Kim Jung-hyun (actor, born 1990)

Kim was born in Busan in South Korea. He majored in acting at the Korea National University of Arts.^{[citation needed]}

After having acted in several musical theatre plays, Kim made his silver screen debut in the film Overman, which premiered at the 2015 Busan International Film Festival.^[2] This earned him Best New Actor nominations at 25th Buil Film Awards and 22nd Chunsa Film Art Awards.^{[citation needed]}

Kim made his small screen debut in 2016 and gained attention with his role as Gong Hyo-jin's younger brother in the romance comedy Don't Dare to Dream.^[3]

He then starred in historical drama The Rebel.^[4] The series was a critical and commercial success, and Kim won the Best New Actor award at the 2017 MBC Drama Awards.^{[citation needed]}

The same year, he was cast in MBC's two-episode series, Binggoo, alongside Han Sun-hwa.^[5]

He also played the male lead in KBS2's teen drama School 2017 alongside Gugudan's Kim Se-jeong.^[6][7] The series was very popular among the youth leading to his increased popularity. Kim's portrayal of a troubled and rebellious student was praised by critics and audiences.^{[citation needed]} The series earned him Best New Actor nominations at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards, the 2017 KBS Drama Awards and the 1st The Seoul Awards.^{[citation needed]}

Kim then featured in 4Men's Music Video Break Up In The Morning.^{[citation needed]}

Later in the year Kim was cast in a lead role in KBS2 drama special Buzzcut Love.^[8]

In 2018, Kim starred in JTBC's youth series titled Welcome to Waikiki playing a cynical but kind-hearted movie director.^[9] The series was popular across Asia and solidified Kim's status as a versatile actor.^{[citation needed]}

He then starred in the 4DX VR movie Stay With Me alongside Seo Yea-ji playing the role of an aspiring musician with stage fright.^{[10][unreliable source?]} Kim lent his vocals to the OST of the movie titled Moonlight.

In July 2018, he starred in MBC melodrama Time alongside Girls' Generation's Seohyun, playing a chaebol whose time is running out due to his failing health.^[11] During the press conference for the drama, he was criticised for "answering questions unenthusiastically" and for refusing to link arms with his co-star Seohyun.^[12][13] He explained that it was because he was trying to stay in his character from the drama.^[13] He withdrew from the series halfway through its run, officially citing health reasons.^[14]

Kim returned to television in December 2019 when he joined the tvN romance drama Crash Landing on You alongside Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin and Seo Ji-hye.^[15] It became the highest-rated tvN drama and the third-highest-rated Korean drama in cable television history. Kim's portrayal of Goo Seung-joon, former fiancé of Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) and eventual love interest to Seo Dan (Seo Ji-hye), received positive reviews from audiences. His character's name "Goo Seung-joon" went on to trend at No. 1 in Korea's realtime search rankings, which he later described in an interview as incredibly rewarding.^[16]

In May 2020, Kim made a cameo appearance in his Crash Landing on You co-star Seo Ji-hye's drama Dinner Mate playing the role of her long-term boyfriend.^[17]

On June 5, 2020, it was confirmed that Kim would lead tvN's fusion sageuk drama, Mr. Queen alongside Shin Hye-sun playing the role of King Cheoljong.^[18] The drama aired from December 2020 to February 2021. On February 15, 2021, Mr. Queen became the seventh-highest-rated Korean drama in cable television history and the fifth highest rated tvN drama on record.^[19] The Korea Times article praised Kim's complex portrayal of the two-faced King and noted that he "left a deep impression on viewers with a heavy presence that took the center of the play."^[20] Kim contributed his vocals to the soundtrack with the song Like the First Snow; for which he also wrote the lyrics.^[21]

In September 2021, Kim signed with Story J Company^[22] followed by movie and drama casting news in 2022.^{[citation needed]}

In January 2022, his agency confirmed that he will appear as a Detective in an indie film called Se2cret.^[23]

In 2023, Kim returned to television with MBC's Kokdu: Season of Deity opposite actress Im Soo-hyang playing dual role of a Grim reaper and doctor.^[24] Kim received praise for 'Perfectly portraying two conflicting characters' through a variety of charms.^[25] He also lent his vocals to the opening theme song of the drama titled I am.^[26]

In March 2025, Kim officially parted ways with Story J Company after his exclusive contract expired, ending a four-year partnership that began in 2021.^{[27][unreliable source?]}

In May 2025, Kim signed an exclusive contract with Management Seesun, a newly established agency that also manages his Mr. Queen co-stars Shin Hye-sun and Cha Chung-hwa, marking a new chapter in his career.^[28]

In 2026, Kim starred in TvN's romantic thriller Siren's Kiss.^[29] It is based on the 1999 Japanese television series Koori no Sekai [ja] by Hisashi Nozawa, which follows an insurance investigator tracking a series of fraud cases leading to a woman related to several deaths.^[30]

Kim completed his mandatory military service as an assistant in Gangwon Province's 3rd division when he was 21 years old.^[31]

In April 2021, South Korean local tabloid Dispatch revealed alleged text messages between Kim and actress Seo Yea-ji and pointed out requests from Seo as the reason behind Kim's behaviour at the Time press conference.^[12] In response, Seo's agency, Gold Medalist, denied the claim that she was the reason behind Kim's behaviour and abrupt exit from the series.^[32] On April 14, he posted a personal handwritten apology.^[33]

On May 12, Kim's representative released a statement to announce the expiration of his contract with O& Entertainment and to address the actor's health condition while filming Time in 2018.^[34] Kim claimed that his agency had failed to fulfill their duty, and that he would take legal action against them for defamation and spreading false information.^[35] The same day, YTN revealed that they had obtained Kim's hospital records which showed that he was diagnosed with anxiety disorder, panic disorder, sleep disorder, and having depressive episodes.^[36] After the handwritten apology, he met Time director, Jang Jun-ho, who expressed his willingness to work with him again.^[37]