Kim Woo-bin

Kim Hyun-joong 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, "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 the 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'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.

In 2025, Kim starred in the Netflix fantasy romantic comedy series Genie, Make a Wish written Kim Eun-sook and directed by Lee Byeong-heon. This is his second pairing with Suzy after Uncontrollably Fond in 2016. He played spirit of a lamp that awakens after a thousand years.

Personal life Marriage Since May 2015, Kim has been in a relationship with model-actress Shin Min-a. In November 2025, Kim announced that he and Shin would be getting married in December. On December 20, their wedding took place at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul.

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 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 Seoul Asan Medical Center.

In January 2023, Kim donated million through the Seoul Asan Medical Center to support the treatment of poor patients, with a further million donation in January 2025. In March 2025, Kim donated million to the Korean Red Cross to help wildfire victims in the Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam regions. In December 2025, Kim and wife Shin Min-a donated ₩300 million through various organizations including the Hallym Burn Foundation, Seoul Asan Medical Center, and Good Friends, to support people in difficult circumstances and for medical treatments of low-income families.

Ambassadorship 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.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2012 Runway Cop Cameo 2013 Friend: The Great Legacy Choi Sung-hoon 2014 The Con Artists Lee Ji-hyuk 2015 Twenty Cha Chi-ho 2021 Like Father, Like Son Narrator Barrier-free version 2022 Alienoid Guard 2024 Alienoid: Return to the Future Officer Black Belt Lee Jung-do

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2011 White Christmas Kang Mi-reu Vampire Idol Woo-bin To the Beautiful You John Kim Cameo (episodes 9–11) 2016 Uncontrollably Fond Shin Joon-young 2023 Black Knight 5–8 2025 Genie, Make a Wish Genie 2026 Gifted Jung Min-yong

Web series Year Title Role 2014 Love Cells Love cell hunter

Television shows Year Title Role 2023 GBRB Reap What You Sow Cast member 2025 GBRB Joy Pops Laugh Pops 2026 GBRB Farm Operation - Go Go Farm

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 YearTitle Peak chart positionsAlbumKORGaon2016"Picture In My Head"Uncontrollably Fond OST "Do You Know""—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Awards and nominations

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2015 Korea Power Celebrity 40 the Korea Consumer Forum and the U.S. consulting firm BrandKey 2026 2026 Most Influential Male Actor