Kim Ah-ra
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7 September 1993
Kim Ah-ra | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kim Ah-ra 7 September 1993 |
| Other names | Kim A-ra |
| Education | Myongji University |
| Alma mater | Kookmin University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2011 – present |
| Agent | Bless Entertainment[1] |
| Children | 1 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김아라 |
| RR | Gim Ara |
| MR | Kim Ara |
Kim Ah-ra (Korean: 김아라; born September 7, 1991) is a South Korean television personality and actress and North Korean defector.[2] She first gained national prominence on the reality talk show Now On My Way to Meet You before transitioning into a career as a dramatic actress in television and film.[3]
Kim was born in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea.[4] Her childhood was marked by the extreme North Korean famine; she has recalled foraging for grass and roots to supplement meager rations of rice porridge.[4] She did not receive a formal education during her youth in the North, instead spending her time scavenging for calories to help her family survive.[4]
She eventually escaped North Korea at age 12, fleeing to China before finally settling in South Korea around 2009.[4] Upon her arrival, she pursued higher education, attending Myongji University and Kookmin University.[4]
Career
2011–2015: "Defector TV" and Early Media Appearances
Kim's entry into the entertainment industry was driven by the rise of "defector TV" in the 2010s.[4] She became a regular cast member on the Channel A talk show Now On My Way to Meet You (2011–present), where her appearance and stories of survival earned her the nickname "the goddess of North Korean defectors".[4]
2016–Present: Acting and Breakthrough
In 2016, Kim transitioned into scripted acting with a minor role in the acclaimed horror film The Wailing.[5] She gained wider recognition through supporting roles in several television dramas, frequently portraying North Korean characters or resilient young women.[6]
Her most significant mainstream breakthrough occurred in the global hit series Crash Landing on You (2019–2020), where she played a North Korean village resident.[7] Kim notably influenced the production by proposing authentic North Korean dialogue based on her own experiences.[8]
Personal life
Filmography
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Someone I Know | Kim Yeon-hee | [11] |
| 2017 | Calm Down Cheon Doong | Ah-ra | [12] |
| 2017 | Ugly Miss Young-ae | Mi-na | [13] |
| 2018 | Tempted | Bing Bing | [14] |
| 2019 | Crash Landing on You | North Korean Village Housewife | [15] |
| 2023 | DMZ Daeseongdong | Na-ri | [16] |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Wailing | Dermatology Nurse | [17] |
| 2018 | The Soul-Mate | So-young | [18] |
| 2020 | Sixball | Choi Seo-kyeong | [19] |
| 2022 | Honest Candidate 2 | Announcer from the North | [20] |
Ambassadorship
- Ambassador for the North Korean Human Rights International Film Festival
- 2018 Rotary International District 3640 Friendship Exchange Committee Ambassador
- 2018 World Peace Culture Festival Organizing Committee Overseas Promotion Delegation Member[21]