Biography of Kim Yoo-jung

Kim Yoo-jung is a South Korean actress. She was born on 22 September 1999, in Seoul, South Korea. She began her acting career at the age of four, appearing in various commercials and TV shows. She gained widespread recognition for her roles in the historical dramas ‘Dong Yi’ (2010) and ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ (2012). Since then, Yoo-jung has starred in numerous popular Korean dramas, including ‘Love in the Moonlight’ (2016), ‘Clean with Passion for Now’ (2018), and ‘Backstreet Rookie'(2020). She has also appeared in films such as ‘Because I Love You’ (2017) and ‘The Eighth Night’ (2021).

In addition to acting, Kim Yoo-jung has also hosted a music show and worked as a model. She has won several awards for her acting, including the Best New Actress award at the 31st MBC Drama Awards and the Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries, at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards.

Early Life and Education

Kim Yoo-jung was born on 22 September 1999, in Seoul, South Korea. She is the youngest of two siblings, with an older brother named Kim Bu-geun.

She started her career in the entertainment industry at a very young age. She made her debut as a child actress when she was just four years old, appearing in a television commercial. Her early appearances on various TV shows and commercials helped her gain recognition and paved the way for her acting career.

Kim Yoo-jung attended Goyang High School of Arts and graduated in January 2018. During her high school years, she majored in theatre and film, which helped her tone her acting skills.

In 2017, she deferred taking the National College Scholastic Ability Test, which is a standardized test taken by high school students in South Korea for college admissions. She made the decision to focus on her acting career instead of taking the test, which requires a lot of preparation and dedication.

Career

Kim Yoo-jung became one of the most in-demand child actresses in South Korea soon after her acting debut at the age of four. She quickly gained recognition for her talent and appeared in various TV dramas, movies, and commercials.

By the time she was in fifth grade, Yoo-jung had already appeared in 13 TV dramas and 15 movies, which is a remarkable feat for such a young actress. Her impressive performances in her early years established her as a talented and promising actress, which helped her continue to receive numerous acting offers and opportunities as she grew older. Yoo-jung has managed to maintain a successful career despite starting her acting career at such a young age, in the entertainment industry for more than a decade. Her dedication and passion for acting have earned her a reputation as one of the most talented and versatile actresses in South Korea.

Kim Yoo-jung won her first acting award as “Best Child Actress” for her performances in the action-adventure series ‘Iljimae’ and the historical drama ‘Painter of the Wind’.

She continued to receive critical acclaim for her performances in the historical dramas ‘Dong Yi’ (2010) and ‘Flames of Desire’ (2010). These roles further established her reputation as a talented young actress in South Korea’s entertainment industry.

In 2010, she took on her first major role, which was not the childhood counterpart of the female protagonist in the TV series ‘Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho’. This marked a significant turning point in her career, as she proved that she was capable of playing a leading role and holding her own in scenes with more experienced actors.

Since then, Kim Yoo-jung has continued to build on her success and has appeared in numerous TV series and films, including ‘Love in the Moonlight’ (2016), ‘Clean with Passion for Now’ (2018), and ‘The Eighth Night’ (2021). She has also received several acting awards and nominations throughout her career, solidifying her status as one of South Korea’s most talented and versatile actresses.

In 2015, she took on diverse roles across different platforms. In the TV series ‘Angry Mom’, she portrayed a high school student who stands up against school violence and bullying. The drama tackled important social issues and was praised for shedding light on the harsh realities faced by students in South Korea’s education system.

The same year, Kim Yoo-jung also appeared in ‘Love Cells’, a two-season web series adapted from the popular webtoon of the same title. She reprised her role as a cat-turned-woman, which she first played in the original webtoon adaptation in 2014. ‘Love Cells’ was a romantic comedy that followed the love story of a man and a woman who are guided by a love cell in their bodies.

In addition to her TV roles, Kim Yoo-jung also made an appearance in the thriller film ‘Circle of Atonement’ in 2015. In the movie, she played the daughter of a convicted murderer who struggles to come to terms with her father’s crimes and the aftermath of his actions. The film was based on the bestselling novel of the same name and was well-received by audiences and critics alike.

Achievements

• In 2008, at the age of 9, Kim Yoo-jung won the Best Child Actress award at the SBS Drama Awards for her performances in the TV series ‘Iljimae’ and ‘Painter of the Wind’.
• In 2016, she was named one of Forbes Korea’s Top 40 Power Celebrities, which recognizes the most influential and popular figures in the entertainment industry.
• In 2018, Yoo-jung was appointed as an honorary ambassador for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Personal life

In 2019, Kim Yoo-jung took a break from her acting career to focus on her health. Her agency announced that she would be taking time off to recover from stress and exhaustion as she was diagnosed with dysfunctions of the thyroid gland. She returned to the entertainment industry in 2020 and has since appeared in several TV series and films.