Kim Jae-wook

2002–2011: Career beginnings and breakthrough

In 2002, Kim debuted as the member of an indie band in the MBC drama Ruler of Your Own World.^{[5][unreliable source?]} After this first role, he concentrated on his modeling career for 5 years.^[6] In 2007, he auditioned for and won the role of No Sun-ki in the 2007 hit drama series Coffee Prince.^[7] The role shot him to fame in both South Korea and several Asian countries.^[8] He later appeared in the 2008 drama The Kingdom of The Winds,^[9] and served as the ambassador of goodwill for the 9th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) in May 2008.^[10]

Kim then starred in his first film, Antique, based on the manga Antique Bakery, which was invited to the 59th Berlin International Film Festival.^[11] He played a gay chef working at a bakery.^[12] He won the Best New Actor award at the 16th Korean Entertainment Awards. In October 2009, he formed a modern rock band named Walrus, where he served as guitarist and vocal. The name of the group came from the Beatles single "I am the Walrus".^[13]

Kim got his first leading role in Bee TV's South Korean-Japanese drama Give Me Your Memory: Pygmalion's Love, which aired in March 2010.^[14] The same year, he starred in the melodrama television series Bad Guy,^[15][16][17] and featured in the romantic comedy series Marry Me, Mary!.^[18]

Before enlisting to military service in 2011, he played in rock musical, Hedwig And the Angry Inch, from May 14 until June 19, 2011.^[19]

2013–2016: Comeback

After finishing his mandatory military service, Kim made his comeback in the 2013 television series Who Are You?, playing the dead boyfriend of So Yi-hyun's character.^[20] In 2014, Kim was featured in KBS' period action drama Inspiring Generation as Kim Hyun-joong's rival, but quit after episode 8 due to unavoidable circumstances.^[21]

In 2015, Kim was cast for the lead role in the fantasy comedy film Planck Constant, playing a script writer with weird sexual fantasies.^[22][23] In June, Kim signed an exclusive contract with management agency Better ENT.^[24]

The following year, Kim took on the role of a Japanese nobleman who marries Son Ye-jin's character Princess Deokhye in the period film The Last Princess.^[25] The same year, Kim took a leading role in the film Two Rooms, Two Nights as a popular movie director who tries to maintain secretive romantic relationships with both his current girlfriend and ex-girlfriend.^[26][27]

2017–present: Rising popularity

In January 2017, Kim starred in romance film Another Way, playing the role of a police officer who finds Seo Yea-ji's character online and forms a suicide pact.^[28] He then played the antagonist in OCN's hit thriller drama Voice, earning acclaim for his performance as a serial killer.^[29] In June, he left Better ENT and signed with new management agency Management SOOP.^[30] In July, Kim was cast in the romance drama Temperature of Love, playing a rich businessman.^[31]

In 2018, Kim was cast in the musical play Amadeus in triple casting, alongside Jo Jung-suk and Kim Sung-kyu.^[32] Kim's Japanese film Butterfly Sleep was released in Japan in May 2018.^[33][34] The same year, he was cast in OCN's supernatural thriller The Guest.^[35][36] In 2019, Kim was cast as the main lead in the romantic comedy drama Her Private Life alongside Park Min-young.^[37] The show marks Kim's first time as a primary lead in a romantic comedy. In 2020, Kim created "My Margiela", a five-episode video series on the Belgian fashion designer Martin Margiela.^[38] In 2022, Kim starred alongside Krystal Jung in KBS2 television series Crazy Love, playing a maths instructor and CEO of a top math institute.^[39]

In 2025, Kim starred in Netflix's mystery historical television series Dear Hongrang alongside Jo Bo-ah and Lee Jae-wook.^[40] It is based on Tangeum: Swallowing Gold by Jang Da-hye and was produced by Studio Dragon.^[41]

Bibliography

In May 2011, along with fashion models Jang Yoon-ju, Ji Hyun-jung, Han Hye-jin and Song Kyung-ah, he co-authored Top Model, a book based on their experiences in the industry.^[42]

Military service

He enlisted for mandatory military service on July 5, 2011 for 21 months of active duty after five weeks of basic military training.^[43]

Film

Television

Music video appearances

Video games

Musical

Theater