Kim So-hyun facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kim So-hyun
Kim in March 2024
Born	(1999-06-04) 4 June 1999 (age 26) Australia
Citizenship	South Korea
Education	Hanyang University
Occupation	Actress host model
Years active	2006–present
Agent	Ieum Hashtag
Works	Full list
Korean name
Hangul	김소현
Hanja	金所炫
RR	Gim Sohyeon
MR	Kim Sohyŏn
Signature

Kim So-hyun (Hangul: 김소현; born on June 4, 1999) is a talented South Korean actress. She is well-known for her main roles in popular TV shows. These include the youth series Who Are You: School 2015 (2015) and historical dramas like The Emperor: Owner of the Mask (2017). She also starred in The Tale of Nokdu (2019) and River Where the Moon Rises (2021). Her action-comedy series Good Boy (2025) is also very popular.

Kim started acting when she was a child in 2006. She became famous for important roles in Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) and Missing You (2013). Her first main role was in the teen drama Ma Boy (2012). Later, she began playing adult characters in many TV series. She also hosted the music show Music Core and the reality show Under Nineteen in 2019.

Korean media has given Kim many nicknames. She is called "Nation's Little Sister" and "Queen of Child Actresses." She is also known as "Goddess of Sageuk" because of her roles in historical dramas. After her performance in the movie Pure Love (2016), she was called the "Nation's First Love." She has become a big star in the hallyu movement. For her role in River Where the Moon Rises, she was nominated for a top acting award. This made her one of the youngest nominees ever.

Early Life and School

Kim So-hyun was born in Australia on June 4, 1999. She has a younger brother. When she was four years old, in 2003, her family moved to South Korea. Her father passed away when she was nine years old.

Kim went to Hoeryong Elementary School and then Towol Elementary School. She finished elementary school in February 2012. She then graduated from Yongin Munjung Middle School in 2015. For high school, she chose to be homeschooled. She passed her high school graduation exams by 2017. In the same year, she started studying Theatre at Hanyang University. Kim attended the university's entrance ceremony on February 28, 2018, in Seoul.

In 2016, Kim explained why she chose homeschooling. She told The Straits Times that it was hard to study and act at the same time in middle school. She often missed out on activities with her classmates. Homeschooling allowed her to focus on both her education and her acting career. This decision helped her balance filming and studying better.

Acting Career

Starting as a Child Actress (2006–2011)

Kim started her acting journey in 2006. Her first role was a small part in a TV special called "Ten Minute Minor." After that, she appeared in more shows. These included A Happy Woman (2007), Que Sera Sera (2007), and Hometown of Legends (2008). She also acted in My Name Is Pity (2008), Wife and Woman (2009), and Ja Myung Go (2009).

In 2010, she joined the agency SidusHQ. That year, she was cast in Becoming a Billionaire and Bread, Love and Dreams. Kim also made her first movie appearance in Man of Vendetta (2010). She played Joo Hye-rin, a pastor's daughter who gets kidnapped. Kim won this role after competing with 500 other actors. She continued to play younger versions of main characters in shows like The Thorn Birds (2011) and The Duo (2011). She also appeared in Sin of a Family (2011). Later, she starred in the family comedy film Spy Papa. This movie was about parents and children during a time of tension between North and South Korea.

Becoming Popular and Teen Roles (2012–2014)

In 2012, Kim appeared in six projects. These included the romantic fantasy series Padam Padam and the historical comedy film I Am the King. She gained a lot of attention for her role in the fantasy historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun. She played the younger version of the second female lead. Viewers and the director praised her for showing the character's desires very well. This drama became very popular, reaching over 42% viewership. Kim became known as "Korea's little sister." She also appeared in the fantasy-comedy Rooftop Prince as an evil sister. Other roles included Love Again and Ma Boy, where she played a high school student.

Kim in January 2014

Kim worked again with actors from Rooftop Prince and Moon Embracing the Sun in the drama Missing You. The Korean press called her the "Queen of Child Actors." She was one of the most praised child actors of her time. She played Lee Soo-yeon, a girl who was bullied and faced a terrible event while trying to save her friend. Kim received her first acting award as "Best Child Actress" at the 1st K-Drama Star Awards for her roles in Ma Boy and Missing You.

In 2013, Kim made a special appearance in Iris II: New Generation. She played the main character as a child. She also starred in The Secret of Birth as a very smart girl. Then, she played the younger version of Lee Bo-young's character in the popular drama I Can Hear Your Voice. On June 20, Kim started co-hosting MBC's music show Music Core. She hosted with Minho and Noh Hong-chul. Later, she was cast in The Suspicious Housekeeper, a Korean version of a Japanese drama.

In 2014, Kim acted alongside Oh Yeon-soo in the MBC drama Triangle. Kim took on her first dual role in the OCN drama Reset. She also appeared in the KBS2 special drama We All Cry Differently.

Main Roles and Hosting (2015–2016)

Kim in January 2015

In 2015, Kim made a special appearance in A Girl Who Sees Smells. She played the male lead's sister, reuniting with Park Yoo-chun for the third time. On April 18, Kim stopped hosting Music Core after two years. Kim then starred in KBS's school series Who Are You: School 2015. She played two roles: twin sisters Lee Eun-bi and Go Eun-byul. She won "Star of the Year" at the eighth Korea Drama Awards for her performance. At the end of the year, Kim hosted the 2015 KBS Drama Awards.

In 2016, she returned to movies in the romance film Pure Love with Do Kyung-soo. She played the main female character, who has a beautiful voice but a leg injury. Kim then starred in the web drama Nightmare Teacher. She played a class president who uncovers strange secrets at her school. The same year, Kim starred in the three-episode drama special Page Turner. She played a "piano genius" who lost her sight after an accident. She was called the "Korean Wave Fairy" by Taiwanese media. On June 4, Kim hosted the 2016 Dream Concert. She then acted in the horror-comedy Hey Ghost, Let's Fight. She also played the 13-year-old Princess Deokhye in the film The Last Princess. Critics praised her emotional acting in the movie. Kim also had a guest role in the fantasy drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.

Adult Roles and Changes (2017–2020)

In 2017, Kim lent her voice to the character Mitsuha Miyamizu in the anime film Your Name. She then starred in the historical drama The Emperor: Owner of the Mask with Yoo Seung-ho. This was her first adult historical drama. Despite high ratings, Kim felt unsure about her acting during this time. She worked hard to understand her character but felt she wasn't fully connecting with the role.

Kim went through a challenging time after filming The Emperor: Owner of the Mask. She felt empty when she wasn't working.

Kim in December 2017

She made a special appearance in the drama While You Were Sleeping. In August 2017, she left her agency SidusHQ after seven years. In December, Kim started her own agency, E&T Story Entertainment.

In 2018, Kim was cast in the romance drama Radio Romance. She played a radio scriptwriter who wasn't very good at writing. On January 24, a photo of Kim filming underwater in cold weather was shared online. The director later apologized for causing concern, explaining safety measures were taken.

On the same day, she co-hosted the 27th Seoul Music Awards. After 10 years of acting, Kim hosted her own travel reality show Because This Is My First Twenty - Kim So-hyun's YOLO Solo California. In October, she became one of the hosts for the reality show Under Nineteen. Viewers praised her hosting skills.

In early 2019, Kim hosted the Seoul Music Awards again. Kim played the main role in Netflix's Love Alarm, based on a popular webtoon. Kim said her character was experiencing love for the first time, which she could relate to. Critics said Kim fit the character well and showed strong acting. The Netflix series was very popular in South Korea.

Kim during The Tale of Nokdu press conference in 2019

The same year, she starred with Jang Dong-yoon in the romantic comedy The Tale of Nokdu. This drama was set in the Joseon period. She played a clumsy and fiery Kisaeng trainee. The webtoon authors chose Kim as their first choice for the role. Critics and her co-star praised her performance. Her role earned her an Excellence Award at the KBS Drama Awards.

In 2020, Kim's travel show Because This Is My First Twenty reached over 6 million views online. On January 15, 2021, E&T Story Entertainment announced that Kim was leaving the agency. On January 18, Kim signed a contract with Culture Depot.

Recent Roles (2021–Present)

In February 2021, Kim starred in the historical drama River Where the Moon Rises. She played a female general who was born a princess. She worked to restore her country, Goguryeo. She was praised for her strong performance and sword skills. She played three different characters: Assassin Yeom Ga-jin, Princess Pyeonggang, and Queen Yeon. For this, she was nominated for a Baeksang Arts Awards in Best Actress - Television. This made her one of the youngest nominees in that category. At the end of 2021, Kim hosted the 2021 KBS Drama Awards.

In 2022, Kim joined Ieum Hashtag agency. In July 2023, she returned to TV in the tvN romantic comedy series My Lovely Liar. Her acting and chemistry with Hwang Min-hyun were well-received. She also starred in the webtoon-based romantic comedy-drama Serendipity's Embrace. In this show, she played a woman who meets her first love again after ten years.

In 2025, she starred opposite Park Bo-gum in the JTBC action-comedy TV series Good Boy.

Other Activities

Helping Others

Kim has been involved in many charity activities. In 2014, she joined a campaign to donate coal briquettes to families in need for heating. In 2017, Kim and Ji Chang-wook donated their earnings from dubbing Your Name to a film commission. In 2018, Kim participated in a charity bazaar. The money raised went to help children and animal rights groups.

On April 5, 2019, Kim donated ₩10 million (about $7,000 USD) to help victims of the Sokcho Fire. Her fans also supported her by donating blood certificates and funds. In December, she donated 100 kg of rice to help children who don't have enough food.

On February 25, 2020, Kim donated ₩10 million to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. This money helped vulnerable people get health and hand sanitizers. On August 5, she donated ₩20 million (about $14,000 USD) to help flood victims. In October, Kim took part in a charity bazaar to support children with rare diseases.

Endorsements

Kim is a popular model for many brands. Her first endorsements were for Downy fabric softener and Apple Pink clothing. She became the face of Nintendo 3DS's Nintendogs + Cats game. She also modeled for Yuhan-Kimberly's "Teen's Nature" and Union Bay clothing. She appeared in Nongshim's Shin Ramyun ads.

In 2015, after her hit drama Who Are You: School 2015, Kim became even more in demand. She became the face of the women's clothing brand Soup. She was also chosen as the "Pocari Girl" for Pocari Sweat because of her "pure and cheerful image." A photo of a high school student recreating Kim's Pocari Sweat pose went viral. Kim also appeared in Domino's Pizza ads with Kim Woo-bin. Her costumes from these ads were even auctioned off for charity. She also appeared in commercials for Post cereal and Elite school uniforms. Kim was the longest-serving Elite uniform model from 2014 to 2016.

Kim at a Soup event on September 24, 2016

In 2016, Kim was chosen again as the Pocari Sweat model. This was the first time in 15 years that someone modeled for the brand for two years in a row. She also became a model for G-Market.

From 2015 to 2017, Kim was the face of the makeup brand Peripera. Her image helped sell many products. In August 2019, it was reported that Soup clothing brand reached ₩100 billion in sales after Kim became their model.

Kim has continued to endorse various products. These include Skono shoes, Pelicana Chicken, Samsung Securities, Hanyul cosmetics, and Bausch & Lomb contact lenses. In April 2020, Samsung Electronics launched Bixby Celebrity Voice, an AI voice assistant with Kim's voice. Her "Celeb Alarm" became very popular. In August 2022, she became a global ambassador for JM Solution skin care.

Ambassadorship

In January 2018, the Pyeongchang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games chose Kim and Yoo Seong-min as Honorary Smile Representatives. They represented Korea's friendly image.

Acting Style

Kim has mentioned Son Ye-jin and Rachel McAdams as actresses she admires. She also said Moon Geun-young inspired her to try different roles. In 2019, Kim said she didn't have a specific role model. She felt it was more important to understand herself first. Kim's acting has inspired many younger child actresses.

In 2013, she shared that she never had formal acting training. To prepare for her role in Pure Love, she lived in the town of Goheung. She walked around the city and listened to local stories. This helped her feel more connected to the setting. Before filming a scene, Kim often listens to music that matches her character's feelings. For her role as a blind person in Page Turner, she changed her voice, way of speaking, and even how she made eye contact.

Kim likes to work on many projects. She feels happier when she is acting rather than resting. People in the industry praise her ability to show deep emotions. One broadcast official said, "The deeper the emotions in the play, the more shining of Kim's inner space will be."

In the Media

Kim at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards

Kim has received many nicknames throughout her career. These include "Nation's Little Sister" and "Queen of Child Actresses." She is also known as the "Korean Wave Fairy." People sometimes call her "Little Son Ye-jin" because she looks like Son Ye-jin's younger self. Both actresses have a pure and mature image. She was also part of the "3 Kim Troika" with Kim Yoo-jung and Kim Sae-ron. This nickname is given to impressive child actors with long careers. After starring in historical dramas, she earned the title "Goddess of Historical Drama." In 2016, she was recognized as the next "Nation's First Love" after her role in Pure Love.

Her co-star from Who Are You: School 2015, Yook Sung-jae, said Kim leads the drama well despite her young age. Actor Chun Jung-myung praised her politeness and strength. Nam Joo-hyuk called her "like an adult and trustworthy." Many older co-stars have said Kim feels like an "older sister" to them because of her maturity.

Actress Jo Soo-hyang said Kim was amazing. Even when tired, Kim would smile and act well as soon as the camera rolled. A staff member from The Emperor: Owner of the Mask said Kim was cheerful and kind. She made everyone on set happy. Jung Ga-ram described her as "very serious and a really great actress." Song Kang said Kim gave him a lot of advice while working together.

Lee Na-jung, the director of Love Alarm, said Kim's acting skills were very important for the role. Director Kim Dong-hwi of The Tale of Nokdu called Kim a "rainbow-like actress." He said she has many charms, from laughter to tears.

Kim often promotes her work on Instagram. In 2018, her Instagram account was recognized for its growth. At 21, Kim became one of the youngest South Korean actresses to have over 10 million followers on social media.

Filmography

Discography

Soundtrack Appearances

Awards and Nominations

Listicles

See also

In Spanish: Kim So-hyun para niños