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Kim Woo-bin
Kim Woo-bin 김우빈 in 2022.jpg
Kim in July 2022
Born
Kim Hyun-joong

(1989-07-16) July 16, 1989 (age 35)
Seoul, South Korea
Alma mater Jeonju University
Occupation
  • Actor
  • model
Years active 2009–present
Agent AM Entertainment
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Partner(s) Shin Min-a (2015–present)
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization Gim U-bin
McCune–Reischauer Kim Ubin
Birth name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization Gim Hyeon-jung
McCune–Reischauer Kim Hyŏnchung

Kim Woo-bin (born Kim Hyun-joong on July 16, 1989) is a South Korean actor and model. He began his career as a runway model and made his acting debut in the television drama White Christmas. He subsequently gained attention in A Gentleman's Dignity (2012), and made his breakthrough with School 2013 (2012-2013) and The Heirs (2013). Kim later starred in box office hits Friend: The Great Legacy (2013), The Con Artists (2014) and Twenty (2015). In 2016, he took on his first leading role on television in Uncontrollably Fond.

In May 2017, Kim's agency announced that Kim would be taking a hiatus after he was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. Kim subsequently returned to screen in 2022 with the TV series Our Blues and Black Knight and also with the sci-fi action film Alienoid, directed by Choi Dong-hoon.

Career

2009–2012: Beginnings

Kim wanted to pursue a modeling career since he was a high school student. He debuted as a runway model in 2009 at the age of 20 and began appearing in prêt-à-porter and Seoul Fashion Week collections.

As his modeling career progressed, he started doing commercial films and began studying acting, under the guidance of acting coach Moon Won-joo. Kim fell in love with acting, saying, "In the course of doing so, I found myself feeling the same thrill and enthusiasm that I felt the first time I came to walk on the runway".

Under the stage name Kim Woo-bin, he made his acting debut in 2011, starring in mystery drama White Christmas and the low-rated cable sitcom Vampire Idol.

In 2012, he had a supporting role in the romantic comedy drama A Gentleman's Dignity, written by famed screenwriter Kim Eun-sook. Next came a two-episode guest appearance in drama adaptation of the popular manga To the Beautiful You.

2013: Rising popularity

Kim Woo-bin on Seoul Music Awards Red Carpet, 31 January 2013 02
In January 2013

Kim's breakout year came in 2013 with two hit dramas and one film. From late December to early 2013, he starred in the teen drama School 2013. He received his first acting award for the role at the 2nd APAN Star Awards under the category Best New Actor.

The same year, he was cast in Kim Eun-sook's teen drama The Heirs, which became popular domestically and internationally with a peak audience rating of 28.6% and 1 million hits on the Chinese streaming website iQiyi. Kim experienced a surge in popularity overseas. This led to increased advertising contracts and acting offers for the actor.

Kim then appeared in his first major film role in Friend: The Great Legacy, the blockbuster sequel to Kwak Kyung-taek's 2001 box office hit. He received positive reviews for his portrayal as a young gang member. The same year he became the host of cable music program M! Countdown from August 15, 2013, to February 13, 2014.

2014–2017: Success in film and hiatus

After his rise in popularity in 2013, Kim continued appearing in big screen projects. In January 2014, he was cast in the heist movie The Con Artists, in which he played a top safe-cracker alongside rising star Lee Hyun-woo. He then took on a comedic character in indie director Lee Byung-heon's sophomore effort Twenty in 2015.

Kim then appeared in an ad campaign for Calvin Klein Watches + Jewelry, making him the first East Asian model for the brand.

In 2015, Kim was cast in his first television leading role in the melodrama Uncontrollably Fond, written by screenwriter Lee Kyung-hee. The drama premiered on July 6, 2016.

He then starred in crime action film Master alongside Lee Byung-hun and Kang Dong-won. The movie premiered in December 2016 and became the 11th bestselling film for 2016 in South Korea.

In 2017, Kim was cast in crime caper film Wiretap by Choi Dong-hoon. The project has since been suspended to allow Kim to seek treatment for cancer.

2020–present: Return to screen

On March 11, 2020, AM Entertainment announced that Kim would be returning to the big screen in Choi Dong-hoon's upcoming sci-fi film Alienoid alongside Ryu Jun-yeol and Kim Tae-ri. The film premiered in July 2022 and Kim played the role of 'Guard', a person in charge of managing alien prisoners.

Also in 2022, Kim co-starred in acclaimed screenwriter Noh Hee-kyung's television series Our Blues, and in Netflix original series Black Knight.

Personal life

Kim is best friends with fellow model-actor and School 2013 co-star Lee Jong-suk, whom he has known since their modeling days.

Relationship

Since May 2015, Kim has been in a relationship with model-actress Shin Min-a.

Health

On May 24, 2017, Kim was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. Kim's agency, Sidus HQ, said Kim had begun drug and radiation treatment and would halt all activities. On December 29, Kim announced, in a letter, that he had completed his treatment plan for the cancer. However, he was still exempted from military service.

Philanthropy

On March 8, 2022, Kim donated 100 million to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help the victims of the massive wildfires that started in Uljin, Gyeongbuk. and also spread to Samcheok, Gangwon. On Christmas Day, Kim sent gifts and sent a handwritten letter for about 200 children who are hospitalized in the children's ward of Asan Hospital in Seoul.

In January 2023, Kim donated 100 million won to Asan Medical Center in Seoul to support the treatment of poor patients.

Ambassador activities

In 2013, Kim was named honorary ambassador for his alma mater, Jeonju University. The same year, he was appointed the public relations ambassador of the 2013 Suwon Information Science Festival; and ambassador of the "Good Downloader Campaign" organized by the Korean Film Council and Film Federation Against Piracy.

In 2015, Kim was chosen as the promotional ambassador of CJ CGV's arthouse exhibition chain CGV ARTHOUSE.

In April 2017, Kim was appointed as an honorary ambassador for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Kim is the second actor to take on this role and was set to take part in various activities to promote the event. In October, however, he was pulled from the role due to his then ongoing cancer treatments.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2012 Runway Cop Cameo, last part
2013 Friend: The Great Legacy Han Sung-hoon
2014 The Con Artists Ji-hyuk
2015 Twenty Chi-ho
2016 Master Park Jang-goon
2021 Like Father, Like Son Narrator Barrier-free version
2022 Alienoid Guard
2024 Alienoid 2
0TBA Officer Black Belt Lee Jeong-do Netflix film

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 White Christmas Kang Mi-reu
Cupid Factory Roy Drama Special
Vampire Idol Woo-bin
2012 A Gentleman's Dignity Kim Dong-hyub
To the Beautiful You John Kim guest, episodes 9-11
School 2013 Park Heung-soo
2013 The Heirs Choi Young-do
2016 Uncontrollably Fond Shin Joon-young
2022 Our Blues Park Jeong-joon
2024 Everything Shall Come True Genie

Web series

Year Title Role Ref.
2014 Love Cells Love cell hunter
2023 Black Knight 5–8

Television shows

Year Title Role Ref.
2023 GBRB Reap What You Sow Cast Member

Hosting and documentary

Year Title Ref.
2013–2014 M Countdown
2020 Humanimal

Music videos

Year Title Artist Ref.
2009 Kiss Dara
2013 Don't Mess With Me 2Eyes

Discography

Songs

Soundtrack appearances

Year Title Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR

Gaon

2016 "Picture In My Head"
91
N/A Uncontrollably Fond OST
"Do You Know"
N/A
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

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 Ref.
APAN Star Awards 2013 Best New Actor School 2013 Won
2014 Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries The Heirs Nominated
2016 Uncontrollably Fond Nominated
2022 Best Couple Kim Woo-bin with Han Ji-min
Our Blues
Nominated
Asia Model Awards 2013 New Star Award Kim Woo-bin Won
2014 Asia Star Award Won
Asia Rainbow TV Awards 2014 Best Supporting Actor The Heirs Nominated
Baeksang Arts Awards 2013 Best New Actor – Television School 2013 Nominated
2014 Best New Actor – Film Friend: The Great Legacy Nominated
Blue Dragon Film Awards 2014 Best New Actor Nominated
Popular Star Award Won
Buil Film Awards 2015 Best New Actor Twenty Nominated
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2014 Fantasia Award Kim Woo-bin Won
China TV Drama Awards 2013 Popular Foreign Actor The Heirs Won
Fashionista Awards 2015 Best Fashionista – Male Category Kim Woo-bin Nominated
2016 Best Dresser – Male Nominated
Grand Bell Awards 2014 Hana Financial Group Star Award (Popularity Award) Friend: The Great Legacy Won
InStyle Star Icon 2016 Best Actor (Film) The Con Artists, Twenty Nominated
Most Stylish Male Actor Kim Woo-bin Nominated
KBS Drama Awards 2016 Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Uncontrollably Fond Nominated
Netizen Award, Actor Nominated
Best Couple Award Kim Woo-bin with Bae Suzy
Uncontrollably Fond
Nominated
Korean Advertisers Association Awards 2016 Best Model Kim Woo-bin Won
Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards 2015 Best Dresser Award Won
Korea Drama Awards 2013 Best New Actor School 2013 Nominated
2014 Excellence Award, Actor The Heirs Nominated
Korean Film Actors' Guild Awards 2015 Popularity Award Twenty Won
Max Movie Awards 2014 Best New Actor Friend: The Great Legacy Nominated
2015 Best Actor The Con Artists Nominated
Mnet 20's Choice Awards 2013 20's Booming Star – Male School 2013 Nominated
SBS Drama Awards 2013 Top 10 Stars The Heirs Won
Seoul International Drama Awards 2014 People's Choice Actor Nominated
Style Icon Awards Top 10 Style Icons Kim Woo-bin Nominated

Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Forbes 2015 Korea Power Celebrity 40 29th

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kim Woo-bin para niños

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