Kim Go-eun Biography: Age Relationship, Net Worth, Family, Education, Personal Life, Career, Awards and Nomination

Kim Go-eun, born on July 2, 1991, is a renowned South Korean actress. Her debut in the film Eungyo (2012) earned her numerous Best New Actress accolades in South Korea.

She has gained recognition for her performances in various television series such as Cheese in the Trap (2016), Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016–2017), Yumi’s Cells (2021–2022), and Little Women (2022), in addition to her roles in films like Coin Locker Girl (2015), Hero (2022), and Exhuma (2024).

Early Life and Education

Kim, born in Seoul, South Korea in 1991, relocated to Beijing, China with her family at the age of three in 1994.

Living there for a decade enabled her to attain fluency in Mandarin. Kim’s interest in filmmaking was sparked after watching Chen Kaige’s Together multiple times, eventually leading her to theater.

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Upon her return to South Korea, she pursued her passion by attending Kaywon High School of the Arts and later studying drama at the Korea National University of Arts.

Director Jung Ji-woo praised Kim for her natural curiosity, bravery, and independent spirit, highlighting her strength in not succumbing to external influences.

Relationship

Career

In 2012, Kim rose from obscurity to the center of significant media attention when she landed the role of Eun-gyo, a 17-year-old high school student who captivates the desires of two men, in A Muse. Her portrayal earned her the Best New Actress awards that year.

Having never been in a film or TV drama before, not even in a minor role, the 21-year-old had only previously participated in student productions or school plays.

She met A Muse director Jung Ji-woo through mutual friends and was unaware of the ongoing auditions for the film. “I ended up auditioning after a conversation with the director.

There was no time for me to prepare,” Kim reminisced. She was selected from a pool of around 300 actresses who tried out for the role.

Jung noted Kim’s growth throughout the film, stating, “Her expressions in the final scenes are markedly different from the beginning.

I aimed to capture the moments when she realizes her own worth and importance to herself and others,” highlighting qualities that can only be seen in someone unaware of their beauty and potential.

Reflecting on her career, Kim shared, “During my first time on stage, I was so nervous that I thought it would be difficult to continue.

However, from my second performance onwards, I felt exhilarated, as if I had wings on my back, and I never wanted to leave the stage.

I continue acting because I want to hold on to that sensation.” When it comes to limiting her involvement in advertisements, she explained, “I never consider my image or potential endorsements when selecting my next film project.

My concern lies in the impact that appearing in commercials could have on my roles.”

Following her success in A Muse, Kim decided to take a hiatus from acting and return to college to finish her degree.

She made a comeback to the screen in 2014 with the thriller Monster, portraying a woman with developmental disabilities seeking revenge after her sister’s murder.

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In 2015, she starred in Coin Locker Girl alongside Kim Hye-soo, based on a Japanese novel.

Kim also appeared in Memories of the Sword, a martial arts period drama, and The Advocate: A Missing Body, a courtroom film.

Additionally, she acted in Canola, a family movie about reuniting with a grandmother.

Kim’s television debut was in the popular cable series Cheese in the Trap, which was adapted from a webtoon of the same name.

She showcased her vocal talents in the track “Attraction” by Tearliner for the drama’s OST. Kim’s outstanding performance earned her the Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actress Television.

In 2016, she starred in the fantasy drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, which was a huge success across Asia and received critical acclaim in South Korea.

The drama made history by becoming the first Korean cable drama to exceed 20% in ratings and remains one of the top-rated Korean dramas in cable television history as of June 2021.

Two years later, Kim took on a supporting role in the film Sunset in My Hometown, where she underwent a physical transformation and learned a regional dialect for her character.

She also appeared in the period romance film Tune in for Love in the same year.

In 2019, Kim joined the cast of the fantasy drama The King: Eternal Monarch, which was highly anticipated due to its star-studded ensemble, renowned screenwriter, extensive publicity, and substantial production budget.

Despite setting records with its premiere ratings and topping the weekly drama chart for eight weeks, the series faced criticism for its screenplay, direction, and performances, resulting in lower-than-expected domestic popularity in Korea, especially considering it was written by Kim Eun-sook.

In 2024, Kim co-starred with actor Choi Min-sik in the supernatural thriller Exhuma, portraying a shaman.

The movie debuted at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, being showcased in the Forum category.

Upon its release, it dominated the South Korean box office during its opening weekend and reached over 5 million admissions in just 10 days, setting a new record.

By March 2, 2024, it had become the highest-grossing film of the year. Kim garnered praise from both critics and fans, with The Korean Herald commending her “exceptional acting” and labeling her as a “seasoned performer” who “mesmerized the audience with her spine-chilling songs, prophecies, and rituals.”

Kim’s upcoming project is the film adaptation of the popular novel Love in the Big City by Park Sang-young.

The movie will concentrate on the initial segment of the book, depicting the bond between a “carefree” young woman and an HIV-positive homosexual man as they cohabit and navigate their romantic relationships in contemporary Seoul.

In Other Ventures

In 2019, Kim was designated as a Chanel Ambassador for South Korea, and was subsequently chosen to be one of the seven figures for Chanel’s “J12 Turns 20” campaign in 2020.

In 2019, Kim was assigned as an honorary ambassador for Korea’s Ministry of Environment’s Resource Circulation event at the Korea Press Center on August 30, 2019.

Philanthropy

In April 2019, Kim contributed ₩20 million (approximately US$17,460) for the victims of the Gangwon Province Wildfire.

In late February 2020, the Korean NGO Good Neighbors reported that she had made a donation of ₩100 million (approximately US$82,640) to supply 40,000 masks for low-income families in South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In celebration of Korean National Children’s Day, she gave ₩50 million (around $44,000) to the Children’s Hospital of the Seoul National University Hospital on May 5, 2021.

On March 5, 2022, Kim contributed ₩50 million to assist villagers impacted by the Uljin wildfire through the National Disaster Mitigation Association (Hope Bridge).

On August 11, 2022, Kim donated ₩50 million to support those affected by the 2022 South Korean floods through the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.

To commemorate her 10th anniversary since her debut, Kim donated ₩100 million to Seoul National University Children’s Hospital in October 2022.

On February 9, 2023, Kim donated 30 million won to aid the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake, by contributing money through an NGO specializing in children’s rights worldwide.

Filmography

Discography