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
Korean name
Hangul	김소현
Hanja	金所炫
Revised Romanization	Gim Sohyeon
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Sohyŏn
Signature

Kim So-hyun (Hangul: 김소현; born 4 June 1999) is an actress from South Korea. She was born in Australia. Kim started acting when she was a child in 2006. She became well-known for her important roles in TV shows like Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) and Missing You (2013).

Her first main role was in the teen drama Ma Boy (2012). Since then, she has starred in many popular TV series. These include the high school drama Who Are You: School 2015 (2015) and the fun horror show Hey Ghost, Let's Fight (2016). She also acted in historical dramas like The Emperor: Owner of the Mask (2017) and romantic comedies such as Radio Romance (2018).

Kim So-hyun also starred in The Tale of Nokdu (2019) and the teen romance Love Alarm (2019–2021). She played an assassin in the Korean folklore drama River Where the Moon Rises. Her first main movie role was in Pure Love (2016). She has also hosted music shows like Music Core and the reality show Under Nineteen.

People in Korea have given Kim many nicknames. Some of these are "Nation's Little Sister" and "Queen of Child Actresses." She is also called "Goddess of Historical Drama" because she has been in many famous historical shows. Kim is seen as a big star in the "Hallyu" (Korean culture spreading worldwide). She was even nominated for a top acting award, the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress – Television, at a very young age for her role in River Where the Moon Rises.

Kim often shares updates about her work on Instagram. In 2018, her Instagram account grew the most. By age 21, she was one of the youngest South Korean actresses to have over 10 million followers on social media.

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.

Kim went to Hoe-ryong Elementary School and then Towol Elementary School, where she finished in 2012. She graduated from Yongin Munjung Middle School in 2015. After that, she chose to be homeschooled for high school. She passed her high school exams by 2017. Later that year, she started studying Theater at Hanyang University.

In 2016, Kim explained why she chose homeschooling. She said that when she was in middle school, it was hard to balance acting and studying. She often missed out on school activities and felt unprepared for exams. Homeschooling allowed her to focus on both her education and her acting career. This way, she could spend enough time on filming and studying.

Kim So-hyun's Acting Journey

Starting as a Young Actress (2006–2011)

Kim began her acting career in 2006. Her first role was a small part in a TV special called "Ten Minute Minor." She then appeared in more and more shows. These included A Happy Woman (2007), Que Sera Sera (2007), and Ja Myung Go (2009).

In 2010, she joined the agency SidusHQ. That year, she was cast in Becoming a Billionaire and King of Baking, Kim Takgu. Kim also made her first movie appearance in Man of Vendetta (2010). She played Joo Hye-rin, a kidnapped girl. She got this role after beating 500 other hopeful actors. Kim continued to play the younger versions of main characters in TV series like The Thorn Birds (2011) and The Duo (2011). She also starred in the family movie Spy Papa.

Becoming Popular in Her Teens (2012–2014)

Kim So-hyun in December 2013

In 2012, Kim appeared in many projects. She was in a romantic fantasy TV show called Padam Padam. She also acted in the historical comedy movie I Am the King. Kim became very famous for her role in the historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun. She played the younger version of the second female lead. People praised her for how well she showed the character's feelings. This drama was very popular and became a "national drama." Kim was then called "Korea's little sister."

She also appeared in the fantasy-comedy Rooftop Prince and the drama Love Again. Her first main role was in Ma Boy, where she played a high school student.

Kim So-hyun in March 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 young actors of her time. Kim won her first acting award as "Best Child Actress" for her roles in Ma Boy and Missing You.

In 2013, Kim made a special appearance in Iris II: New Generation. She also starred in The Secret of Birth as a very smart girl. Then, she played the younger version of a character in the popular drama I Can Hear Your Voice. On June 20, Kim started hosting the music show Music Core with Minho and Noh Hong-chul. They got a lot of attention for being a mix of singers, actors, and TV hosts. Later, she was cast in The Suspicious Housekeeper, a Korean version of a Japanese drama.

In 2014, Kim played a child role in the MBC drama Triangle. She also took on her first double role in the OCN drama Reset. This was her first time acting in a thriller. She then appeared in the KBS2 special drama We All Cry Differently.

Leading Roles and Hosting (2015–2016)

Kim on October 15, 2016

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

In 2016, she returned to movies in the romance film Pure Love. She played the main female character, who has a beautiful voice but a leg injury. Kim also starred in the web drama Nightmare Teacher. She played a class president who finds strange secrets at her school. The same year, Kim starred in the three-episode drama special Page Turner. She played a "piano genius" who loses her sight after an accident.

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 movie The Last Princess. Critics praised her for showing deep emotions in this role. Kim also had a guest role in the popular fantasy drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. Her short appearance made a big impact on the show.

Adult Roles and New Challenges (2017–2018)

Kim So-hyun in 2018

In 2017, Kim lent her voice to the character Mitsuha Miyamizu in the anime movie Your Name. She then starred in the historical drama The Emperor: Owner of the Mask. This was her first historical drama as an adult. Even though the show had high ratings, Kim felt a bit lost during this time. She said she struggled to fully understand her character.

Kim held her first fan meeting in Korea on June 3. She also made a special appearance in the drama While You Were Sleeping. In August 2017, she left her agency, SidusHQ. In December, Kim started her own agency called E&T Story Entertainment.

In 2018, Kim was cast in the romance drama Radio Romance. She played a radio scriptwriter who was not very good at writing. During filming, there was a scene where she had to be in water outdoors. This caused some concern because it was very cold. The director apologized and said they made sure she was safe.

On the same day, she co-hosted the 27th Seoul Music Awards. She also held her first fan meeting in Japan. After 10 years of acting, Kim hosted her own travel reality show called Because This Is My First Twenty - Kim So-hyun's YOLO Solo California. In this show, she explored a new country and learned more about herself. In October, she became one of the main hosts for the survival reality show Under Nineteen. Viewers praised her hosting skills and steady voice.

Gaining More Acclaim (2019–Present)

In early 2019, Kim So-hyun hosted the Seoul Music Awards for the second year in a row. She also held her second fan meeting in Korea. In June, she had her first anniversary fan meeting in Tokyo, Japan. Kim played the main role in Netflix's Love Alarm. This show was based on a popular webtoon. Kim said she wanted to show her character experiencing love for the first time. Critics praised her acting and how well she matched the character. Love Alarm was one of Netflix's most popular shows in South Korea in 2019.

Kim during The Tale of Nokdu press conference in 2019

The same year, she starred in the romantic comedy drama The Tale of Nokdu. This show was set in the Joseon period. She played a clumsy and fiery Kisaeng trainee. The original webtoon authors chose Kim as their first choice for the role. Critics said Kim blended perfectly with her character. Her co-star, Jang Dong-yoon, said she was the best partner he could have asked for. Fans loved their chemistry. Kim won an Excellence Award at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards for her role in The Tale of Nokdu.

In October 2019, Netflix confirmed that Kim would return for the second season of Love Alarm.

In 2020, Kim's travel reality show Because This Is My First Twenty reached over 6 million views online.

On January 15, 2021, Kim left her agency, E&T Story Entertainment. On January 18, she signed a new contract with Culture Depot.

In February 2021, Kim starred in the historical drama River Where the Moon Rises. She played a female general who was born a princess. Her goal was to fix her country, Goguryeo. The show faced a challenge when the original male lead actor was replaced. The director praised Kim for her strength and willingness to re-film scenes without pay. Her co-actors also thanked her for her dedication. Kim was praised for her strong acting and sword skills. She played three different characters: an assassin, a princess, and a queen. For this, she was nominated for a Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Actress. At the end of 2021, Kim hosted the 2021 KBS Drama Awards.

In 2022, Kim signed with Ieum Hashtag. In July 2023, she returned to TV in the romantic comedy My Lovely Liar. Critics praised her acting and her chemistry with co-star Hwang Min-hyun. She is also set to star in another romantic comedy-drama called Is It Fate?.

Other Activities

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Kim So-hyun cares about helping people.

• In 2014, she joined a campaign to donate 1 million briquettes (fuel blocks) to help elderly, disabled, and low-income families stay warm.
• In 2017, Kim and actor Ji Chang-wook donated the money they earned from dubbing the movie Your Name. They gave it to the Korea Barrier-Free Film Commission, which helps make movies more accessible.
• 

  Kim at S.E.S 10th Green Heart Bazaar 2018
• On April 21, 2018, Kim took part in the S.E.S 10th Green Heart Bazaar. She and other celebrities sold items to raise money. The money went to the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation and KARA (an animal rights group).
• On April 5, 2019, Kim donated ₩10 million (about $7,500 USD) to help people affected by the Sokcho Fire. Her fans also donated blood certificates and money to help patients.
• On February 25, 2020, Kim donated ₩10 million to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea. This money helped buy health and hand sanitizers for vulnerable people.
• On August 5, 2020, Kim donated ₩20 million to help flood victims. In October, she joined the "MANNA Charity Bazaar" to help children with rare diseases.

Endorsements and Advertisements

Kim is a popular choice for many brands. She has advertised various products, from clothes to food and cosmetics.

• Her first ads were for Downy fabric softener and Apple Pink clothing.
• She was the face of Nintendo 3DS's Nintendogs + Cats game.
• She also promoted Yuhan-Kimberly's "Teen's Nature" brand, Union Bay clothing, and Nongshim's Shin Ramyun noodles.
• In 2015, after her hit drama Who Are You: School 2015, Kim became even more popular for endorsements. She became the face of the women's clothing brand Soup.
• She was chosen as the "Pocari Girl" for Pocari Sweat drinks because of her "pure and cheerful image." A funny photo of a student recreating her Pocari Sweat pose went viral!
• From 2015–2016, she appeared in Domino's Pizza ads. Her costumes from these ads were even auctioned off to raise money for charity.
• She also appeared in commercials for Post Honey Oh's cereal and Elite school uniforms. She was the longest-running model for Elite uniforms from 2014 to 2016.
• In 2016, she was chosen again as the Pocari Sweat model for the second year.
• From 2015–2017, Kim was the face of the makeup brand Peripera. Her image helped sell many products.
• In 2019, the clothing brand Soup reached ₩100 billion in sales after Kim became their model.
• Kim has also endorsed Skono shoes, Pelicana Chicken, Samsung Securities, Hanyul cosmetics, and Bausch & Lomb contact lenses.
• In April 2020, Samsung Electronics added Kim's voice to their Bixby Celebrity Voice AI assistant. Her "Celeb Alarm" became very popular.
• In August 2022, she became a global ambassador for the skincare brand JM Solution.

Ambassador Roles

Kim So-hyun has also served as an ambassador for important causes:

Kim So-hyun's Acting Style

Inspirations

Kim has said that actresses Son Ye-jin and Rachel McAdams have inspired her. She admires their elegant and graceful looks. She also mentioned Moon Geun-young as someone who encouraged her to try different types of roles.

In 2019, Kim said she doesn't have one specific role model. She believes it's important to understand herself first.

Kim's acting has inspired many younger child actresses, including Kim Ji-young and Park Da-yeon.

How She Acts

Kim has shared that she has never had formal acting lessons. When preparing for her role in Pure Love, she lived in the town of Goheung. She walked around the town and listened to people's stories to understand the setting better.

To get ready for a role, Kim listens to music that matches the feelings of her character. For example, to play a blind person in Page Turner, she changed her voice, how she spoke, and how she used her eyes.

She likes to work on many projects because she feels happier acting than resting. People in the industry say that Kim's voice is special. It can show many different feelings, from funny romance to deep sadness. One broadcast official said, "The deeper the emotions in the play, the more shining of Kim's inner space will be."

Her Image

Kim's image has often been regarded as innocent and sweet.

Kim So-hyun inspires her fellow actors. Her co-star from Who Are You: School 2015, Yook Sung-jae, said that even though she is young, she leads the whole drama. He learned a lot from seeing her smile and work hard even when she was tired. Actor Chun Jung-myung praised her, saying she is polite and strong. He believes she could become one of the greatest actors. Nam Joo-hyuk also said she is like an adult and very positive.

Many of her co-stars, even those older than her, have said she feels like an "older sister" to them because she is so mature.

Actors and film crew members often praise Kim for her acting skills, strong mind, hard work, and kindness. Actress Jo Soo-hyang said Kim is amazing because she always acts well when the camera is rolling, even when she is exhausted. During the filming of The Emperor: Owner of the Mask, Kim was kind to the child actors and always cheerful on set, even in freezing weather. A staff member said, "Kim So-hyun is cheerful and kind both on and off-camera, making her the best energizer."

Lee Na-jung, the director of Love Alarm, said that Kim's acting skills were very important for the role of Jo-jo. She felt that Kim So-hyun's eyes showed the character's true feelings. Kim Dong-hwi, the director of The Tale of Nokdu, called Kim a "rainbow-like actress." He said she is pretty, cute, and cool, with many different charms, from laughter to tears. He admires her detailed and honest acting.

In the Media

Kim at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards

Kim has received many nicknames during her career. These include "Nation's Little Sister" and "Queen of Child Actresses." She is also called "Korean Wave Fairy." People sometimes call her "Little Son Ye-jin" because she looks like Son Ye-jin's younger self and has a similar pure and mature image. She is also part of the "3 Kim Troika" with Kim Yoo-jung and Kim Sae-ron. This nickname is given to impressive child actors who have acted for over 10 years.

She was named "Teardrop Goddess" for her emotional acting in The Emperor: Owner of the Mask. After her hit dramas Love Alarm and The Tale of Nokdu, the press called her "Come-out-of-manhwa girl." This means she looks exactly like a character from a comic book. Because she has starred in many historical dramas, she is also known as "Goddess of Historical Drama" and "Sageuk Goddess." In 2016, she was recognized as the next "Nation's First Love" for her role in the movie Pure Love.

Personal Life

After filming The Emperor: Owner of the Mask for seven months, Kim felt a period of "growing pains." She felt empty even when she was resting.

In January 2018, Kim and Yoo Seong-min were chosen as the National Representatives of Honorary Smile for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. They represented Korea's friendly spirit.

Filmography

Discography

Soundtrack Appearances

Awards and Nominations

Listicles

See also

In Spanish: Kim So-hyun para niños