Kim A-jung

Kim Ah-joong (; born October 16, 1982) is a South Korean actress, model and singer. She is best known for playing the main character in the romantic comedy 200 Pounds Beauty.

Education Kim graduated from Korea University with a master's degree in journalism.

Career Kim made her film debut in the romance film When Romance Meets Destiny (2005). She appeared in several commercials and landed her first leading role in the daily soap opera Bizarre Bunch.

Her breakthrough came in the comedy film 200 Pounds Beauty, where she played an overweight girl who undergoes a cosmetic surgery makeover to become a pop sensation. She was awarded the Best Actress award at the 2007 Grand Bell Awards. She released soundtracks of the film, "Beautiful Girl" and the Korean version of the song "Maria". "Beautiful Girl" won Digital Music Awards' "Song of the Month" by Cyworld.

Kim returned to acting three years later, starring alongside Hwang Jung-min in the romantic comedy The Accidental Couple. In 2010, Kim was cast in a U.S.-Chinese film project Amazing, a sci-fi film about the development of a virtual-reality basketball game. The same year, she was cast in the medical drama Sign by Kim Eun-hee, playing a forensic scientist.

In September 2011, Kim was found guilty of tax evasion. She also had to pay an additional $600,000 fine. She and her management at the time parted ways due to the verdict. Due to this scandal she was banned from TV work in South Korea from late 2011 to late 2014, and she focused on films. In December 2012, Kim co-starred with Ji Sung in the romantic comedy film My PS Partner. This was followed by another romantic comedy film Steal My Heart in 2013.

She returned to TV in the legal drama Punch, where she received positive reviews for her portrayal of a prosecutor. In 2016, Kim starred in the crime thriller Wanted. In 2017, she starred in the time-slip romantic comedy Live Up to Your Name alongside Kim Nam-gil.

In 2018, Kim was cast in the film adaptation of OCN's crime drama Bad Guys.

In 2022, Kim starred in science fiction thriller Grid as a detective.

Ambassadorship 2009: Goodwill Ambassador of FranceExpress 2009: 46th Savings Day: Prime Minister Commendation 2015: Ambassador for 17th Seoul International Women's Film Festival

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2005 When Romance Meets Destiny Lee Kyung-jae 2006 200 Pounds Beauty Kang Han-na / Jenny 2009 Present Spy W Short film 2010 Foxy Festival Soo-jung Cameo 2012 My PS Partner Yoon-jung 2013 Catch Me Yoon Jin-sook / Lee Sook-ja 2013 Amazing Erin 2017 The King Sang-hee 2019 The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos Kwak No-soon

Television series Year Title Role 2004 Emperor of the Sea Ha Jin 2005 Our Attitude to Prepare Parting Seo Hee-won Bizarre Bunch Kim Jong-nam 2009 The Accidental Couple Han Ji-soo 2011 Sign Go Da-kyung 2014 Punch Shin Ha-Gyung 2016 Wanted Jung Hye-in 2017 Live Up to Your Name Choi Yeon-kyung 2022 Grid Jeong Sae-byeok

Music video appearances Shin Hye-sung – "Same thought" Youme – "Words that I couldn't say because I'm a girl"

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2005 Dong-A TV Fashion-Beauty Awards Best Dresser MBC Drama Awards Best New Actress Our Attitude to Prepare Parting KBS Drama Awards Bizarre Bunch 2006 42nd Baeksang Arts Awards When Romance Meets Destiny Most Popular Actress 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actress 2007 6th Cyworld Digital Music Awards Song of the Month "Beautiful Girl" 2nd Asia Model Awards Popular Star Award 30th Golden Cinematography Awards Best New Actress 200 Pounds Beauty 4th Max Movie Awards Best Actress 44th Grand Bell Awards Popularity Award 1st Mnet 20's Choice Awards Best Actress 15th Chunsa Film Art Awards 3rd Premiere Magazine's Rising Star Awards Rising Star 1st Korea Movie Star Awards Rookie Award Best Couple Award 45th Motion Pictures Day Most Promising Actress 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actress Popular Star Award 6th Korean Film Awards Best Actress 22nd Golden Disc Awards Ceci Special Award "Beautiful Girl" Elle Style Award Asia Hot Face Award 2009 3rd André Kim Best Star Award Female Star Award 7th Korea Lifestyle Awards Best Dresser Award KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries The Accidental Couple Netizen Award, Actress Best Couple Award 2011 47th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress (TV) Sign SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special Best Couple Award 2015 SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special Punch Best Couple Award 2016 5th APAN Star Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Wanted 2017 1st The Seoul Awards Best Actress (TV) Live Up to Your Name 2019 8th Korea Best Star Awards Best Actress The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos