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''. He subsequently gained attention in ''
A Gentleman's Dignity'' (2012), and made his breakthrough with ''
School 2013
''School 2013'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series starring Jang Nara, Choi Daniel, Lee Jong-suk, Park Se-young and Kim Woo-bin. The teen drama depicts the struggles and dilemmas that modern-day Korean youth face, such as bullying, stud ...
'' (2012-2013) and ''
The Heirs
''The Heirs'' (Korean: ), also known as ''The Inheritors'', is a South Korean television series starring Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, and Kim Woo-bin. Written by Kim Eun-sook, the drama is set in a high school populated by the privileged and ub ...
'' (2013). Kim later starred in box office hits ''
Friend: The Great Legacy'' (2013), ''
The Con Artists'' (2014) and ''
Twenty'' (2015). In 2016, he took on his first leading role on television in ''
Uncontrollably Fond
''Uncontrollably Fond'' () is a South Korean television series starring Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy. It aired from July 6 to September 8, 2016 on KBS2's Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 ( KST) time slot.
Synopsis
Shin Joon-young (Kim Woo-bin) and ...
''.
In May 2017, Kim's agency announced that Kim would be taking a hiatus after he was diagnosed with
nasopharyngeal cancer
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), or nasopharynx cancer, is the most common cancer originating in the nasopharynx, most commonly in the postero-lateral nasopharynx or pharyngeal recess ( fossa of Rosenmüller), accounting for 50% of cases. NPC occurs ...
. Kim subsequently returned to screen in 2022 with the TV series ''
Our Blues'' and ''
Black Knight
The black knight is a literary stock character who masks his identity and that of his liege by not displaying heraldry. Black knights are usually portrayed as villainous figures who use this anonymity for misdeeds. They are often contrasted with t ...
'' and also with the sci-fi action film ''
Alienoid
''Alienoid'' () is a 2022 South Korean science fantasy action film directed by Choi Dong-hoon, starring Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Woo-bin, and Kim Tae-ri. The film depicts an extraordinary story that unfolds as the gates of time open between late Gory ...
'', directed by
Choi Dong-hoon
Choi Dong-hoon (; born February 24, 1971) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He ranks as one of the most consistently successful directors working in contemporary Korean cinema, with all five of his films becoming commercial hits ...
.
Career
2009–2012: Beginnings
Kim wanted to pursue a modeling career since he was a high school student. He debuted as a runway model in 2009 at the age of 20 and began appearing in
prêt-à-porter
Ready-to-wear (or ''prêt-à-porter''; abbreviated RTW; "off-the-rack" or "off-the-peg" in casual use) is the term for ready-made garments, sold in finished condition in standardized sizes, as distinct from made-to-measure
Made-to-measure ( ...
and
Seoul Fashion Week collections.
As his modeling career progressed, he started doing commercial films and began studying acting, under the guidance of acting coach Moon Won-joo. Kim fell in love with acting, saying, "In the course of doing so, I found myself feeling the same thrill and enthusiasm that I felt the first time I came to walk on the runway".
Under the
stage name Kim Woo-bin, he made his acting debut in 2011, starring in mystery drama ''
White Christmas'' and the low-rated cable
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...
''
Vampire Idol
''Vampire Idol'' () is a 2011 South Korean youth sitcom that ran on MBN from 2011 to 2012.
Synopsis
A naïve vampire prince from Vampire planet visits Earth to see a live performance of his favorite idol contender. He remains stuck on Earth with ...
''.
In 2012, he had a supporting role in the romantic comedy drama ''
A Gentleman's Dignity'', written by famed screenwriter
Kim Eun-sook
Kim Eun-sook (Korean: 김은숙, born 1973) is a South Korean screenwriter. She wrote the popular television dramas ''Lovers in Paris'' (2004), '' On Air'' (2008), '' Secret Garden'' (2010), ''A Gentleman's Dignity'' (2012), ''The Heirs'' (20 ...
.
Next came a two-episode
guest appearance
In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular band, cast, or other ...
in drama adaptation of the popular manga ''
To the Beautiful You
''To the Beautiful You'' () is a 2012 South Korean television drama series starring Sulli, Choi Min-ho, and Lee Hyun-woo. It aired on SBS from 15 August to 4 October 2012 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 ( KST) for 16 episodes.
It is base ...
''.
2013: Rising popularity
![Kim Woo-bin on Seoul Music Awards Red Carpet, 31 January 2013 02](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Kim_Woo-bin_on_Seoul_Music_Awards_Red_Carpet%2C_31_January_2013_02.jpg)
Kim's breakout year came in 2013 with two hit dramas and one film. From late December to early 2013, he starred in the teen drama ''
School 2013
''School 2013'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series starring Jang Nara, Choi Daniel, Lee Jong-suk, Park Se-young and Kim Woo-bin. The teen drama depicts the struggles and dilemmas that modern-day Korean youth face, such as bullying, stud ...
''.
He received his first acting award for the role at the 2nd
APAN Star Awards
The APAN Star Awards is an awards ceremony for excellence in television in South Korea and contribution to Hallyu (Korean wave), organized by the Korea Entertainment Management Association (CEMA). Nominees for the awards are selected from Kore ...
under the category Best New Actor.
The same year, he was cast in Kim Eun-sook's teen drama ''
The Heirs
''The Heirs'' (Korean: ), also known as ''The Inheritors'', is a South Korean television series starring Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, and Kim Woo-bin. Written by Kim Eun-sook, the drama is set in a high school populated by the privileged and ub ...
'', which became popular domestically and internationally with a peak audience rating of 28.6% and 1 million hits on the Chinese streaming website
iQiyi. Kim experienced a surge in popularity overseas. This led to increased advertising contracts and acting offers for the actor.
Kim then appeared in his first major film role in ''
Friend: The Great Legacy'', the blockbuster sequel to
Kwak Kyung-taek
Kwak Kyung-taek (; born 23 May 1966) is a South Korean film director best known for his 2001 record-breaking film ''Friend (2001 film), Friend''.
Career
''Friend'', a drama where conflicting criminal alliances turn old friends into enemies, ...
's
2001 box office hit. He received positive reviews for his portrayal as a young gang member. The same year he became the host of cable music program ''
M! Countdown
''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet. The show features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. It is broadcast from CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul.
B ...
'' from August 15, 2013, to February 13, 2014.
2014–2017: Success in film and hiatus
After his rise in popularity in 2013, Kim continued appearing in big screen projects. In January 2014, he was cast in the
heist movie
The heist film or caper film is a subgenre of crime film focused on the planning, execution, and aftermath of a significant robbery.
One of the early defining heist films was ''The Asphalt Jungle'' (1950), which ''Film Genre 2000'' wrote "alm ...
''
The Con Artists'', in which he played a top
safe-cracker alongside rising star
Lee Hyun-woo. He then took on a comedic character in
indie
Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Gaming
*Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies
*Indie game, any game (board ...
director Lee Byung-heon's sophomore effort ''
Twenty'' in 2015''.''
Kim then appeared in an ad campaign for
Calvin Klein Watches + Jewelry, making him the first East Asian model for the brand.
In 2015, Kim was cast in his first television leading role in the melodrama ''
Uncontrollably Fond
''Uncontrollably Fond'' () is a South Korean television series starring Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy. It aired from July 6 to September 8, 2016 on KBS2's Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 ( KST) time slot.
Synopsis
Shin Joon-young (Kim Woo-bin) and ...
,'' written by screenwriter
Lee Kyung-hee. The drama premiered on July 6, 2016.
He then starred in crime action film ''
Master
Master or masters may refer to:
Ranks or titles
* Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans
*Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...
'' alongside
Lee Byung-hun
Lee Byung-hun (; born July 12, 1970) is a South Korean actor. He has received critical acclaim for his work in a wide range of genres, most notably ''Joint Security Area'' (2000); ''A Bittersweet Life'' (2005); ''The Good, the Bad, the Weird'' ...
and
Kang Dong-won. The movie premiered in December 2016 and became the 11th bestselling film for 2016 in South Korea.
In 2017, Kim was cast in crime caper film ''Wiretap'' by
Choi Dong-hoon
Choi Dong-hoon (; born February 24, 1971) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He ranks as one of the most consistently successful directors working in contemporary Korean cinema, with all five of his films becoming commercial hits ...
. The project has since been suspended to allow Kim to seek treatment for cancer.
2020–present: Return to screen
On March 11, 2020, AM Entertainment announced that Kim would be returning to the big screen in
Choi Dong-hoon
Choi Dong-hoon (; born February 24, 1971) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He ranks as one of the most consistently successful directors working in contemporary Korean cinema, with all five of his films becoming commercial hits ...
's upcoming sci-fi film ''
Alienoid
''Alienoid'' () is a 2022 South Korean science fantasy action film directed by Choi Dong-hoon, starring Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Woo-bin, and Kim Tae-ri. The film depicts an extraordinary story that unfolds as the gates of time open between late Gory ...
'' alongside
Ryu Jun-yeol
Ryu Jun-yeol (; born September 25, 1986) is a South Korean actor, activist, and photographer. Ryu began his acting career in independent films, and then rose to prominence through his breakthrough role in the critically acclaimed television se ...
and
Kim Tae-ri
Kim Tae-ri (born April 24, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She is known for starring in the films '' The Handmaiden'' (2016), ''Little Forest'' (2018), ''Space Sweepers'' (2020) and in the historical drama '' Mr. Sunshine'' (2018).
Kim's lea ...
. The film premiered in July 2022 and Kim played the role of 'Guard', person in charge of managing alien prisoners.
Also in 2022, Kim co-starred in acclaimed screenwriter
Noh Hee-kyung
Noh Hee-kyung (born March 21, 1966) is a South Korean television screenwriter and essayist.
Career
Noh Hee-kyung has become renowned in South Korea for her realistic, cerebral and in-depth portrayals of the lives and relationships of ordinary ...
's television series ''
Our Blues'', and will star 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 fi ...
original series ''
Black Knight
The black knight is a literary stock character who masks his identity and that of his liege by not displaying heraldry. Black knights are usually portrayed as villainous figures who use this anonymity for misdeeds. They are often contrasted with t ...
''.
Personal life
Kim is best friends with fellow model-actor and ''School 2013'' co-star
Lee Jong-suk
Lee Jong-suk (, born 14 September 1989) is a South Korean actor and model. He debuted in 2005 as a runway model, becoming the youngest male model ever to participate in Seoul Fashion Week. Lee's breakthrough role was in '' School 2013'' (2012) ...
, whom he has known since their modeling days.
Relationship
Since May 2015, Kim has been in a relationship with model-actress
Shin Min-a
Shin Min-a (; born 5 April 1984) is a South Korean model and actress best known for starring in television dramas ''A Love to Kill'' (2005), ''My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox'' (2010), '' Arang and the Magistrate'' (2012), ''Oh My Venus'' ...
.
Health
On May 24, 2017, Kim was diagnosed with
nasopharyngeal cancer
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), or nasopharynx cancer, is the most common cancer originating in the nasopharynx, most commonly in the postero-lateral nasopharynx or pharyngeal recess ( fossa of Rosenmüller), accounting for 50% of cases. NPC occurs ...
. Kim's agency, Sidus HQ, said Kim had begun drug and radiation treatment and would halt all activities. On December 29, Kim announced, in a letter, that he had completed his treatment plan for the cancer. However, he was still exempted from military service.
Philanthropy
On March 8, 2022, Kim donated million to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help the victims of the massive wildfires that started in Uljin, Gyeongbuk. and also spread to Samcheok, Gangwon. On Christmas Day, Kim sent gifts and sent a handwritten letter for about 200 children who are hospitalized in the children's ward of Asan Hospital in Seoul.
In January 2023, Kim donated 100 million won to Asan Medical Center in Seoul, the donation will be used to support the treatment of poor patients.
Ambassador activities
In 2013, Kim was named honorary ambassador for his alma mater,
Jeonju University
Jeonju University (JJ) is a private Christian university in South Korea. The campus is located in 1200 Hyoja-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do.
History
Jeonju University was founded on January 9, 1964, as Jeonju Youngsaeng College (an eve ...
. The same year, he was appointed the public relations ambassador of the 2013 Suwon Information Science Festival; and ambassador of the "Good Downloader Campaign" organized by the Korean Film Council and Film Federation Against Piracy.
In 2015, Kim was chosen as the promotional ambassador of CJ CGV's arthouse exhibition chain CGV ARTHOUSE.
In April 2017, Kim was appointed as an honorary ambassador for the
2018 Winter Olympics
The 2018 Winter Olympics ( ko, 2018년 동계 올림픽, Icheon sip-pal nyeon Donggye Ollimpik), officially the XXIII Olympic Winter Games (french: Les XXIIIes Jeux olympiques d'hiver; ko, 제23회 동계 올림픽, Jeisipsamhoe Donggye Ollimpi ...
in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Kim is the second actor to take on this role and was set to take part in various activities to promote the event.
In October, however, he was pulled from the role due to his ongoing cancer treatments.
Filmography
Film
Television series
Web series
Hosting and documentary
Music video
Discography
Songs
Soundtrack appearances
Awards and nominations
Listicles
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kim, Woo-bin
South Korean male models
1989 births
Living people
People from Seoul
South Korean male television actors
South Korean male film actors
21st-century South Korean male actors