Kim Hyun-joo

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Family name hatnote Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Kim Hyun-joo (Template:Korean; born April 24, 1977)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading roles in the television dramas Glass Slippers (2002), Toji, the Land (2004), Twinkle Twinkle (2011), What Happens to My Family? (2014), I Have a Lover (2015), Watcher (2019), and Hellbound (2021–present).

Career

1996–2001: Early acting credits

Kim Hyun-joo began modeling in teen magazines when she was in her third year of high school. In 1996, she made her entertainment debut when she starred in the music video for Kim Hyun-chul's "One's Lifetime."<ref name=twinkle>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kim launched her acting career in 1997 in the television drama The Reason I Live (1997). Despite being inexperienced, she was cast in the leading role in the film If It Snows on Christmas (1998) with Park Yong-ha, followed by Calla (1999) with Song Seung-heon.

After doing a few sitcoms, Kim built her resume further by playing supporting roles on television. In 1999, She gained her first major role when she appeared in the Jang Dong-gun show Springtime (also known as Youth), which received low ratings. But the popular Into the Sunlight later that year boosted Kim's career. In early 2000, she appeared in episode 7 of Song Ji-na's omnibus drama Love Story, titled "Insomnia, Manual and Orange Juice." Kim then landed her first TV leading role in Virtue (Deok-yi), followed by more supporting roles in 2001 with Her House (headlined by Kim Nam-joo) and the historical drama Sangdo (based on Choi In-ho's novel about Joseon merchant Im Sang-ok).

2002–2005: Glass Slippers breakthrough

Kim achieved mainstream stardom in 2002, with her Cinderella-esque leading role in Glass Slippers, about two sisters who were separated as children and unknowingly encounter each other as adults. Also starring Kim Ji-ho, Han Jae-suk and So Ji-sub, the drama was a hit with ratings of over 30%, and Kim received acting and popularity awards at the SBS Drama Awards.<ref name=arirang>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Glass Slippers was also successful in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam and with Kim's new pan-Asian popularity, she starred opposite Taiwanese actor/singer Vanness Wu in the martial arts movie Star Runner (2003).

For Ms. Kim's Million Dollar Quest (also known as Miss Kim's One Billion Won Project and Miss Kim's Adventures in Making a Million), she and Ji Jin-hee displayed their comedic chops as a girl left at the altar and a bankrupt playboy, respectively, who join forces in a moneymaking scheme. Kim's next role was as Lee Sung-jae's love interest in the body swapping comedy film Shinsukki Blues.

From late 2004 to 2005, Kim played the heroine Choi Seo-hee in Toji, the Land , a television adaptation of Park Kyung-ni's celebrated novel Toji ("The Land"), which portrayed the lives and loves of peasants and the nobility ("yangban") in Korea at the turn of the 20th century, spanning from Japan's colonial rule to the division of the peninsula.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The big-budget production was a hit, and Kim received a Best TV Actress nomination at the 2006 Baeksang Arts Awards.

Inspired by the American TV show Joe Millionaire, Marrying a Millionaire (2005) was about an average guy (Go Soo) pretending to be rich as the concept for a dating reality show, who then genuinely falls for one of the contestants (Kim), the only girl who knows the truth. After Marrying a Millionaire, Kim went on a two-year hiatus. She later said she took a break because she hated being typecast in such sweet, wholesome roles. But as time passed, she said she regretted the decision and should've worked harder instead to develop as an actress.

2007–2010: Resurgence

Kim returned to television in 2007 with In-soon Is Pretty, playing the titular character who went to prison for unintentionally killing someone in high school, and after serving her sentence, must face prejudice as an ex-con while rebuilding her life.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite the drama's low ratings, Kim was praised for her acting and received a Top Excellence Award at the KBS Drama Awards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2009, she was cast in a small supporting role (or extended cameo) as the hero's tough-but-stylish older sister in the highly popular Boys Over Flowers, adapted from the Japanese manga Hana Yori Dango.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Then in the legal drama Partner, Kim played a widow-turned-lawyer whose passionate idealism clashes with her colleague's (Lee Dong-wook) detached cynicism.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kim then spent ten days in Vancouver, Whistler, and Victoria to film the documentary ECO Canada by Kim Hyun-joo, which aired on MBC Life. Also featured as a photo spread in Sure magazine, the shoot promoted environmental awareness by emphasizing Canada's natural backdrops, and showing Kim's green practices such as using canvas instead of plastic bags and unplugging unused electrical appliances.

Her book Hyun-joo's Handcrafted Story was published on December 20, 2009, featuring personal essays and photos about her needlework and knitting.<ref name="arirang" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

2010 was a difficult year for Kim, with the deaths of three of her loved ones in close succession: her friend, actor Park Yong-ha committed suicide on June 30,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the production company executive who'd cast her in The Land committed suicide on July 1 because of financial difficulties, and her father Kim Tae-beom died on July 7 after a long illness. She spent the rest of the year volunteering in Bangladesh and the Philippines as the goodwill ambassador for Good Neighbors, a humanitarian NGO. She donated the condolence money collected for her father's funeral and a portion of her book sales to Good Neighbors, which was used to build libraries in 11 orphanages in impoverished areas of Dhaka. Kim said, "I literally fled to Bangladesh after a series of personal tragedies, but I was consoled by the smiles of children who are living in these dire conditions. The act of sharing has given me strength to live." She continues to as an instructor for several classes organized by Good Neighbors, teaching Korean elementary schoolchildren about poverty around the world.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2011–2015: Focusing on weekend dramas

Kim resumed her acting activities in 2011, playing the daughter from a wealthy publishing company whose life is turned upside down when she learns that she was switched at birth with another baby in Twinkle Twinkle.<ref name="twinkle" /> Her performance garnered a Top Excellence Award at the MBC Drama Awards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She also starred in Kim Dae-seung's short film Q&A, which was included in If You Were Me 5, an omnibus film commissioned by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Then in Dummy Mommy (2012), she played a fashion magazine editor with a genius-level IQ who is embarrassed by her developmentally disabled mother (Ha Hee-ra).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In a departure from her typical parts, Kim played one of the legendary femme fatales of the Joseon Dynasty, Lady Jo (or Jo Gwi-in), in the period drama Blooded Palace: The War of Flowers (2013). She said she was "more than delighted to have been given the opportunity to try something new," adding that, "This role will be a new life story for my acting career. I personally think it will be more interesting for an actress with an innocent image like myself to take up this wicked role." Critics praised Kim's versatility, as Lady Jo transforms from a naive young girl into an ambitious royal concubine who uses her beauty and wiles on King Injo in her lust for power.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In early 2014, Kim began hosting Musical Journey to Yesterday, a music program in which a mix of current idol singers and industry veterans perform live hit songs from the 1970s to 1990s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later that year, she starred in the weekend drama What Happens to My Family?, which had over 40% ratings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her performance garnered the Top Excellence award at the KBS Drama Awards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2015, she played dual roles in the melodrama, I Have a Lover.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She won the Top Excellence Top Excellence Award from the APAN Star Awards and SBS Drama Awards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2016–present: Professional expansion

Kim starred in the drama series Fantastic, portraying a screenwriter grappling with a terminal illness.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Kim Hyun-joo at The Miracle We Met Script Reading meeting.jpg

Kim at The Miracle We Met script reading session in 2018

In 2018, she took on the role of Sun Hye-jin in the fantasy melodrama The Miracle We Met,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> playing a wife who feels trapped in a loveless marriage. Kim described her character as a dormant volcano waiting to erupt, adding depth and complexity to the show's storyline."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2019, Kim starred in OCN's drama Watcher, portraying a criminal lawyer who had once been a highly promising prosecutor. Her performance garnered rave reviews, with critics praising her for creating a wholly unique and independent character, unlike any that they had seen before.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2020, Kim starred in Undercover, a JTBC's remake of the British BBC drama of the same name.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The drama marked her third reunion with Ji Jin-hee, her co-star from the 2015 drama, I Have a Lover. Kim explained her reason for accepting the offer to join the drama, "Last time, for I Have a Lover, Ji helped me a lot on set. The reason viewers liked my character was that Ji made me shine in the series. So this time, I wanted to return that favor. Ji accepted the role first, and I knew that many people would want to see us reunite on screen, so it didn't take me long to decide to join the series.".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

That same year, Kim was confirmed to join the cast of Hellbound, a Netflix series directed by Yeon Sang-ho. She portrayed the character of Min Hye-jin, an attorney who courageously stands up against religious extremists.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref>

In October 2022, Netflix confirmed that Kim would play one of the lead roles in their upcoming thriller drama, The Bequeathed.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In December 2022, Kim starred in SBS's drama Trolley as the wife of a National Assembly member.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2023, Kim starred in the Netflix sci-fi film Jung-E directed by Hellbound director Yeon Sang-ho, in the title role of a legendary mercenary who is also the subject of brain-clone testing.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In April 2025, Kim has signed an exclusive contract with the new management company Siseon.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Filmography

Film

Template:Sronly

Year	Title	Role	Note	Template:Abbr
1998	If It Snows On Christmas	Lee Song-hee
1999	Calla	Yoon Soo-jin
2003	Star Runner	Kim Mi-kyo	Hong Kong film
2004	Shinsukki Blues	Seo Jin-young
2011	If You Were Me 5: Questions & Answers	Jung Hee-joo	Omnibus film	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023	Jung_E	Jung_E		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Television series

Template:Sronly

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
1997	Reason I Live For	Chun Shim
	Couple	Jung Hee-ryung
	Ready Go!	Na Min-jung
1998	Love You! Love You!	Lee Joo-hee
	Three Guys and Three Girls	Kim Hyun-joo	Episode 117, 133, 205, 207, 212, 214, 493
	I Don't Know Anything But Love	Baek Young-gu
	MBC Best Theater: "Jeondeungsa"	Hyo Im
1999	Springtime	Cha Won-young
	The Last War	Han Ji-eun
	Into The Sunlight	Lee Yun-hee
2000	Love Story: "Insomnia, Manual and Orange Juice"	Seo Young
	Virtue	Jung Kwi-duk
	Medical Center	Soo Kyung	Guest appearance (Episode 29)
2001	Her House	Park Young-chae
	The Merchant	Park Da-nyung
2002	Glass Slippers	Lee Sun-woo/Kim Yoon-hee
2004	Ms. Kim's Million Dollar Quest	Kim Eun-jae
	Toji, the Land	Choi Seo-hee
2005	Marrying a Millionaire	Han Eun-young
2007	In-soon Is Pretty	Park In-soon
2009	Boys Over Flowers	Gu Joon-hee	Guest appearance
	Partner	Kang Eun-ho
2011	Twinkle Twinkle	Han Jung-won
2012	Dummy Mommy	Kim Young-joo
2013	Blooded Palace: The War of Flowers	Jo Yam-jeon
2014	Can We Fall In Love, Again?	Herself	Cameo (Episode 13–14)
	What Happens to My Family?	Cha Kang-shim
2015	I Have A Lover	Do Hae-kang (Dokgo On-gi)/Dokgo Yong-gi
2016	Fantastic	Lee So-hye
2018	The Miracle We Met	Sun Hye-jin
2019	Watcher	Han Tae-joo
2021	Undercover	Choi Yeon-soo
2021–present	Hellbound	Min Hye-jin	Season 1–2	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2022	Love All Play	President of Eunice Business Team	Cameo (Episode 1)	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Trolley	Kim Hye-joo		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	The Bequeathed	Yoon Seo-ha		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Television shows

Television show appearances

Year	Title	Role	Note	Template:Abbr
1997	Scoop! Entertainment City	VJ
	Popular Song Best 50
	Saturday Power Start	MC
	Gwangjang Music with Gung Sun-young	Panelist
1998	Super TV Enjoy Sunday	MC
	SBS Inkigayo		Episode 18–20
1999	Sunday Sunday Night
	Section TV Entertainment		with Seo Kyung-suk
	FM Dating with Kim Hyun-joo	DJ
	MBC Drama Awards	MC	with Shin Dong-ho
2000	Mnet KM Music Festival
	And e-Wonderful World
2005	SBS Drama Awards		with Park Sang-won
2009	Music Village with Kim Hyun-joo	DJ
	ECO Canada by Kim Hyun-joo	Herself
2010	SBS Hope TV	Host
2014	Musical Journey to Yesterday	MC
2015	Lady Action	Cast member

Music video appearances

Template:Sronly

Year	Title	Artist	Notes	Template:Abbr
1996	lang}}	Kim Hyun-chul
	lang}}	Seo Ji-won
1997	lang}}	Lee Seung-hwan	with Jang Hyuk
1998	lang}}	Yuno
1999	lang}}	Yurisangja
2001	lang}}	Brown Eyes	with Chang Chen, Lee Beom-soo, Jung Eun-pyo
2002	lang}}		with Chang Chen, Lee Beom-soo
2004	lang}}	Han Kyung Il

Book

Year	Title	Author	ISBN
2009	lang}}	Kim Hyun-joo	Template:ISBNT

Discography

List of singles, showing year released, and name of the album

Title	Year	Album
"Sad Fate" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	2003	In the Name of Love
"Promise" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}})	2009	Partner OST
"Forgetfulness" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) Template:Small)	2012	Template:Non-album single

Ambassadorship

• Ambassador for Busan Contents Market (2022)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / Work	Result	Template:Abbr
APAN Star Awards	2013	Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama	Blooded Palace: The War of Flowers	Template:Nom
	2014		What's With This Family	Template:Nom
	2015	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama	I Have a Lover	Template:Won
	2022	Excellence Award, Actress in an OTT Drama	Hellbound	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Baeksang Arts Awards	2002	Best Actress – Television	Her House	Template:Nom
	2006		Toji, the Land	Template:Nom
	2008		In-soon Is Pretty	Template:Nom
	2012		Twinkle Twinkle	Template:Nom
	2016		I Have a Lover	Template:Nom
Director's Cut Awards	2022	Best Actress in series	Hellbound	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
KBS Drama Awards	2007	Top Excellence Award, Actress	In-soon Is Pretty	Template:Won
	2014	Top Excellence Award, Actress	What's With This Family	Template:Won
		Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama		Template:Nom
		Best Couple Award	Kim Hyun-joo Template:Small What's With This Family	Template:Won
	2018	Top Excellence Award, Actress	The Miracle We Met	Template:Nom
		Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama		Template:Nom
Korea Drama Awards	2011	Best Actress	Twinkle Twinkle	Template:Nom
	2012	Top Excellence Award, Actress	Dummy Mommy	Template:Nom
	2016	Top Excellence Award, Actress	I Have a Lover	Template:Nom
MBC Drama Awards	1998	Best New Actress	I Don't Know Anything But Love	Template:Won
	2001	Excellence Award, Actress	Her House	Template:Won
	2002	Top Excellence Award, Actress	Sangdo, Merchants of Joseon	Template:Nom
	2011	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama	Twinkle Twinkle	Template:Won
		Best Couple Award	Kim Hyun-joo Template:Small Twinkle Twinkle	Template:Won
OCN Awards	2019	Best Case Solver Award	Watcher	Template:Won
SBS Drama Awards	1998	Best New Actress	I Love You! I Love You!	Template:Won
	2000	Excellence Award, Actress	Virtue	Template:Won
	2002	Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama	Glass Slippers	Template:Won
		Top 10 Stars Award		Template:Won
		SBSi Award		Template:Won
	2004	Top Excellence Award, Actress	Ms. Kim's Million Dollar Quest	Template:Nom
		Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special		Template:Won
		Top 10 Stars		Template:Won
	2005	Top 10 Stars	Toji, the Land, Marrying a Millionaire	Template:Won
		Top Excellence Award, Actress	Toji, the Land	Template:Nom
		Excellence Award, Actress in Serial Drama		Template:Nom
		Netizen Popularity Award		Template:Won
	2015	Grand Prize	I Have a Lover	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama		Template:Won
		Netizen Popularity Award		Template:Won
		Top 10 Stars		Template:Won
		Best Couple Award	Kim Hyun-joo Template:Small I Have a Lover	Template:Won
	2023	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Romance/Comedy Drama	Trolley	Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

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