Kim Hye-jun is an acclaimed South Korean actress who is known for portraying intense characters. Kim gained popularity through web dramas and advertisements. But, everything was about to change when she portrayed Queen Consort Cho in the television series Kingdom. Kim has since carved out a broad filmography of work on TV, streaming services, and cinema. She has earned herself the title of one of the most remarkable actresses of her generation.
This has been possible through projects like Another Child, Kingdom, Inspector Koo, Connect, and A Shop for Killers. Furthermore, Kim Hye-jun has proved her versatility as an actress since she has successfully handled various roles such as troubled teenager, ruthless queen, serial killer, action heroine, and romantic comedy heroine. As of now, she has a starring role in A Shop for Killers Season 2 and My Bias, My Boss. If you’re curious to know more about her life journey, read this till the end. This biography blog is entirely dedicated to Kim Hye-Jun.
Kim Hye-Jun Biography & Wiki
Kim Hye-jun is a South Korean actress born on May 8, 1995. Her place of birth is Seoul, South Korea. She received her education in Theatre and Film at Hanyang University. At first, Kim was not intending to be an actress. It is alleged that her dream was to become either a designer or a nurse. But later she had a passion for acting triggered by her appearance in a talent show while in middle school. Eventually, she went ahead to join Hanyang University to pursue Theatre and Film.
After joining Saturday Night Live Korea, Kim gained her initial experience in the industry. However, Another Child marked a significant point in her career. She was awarded the Best New Actress award from the Blue Dragon Film Awards due to her good performance. She further boosted her international profile by starring in Kingdom. She later won the Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actress in Television due to her role in Inspector Koo.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kim Hye-jun |
| Date of Birth | May 8, 1995 |
| Age | 31 years old |
| Traditional Korean Age | 32 years old |
| Birthplace | Seoul, South Korea |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Profession | Actress |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Current Residence | Seoul, South Korea |
Early Life & Upbringing
She was born in South Korea and started liking acting when she was at school. It is interesting that initially acting was not her career choice. In fact, before acting, she wanted to become either a designer or a nurse. But everything changed when she acted in her middle-school talent show. Her interest in acting grew and grew after that. At first, she could not have the support of her parents regarding acting.
But despite the lack of support from her family, she continued pursuing her dream and enrolled in the Department of Theatre and Film at Hanyang University. While studying, she tried auditioning for different films and TV shows. Moreover, she even participated in advertisements. The Korean Film Council says that for her, such auditions were a chance to get some practical experience.
Educational Background of Kim Hye-Jun
The names of her school institutions are unknown. Hye-jun Kim was a student of Hanyang University, where she majored in Theatre and Film. Kim got formal education at the university level alongside professional training. This is because she was a student while she was acting in Lily Fever. Thus, Kim benefited from both academic and professional training at the beginning of her career.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| School | Unknown |
| College | Hanyang University |
| Qualification | Graduate (Theatre and Film major) |
Kim Hye-Jun Age
She came into this world on May 8, 1995. Accordingly, Kim Hye-jun is 31 years old. Her traditional Korean age is noted as 32 years.
Physical Appearance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 feet and 4 inches |
| Weight | 95 pounds |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Skin Color | Fair complexion |
| Appearance | Petite build |
Parents & Siblings of Kim Hye-Jun
Kim has only vaguely talked about her family members but never mentioned their identities. It is believed that she has been trying to protect their privacy. In simple words, the names and professions of her parents are unknown. Similarly, Kim Hye-jun’s siblings are also a mystery.
Kim Hye-Jun’s Love Life, Marriage, & Kids
At present, Kim Hye-jun is unmarried and has no kids. She has been very private about her personal life and hasn’t shared any plans for a wedding. When it comes to her relationship status, Kim is believed to be single. That’s because there are no confirmed boyfriends or former partners. At some point, she was rumoured to be dating her co-star Lee Junho.
Beginning of Her Acting Career & Gaining Recognition
Kim started her career in the entertainment industry through commercial acting as part of her theater and film training. She participated in auditions for various projects in order to gain more experience and acted in her first show through Lily Fever, the web drama series which garnered attention because of its portrayal of romance between two women. She later joined Saturday Night Live Korea even though she did not regard herself as a comedian. This project helped her gain knowledge about performance, timing and versatility other than the regular acting roles.
Kim slowly branched out to movies and acted in movies such as Herstory, After Spring, Another Child, Metamorphosis, and Sinkhole. Her break in acting came through the movie Another Child as she portrayed the character of Joo-ri who was a high school student faced with the issue of finding out about her father’s affair with the mother of her classmate. She managed to get the role through competition among several others and her performance won her the Best New Actress title at the Blue Dragon Film Awards besides winning major awards. She got internationally recognized through the Netflix series Kingdom as Queen Consort Cho, a politically driven royal.
Kim’s Stardom & Success As A South Korean Actress
Kim went on to prove her versatility with Chip In, in which she plays the character of Yoo Bit-na, and received the Best New Actress prize at the MBC Drama Awards. She also played the volatile serial killer named Song Yi-kyung, also referred to as K, in Inspector Koo. This performance got her the Best New Actress – Television award at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
After this, she has acted in some projects of Disney+, namely Connect as Choi I-rang, and A Shop for Killers as Jeong Ji-an, a college student who learns about the mysterious connections of her uncle with the world of weaponry. This was one of her biggest steps in taking up action-oriented lead roles. She reprised her role of Ji-an in A Shop for Killers Season 2 in which she becomes more of a fighter and leader.
Kim further diversified herself with Netflix project Cashero as Kim Min-suk, and romantic comedy My Bias, My Boss as Nam Da-reum on tvN. She is also considering a project in the medical drama Mind Doctor by MBC. Some of her notable achievements include the Blue Dragon Film Award, MBC Drama Award, Baeksang Arts Award, and Asia Model Award.
Kim Hye-Jun Net Worth 2026
Latest estimates suggest that Kim Hye-jun’s net worth has surpassed USD 5 million. As this is not a real-time valuation, the actual figure can be even higher. Kim has worked on several acting projects to earn this kind of wealth. Her income sources are acting salaries, bonuses, royalties, brand endorsements, ad commercials, etc.
Social Media Handles
Trivia
At the beginning, Kim Hye-jun wanted to be a designer or a nurse instead of an actress.
- It was a middle school talent show that got her into acting.
- She graduated from Hanyang University where she majored in Theatre and Film.
- She featured in commercials before becoming a famous actress.
- Her debut in acting was via the web series Lily Fever.
- She won the Blue Dragon Film Award as Best New Actress for Another Child.
- It is believed she got the role of lead actress in Another Child through competition between 500 people.
- Kim made her international breakthrough when playing Queen Consort Cho in Kingdom.
- She starred as a serial killer referred to as K in Inspector Koo.
- She won the Baeksang Arts Award as Best New Actress on Television for Inspector Koo.
- She declined the offer of the role in A Shop for Killers until after reading the script again.
- She has described her character Jeong Ji-an as normal-looking but very strong.
- She has stated her intention to showcase different sides of herself apart from strong characters.
- She is trying out the romantic comedy genre with My Bias, My Boss.
- Kim has stated her interest in Hollywood and she especially wants to work with Christopher Nolan.
FAQs
What is the traditional Korean age of Kim?
According to traditional Korean counting, she is 32 years old.
When did Kim Hye-jun start acting?
She began her acting career through the web series Lily Fever while she was still studying at university.
What was Kim Hye-jun’s breakthrough role?
Her performance as Joo-ri in Another Child became a major breakthrough and earned her the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best New Actress.
Who did Kim Hye-jun play in Kingdom?
She played Queen Consort Cho, one of the central antagonistic characters in Kingdom.
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