| NAME | Kim Soo Hyun |
|---|---|
| KOREAN | 김수현 |
| BIRTHDAY | 16 February 1988 |
| HEIGHT | 180 cm (5’11”) |
| BLOOD TYPE | AB |
| MBTI TYPE | ISFJ |
| ZODIAC SIGN | ♒ Aquarius |
| CHINESE ZODIAC SIGN | Dragon |
| DEBUT | 2007 |
|---|---|
| AGENCY | Gold Medalist |
| POSITION | Actor |
| NATIONALITY | 🇰🇷 Korean |
|---|---|
| BIRTHPLACE | 🇰🇷 Seoul, South Korea |
| HOMETOWN | 🇰🇷 Seoul, South Korea |
| SIBLINGS | A half-sister |
| LANGUAGES | Korean |
| MILITARY SERVICE | October 2017- July 2019 |
Kim Soo Hyun – a name that is indispensable in the world of K-drama. Since his debut in 2007, the South Korean actor has rapidly catapulted to the top of the entertainment industry and become Korea's highest-earning actor. His net worth is currently $117 million.
Join us on his journey from shy student to Korea's highest-earning actor.
- BIOGRAPHY
- CAREER
- FILMOGRAPHY/ VIDEOGRAPHY
- ILLUSTRATION
- AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
- FUN FACTS
- OUR FAVOURITE INTERVIEW
BIOGRAPHY
Kim Soo-hyun was born on February 16, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea and grew up there with his family. His father, Kim Chung Hoon, was a former member of the band "Seven Dolphins", a 1980s rock band. Despite these musical roots, it wasn't initially clear that Kim Soo Hyun would pursue a career in the entertainment industry. In fact, he was a reserved and introverted boy in his youth. During his school days, he developed an interest in acting, which led him to take part in school plays. These experiences helped him increase his confidence and develop his acting skills.
After high school, Kim Soo Hyun enrolled at Chung-Ang University, where he studied theater and film. This training laid the foundation for his later career by giving him a deep understanding of the art of acting and giving him the opportunity to hone his skills.
CAREER
Kim Soo Hyun made his debut in 2007 with a small role in the TV series "Kimchi Cheese Smile". However, it was the role in the teen drama series "Jungle Fish" in 2008 that he first received recognition. The drama, based on real events, highlights the problems of South Korea's education system and won several awards, putting Kim Soo Hyun in the spotlight as an up-and-coming talent.
However, his real breakthrough came in 2011 with the leading role in the TV series “Dream High”. In this musical drama, he played the role of Song Sam Dong, a country boy with exceptional musical talent. For this role, Kim Soo Hyun not only learned to sing but also dance. The series was a huge success and also became known internationally, which increased its popularity significantly.
In 2012, he starred in the historical drama "Moon Embracing the Sun." He played the young king Lee Hwon, who falls in love with a shaman. The series was an overwhelming success, topping the ratings with an average market share of over 40%. It finally established Kim Soo Hyun as one of the leading actors of his generation.
In 2013, Kim Soo Hyun starred in another iconic series, "My Love from the Star". He played the alien Do Min-joon, who has lived on Earth for 400 years and falls in love with an actress. The series became an international phenomenon, particularly in China, and made Kim Soo Hyun a global star. His performance earned him numerous awards, including the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actor.
In addition to his TV career, Kim Soo Hyun has also appeared in several successful films. He made his film debut in 2012 in "The Thieves", a blockbuster about a group of criminals planning a robbery. The film became the second best Korean film of the year and showed a different facet of Kim Soo Hyun's acting skills. This was followed in 2013 by the spy thriller Secretly, Greatly, in which he played the role of a North Korean spy disguised as a simple-minded villager. The film was a box office hit and cemented his reputation as a versatile actor.
Like all South Korean men, Kim Soo Hyun had to do his mandatory military service. He joined the army in October 2017 and served in a frontline unit, a choice seen by many as a sign of his patriotism and humility. He was released in July 2019.
After his return, Kim Soo Hyun took on the lead role in the series "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" in 2020, a romantic drama that covers topics such as mental health and emotional healing. The series was praised by critics and once again confirmed his ability to portray complex and deep characters
FILMOGRAPHY/ VIDEOGRAPHY
| YEAR | TITLE |
|---|---|
| 2007 | “Kimchi Cheese Smile ” (TV-Show, MBC) |
| 2008 | ”Cherry Blossom" (Short Film) |
| 2008 | “Jungle Fish" (TV-Show, KBS) |
| 2009 | “Seven Years of Love" (TV-Show, OBS) |
| 2009 | “Worst Friends" (Short Film) |
| 2009 | "Will It Snow For Christmas?" (TV-Show, SBS) |
| 2009 | " Father’s House" (TV-Show, SBS) |
| 2010 | "Giant " (TV-Show, SBS) |
| 2011 | " Dream High " (TV-Show, KBS) |
| 2012 | "The Thieves" (Movie) |
| 2012 | "Moon Embracing the Sun" (TV-Show, MBC) |
| 2013 | "Secretly, Greatly " (Movie) |
| 2013-2014 | "My Love from the Star" (TV-Show,SBS) |
| 2014 | "Miss Granny" (Movie) |
| 2015 | " Producer" (TV-Show, KBS) |
| 2017 | "Real " (Movie) |
| 2019 | "Hotel del Luna " (TV-Show) |
| 2020 | " Crash Landing on You" (TV-Show) |
| 2020 | "Okay to Not Be Okay" (TV-Show) |
| 2021 | " One Ordinary Day " (TV-Show) |
| 2024 | "Queen of Tears " (TV-Show) |
ILLUSTRATION
Kim Soo Hyun has taken on an impressive number of modeling and ambassador jobs throughout his career. He has been the face of numerous well-known brands including “Samsung” for which he represented various products such as smartphones and home appliances. As a global ambassador for the Korean cosmetics brand "The Face Shop" and as a model for "Calvin Klein Underwear", he underlined his status as an international style icon. He was also named global ambassador for the luxury brand “Louis Vuitton” in 2021.
In addition, Kim Soo Hyun was the advertising face for the outdoor clothing brand "Beanpole", the Korean men's fashion brand "ZIZIA" and the luxury car brand "Genesis" from "Hyundai". He also appeared in commercials for “Lotte Duty Free” and “Coca-Cola” Korea.
Kim Soo Hyun has also graced the covers of prestigious magazines such as “Vogue Korea”, “Harper’s Bazaar Korea”, “Esquire Korea”, “GQ Korea”, “Elle Korea”, “Marie Claire Korea” and “Cosmopolitan Korea”.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
The list of Kim Soo Hyun's achievements is long, so we have summarized the most important achievements of his career so far:
| AWARD | YEAR | CATEGORY | NOMINEE/WORK | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baek Sang Art Awards | 2012 | Best Actor | Dream High | Nominated |
| Baek Sang Art Awards | 2012 | Most Popular Actor | Dream High | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2012 | Best Actor | Moon Embracing the Sun | Won |
| Grand Bell Awards | 2013 | Best New Actor | Secretly, Greatly | Won |
| APAN Star Awards | 2014 | Grand Prize (Daesang) | My Love from the Star | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2015 | Best Actor | Producer | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2021 | Best Actor | It’s Okay to Not Be Okay | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2022 | Best Actor | One Ordinary Day | Nominated |
| Asia Artist Awards | 2022 | Best Actor | One Ordinary Day | Won |
| Buil Film Awards | 2023 | Best New Actor | 20th Century Girl | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2024 | Best Actor | Queen of Tears | Nominated |
FUN FACTS
- Before his acting debut, he modeled for his friend's clothing brand.
- He was originally supposed to star in the successful series “Boys over Flowers”.
- If he had superpowers, he would like to be able to teleport.
- Soo Hyun always covers his mouth when he laughs.
- He enjoys cycling and playing golf with Jung Hae In.
- In 2015, he was named an honorary ambassador of Incheon International Airport.
- In 2016 he took part in the “Professional Bowling Trials” together with Lee Hong Ki.
OUR FAVOURITE INTERVIEW
Kim Soo Hyun's rise to fame is the result of hard work, talent and careful selection of roles that allowed him to show his versatility as an actor. His influence extends far beyond South Korea's borders and he remains one of the most important figures in the Korean entertainment industry.
