Seo Hyun-jin

Seo Hyun-jin (; born February 27, 1985) is a South Korean actress and singer. Seo debuted as the vocalist of South Korean girl group M.I.L.K. in 2001 and continued until the group disbanded in 2003. She contributed songs as a solo artist after the group broke up before she transitioned into acting in 2006.

Seo made her acting debut in the musical The Sound of Music (2006) then followed by appearances in several television series and film. She is best known for her leading role as Oh Hae-young in the romantic comedy TV series Another Miss Oh (2016), which gained her wider recognition. Seo has since gone on to have key parts in the medical melodrama Dr. Romantic (2016–2017), romance dramas Temperature of Love (2017), The Beauty Inside (2018), and You Are My Spring (2021), and the legal drama Why Her (2022).

Life and career 1985–2005: Early life and music career Seo was born on February 27, 1985, in Dobong District (now Nowon District), Seoul, South Korea. She was scouted by S.M. Entertainment and later debuted as a vocalist of South Korean girl group, M.I.L.K in 2001, under the label's subsidiary BM Entertainment. However, the group soon fell by the wayside due to fierce competition among manufactured bands, which led to one of the members quitting before they completely disbanded in 2003. After M.I.L.K. was dissolved, Seo attended Dongduk Women's University, where she majored in applied musicology to keep her dream of a singing career alive. Seo contributed songs to a few soundtracks and SM Town compilations as a solo artist.

2006–2014: Acting debut and further roles Seo had the chance to perform in her first musical, The Sound of Music in 2006, which she saw as the turning point in her acting career. TV police procedural H.I.T (2007), and the queer-themed film Ashamed (2011). Seo first drew attention for her subtler performance in The Duo (2011), as a neighborhood tomboy who later becomes a gisaeng. She played her first villain in Feast of the Gods (2012), as an extremely ambitious chef embroiled in a rivalry. Seo was then cast in leading roles for two historical dramas The King's Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang (2013) and The Three Musketeers (2014).

Seo has also frequently appeared in projects directed by her best friend, actress Ku Hye-sun, notably in the short film The Madonna and in the feature film Magic, in which she had her first leading role.

2015–present: Rising popularity and continued television roles

Seo said the character that most resembled her real-life personality was the foodie freelance writer in Let's Eat 2 (2015), adding that she "didn't realize how much fun shooting a lively and comedic drama could be." The drama was Seo's first foray into the romantic-comedy genre. She was reviewed well for the part, to the point that it became a turning-point in her career.

Her popularity grew rapidly after the hit romance comedy drama Another Miss Oh (2016), in which she starred alongside Eric Mun. She was praised for her portrayal of a girl-next-door type, and won the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress. In 2017, Seo starred in the romantic-themed television series Temperature of Love penned by Ha Myung-hee.

In 2018, Seo was cast in the fantasy melodrama The Beauty Inside which was based on the 2015 romantic comedy film of the same name. She played an actress who spends a week each month inhabiting someone else's body. She then starred in the high school television series Black Dog: Being A Teacher in 2019 and subsequently in the tvN drama series You Are My Spring in 2021.

In 2022, Seo starred in the SBS legal drama Why Her in the titular role of Oh Soo-jae, a lawyer-turned-professor and in the film Cassiopeia as a woman who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and is slowly turning into a young child due to the loss of her memory.

In 2024, Seo starred in the mystery melodrama television series The Trunk opposite Gong Yoo. Written by Park Eun-young and directed by Kim Kyu-tae, it is based on the novel of the same name by Kim Ryeo-ryeong about two people under a one-year marriage contract and a mysterious trunk. Seo played Noh In-ji, a director of the company that arranges temporary marriages.

Personal life A devout Roman Catholic, Seo is an ambassador and a member of the One Heart One Body Movement, a Catholic organization from Seoul. Her baptismal name is Gabriella.

Other activities In 2019, Seo was recognised as an exemplary tax payer by the National Tax Service of South Korea and was named as an honorary ambassador together with Lee Je-hoon.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2006 Love Me Not Ji-hye 2008 Story of Wine Jin-ju Dating on Earth Soo-hyun The Madonna Nun Short film 2010 Magic Ji-eun 2011 Ashamed Hee-jin 2012 The Peach Tree Shi-yeon Cameo Fragments of Sweet Memories Mom Short film 2016 Familyhood Sang-mi 2017 Because I Love You Hyun-kyeong 2018 Mystery Pink Ju-eun Short film 2022 Cassiopeia Su-jin

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2006 Hwang Jini Jung Ga-eun 2007 H.I.T Jang Hee-jin 2011 The Duo Dal-yi The Peak Ahn Il-yang 2012 Feast of the Gods Ha In-joo / Song Yeon-woo The King's Doctor Jo So-yong (Gwi-in Jo) Cameo 2012–2013 Here Comes Mr. Oh Na Jin-joo 2013 Goddess of Fire Shim Hwa-ryung Drama Festival – "Unrest" Joon-kyung's mother Cameo 2013–2014 The King's Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang Seol-nan / Soo Baek-hyang 2014 The Three Musketeers Kang Yoon-seo 2015 Let's Eat 2 Baek Soo-ji 2016 Another Miss Oh Oh Hae-young (Soil) Bring It On, Ghost Department store clerk Cameo (Episode 13) 2016–2017 Dr. Romantic Yoon Seo-jung 2017 Temperature of Love Lee Hyun-soo 2018 Let's Eat 3 Baek Soo-ji Cameo The Beauty Inside Han Se-gye 2019–2020 Black Dog: Being A Teacher Go Ha-neul 2020 Record of Youth Lee Hyun-soo Cameo 2021 You Are My Spring Kang Da-jung 2022 Why Her Oh Soo-jae 2024 The Trunk Noh In-ji 2025 Love Me Seo Jun-kyung

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2014 SNS Expedition Regular cast 2015 Let's Eat with Friends 2023 Wild Plains Serengeti 3 Narrator Episode 1–4

Music video appearances Year Song Title Artist 2009 "One Step at a Time" Seo Young-eun "Dugeun Dugeun, Tomorrow" 4Tomorrow

Theater Year title Role 2006 The Sound of Music Liesl von Trapp 2010 Goong: The Musical Min Hyo-rin 2015 Cinderella Cinderella

Discography

Singles Title Year Peak chartpositions Sales Album KORGaon As lead artist "Paradise" 2003 — 2003 Summer Vacation in SM Town "Summer in Dream" — "Raindrops" 2006 — 2006 Summer SM Town "Winter of Memories" — 2006 Winter SM Town – Snow Dream "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" 2007 — 2007 Winter SM Town – Only Love Soundtrack appearances "Grip! " 2003 — Inuyasha OST "Give Me a Little Try" 2006 — Princess Hours OST "0" — Hyena OST "Calling" 2007 — Air City OST "Song of Jeongeup" 2013 — The King's Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang OST "Up & Down" 2015 — Let's Eat 2 OST "What Is Love" 2016 6 KOR: 705,741+ Another Miss Oh OST "Falling Flower" 2021 You Are My Spring OST

Accolades 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 APAN Star Awards 2014 Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama The King's Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang 2016 Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Another Miss Oh 2021 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Black Dog: Being A Teacher 2022 Why Her Baeksang Arts Awards 2017 Best Actress – Television Another Miss Oh Blue Dragon Series Awards 2025 Best Actress The Trunk Brand Customer Loyalty Awards 2020 Most Influential Actress (Drama) Seo Hyun-jin Grimae Awards 2017 Best Actress Temperature of Love Korea Best Star Awards 2018 Best Drama Star The Beauty Inside Korea Drama Awards 2011 Best New Actress The Duo 2013 Excellence Award, Actress Goddess of Fire, Here Comes Mr. Oh 2015 Excellence Award, Actress Let's Eat 2 2016 Top Excellence Award, Actress Another Miss Oh MBC Drama Awards 2011 Best New Actress in a Miniseries The Duo 2012 Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Feast of the Gods, Here Comes Mr. Oh 2013 Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama The King's Daughter, Soo Baek-hyang SBS Drama Awards 2016 Grand Prize (Daesang) Dr. Romantic Excellence Award, Actress in a Genre Drama Top 10 Stars Best Couple Seo Hyun-jin Dr. Romantic Idol Academy Award – Best Kiss 2017 Grand Prize (Daesang) Temperature of Love Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday–Tuesday Drama Best Couple Seo Hyun-jin Temperature of Love 2022 Grand Prize (Daesang) Why Her Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Fantasy Drama Best Supporting Team tvN10 Awards 2016 Best Actress Another Miss Oh Made in tvN, Actress in Drama Romantic-Comedy Queen Best Kiss Seo Hyun-jin Another Miss Oh

State honors + Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given Organization Year Award 53rd Taxpayers' Day 2019 Presidential Commendation

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2017 Korea Power Celebrity 26th