Kim Seong-yoon

Kim Seong-yoon (born 1976) is a South Korean television director, best known for directing popular television series Love in the Moonlight and Itaewon Class (2020).

Career In 2001, Kim joined the Entertainment Department of KBS and later moved to the Drama Department. He co-directed television dramas The Great Merchant (2010) Dream High (2011), Big (2012) and Discovery of Love (2014).

In 2015, Kim co-directed Who Are You: School 2015 – the sixth installment of KBS's School series with Baek Sang-hoon. The drama, written by Kim Min-jeong and Im Ye-jin, received modest viewership ratings but was well received by young viewers and became popular overseas, leading to increased recognition for its cast – Kim So-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, and Yook Sung-jae.

In 2016, he directed the youth historical drama Love in the Moonlight, which marked the second collaboration of him with writers Kim Min-jeong and Im Ye-jin after School 2015. Based on the novel Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, series depicts the growth of Lee Yeong, Crown Prince of Joseon, (played by Park Bo-gum) and his unlikely relationship with eunuch Hong Ra-on (a woman disguised as a man, portrayed by Kim You-jung). The series met with praise by critics and audiences for its production, performances and music, achieved peak audience rating of 23.3% and dominated topicality, content and brand reputation charts. The media to called its popularity "Moonlight Syndrome". Following the huge popularity gained from the drama, lead actor Park became the first ever actor to top the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list and lead actress Kim became the youngest to be included in the Top 10 of the same list.

In March 2017, he resigned from KBS and joined JTBC. Three years later in 2020, Kim directed JTBC-broadcast and Netflix-distributed drama series Itaewon Class starring Park Seo-joon and Kim Da-mi, based on the webtoon of the same name. The drama was a success, and was praised for its interesting story development and colorful performances. Its final episode recorded a 16.548% nationwide audience share, making it the third-highest viewership rating in JTBC and the eighth highest rated drama in Korean cable television history. Time Magazine and Forbes included Itaewon Class on their lists of "The 10 Best Korean Dramas to Watch on Netflix" and "The 13 Best Korean Dramas Of 2020" respectively.

He again reunited with writer Kim Min-jeong (for their third collaboration) in the fantasy musical drama The Sound of Magic, based on webtoon Annarasumanara. The series starring Ji Chang-wook, Choi Sung-eun and Hwang In-youp was released in May 2022 on Netflix. Later that year he reunited with the cast members of Love in the Moonlight, Itaewon Class and The Sound of Magic in the TVING travel entertainment program Young Actors' Retreat.

Filmography

Television series YearTitleNetworkNotes 2010 The Great Merchant KBS1 Co-directed with Kang Byung-taek 2011 Dream High KBS2 Co-directed with Lee Eung-bok Drama Special Human Casino One-act play Drama Special Sorry I'm Late 2012 Big Co-directed with Ji Byung-hyun 2013 Puberty Medley Drama Special My Dad Is a Nude Model One-act play 2014 Drama Special The Reason I'm Getting Married Discovery of Love Co-directed with Lee Eung-bok 2015 Who Are You: School 2015 Co-directed with Baek Sang-hoon 2016 Love in the Moonlight 2020 Itaewon Class JTBC 2022 The Sound of Magic Netflix 2025Pro BonotvN

Television show YearTitleNetworkNotes 2022 Young Actors' Retreat TVING As a planner

Awards and nominations YearAward ceremonyCategoryNominee / WorkResult 2017 29th Korea PD Awards Best Picture - TV Drama Love in the Moonlight 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards Best Drama 12th Seoul International Drama Awards Top Excellence Award for Korean Wave Drama 10th Korea Drama Awards Best Drama Best Production Director 2020 56th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Director Itaewon Class