Kim Yoo-jung(I)

With youthful radiance, emotional depth, and an effervescent charm, Kim Yoo-jung has captivated audiences since early childhood and grown into one of South Korea’s most respected actresses. Beginning her career at age four as a model, she made her acting debut in 2003 and quickly became one of the most recognizable child actresses of the 2000s, praised for her ability to convey emotional nuance well beyond her years.

She gained widespread recognition through prominent television roles in Dong Yi (2010), The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012), Gold Rainbow (2013), Secret Door (2014), and Angry Mom (2015), while simultaneously building a strong film résumé with Commitment (2013), Thread of Lies (2014), and Circle of Atonement (2015). From 2014 to 2016, she also expanded her public presence as a co-host of SBS’s Inkigayo.

In 2016, Kim successfully transitioned into adult leading roles with the hit historical romance Love in the Moonlight (2016), a cultural and commercial phenomenon that marked a turning point in her career. She followed this with projects that demonstrated increasing range and maturity, including Because I Love You (2017), Clean with Passion for Now (2018), Backstreet Rookie (2020), The 8th Night (2021), and Lovers of the Red Sky (2021). Her international profile rose significantly with the emotionally resonant film 20th Century Girl (2022), which introduced her to a broader global audience.

Often dubbed "Nation’s Little Sister" for her child acting legacy and "sageuk fairy" for her historical dramas, Kim Yoo-jung has earned recognition as one of the rare actors to navigate the transition from child star to adult lead with sustained success. In 2017, she became the youngest Top 10 honoree on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list. Today, she remains a defining presence in Korean television and cinema, admired for her sincerity, expressive performances, and steady artistic evolution.