Kim Young-kwang

Kim Young-kwang (; born January 11, 1987) is a famous South Korean actor and model. Kim began his career as a model and has modeled for designers such as Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Etro. In 2008, he was the first Asian model to model at Dior Homme's show. As an actor, Kim has starred in the films Hot Young Bloods and On Your Wedding Day (2018), as well as the television dramas Pinocchio (2014), The Guardians (2017), The Secret Life of My Secretary (2019), Call It Love (2023), and the most recent series Trigger (2025).

Early life Born as Kim Young-kwang, Kim's father was a veteran of the Vietnam War and died when Kim was in elementary school.

Career Kim began acting in 2008, and later performed in the drama Good Doctor on KBS2. He also starred in the action comedy, Runway Cop (2012) and teen romance drama, Hot Young Bloods (2014). In 2014 he performed in dramas such as tvN's Plus Nine Boys and SBS's Pinocchio, for which he received an SBS Drama Award as "New Star" for his role as Seo Beom-jo. In 2015, he starred in the medical drama D-Day, and in the web drama Dr. Ian with Sandara Park. In 2016, he was cast as the lead in the web drama Gogh, The Starry Night with Kwon Yuri, and in the KBS2 romantic comedy series Sweet Stranger and Me with Soo Ae. In 2017, he starred in the MBC thriller drama The Guardians as a passionate prosecutor. In 2018, Kim starred in romance film On Your Wedding Day opposite Park Bo-young. His performance in the film earned him a Best New Actor award in film at the Baeksang Arts Awards. He then starred in fantasy comedy film The Soul-Mate together with Ma Dong-seok. Later that year, he was also cast in tvN's mystery drama Room No. 9. In 2019, Kim starred in the romance comedy drama The Secret Life of My Secretary, which premiered in May 2019.

In 2021, he starred in the spy action film Mission: Possible opposite Lee Sun-bin, which was released in February. Also in 2021, he starred alongside Choi Kang-hee in the fantasy romantic comedy Hello, Me!, which premiered in February 2021. In 2022, he starred in murder thriller netflix series Somebody. In 2023, he starred in Melo-drama titled Call It Love, alongside actress Lee Sung-Kyung. It aired on Disney+ from February 22 to April 12, 2023. Also that year, he starred in the Genie TV original drama Evilive.

In 2025, he had a cameo appearance in The Haunted Palace as an imoogi. Followed by Netflix original series Trigger, which he starred alongside actor Kim Nam-gil. He also starred in a crime thriller series Walking on Thin Ice, also known as Eunsoo's Good Day, alongside actress Lee Young Ae. He also starred in the film adventure comedy film The First Ride.

Personal life Kim maintains a close friendship with Lee Soo-hyuk, as well as other fellow models-turned-actors: Kim Woo-bin, Hong Jong-hyun and Sung Joon – with whom he has worked onscreen in White Christmas. They were given the nickname of "Model Avengers" by their fans. On December 12, 2013, Kim began his mandatory military service. However, he was only required to be enlisted for six months as a public service worker due to his father being a Vietnam War veteran, as well as an acknowledged person of national merit. Kim was discharged in June 2014.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 2012 Runway Cop Han Seung-woo 2014 Hot Young Bloods Jo Gwang-sik 2018 On Your Wedding Day Hwang Woo-yeon The Soul-Mate Tae-jin 2021 Mission: Possible Woo Su-han A Year-End Medley Seung-hyo 2025 The First Ride Ko Do-jin

Television series

Streaming series

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2016 Law of the Jungle in New Caledonia Main cast Episodes 220–224 2017 Boat Horn Clenched Fists from Episode 2–end 2018Law of the Jungle in AntarcticaEpisode 311–314

Music video Year Song Title Artist 2007 "My Heart Is Like That" Lee Seung-hwan "Shout for Love" MC the Max 2008 "It's You" Shin Hye-sung and Lyn 2009 "Why Are You Such a Nerd?" XXX 2011 "Don't Cry" Park Bom 2013 "You" Brown Eyed Soul "Runaway" Kara

Theater YearEnglish titleKorean title Role 2009 Beautiful Sunday 뷰티풀 선데이 Joon-seok

Discography

Soundtrack appearances Title Year Album "Oh-Sing-Sing-Men Oh Sing Sing Men" (with Ji Chang-wook, Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Young-kwang, Shin Won-ho, Sung-je, and Ji-hyuk) 2011 Bachelor's Vegetable Store OST Japanese release "Star Candy"2016Gogh, The Starry Night OST

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 Asia Model Awards 2009 Best Fashion Model Kim Young-kwang Baeksang Arts Awards 2019 Best New Actor – FilmOn Your Wedding Day Popular Star Award Elle Style Awards 2018 Man of the Year Kim Young-kwang KBS Drama Awards 2013 Best New Actor Good Doctor 2016 Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Sweet Stranger and Me 2025 Top Excellence Award, Actor Walking on Thin Ice Best Couple Award Kim Young-kwang Walking on Thin Ice Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards 2014 Best New Actor in a Film Hot Young Bloods Korea Fashion Photographers Association 2008 Best New Model Kim Young-kwang MBC Drama Awards 2017 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama The Guardians SBS Drama Awards 2014 New Star Award Pinocchio 2019 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries The Secret Life of My Secretary Style Icon Awards 2009 Style Icon, Model category Kim Young-kwang The Seoul Awards 2018 Best New Actor (Film) On Your Wedding Day