaxy Store (marketed as Galaxy Store; formerly known as Samsung Apps and Galaxy Apps) is an app store used for devices manufactured by Samsung Electronics that was launched in September 2009. The service is primarily supplied pre-inst ...
. In August 2022, she was selected as the global ambassador for skin care brand JM Solution.


Filmography


Discography


Soundtrack appearances


Awards and nominations


Listicles


References


External links

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Stand By
The official fan club of Kim So-hyun {{DEFAULTSORT:Kim, So-hyun 1999 births Living people Australian emigrants to South Korea South Korean television actresses South Korean television presenters South Korean women television presenters South Korean voice actresses South Korean film actresses South Korean child actresses South Korean web series actresses 21st-century South Korean actresses