Kim Soo-hyun
(Hangul: 김수현;
hanja: 金秀賢; born February 16, 1988) is a South Korean actor, model and singer
best known for his roles in the television dramas Dream High, Moon Embracing
the Sun, and My Love from the Star, as well as the movies The Thieves and
Secretly, Greatly.
I’ve liked
Kim Soo-hyun since his Dream High days in 2011, and have had my eye on him and
his work ever since. Every time he’s got a new drama or movie out, I perk up
and take notice. And now that I’m watching You From Another Star, my Kim Soo
Hyun addiction was switched on again.
* More info and photos after break...
Early life
Kim Soo-hyun
was very quiet in middle school and no one expected him to enter the
entertainment field. He first started acting in high school to change his
reserved personality, but as he diligently memorized scripts and practiced for
school plays, Kim's aspiration to truly become an actor grew. He enrolled in
Chung-Ang University, majoring in Theater and Film Studies. He appeared in the
musicals Grease and A Midsummer Night's Dream in 2003.
Career
2007-2008:
Television Career Beginnings
Kim made his
television debut with a supporting role in the 2007 sitcom Kimchi Cheese Smile.
He followed that with Peabody Awardee Jungle Fish, and Father's House, the
latter a well-received 2-episode SBS special drama where he acted alongside
veteran actor Choi Min-soo.
2009-2010:
Rising popularity
He further
raised his profile through his memorable turns as the younger version of the
male lead characters in Will It Snow For Christmas? and Giant. He was in the
2009 short film Worst Friends by Namkoong Sun, which won the Best Film in
Social Drama award at the Mise en Scène Short Film Festival. He also MC-ed the
KM variety show 소년소녀가요백서 ("Sonyeon Sonyeo Gayo Baekseo") that same
year.
2011: Dream
High and singing career debut
He became a
household name in 2011, playing a country bumpkin who turns out to be a musical
genius in the teen drama Dream High. The only young actor in the main cast with
no K-pop experience, Kim "studied song and dance for three months at JYP
Entertainment so he could pull off the required scenes in the drama. He lived
no differently from other trainees at JYP. He learned singing and dancing for
hours every day" according to the production company. He recorded two
songs for Dream High's soundtrack, his solo "Dreaming" as well the
title track "Dream High" sang by the rest of the cast. He appeared in
several music programs and concerts after the drama's completion and also made
a cameo in the pilot episode of its second season.
2012: The
Moon that Embraces the Sun and rise to fame
His
popularity skyrocketed when he starred in hit period drama Moon Embracing the
Sun, which was number one in its time slot and at its peak recorded viewer
ratings of 42.2 percent. He again
contributed his vocals to the soundtrack, the traditional ballad "Only
You" which topped digital music charts, and the more modern in composition
"Another Way" released as a "Secret Version" single. He
later won Best Drama Actor at the 2012 Baeksang Arts Awards, a win which was
hotly debated as he was the youngest and newest actor among the nominees in his
category, beating heavyweight veterans such as Han Suk-kyu, Shin Ha-kyun and
Cha Seung-won. Upon receiving the trophy, Kim said, "I am very grateful
for this moment, but I am ashamed as well. It’s like getting a lot of homework.
I’ll keep trying to become a better actor in order to remain worthy of this
award.
Since the
success of Moon Embracing the Sun, Kim has set a new record for product
endorsements by being the face of 17 products simultaneously, including a
laptop, a camera, suits, cosmetics, sportswear, outdoor goods, a coffee
franchise, pizza, ice cream, jelly, softdrinks, beer, fabric softener and a
telecommunications company. According to entertainment industry insiders, Kim
would have earned more than 6 billion won ($5.3 million) from his exclusive
deals (most Korean A-list celebrities are said to earn 300 million to 350
million won). Also, due to the popularity of the said drama overseas, Kim has
been appointed as the promotional ambassador for Korean tourism by the Korean
Tourism Organization (KTO).
Kim made his
big-screen debut in the star-studded heist film The Thieves, touted in the
press as the Korean version of Ocean's Eleven. His character Jampano is the
youngest member of a gang of Korean and Chinese thieves who team up to steal a
diamond worth 40 billion won locked away in a casino in Macau. After joking
that it helped him to focus on the role and the kissing scenes since his
partner was Jun Ji-hyun, Kim said he was overwhelmed to be around so many big
stars and felt lucky to be part of the film.
2013-present:
Secretly, Greatly, My Love from the Star and international fame
In 2013 he
was cast in Secretly, Greatly. Based on the comic by Hun, it follows the story
of Won Ryu-hwan, the leader of a group of North Korean boy spies known for
their handsome looks. Won has the ability to read people but acts like a
countryside fool as his cover; his journey begins when he is abandoned by the
North.
From 2013 to
2014 he is the leading actor of the SBS series My Love from the Star opposite
The Thieves co-star Jun Ji-hyun. You Who Came From the Stars is a
romance/comedy drama where Do Min-Joon an alien who landed on Earth 400 hundred
years ago during the Joseon Dynasty. Do Min-joon has the ability to stop time
for a minute, teleport, etc. Later on, he falls in love with Cheon Song-yi (Jun
Ji-hyun), a present-day top actress.
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