Kim So-hyun
A South Korean screen veteran who transitioned seamlessly from beloved child star to a commanding lead in sweeping historical and romantic dramas.
Born 1999 (age 27)·South Korean actress·Birthday: June 4·Generation Z
Biography
Kim So-hyun didn't just enter the Korean entertainment industry; she was practically raised in it, beginning her acting career at the age of five. Unlike many child actors, she navigated the transition to adult roles with remarkable grace, choosing projects that showcased her expanding emotional range. Her breakout came with the dual-role challenge in 'Who Are You: School 2015', proving she could carry a prime-time drama. She then adeptly shifted gears, donning hanboks for intense historical sagas like 'The Emperor: Owner of the Mask', where she held her own against veteran actors. With a filmography that spans two decades, Kim has built a reputation as a reliable and versatile performer, captivating audiences with her nuanced portrayals of resilience and romance.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Kim was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Kim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Best Young Actress award at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards for her performance in 'The Emperor: Owner of the Mask'.
- Successfully portrayed twin sisters in the hit teen drama 'Who Are You: School 2015', a role that significantly boosted her popularity.
- Starred as the female lead in the Netflix original series 'Love Alarm', a global streaming hit based on a popular webtoon.
- Hosted the music show 'Music Bank' for two years, demonstrating her versatility as an entertainer.
Did You Know?
She is known as the 'Nation's Little Sister' in South Korea due to her long career as a child actress.
She attended the prestigious School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA), graduating in 2018.
She is a certified scuba diver.
She made her acting debut in 2006 in the KBS drama 'Drama City – The Secret of the Keys'.
“I want to be an actress who can show diverse sides of myself through different projects.”
