Biography of Kim Rae-won 

Kim Rae-won is a South Korean actor known for his passionate acting skills and dedicated mindset. He became known for his roles in the romantic comedy series, ‘Cats on the Roof’, and movies, including ‘The Prison’, ‘Sunflower’ and ‘My Little Bride’.

Early Life and Education

Rae-won was born on 19 March 1981 in Gangneung, Gangwon Province in South Korea. His father is Kim Nam-seob and his mother is Lee Seon-young. He spent his childhood with his younger sister. Rae-won enrolled at Chung-Ang University and graduated in Theatre and Film. Although his first dream was to become a professional basketball player, he turned his sight to acting because of an ankle injury in his childhood.

Career

Kim Rae-won, known for his warm smile and gentle personality, made his acting debut with a television drama, ‘Me’ in 1997, playing the role of a high school broadcasting club member at the tender age of 16. Next year, he made his first big screen appearance in the film, ‘Scent of a Man’, playing the role of a young Kwon Hyuk-soo. This was followed by two television series, ‘School 2’, and ‘Hometown of Legends’ in 1999.

Although Rae-won played multiple roles, he rose to fame with the 2002 South Korean romantic comedy series, ‘My Love, Patzzi’, as a seal trainer Kim Hyun-sung, working at an amusement park. Actors Jang Na-ra, Kim Jaewon and Hong Eun-hee were his co-stars in the series.

Kim Rae-won made his first lead role appearance in the South Korean television series, ‘Cats on the Roof’, co-starring Jeong Da-bin, Choi Jung-yoon and Lee Hyun-woo. The series is loosely based on an internet novel by Kim Yu-ri. The popularity of the charming actor Rae-won elevated after his excellent performance in the 2004 South Korean romantic comedy film, ‘My Little Bride’ with his lead role as Sang-min along with actors Moon Geun-young, Park Jin-woo and Shin Se-kyung.

In 2005, Rae-won appeared in a Korean crime film, ‘Mr. Socrates’, by Choi Jin-won. His role in the film, Ku Dong-hyuk earned him success in his career. Next year, he was the lead cast in a television drama, ‘Which Star Are You From’, portraying a young director Choi Seung-hee, who made his international film, which later became a grand success.

Adding to his romantic roles, Kim Rae-won played a lead role in the 2011 South Korean traditional melodrama, ‘A Thousand Days’ Promise’. He played the role of a man who supports a woman who lacks memory power.

Soon after, he drifted from his romantic hero image with his darker roles in the 2015 South Korean television series, ‘Punch’, starring Kim Ah-joong, Cho Jae-hyun, Seo Ji-hye, and On Joo-wan. Following this, Rae-won appeared in a 2015 South Korean action film, ‘Gangnam Blues’, by Yoo-ha, co-starring Lee Min-ho in the lead role, where he had to lose around 15 kilograms in just a month for his role as a fist-fighting gangster.

In 2017, the vibrant actor Kim Rae-won was seen in the South Korean mystery thriller film, ‘RV: Resurrected Victims’, playing the lead role of Seo Jin-hong. Rae-won made his television comeback in the same year, playing a titular role in the 2017 drama, ‘Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me’, starring alongside Shin Se-kyung, Seo Ji-hye, and Chang Mi-hee.

Kim Rae-won was the lead cast in the 2019 South Korean film, ‘Long Live the King’ by Kang Yoon-sung, based on a webtoon of the same name. He received a lot of appreciation and the ‘Actor of the Year award’ at the 2019 Chungju International Film Festival for his outstanding performance in the film. He was cast in the romantic comedy film, ‘Crazy Romance’, co-starring Kong Hyo-Jin and Kang Ki-young.

Rae-won ended his contract with HB Entertainment in July 2021. As of 2023, he is acting in the ongoing television series, ‘The First Responders’, co-starring Son Ho-jun and Gong Seung-yeon.

Reportedly, Rae-won formed the Whale Company, a sole agency in 2022.

As of 2023, the South Korean action thriller film, ‘Decibel’, by Hwang In-ho, co-starring Lee Jong-suk, Jung Sang-hoon, Park Byung-eun and Cha Eun-woo.

Achievements

• In 2006, he was honoured with the ‘Presidential Commendation’ award at the Savings Day event.
• In 2016, Rae-won was awarded the ‘Top Excellence Award’, for an actor in a Drama at the ‘SBS Drama Awards’, for the television series, ‘The Doctors’.

Military Life

Rae-won’s agency Bless Entertainment confirmed he completed his two-year mandatory military service. He started his service in 2009 after joining the Nonsan training camp and ended his service on 23 August 2011.

Personal Life

The young Kim Rae-won once said in an interview, that he had dated a few girls to find his ideal one for his romantic life but failed to continue it for long. He is currently focusing on his career rather than finding his woman.