Biography of Kim Soo-hyun 

Kim Soo-hyun is one of the highest-paid actors in South Korea. Since his debut on the television show ‘Kimchi Cheese Smile’ in 2007, he has established himself as a prominent actor in the entertainment industry. He has taken on leading roles in a number of popular television dramas including ‘Dream High’ in 2011 and ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ in 2012, which were both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. In addition to his work in television, he has also starred in several hit movies, such as ‘The Thieves’ in 2012 and ‘Secretly’, ‘Greatly’ in 2013.

He became a well-known Hallyu star with his success in the fantasy romantic comedy ‘My Love from the Star’ in 2013-2014 and the variety-drama ‘The Producers’ in 2015, earning him 3 ‘Daesang’ prizes. He got an award for ‘Best Actor’ in Television for his portrayal as ‘King Lee-hwon’ in ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’. After the box office flop of ‘Real’ in 2017, he took a break from acting to finish his compulsory military service. He then made a comeback with the romantic comedy ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ in 2020 and the thriller ‘One Ordinary Day’ in 2021.

Soo-hyun’s achievements include two ‘Grand Bell Awards’, one ‘Blue Dragon Film Award’, and four ‘Baeksang Arts Awards’. He was included in the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list from 2012 to 2016 and again in 2021. In 2014, he was chosen as Gallup Korea’s Television Actor of the Year, and in 2016, Forbes named him on their 30 Under 30 Asia list.

Early Life & Education

Kim Soo-hyun was born on February 16, 1988, in Seoul, South Korea. Kim’s father, Kim Chung-hoon, was the main singer of the 1980s band ‘Seven Dolphins’.

Soo-hyun’s mother was the one who pushed him to enrol in acting courses while he was still in school to help him get over his shy and reserved nature. His desire to become an actor really took off between middle and high school. He portrayed the character of ‘Puck’ in a theatre production of Shakespeare’s comedy ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, which was his first significant acting performance. His other stage works include the roles of Kenickie and Hamlet in the musical Grease and Hamlet in the tragedy Hamlet.

Soo-hyun finished his schooling in Gangnam, Seoul. By 2006, he had completed his elementary, middle and high school education and debuted as a TV actor in 2007 after auditions. Later in 2009, he did his bachelor’s degree in the department of Film and Theatre at Chung-Ang University.

Career & Achievements

After making his television debut in a supporting role in the 2007 family comedy ‘Kimchi Cheese Smile’, Kim Soo-hyun was casted as the lead in the critically praised 2008 KBS youth drama ‘Jungle Fish’. The drama earned several honours, including the Peabody Award in the United States. In the second half of the year, he made appearances in the short film ‘Cherry Blossom’ and the food-themed programme ‘Delicious Quiz’ as one of the hosts.

He didn’t want to project an image of a lover boy like other young Korean actors did, so he chose his acting roles wisely. He appeared in the award-winning short film ‘Worst Friend’ and his performance in the TV drama ‘Father’s House’ deepened his development as a brilliant actor.

Kim Soo-hyun’s biggest role to date was in 2011 in the drama ‘Dream High’, and it helped establish him as a household celebrity in Korea. In that show, he portrayed a local nobody who subsequently revealed himself to be a brilliant musician. In addition to becoming a popular show nationally, the drama also made the actors and crew famous abroad. Soo-hyun had put a lot of effort into getting the part, and he had performed two songs for the musical drama series.

Kim Soo-hyun rose to higher heights of fame with his appearance as a young King in the renowned historical drama ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ in 2012. For this part, he received the Baeksang Art Awards’ best TV actor honour. He contributed vocals to a few of the series’ songs, and after the show’s success, he began to receive an increasing number of offers in movies and sponsorship deals. He began singing in films and signed 15 endorsement deals in the year 2012.

‘The Thieves’, his first feature film, was also released in theatres in 2012, and it went on to become the second-highest-grossing Korean movie of all time. His subsequent film, ‘Secretly’, greatly carried on popularity and ended up as one of the biggest grossing movies of that year in Korea. Soo-hyun later received a Grandbell award and a Baeksang Arts Award for his performance.

In 2013 his drama ‘My Love from the Star’ got released and which make his career rose to new heights. It was a fantasy romance series that was so popular that it helped launch new fashion and beauty trends in South Korea. Soo-hyun was given the Grand Prize at the 7th Korean Drama Awards. He also attracted a lot of attention abroad with this series.

In 2014, Soo-hyun attended the opening ceremonies of both the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea and the Summer Youth Olympic Games in China.

As he won yet another Grand Prize at the Korea Drama Awards for the series The Producers, Soo-hyun achieved another professional milestone in 2015. The series performed well both nationally and domestically, and he became a young sensation in neighbouring nations as well.

Soo-hyun had the lead role in the ominous thriller ‘Real’ in June 2017. Despite the negative reviews from critics, the movie did well at the box office and his performance also gained appreciation.

In 2019, he did guest roles in ‘Hotel del Luna’ and in the Netflix top-ranking series ‘Crash Landing on You’.

Later he played main roles in ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ (2020) and in ‘One Ordinary Day’ (2021). His upcoming drama ‘Queen of Tears’ will be written by Park Ji Eun, the author of his previous successful dramas ‘My Love From the Star’, and ‘Producer’, and it will be directed by Jang Young Woo, director of the hit drama ‘Crash Landing on You’.

Military Life

Due to his heart condition, Kim Soo-hyun was not eligible to serve in the regular army. However, he requested a re-examination out of a desire to be on active duty, and with consistent medical care, he was eventually given first-degree military service. In 2017, Soo-hyun, at 29 years old, enlisted in a front-line reconnaissance battalion. He received the unique warrior designation while in the army for his perseverance and bravery.

Personal Life

He is still single, and he has made no official statements regarding his personal life. However, there are rumours that Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji may soon get married. On the set of his drama, It’s Okay to Be Not Okay, they became friends. Seo Ye -ji was Soo-hyun’s lead female co-star in that drama.

Awards

• APAN Star Awards 2021
• Popular Star Award, Actor – ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ (2021)
• Asia Artist Awards 2020
• Grand Prize (Daesang) – ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ (2020)
• AAA Hot Issue Award – Kim Soo-hyun (2020)
• Big Ben Awards 2019
• One of the Global Ten Outstanding Young Persons (2019)
• Busan International Advertising Festival 2016
• China’s Favourite Korean Advertising Model – Kim Soo-hyun (2016)
• InStyle Star Icon Awards 2016
• Best Actor (Drama) (2016)
• Fashionista Award (2016)
• APAN Star Awards 2015
• Grand Prize (Daesang) – ‘The Producers’ (2015)
• Busan International Advertising Festival 2015
• Best Korean Spokesmodel in China – Kim Soo-hyun (2015)
• China the Wind from the East Entertainment Awards 2015 
• South Korean Entertainment Influencer Award (2015)
• Grand Bell Awards 2015
• Popularity Award (2015)
• Huading Awards 2015
• Global Best TV Actor – ‘My Love From the Star’ (2015)
• Korea Drama Awards 2015 
• Grand Prize (Daesang) – ‘The Producers’ (2015)
• APAN Star Awards 2014
• Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries – ‘My Love from the Star’ (2014)
• Hallyu Star Award – ‘My Love from the Star’ (2014)
• KBS Drama Awards 2015
• Grand Prize (Daesang) – ‘The Producers’ (2015)
• Best Couple (with Cha Tae-hyun and Gong Hyo-jin) – ‘The Producers’ (2015)
• Netizen Award, Actor (2015)
• Baeksang Arts Awards 2014
• Best New Actor – ‘Secretly, Greatly’ (2014)
• Most Popular Actor – ‘Secretly, Greatly’ (2014)
• Most Popular Actor – ‘My Love from the Star’ (2014)
• BIFF with Marie Claire Asia Star Awards 2014
• Asia Star Award – Kim Soo-hyun (2014)
• International Drama Festival in Tokyo 2014
• Best Actor in Asia (2014)
• Korea Drama Awards 2014
• Grand Prize (Daesang) – ‘My Love From the Star’ (2014)
• Hallyu Star Award – ‘My Love From the Star’ (2014)
• Cosmo Beauty Awards (China) 2013
• Dream Icon Award
• Grand Bell Awards 2013
• Best New Actor (2013)
• APAN Star Awards 2012
• Excellence Award, Actor – ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ (2012)
• Baeksang Arts Awards 2012
• Best Actor – Television – ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ (2012)
• Blue Dragon Film Awards 2012
• Popular Star Award – ‘The Thieves’ (2012)
• Korea Broadcasting Awards 2012
• Best Actor – ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ (2012)
• Asia Model Awards 2011
• CF Model Award (2011)
• Cyworld Digital Music Awards 2011
• Song of the Month (February) – ‘Dreaming’ (Dream High)
• KBS Drama Awards 2011
• Best New Actor (2011)
• Popularity Award, Actor (2011)
• Best Couple (with Suzy) (2011)
• Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards 2011
• Best Dresser Male Artist (2011)
• Korea Drama Awards 2011
• Best New Actor – ‘Dream High’ (2011)
• Most Popular Actor – ‘Dream High’ (2011)