Kim Ji-hyun (actress)

Kim Ji-hyun (born January 2, 1982) is a South Korean actress. She has bachelor and master degree in acting from Korea National University of Arts.

She made her acting debut in 2006, and since then has appeared in number of musical plays, films and television series. After graduating, she also participated in several works by Yi Sang-woo, including plays such as Korea Fantasy (2005), Byun (2005), and The Story of Yangdeokwon (2010) under the Chaimu Theater Company.

She is known for her roles in The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018), Justice (2019), and Thirty-Nine, and has acted in films such as Solace (2006) and A Little Pond (2009). She is currently affiliated with the artist management company Vibe Actors.

Early life and education
Kim Ji-hyun was born on January 2, 1982. In her youth, she didn't have a specific dream but would casually mention wanting to be a scientist or a teacher when asked. She started to think seriously about her future after enrolling at Ulsan Girls' High School. Her older sister, who was already in college, prompted her to consider her future major, leading Kim to contemplate her options.

During her first year of high school, Kim befriended a classmate who had experience with theater club in middle school. Together, they proposed starting a theater club and, with a teacher's support, successfully launched it. Kim's involvement in the theater club was met with resistance from other teachers due to her academic excellence, but the club's first-place win at a theater festival in Ulsan solidified its status as the official theater club of Ulsan Girls' High School. This experience sparked Kim's passion for acting, leading her to pursue it as a career.

In 2000, Kim enrolled in the Department of Acting at Korea National University of Arts. During her time there, she joined Dolgochi, the theater club of the university. Reflecting on her university experience, Kim described herself as "mediocre." She elaborated, "I didn't excel in any specific area, but I could handle everything adequately and collaborate effectively with others." However, she didn't perceive this as a positive attribute. "My professors often said that actors should either be exceptional or fail," she shared, "and they told me I lacked intensity."

In her third year, she met Yi Sang-woo, a professor at her university who was also a CEO of Chaimu Theater Company and a renowned playwright in Daehangno.

2004–2006: Beginnings
In February 2004, Kim participated in the student graduation workshop at Korea National University of Arts, showcasing her talent in two musicals produced by fellow undergraduate students.

The first musical, "The Story of Mirror Princess Pyeonggang," created by Min Jun-ho, featured a unique performance by eight actors who remained on stage for the entire 1 hour and 25 minutes, constantly moving without leaving. The actors generated all the sound effects and audio elements using only their voices (a cappella). This innovative production received ₩1 million in production support from Korea National University of Arts.

The second musical, "Finding Mr. Destiny," was written and directed by Jang Yoo-jung and composed by Kim Hye-seong. With a budget of ₩100,000 (US$87.31), the production starred Kim as the female lead, Jeon Byeong-wook as Kim Jong-wook, and Min Jun-ho in multiple roles. Their graduation performance at the Black Box Theater of Korea National University of Arts impressed their professors, and they were officially invited to the 15th Istropolitana Project, an international student theater festival held in Bratislava, Slovakia from June 26 to June 30, 2004.

In September 2004, Min Jun-ho established Theater Ganda as an official theater company, and Kim became one of the founding members, marking the beginning of her career as a musical and theater actress.

In December 2004, Kim reprised her role in "Finding Mr. Destiny" as a member of Dolgochi. The club performed three original musicals at the Jayu Theater at the Seoul Arts Center: "Ssukbuckthorn" (9th to 11th), "The Mirror Princess Pyeonggang Story" (13th to 15th), and "Finding Mr. Destiny" (17th to 19th).

In 2006, Kim also appeared as a supporting actress in Byun Seung-wook's film Solace, portraying the character of Mi-ran.

2007–2011: Finding Mister Destiny and other works
In 2007, Kim reunited with writer Jang Yoo-jung and composer Kim Hye-seong for Season 3 of the musical Finding Mr. Destiny. CJ ENM acquired the performance rights after being impressed by their university performance in 2004 and collaborated with Musical Haven for the joint production. The musical premiered in 2005 with Oh Na-ra as the female lead. In Season 3, Kim starred alongside Oh Na-ra and Ahn Yu-jin, with male lead roles played by Park Dong-ha, Kim Mu-yeol, and Kim Jae-beom. The multiple-man role (18 characters) were portrayed by Lim Ki-hong and Jin Seon-kyu. Directed by Kim Ji-yeon and with music direction by Jeong Jun, the musical began at Daehakro Arts Plaza on October 23. "'Finding Kim Jong-wook was the first piece of work I did during a workshop at school, so I believe I was able to accomplish it because the directing team suggested it for me to re-enact. I am extremely fortunate. Reflecting on my life, I consider myself very lucky. I have encountered numerous wonderful individuals who have contributed to my ability to perform in this direction.'"In the same year, Kim and Min Jun-ho collaborated on "The Theater's 'Realistic Ganda Series," featuring two plays at the Star City Art Hall in Daehakro. The first play, Annapurna in My Heart, written by Park Chun-geun and directed by Min Jun-ho, explored the theme of family significance. It was created by the playwright group 'Dog' from Korea National University of Arts. Annapurna in My Heart was performed from July 4 to 15. The second play, I Loved That Child, was written by Choo Min-ja and took the stage from July 17 to 22. Kim played the role of Mi-young, who is involved in a love story with Jeong-tae. The play received acclaim for its engaging dialogue, dynamic acting, and innovative use of a single 'blackboard' to depict 18 scenes and 10 locations. It won awards for Best Picture, Best Direction, and Best Actress at the Miryang Summer Performing Arts Festival and was selected as an ARCO year-end program piece.

In 2009, Kim appeared in Yi Sang-woo's film A Little Pond, which depicted the massacre of South Korean refugees by American soldiers at No Gun Ri in late July 1950, early in the Korean War. Filming began in August 2006 and post-production ended in March 2009. The film premiered on October 8, 2009, at th 14th Busan International Film Festival in Busan, South Korea. Many of the cast and crew of A Little Pond donated their services due to the story's controversial nature, which discouraged investors.

In 2010, Kim portrayed the character Heo Yang-mi, a coffee shop owner who took care of her younger brother, in Masan MBC's drama series My Sister March. The drama centered on the Busan—Masan Uprising in commemoration of its 50th anniversary, and was the first of its kind to address the historical event. Writer Kim Woon-kyung, known for works like Moon in Seoul, Aunt Ok, Seoul Ttukbaegi, and There is a Bluebird, wrote the screenplay for the drama, which was planned by Kim Yong-geun, produced by Heo Seong-jin, directed by Jeon Woo-seok, and filmed by Kim Min-seong.

Kim also demonstrated her acting skills in musicals, portraying the character of Jung-jeon in Prince Puzzle alongside Jo Hwi, Jeon Mi-do, Tae-hee, Ahn Se-ha, and Kim Dae-hyun. The story centered around a crown prince's disappearance and the investigation that followed, with a surprising twist focusing on a love story between suspects Ja-sook and Gu-dong. The musical, featuring a soundtrack by Hwang Ho-jun, received acclaim and support from the 2009 Creative Factory. It was a collaborative production involving the Running Until Death theater company, Doosan Arts Center, and Ansan Arts Center. Directed by Seo Jae-hyung and written by Han Ah-reum, the musical ran at Doosan Art Center Space 111 from October 19 to November 7, 2010.

2012–2018: A Decade with Theater Ganda and other projects
In 2012, Kim and Yoon Gong-ju were double-cast in the role of Kim Se-jin, a love-struck and socially awkward barista, in the encore performance of the two-hander musical Caffeine directed by Seong Jae-jun. The role of the charming sommelier Kang Ji-min was also double-cast, with Jeong Sang-hoon and Park Ho-san alternating in the role. Since its initial premiere in 2008, the musical has been consistently performed. The encore performance took place at the Culture Space EnU from February 2 to April 8.

In 2013, Kim had a busy year with two major musicals: Pungwolju and Bungee Jumping. She played Queen Jin-seong in the Pungwolju 2011 reading performance and missed the 2012 musical's premiere due to a television drama commitment. She finally reprised her role as Queen Jin-seong in the Japanese production of Pungwolju at the Amuse Musical Theater in Roppongi, Tokyo from June 21 to July 21.

Kim reprised her role as Tae-hee in the second encore of Bungee Jumping, alongside Jeon Mi-do, who also starred in the 2012 production. Kang Pil-seok and Seong Doo-seop alternated in the role of In-woo, Tae-hee's love interest. The musical was adapted from the 2012 film and featured music by Hue Park and Will Aronson. It ran at the Doosan Arts Center from September 27 to November 17.

Kim returned as Queen Jin-seong in the South Korean encore of Pungwolju at Dongsung Arts Center's Dongsung Hall from November 9, 2013, to February 16, 2014. Kim shared the emotional challenges of playing characters with similar sadness. She felt the unresolved aspects of Queen Jin-seong's character in Pungwolju mixed with the sadness of her character Tae-hee in Bungee Jumping, especially in the scene with In-woo. Despite her previous experience in Bungee Jumping, the changes in the second encore made her wish for more rehearsal time.

Kim also took part in the opening act of theater company Ganda's 10th-anniversary celebration with John Cariani's omnibus play Almost, Maine. Directed by Min Jun-ho, the play featured Kim alongside other Ganda members, including Woo Sang-wook, Jin Seon-kyu, Hong Woo-jin, and Jeong Seon-a. Fourteen actors representing Daehakro, such as Noh Jin-won, Kim Neul-me, Yong Oh, Choi Dae-hoon, Lim Ki-hong, Won Jong-hwan, Kim Dae-hyun, Kim Nam-ho, and Yoon Na-moo, made guest appearances. The performance took place at the Daehakro Art Plaza Hall 4 from November 11 to January 9, 2014.

In 2014, Kim actively participated in various stage productions. During the summer, she played Natasha, a nightclub dancer, in David Greig's play The Cosmonaut's Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union. Directed by Lee Sang-woo, the play premiered at the Myeongdong Arts Theater in Seoul, running from May 16th to June 11th. The production featured a total of 13 characters, with some actors playing dual roles, including Choi Deok-moon as Ian and Bernard, Lee Hee-joon as Eric and the bar owner, Kim So-jin as Vivian and Sylvia, Lee Chang-soo as Oleg and the patient, Sang Sang-ah as Claire and the airport cafe owner, and Hong Jin-il as Casimir and the bar owner.

In August, Kim reunited with Kim So-jin in the South Korean adaptation of Alexi Kaye Campbell's The Pride as Sylvia. Directed by Kim Dong-yeon and written by Ji Yi-seon, the play premiered at the Art One Theater as part of Season 5 of the Best Play Festival. The production explored the struggles of marginalized individuals, particularly sexual minorities, through a captivating narrative that alternated between the eras of 1958 and 2014. Lee Myeong-haeng and Jung Sang-yoon were double-cast as Philip; Oh Jong-hyuk and Park Eun-seok played the role of Oliver; and Choi Dae-hoon and Kim Jong-goo were double-cast as Peter.

In October, Kim starred in the musical The Days at the Daehakro Musical Center Grand Theater. The story, set in 1992 and 2012, revolves around the disappearance of the president's daughter and her bodyguard, triggering memories for a security chief who recalls a similar case from 20 years ago. The musical ran from Oct 21 to January 18, 2015.

Kim and Kwak Sun-young shared dual roles Hiroko and Itsuki Fujii in the musical Love Letter, based on a Japanese film with the same name. The story follows Hiroko's journey after losing her fiancé Itsuki in a tragic accident. During his memorial ceremony, Hiroko discovers an address in his yearbook and begins exchanging letters with a woman named Itsuki Fujii, who looks like her. The male role of Itsuki was played by Cho Sang-woong and Kang Ki-dung. The musical also featured Park Ho-san, Yoon Seok-won, Yoo Joo-hye, Ahn So-yeon, Lee Seo-hwan, and Kang Jeong-im in supporting roles. Love Letter ran from December 2 to February 12.

In 2015, Kim collaborated once again with director Kim Dong-yeon in a production of the play Speaking in Tongues by Australian playwright Andrew Bovell. The director added the subtitle "Confessions of the Lost" to the play. This production, making its Korean premiere, was staged at the Suhyeon Theater in Daehakro, Seoul from May 1 to July 16.

In October 2015, Kim and Kim So-jin reunited as double cast in the play Late Autumn. The play was adapted from the 2011 film of the same name, originally starring Tang Wei as Anna. It tells the story of Anna, a woman imprisoned for murder, who has a special encounter with Hoon during a three-day outing following her mother's death. The performances took place at the Daehakro Art One Theater Hall 1 until November 8.

In 2016, Kim and Yoon Na-moo appeared together for the third time in John Cariani's omnibus play Almost, Maine. They played love interests in the episode "Her Heart," which was set in the fictional town of Almost, Maine. The play ran at Sangmyung Art Hall 1 in Daehakro, Seoul until May 1.

In May 2016, Kim and Yeon Jeong were double-cast in Jethro Compton's play, Capone Trilogy. This omnibus play consisted of three episodes: "Rocky (1923)," "Lucifer (1934)," and "Vindici (1943)," all of which took place in the same room at the Lexington Hotel in Chicago during different years. Kim portrayed different characters in each episode: Lola, a deceitful and sensual showgirl in "Rocky," Marlene, the wife of Nick who claimed to be the second-in-command in the organization in "Lucifer," and Lucy, a character who assisted a young police officer in seeking revenge in "Vindici." The performances were held at the Hongik University Daehakro Arts Center Small Theater until September 29th.

In October 2016, Kim and Jeong Woon-seon were double-cast as Yu-kyeong in the encore performance of the musical ''Hi! UFO''. The production, directed by Heo Yeon-jeong and Park So-young, was based on the 2004 film of the same name and recognized as an excellent re-performance by the Arts Council of Korea. The show took place at Daehakro Art One Theater Hall 1 from October 5 to October 30. The cast also included Im Chul-soo, Yoon Seong-won, Jung Da-hee, Kim Hyun-jin, Yoo-kyung, and Kim Yoo-jung.

In November 2016, Kim and Bae Hae-sun were double-cast as Siobhan in Simon Stephens's play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which was based on the novel of the same name by Mark Haddon. Siobhan is a special school teacher and narrator in the play. The story follows Christopher, a 15-year-old boy with autism, as he investigates the murder of his neighbor's dog and explores a world beyond his own. Yoon Na-moo, Jeon Sung-woo, and Ryeowook played Christopher, while Kim Young-ho and Shim Hyung-tak portrayed his father, Ed, and Kim Rosa and Yang So-min played his mother, Judy. The play also featured other talented actors including Kim Dong-hyun, Hwang Seong-hyun, Han Se-ra, Jo Hanna, Kang Jeong-im, and Kim Jong-cheol. The South Korean premiere took place at the BBCH Hall in Gwanglim Art Center, Apgujeong, Seoul, and ran until February 2017 as part of The 14th Kim Soo-ro's project, directed by Kim Tae-hyung.

Also in November 2016, Kim reprised the role of Geunyo in the musical Those Days.

In 2017, Kim was part of Jethro Compton's play Bunker Trilogy, directed by Kim Tae-hyung. This omnibus play consisted of three episodes— "Morgana," "Macbeth," and "Agamemnon"—each exploring the true nature of humanity in times of war. Kim portrayed different characters in each episode: Morgana in the Arthurian Legend-inspired "Morgana," Lily in "Macbeth," and Christine in the intense reimagining of the Ancient Greek Legend, "Agamemnon." The play ran at the Hongik University Daehakro Art Center Small Theater until February 19, 2017.

Kim reunited with director Kim Dong-yeon, and reprised her role as Sylvia in the third encore performance of The Pride. Lee Jin-hee (from 2nd encore) and Lim Kang-hee were also cast in the role. The returning cast members included Lee Myeong-haeng, Jung Sang-yoon (from Premiere), Bae Soo-bin (from 2nd encore), and Seong Doo-seop. The character of Oliver was portrayed by Oh Jong-hyuk (from Premiere), Jeong Dong-hwa, Park Sung-hoon (from 2nd encore), and Chang-ryul. The performance ran from March 21 to July 2, 2017, at the Daehakro Art One Theater Hall 2, Seoul.

In December 2017, Kim was triple-cast as Hye-rin in the musical Hourglass, alongside Jo Joung-eun and Jang Eun-ah. The musical was based on the 1995 SBS drama series Sandglass by Song Ji-na and ran at the Chungmu Art Centre Grand Theatre from December 5 to February 11, 2018. It depicted the friendship and love of the three protagonists amidst the turmoil of modern Korean history.

In March, 2018, Kim also reprised her roles in Jethro Compton's play, Capone Trilogy. In June, she returned as Tae-hee in the musical Bungee Jumping of Their Own, double-cast with Lim Kang-hee for the 3rd encore.

2019–present: 1st major theater licensed musical, rise in popularity and lead roles
In 2019, Kim continued to expand her acting repertoire, taking on diverse roles in both stage and musical productions. In March, she and Moon Hye-won shared the role of Yoon Yeo-ok in the musical adaptation of the television series Eyes of Dawn. The series was directed by Kim Jong-hak and written by Song Ji-na, based on a 10-volume novel of the same title written by Kim Seong-jong in 1981. The musical, which premiered in March 2019, maintained the dramatic storyline of the original work while introducing new characters and major historical events, spanning from the Japanese colonial period to World War II, Korea's liberation and the Korean War.

In August 2019, Kim took on the challenge of portraying nine different characters in the two-hander play adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." The production presented a significant challenge for Kim, who was tasked with memorizing and performing a large amount of dialogue. Despite her experience, the complexity of the characters, including Elizabeth Bennet, Mrs. Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Charles Bingley, and Caroline Bingley, proved demanding. Kim received the script from the Moon Company in August 2018 while she was wrapping up her involvement in the musical Bungee Jumping.

While performing in musical Eyes of Dawn, Kim received an offer to audition for Sweeney Todd from OD Company. Despite a busy schedule and a conflicting drama commitment, she submitted a video audition. Producer Shin Chun-soo and director Eric Schaeffer were impressed by her performance and confirmed her casting. Sweeney Todd, which premiered in October 2019, marked Kim's first major licensed musical, a significant departure from her previous roles in original musicals of medium-theater productions. Her portrayal of Mrs. Lovett surprised many, as she had primarily played innocent and resentful characters in the past.

In January 2020, Kim reprised her role as Japanese soldier Yoon Yeo-ok in the musical Eyes of Dawn, alongside Choi Woo-ri and Park Jung-ah in a triple casting. Shortly after, Kim played the role of Choi Dae-soon, the older sister of Dae-hyun, in the TV series Backstreet Rookie, starring Ji Chang-wook and Kim Yoo-jung. The show is based on the webtoon "She's Too Much for Me" which was written by Hwalhwasan. The series aired on SBS TV from June 19 to August 8, 2020, with 16 episodes. While the drama was airing, Kim participated in a trial performance of the new musical Let Me Fly hosted by the Wooran Cultural Foundation. The musical, part of the Wooran Beyond Performing Arts Development Program, took place from July 5th to 7th at Wooran 2nd Scene Theater. The story follows Nam-won, a character aspiring to be a fashion designer in 1969, and includes elements of time travel. Kim played the role of old Seon-hee, Nam-won's love interest. After finishing trial performances, Kim started filming supporting role of Na-na in the road movie The Box in late August 2020. The film features EXO's Chanyeol as a budding singer and Jo Dal-hwan as a former popular producer. Directed by Yang Jung-woong and produced by Studio Take, the film chronicles their musical journey and premiered in South Korea on March 24, 2021.

In 2021, Kim filmed the TV series Artificial City, with principal photography began on March 29, 2021. By May 2021, reports confirmed Kim's casting in the series, where she portrayed the character Lee Joo-yeon, the wife of Jung Joon-il and the representative of 'Space Jin.' The show premiered on JTBC on December 8, 2021, airing every Wednesday and Thursday at 22:30 (KST). Kim also took on the role of Aldonza Lorenza in her second licensed musical Man of La Mancha, sharing the role with Yoon Gong-joo and Choi Soo-jin in a triple casting. The musical ran at the Charlotte Theater in Jamsil, Seoul from February to March 1, followed by an extended run at the Chungmu Arts Center Grand Theater in Jung-gu, Seoul from March 24 to May 16. Initially, Hong Gwang-ho played Don Quixote, but Cho Seung-woo took over the role during the extended run, with both actors double-cast alongside Ryu Jeong-han. In October, Kim also made a special appearance as Seon-ah, Seong-hyun's cousin and Jung-woo's wife, in episodes 14 and 15 of the tvN series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

In 2022, Kim appeared in her first television lead role alongside Son Ye-jin and Jeon Mi-do in JTBC's TV series Thirty, Nine, a romantic drama about three friends. She also graced the cover of The Musical magazine's March issue in the same year and reprised her role as Seon-hee in the musical Let Me Fly.

In May 2002, Kim joined the cast of Netflix Original Series D.P. for its second season. She played the role of Lieutenant Colonel Seo-eun, the head of the Operations Department in the Ministry of Defense's prosecution team. Her character had a significant impact on the events in the drama.

In the end of 2023, Kim played the role of Song Seo-kyung, the second female lead in the drama series Tell Me That You Love Me. The series is based on the 1995 Japanese TV show Aishiteiru to Itte Kure and stars Jung Woo-sung and Shin Hyun-been. Song Seo-kyung is Jin-woo's (Jung Woo-sung) college classmate and ex-lover, who is the director of an art center. The drama is an original production of Genie TV, and available for streaming on its platform, as well as on Disney+ in certain regions. It also aired on ENA from November 27, 2023 to January 16, 2024, every Monday and Tuesday at 21:00 (KST).