Kim Ji-seok

Kim Ji-seok (born Kim Bo-seok on April 21, 1981) is a South Korean actor.

Early life and education Kim is the grandson of Kim Seong-il, who worked as an independent activist in Manchuria during the Japanese colonial era. His grandfather was a student of Kim Gu, a Manchurian independence activist.

Kim Bo-seok debuted in 2001 as a rapper in the five-member Eurodance boyband LEO (리오), formed to capitalize on the success of then-popular boyband g.o.d, however, LEO never hit it big, and the group disbanded after eight months. He also has a master's degree in Cultural Contents Planning from Kyung Hee University's Graduate School of Journalism and Communication.

Kim was told by the head of his agency that his birth name could be confused with veteran actors Jung Bo-seok and Kim Bo-seong, he was given the stage name "Kim Ji-seok." Though his daily drama Likeable or Not recorded high ratings of over 40% in 2007–2008, Kim still did not become a household name. Then a year later, Kim played a member of the Korean national ski jumping team in Take Off, which became the second-highest grossing Korean film in 2009. His popularity increased even more when he played an immature, womanizing slave hunter ("chuno") in period drama The Slave Hunters, and a competitive ex-boyfriend in Personal Taste.

Kim's first post-army acting project was horror film Two Moons (also known as The Sleepless), released in July. This was followed by television romantic comedies I Need Romance 2012 in June, and Cheongdam-dong Alice in December. Kim then starred in Wonderful Mama (2013), Angel Eyes (2014), Unkind Ladies (2015), and Cheer Up. He also appeared as one of the cast members of talk show Hot Brain: Problematic Men.

Kim then starred in the hit romantic comedy drama, Another Oh Hae-young (2016), garnering praise from viewers for his comic acting. This was followed by acclaimed historical drama The Rebel, which gained him recognition by critics for his outstanding portrayal of King Lee Yong. Kim was then cast as the lead male role in the romantic comedy drama Children of the 20th Century (2017) alongside Han Ye-seul, followed by another romantic comedy drama Top Star U-back as the titular character.

In 2019, Kim starred in the romantic comedy thriller When the Camellia Blooms.

In 2021, Kim will write a book, Writing your name on the breath of dawn, to be published on December 13, 2021.

Personal life Military service Kim enlisted for his mandatory military service on May 24, 2010, at the Nonsan training center in South Chungcheong Province for five weeks of basic training. After serving active duty with the Defense Media Agency of the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, he was discharged in March 2012.

Relationship In August 2024, it was confirmed that Kim was in a relationship with actress Lee Ju-myoung.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2005 Her Name Is... DHR7 Dong-guk Seoul Raiders Gangster underling Love in Magic Yoon Woo-suk Eye for an Eye Song Yoo-gon 2009 Take Off Kang Chil-gu 2010 Lady Daddy Jun-seok 2012 The Sleepless Seok-ho 2013 My Paparotti Drunken man cameo 2026 Husbands in Action Ma Do-jun

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2003 Sang Doo! Let's Go to School (extra) 2004 Jo Mi-ryeong's younger brother Nonstop 5 Kim Ji-seok guest 2005 Drama City "Summer, A Tale of Goodbye" Seong-yeob's friend 2006 I Want to Love Ji Eun-woo The Vineyard Man Kim Kyung-min Just Run! Bae Man-soo 2007 Couple Breaking Lee Jung-jae Likeable or Not Kang Baek-ho 2008 Strongest Chil Woo Peasant petitioner Cameo (episode 1) Star's Lover Actor Cameo (episode 1) 2009 Hometown Legends "Kiss of the Vampire" Hyeon 2010 The Slave Hunters Wang-son Personal Taste Han Chang-ryul 2011 Marching 1 Corporal Kang Dae-san 2012 I Need Romance 2012 Shin Ji-hoon Cheongdam-dong Alice Tommy Hong 2013 Wonderful Mama Go Young-soo KBS Drama Special "Came to Me and Became a Star" Kang-seok 2014 I Need Romance 3 Bar owner with dog Cameo (episode 3) Angel Eyes Kang Ji-woon 2015 Unkind Ladies Lee Doo-jin Cheer Up! Yang Tae-bum 2016 Another Miss Oh Lee Jin-sang Drinking Solo Lee Jin-sang Cameo (episode 13) 2017 Introverted Boss Yoo-hee's husband Cameo The Rebel Lee Yong (Yeonsangun of Joseon) Children of the 20th Century Gong Ji-won Irish Uppercut Woo Si-hyung 2018 Top Star U-back Yoo Baek 2019 When the Camellia Blooms Kang Jong-ryul 2020 My Unfamiliar Family Park Chan-hyuk 2021 Doom at Your Service Jo Dae-han Cameo (episode 2) Monthly Magazine Home Yoo Ja-sung 2023 New Recruit Oh Seung-yoon Season 2 2026 OK! Let's Get Divorced Ji Won-ho

Web series Year Title Role Notes 2021 Work Later, Drink Now Kim Hak-soo Cameo 2022 Kiss Sixth Sense Lee Pil-yo

Web shows Year Title Role Notes 2021–2022 Double Trouble Host 2022 Saturday Night Live Korea Episode 9 – Season 2

Music video appearances Year Song title Artist 2004 "She's Laughing" Kim Hyung-joong 2007 "사랑했었는데" Sung-ah 2013 "The Day to Love" Lee Seung-chul

Television shows Year Title Notes 2008 Interview Game MC 2010–2012 Work Plus Success 2015–2020 Hot Brain: Problematic Men Cast member 2021 Save me! Rooms Host 2022 Map to Go Again Host with Kim Shin-young Suspicious Neighbor Host Golf King Cast Member; Season 3

Radio shows Year Title Network Role Note 2021 Kim Young-chul's Power FM SBS Power FM Special DJ June 30 – July 2

Discography Album information Track listing LEO: The First Album Album Artist: LEO Released: May 9, 2001 Label: Synnara Music 독.불.장.군 Track from Likeable or Not OST Artist: Kim Ji-seok Released: November 16, 2007 Label: KBS Media

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2007 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Daily Drama Likeable or Not Best New Actor 2008 44th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor (TV) 2009 17th Chunsa Film Art Awards Ensemble Acting Award Take Off 32nd Golden Cinematography Awards Best New Actor 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards KBS Drama Awards Best Actor in a One-Act Drama/Special Kiss of the Vampire 2013 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Cheongdam-dong Alice 2014 SBS Drama Awards Special Award, Actor in a Drama Special Angel Eyes 2015 KBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actor Unkind Ladies, Cheer Up! 2016 tvN10 Awards Two Star Award Another Oh Hae-young Scene-Stealer Award, Actor 2017 Korea Cable TV Awards Most Popular Star Award Scene Stealer Award Best Couple Award 10th Korea Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor The Rebel 1st The Seoul Awards Best Supporting Actor MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Children of the 20th Century Popularity Award, Actor 2019 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama When the Camellia Blooms Netizen Award, Actor Best Couple Award