Who is Kim Soo-hyun?
- Real Name: Kim Soo-hyun
- Stage Name: Kim Soo-hyun
- Date of Birth: February 16, 1988
- Nationality: Korean
- Instagram: @soohyun_k216
Kim Soo-hyun was born on February 16, 1988, in Seoul, South Korea. His father is Kim Chung-hoon – the lead singer of the band “Seven Dolphin”. He has a half-sister named Kim Juna who also works in the entertainment industry, but they have never been in close contact.
As an actor, Kim Soo-hyun is well recognized for his impressive acting skills. He is one of the highest-paid actors in South Korea, and is so far the youngest male actor to win a Grand Prize.
Despite having heart disease as a child and being ruled to qualify for social services, Kim Soo-hyun was determined to enlist as an active soldier and decided to have a re-examination. He was reportedly an exemplary soldier, enough to be promoted in rank early.
Kim Soo-hyun’s impressive wealth has also drawn attention. He reportedly owns three luxury apartments, valued at approximately 300 billion won in total.
Career
Kim Soo-hyun’s mother encouraged him to take acting class due to the actor being shy and introverted as a child.
He later decided to pursue acting between middle school and high-school, and nailed his first major acting gig in a stage play of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. He also assumed theatrical roles in the musical “Grease” and tragedy “Hamlet”.
In 2007, Kim Soo-hyun officially debuted as a TV actor with a supporting role in the family sitcom “Kimchi Cheese Smile”. The year after, he landed a leading role in the youth drama “Jungle Fish”.
The male actor made his film debut in the short film “Worst Friend”. He also consistently played in the younger versions of male leads in various dramas.
In 2011, Kim Soo-hyun’s career entered a new phase after the actor starred in “Dream High”. Kim Soo-hyun revealed that during the filming of Dream High, he trained as a JYP Entertainment trainee for three months to bring realism to his role. Reflecting on this experience, he said, “Though my trainee period was short, it was a valuable experience,” displaying his humble attitude.
Later on, he enjoyed exponential popularity with a role in the hit period K-drama “Moon Embracing the Sun”. Kim Soo-hyun expanded his popularity overseas with “My Love from the Star”, and cemented his position in the acting industry with a series of successful works, such as “”The Producers”, “It’s Okay to Not be Okay”, “One Ordinary Day” and most recently “Queen of Tears”.
Awards
Kim Soo-hyun has enjoyed not only popularity, but also critical recognition throughout his career. In fact, he has won 4 Baeksang Arts Awards, 2 Grand Bell Awards, and 1 Blue Dragon Film Award – an extremely impressive feat.
Some notable awards of Kim Soo-hyun include Best Actor at Baeksang Arts Awards for “Moon Embracing the Sun”, Best New Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for “The Thieves”, Best New Actor at the Grand Bell Awards for “Secretly, Greatly”, Best Actor, Best Couple, and Grand Prize Daesang at KBS Drama Awards for “The Producers”, Best Actor at MBC and SBS Drama Awards for “Moon Embracing the Sun” and “My Love from the Star”, among others.
Controversies
Prior to becoming the top actor he is today, Kim Soo-hyun was once removed from the cast of hit K-drama “Boys Over Flowers” due to him slightly changing the script. At the time, the actor was directly criticized in front of the cast ensemble, many of whom laughed at him.
Recently, Kim Soo-hyun also faced mixed reactions after rumors of him being paid 18 times higher for “Queen of Tears” than his previous work, “One Ordinary Day”. However, many have noticed that such a number is impossible considering the budget of “Queen of Tears”, and negative reactions have mostly died down.
Additionally, “Queen of Tears”, is currently under backlash for allegedly promoting coffee brand Starbucks. It is known that Starbucks is a target of a boycott movement to show support for Palestine – which is undergoing a humanity crisis due to attacks from Israel, so promotion of it is being considered as tone-deaf.
Dating Life
In 2024, Kim Soo-hyun was unexpectedly caught up in dating rumor with Kim Sae-ron. Accordingly, in the early morning of March 24, Kim Sae-ron posted a photo of herself with Kim Soo-hyun on her Instagram story. In the photo, the actress is making close contact with the actor in comfortable clothes.
On the same day, Gold Medalist, Kim Soo-hyun’s agency, said, “Currently, Kim Soo-hyun’s dating rumors are groundless. The photos that are spreading online appear to have been taken in the past when they were under the same agency, and the intention of Kim Sae-ron’s behavior is completely unknown.”
However, on March 10, 2025, the GaroSaero Research Institute YouTube channel sparked controversy with a video titled “Kim Soo-hyun Drove Kim Sae-ron to Her Death.” The video featured a woman, claiming to be Kim Sae-ron’s aunt, who made shocking allegations about a six-year relationship between Kim Soo-hyun and the late actress, reportedly starting when she was a minor. The woman also claimed Kim Sae-ron was threatened by Kim Soo-hyun and his agency, Gold Medalist, after their breakup.
Kim Soo-hyun’s team denied the dating rumors and accusations, stating they would take legal action against the YouTube channel and journalist. Gold Medalist also condemned the spread of false information, stating it harmed the late actress’s reputation and caused further pain.
How rich is Kim Soo-hyun?
As of 2024, Kim Soo-hyun boasts a staggering net worth of approximately 156 billion won, making him the wealthiest K-drama actor, according to TenAsia. He earns around 500 million won per episode, with Korea Times reporting that he received 4.17 billion won for his role in “One Ordinary Day” (8 episodes). However, for “Queen of Tears,” he took a pay cut out of loyalty to writer Park Ji-eun, earning 5 billion won for 16 episodes.
Kim Soo-hyun is also dubbed the “CF King,” endorsing top brands like Tommy Hilfiger, MIDO Watches, COSRX, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Lifestyle Asia states he makes approximately 8.8 billion won annually from luxury brand deals alone. With 20.6 million Instagram followers, he reportedly earns between 13 million won to 133 million won per post.
His real estate holdings are valued at approximately 30 billion won, per Times of India. His priciest property is an 8.8 billion won penthouse in Seoul, purchased in January 2024, offering a stunning Han River view. His primary home, a 13.5 billion won apartment in Galleria Forêt, was bought in 2013 for 4 billion won. He also owns a 3 billion won property at Seoul Forest Trimage.
Kim Soo-hyun’s taste for luxury extends to cars. In 2019, Entertainment Relay revealed he had pre-ordered a BMW i8, the same model featured in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. CarWale estimates its price at approximately 400 million won.
Amid the recent scandal involving Kim Sae-ron, reports revealed that after her DUI incident and financial penalties, Kim Soo-hyun lent her 700 million won without setting a repayment deadline. She once confided in her aunt that she intended to repay him through hard work. However, she was later devastated to receive a formal debt notice, having already spent her money on fines. Suspecting the demand came from Lee Ro-bae, Kim Soo-hyun’s relative and Gold Medalist co-executive, she attempted to contact him for clarification, but he ignored her calls, even when she tried using her cousin’s phone.
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