Kim Seon-ho

Kim Seon-ho (; born May 8, 1986) is a South Korean actor. He began his career on stage and appeared in numerous plays before making his screen debut in 2017 with ''Good Manager''. He rose to prominence with the television series '' Start-Up'' (2020) and gained more recognition for his main role in ''Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha'' (2021)'','' which aired on tvN and Netflix. In 2021, he was selected as Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year.

Career

2009–2016: Theatrical work

After graduating from high school, Kim studied at the Seoul Institute of the Arts where he received a degree from the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment. While in college, he joined a theatre group and began acting in plays. His first stage role was in open-run ''New Boeing Boeing'' (an adaptation of the French play of the same name) in 2009, which he reprised in 2013. He found minor success appearing in the popular Daehakro (comparable to Off-Broadway) open run plays '' Rooftop House Cat'' and ''Purpose of Love'', which were both romantic comedies. Later, he expanded his repertoire with darker roles, and gained critical recognition in works such as '' True West'' and '' Kiss of the Spider Woman'' in 2015, and '' Closer'' in 2016.

Kim already done his mandatory military enlistment before his debut as actor as assistant at Nonsan Army Training Center, later changed station to a public service worker. His military life has broaden his view of the world.

2017–2019: Television debut

Kim made his screen debut at the beginning of 2017 in the KBS2 office drama ''Good Manager'', after auditioning at the suggestion of producer who watched his performance in the play '' Closer''. Kim's next project ''Strongest Deliveryman'', for which he initially auditioned for a supporting role, marked his first appearance in a main role onscreen.

Later in 2017, he starred in the action comedy ''Two Cops'' as a sly conman, which earned him two awards at the 2017 MBC Drama Awards. While the drama was still airing, he reprised his role onstage as Valentin in ''Kiss of the Spider Woman''.

In 2018, Kim portrayed the lead role of an painter in the drama special '' You Drive Me Crazy'', which had a four-episode broadcast in May. He also starred in the historical drama ''100 Days My Prince'', which became one of the highest-rated series in Korean cable television history. In September that year, Kim joined Salt Entertainment after the expiration of his contract with his former theatre company.

In March 2019, Kim played an aspiring singer in the JTBC comedy ''Welcome to Waikiki 2''. In October the same year, he starred in the tvN investigative crime drama ''Catch the Ghost'' opposite veteran actress Moon Geun-young, in his first leading role in a full-length series. On November 5, Kim joined the cast in fourth season of the KBS2 reality show ''2 Days & 1 Night''; he received the Rookie Award at the 2020 KBS Entertainment Awards for his work on the show. In his final project of 2019, he appeared in the play ''Memory in dream'' .

2020–present: Breakthrough, mainstream success, back to the theater, and first solo fan meeting

Kim returned to the small screen in October 2020 through the tvN drama '' Start-Up''. His portrayal of a start-up investor with a tragic past was well-received by viewers and garnered him a nomination for the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Supporting Actor – Television. During the airing of ''Start-Up'', Kim topped the monthly brand reputation ranking index by the Korean Business Research Institute and experienced a surge in popularity domestically and internationally.

He made his comeback to theatre in January 2021 through the play ''Ice'' by Jang Jin, in which he played a detective trying to inculpate a young man in a murder case.

On the April 4, 2021, the agency Salt Entertainment announced that actor Kim Seon-ho will hold his first global online fan meeting through TikTok Stage Connect 'Seonho's preference' on January 17. Kim collaborated with Epitone Project to release the single "Reason" in May, which he sang and co-wrote, having previously appeared in the latter's music video.

In August 2021, he starred in the tvN drama ''Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha'' alongside Shin Min-a where he played an officially unemployed but all-around handyman in a seaside village of Gongjin. It was aired on tvN and Netflix. In September 2021, during ''Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha'''s airing, Kim once again topped Korean Business Research Institute's brand reputation ranking index. The series was both a domestic and international hit with audience ratings peaking at 13.322% and went on to become one of the highest-rated television series in Korean cable television history.

In December 2021, he was selected as first place in Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year.

In May 2022, it was announced that Kim will return to the theater with the third work of ''The 9th Best Plays Festival'', play '' Touching the Void'' by David Greig. It is based on the true story of the survival of two British mountain climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates. Kim is triple casts with actor Shin Sung-min and Lee Hwi-jong for the role of Joe. Korean premiere, directed by Kim Dong-yeon, was performed at Art One Theater 2 in Daehangno from July 8 to September 18, 2022.

In September 2022, Kim's agency announced his first fan meeting scheduled to be held on December 10. On October 31, the agency announced that the fan meeting ticket booking schedule has been postponed. It was originally scheduled for October 31, with a new date to be announced at a later date due to the Seoul Halloween crowd crush. On November 7, the agency announced November 11, 2022, as new ticket booking schedule. The fan meeting eventually were held two days in a row on December 10 and 11, 2022. In 2023, Kim Seon-ho will do his first offline Asia Tour, ''2023 Kim Seon-ho Asia Tour: One, Two, Three, Smile.'' In the Philippines, fanmeeting scheduled to be held on January 22, 2023, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. In Bangkok, fanmeeting scheduled to be held on February 11 and 12, 2023 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.

Public image

On October 17, 2021, a user who said she was the ex-girlfriend of "Actor K" (later revealed to be Kim) made allegations on a Korean internet forum that the actor had coerced her into getting an abortion while the two were dating. On October 20, 2021, in light of his ex-girlfriend's claims, he issued a public apology through his agency. As the ex-girlfriend's claims gathered public attention, advertisers quickly pulled their advertisements featuring Kim, which according to Korea's Daily, included popular international brands such as an American pizza restaurant chain and a Japanese camera brand. Kim stepped down from the permanent cast of the KBS variety show ''2 Days & 1 Night'', and subsequently withdrew from film projects ''Dog Days'' and Lee Sang-geun's romantic comedy '' 2 O'Clock Date''.

On October 20, 2021, Kim's ex-girlfriend issued a new statement, stating that there were some misunderstandings between them and that she had received an apology from him. She also apologised for causing unintentional damage. On October 26, 2021, a Korean media outlet published new evidence challenging the accusations of Kim's ex-girlfriend, citing sources from close acquaintances of both Kim and his ex-girlfriend, with reports stating that the abortion decision was mutual, and that the pair broke up after questionable circumstances surrounding the ex-girlfriend. Following the new reports, seven companies resumed advertisements featuring Kim. The production team of the film '' Sad Tropics'' also announced their decision to proceed with their project and list Kim as the lead actor.

Philanthropy

On January 27, 2021, his agency SALT Entertainment confirmed that he donated 100 million won (approximately $90,300) to the Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation. His agency stated, "In return for the support and love he's received from many people, he donated with the hope that it might be even a bit of help for children and their families who are going through a hard time." In September 2021, he partnered with Marco Rojo for the 'Happy Bean Special Funding' project raising money for better residential conditions for the elderly. Three days after the opening of the fund on September 3, the fundraising surpassed 100 million won, exceeding the target amount by 3600%. In December 2021, he quietly donated 50 million won to the Korea Leukemia Children's Foundation. The donation was not disclosed, because of Kim Seon-ho's request. His agency also declined to comment and stated, "I know it was done personally because he wanted to be of some help."

In September 2022, Kim donated the full amount of his theater fee to help the victims of Typhoon Hin Thorn Noh By donating through The Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.

Endorsements

Following his rise in popularity in 2020, Kim has been chosen as the face of various brands in South Korea and Southeast Asia. His endorsements have included clothing, electronics, cosmetics, food, e-commerce and more. Some of the brands endorsed by Kim achieved record sales in 2021; this has been labelled "The Kim Seon-Ho Effect", attributed to his rapid rise in popularity both in Korea and internationally.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Variety show

Music video

Stage

Theater

Talk Show

Discography

Singles

Awards and nominations

Listicles

Notes

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kim, Seon-ho
1986 births
Living people
21st-century South Korean male actors
Male actors from Seoul
Seoul Institute of the Arts alumni
South Korean male stage actors
South Korean male television actors
South Korean television personalities