Kim Jae-wook

Kim Jae-wook

Kim in 2019

Born April 2, 1983 (age 41)

Seoul, South Korea

Other names Kim Jae-uck

Education Dankook High School

Seoul Institute of the Arts

 Actor
Occupations
 model

 singer

Years active 2002–present

Agent Management SOOP

Korean name

Hangul 김재욱

Revised Romanization Gim Jae-uk

McCune–Reischauer Kim Chaeuk

Signature
Kim Jae-wook (Korean: 김재욱; born April 2, 1983) is a South Korean model and actor.
He is best known for his roles in the hit series Coffee Prince (2007), comedy
film Antique (2008), mystery drama Who Are You? (2013), Voice (2017), The
Guest (2018), Her Private Life (2019) and Crazy Love (2022). He is fluent in Japanese,
and played the role of Sō Takeyuki, the Japanese husband of Princess Deokhye, in the
film The Last Princess.[1]
Early life[edit]
Kim was born in Seoul, and grew up in Tokyo, Japan until he was seven years old
before returning to South Korea.[2] His father worked as a journalist and was transferred
to Japan as a foreign correspondent.[3] He started out performing in a band, and began
modelling at age 17.[4][unreliable source?] Due to the time he spent in Japan, he can speak
fluent Japanese.[5]
Career[edit]
2002–2011: Career beginnings and breakthrough[edit]
In 2002, Kim debuted as the member of an indie band in the MBC drama Ruler of Your
Own World.[6] After this first role, he concentrated on his modeling career for 5 years.[7] In
2007, he auditioned for and won the role of No Sun-ki in the 2007 hit drama
series Coffee Prince.[8] The role shot him to fame in both South Korea and several Asian
countries.[9] He later appeared in the 2008 drama The Kingdom of The Winds,[10] and
served as the ambassador of goodwill for the 9th Jeonju International Film Festival
(JIFF) in May 2008.[11]
Kim then starred in his first film, Antique, based on the manga Antique Bakery, which
was invited to the 59th Berlin International Film Festival.[12] He played a gay chef working
at a bakery.[13] He won the Best New Actor award at the 16th Korean Entertainment
Awards. In October 2009, he formed a modern rock band named Walrus, where he
served as guitarist and vocal. The name of the group came from the Beatles single "I
am the Walrus".[14]
Kim got his first leading role in Bee TV's South Korean-Japanese drama Give Me Your
Memory: Pygmalion's Love, which aired in March 2010.[15] The same year, he starred in
the melodrama television series Bad Guy,[16][17][18] and featured in the romantic comedy
series Marry Me, Mary!.[19]
Before enlisting to military service in 2011, he played in rock musical, Hedwig And the
Angry Inch, from May 14 until June 19, 2011.[20]
2013–2016: Comeback[edit]
After finishing his mandatory military service, Kim made his comeback in the 2013
television series Who Are You?, playing the dead boyfriend of So Yi-hyun's character.
[21]
In 2014, Kim was featured in KBS' period action drama Inspiring Generation as Kim
Hyun-joong's rival, but quit after episode 8 due to unavoidable circumstances.[22]
In 2015, Kim was cast for the lead role in the fantasy comedy film Plank Constant,
playing a script writer with weird sexual fantasies.[23][24]
The following year, Kim took on the role of a Japanese nobleman who marries Son Ye-
jin's character Princess Deokhye in the period film The Last Princess.[25] The same year,
Kim took a leading role in the film Two Rooms, Two Nights as a popular movie director
who tries to maintain secretive romantic relationships with both: his current girl friend
and ex-girl friend.[26][27]
2017–present: Rising popularity[edit]
In January 2017, Kim starred in romance film Another way, playing the role of a police
officer who finds Seo Yea-ji's character online and forms a suicide pact.[28] He then
played the antagonist in OCN's hit thriller drama Voice, earning acclaim for his
performance as a serial killer.[29] In July the same year, Kim was cast as in the romance
drama Temperature of Love, playing a rich businessman.[30]
In 2018, Kim was cast in the musical Amadeus in triple casting, alongside Jo Jung-
suk and Kim Sung-kyu.[31] Kim's Japanese film Butterfly Sleep was released in Japan in
May 2018.[32][33] The same year, he was cast in OCN's supernatural thriller The Guest.[34][35]
In 2019, Kim was cast as the main lead in the romantic comedy drama Her Private
Life alongside Park Min-young.[36] The show marks Kim's first time as a primary lead in a
romantic comedy.
In 2020, Kim created "My Margiela", a 5-episode video series on the Belgian fashion
designer Martin Margiela.[37]
In 2022, Kim stars alongside Krystal Jung in KBS2 television series Crazy Love, playing
a maths instructor and CEO of a top math institute.[38]
Personal life[edit]
In May 2011, along with fashion models Jang Yoon-ju, Ji Hyun-jung, Han Hye-jin and
Song Kyung-ah, he co-authored Top Model, a book based on their experiences in the
industry.[39] He then enlisted for mandatory military service on July 5, 2011 for 21 months
of active duty after five weeks of basic military training.[40] In June 2015, Kim signed an
exclusive contract with management agency Better ENT.[41] In June 2017, he left Better
ENT and signed with new management agency Management SOOP.[42]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.

2006 Monopoly

Min Sun-woo
2008 Antique [12]

(Ono)

Heart of Gold Yoo-sung

2010
Bang Alex [43]

C'est Si Bon Kang Myung-chan Cameo [44]

2015
Planck Constant Kim Woo-joo [24]

Two Rooms, Two

In-sung [27]

Nights
2016

The Last Princess So Takeyuki [25]

2017 Another Way Soo-wan [28]

2018 Butterfly Sleep Soh Chan-hae [33]

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.

2002 Ruler of Your Own World Ki-hong Band member [6]

[8]
2007 Coffee Prince Noh Sun-ki
Year Title Role Notes Ref.

Dal-ja's Spring Choon-ha [45]

2008 The Kingdom of The Winds Chu Bal-so [10]

Give Me Your Memory: Pygmalion's

Kim Gyeon [15]

Love

2010
Bad Guy Hong Tae-sung [16][17][18]

Marry Me, Mary! Byun Jung-in [19]

Lee Hyung-
2013 Who Are You? [21]

joon

Inspiring Generation Kim Soo-ok [22]

2014
Drama Festival "4teen" Adult Joon-yi Cameo

2015 Sweet Temptation Seok-min [46]

Voice Mo Tae-gu [29]

2017
Temperature of Love Park Jung-woo [30]

The Guest Choi Yoon [35]

2018
Quiz of God: Reboot cameo
Year Title Role Notes Ref.

2019 Her Private Life Ryan Gold [36]

2022 Crazy Love Noh Go-jin [38]

Web series[edit]

Note
Year Title Role Ref.
s

2023– Death's
Jung Gyu-cheol Cameo [47][48]

2024 Game

2024 Hong Rang Grand Prince Hanpyeong [49]

Music Video[edit]

Year Song Title Artist Notes Ref.

2007 "Ice Fortress" Dear Cloud

"Seoul Witch"
2011 Walrus
"To be"

2015 "The Brand New Blues" I am not

"Special" Dickpunks Friendship appearance

2019
"OO DA DA" Sumin

Video games[edit]
Year Title Role Publisher Ref.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Homare Speaks in Japanese. Credited

2023 Sega
Man Who Erased His Name Nishitani III as "KIM JAE-UCK" in credits.[50]

Stage[edit]
Theater[edit]

Year Title Role Venue Date Ref.

Wolfgang Gwanglim Art Center BBCH February 27 to

2018 Amadeus [51]

Amadeus Mozart Hall April 29

Minstrel Park Inje Haneul Nerin Centre

2021 Himself August 14 [52]

In-hwan Grand Performance Hall

Musical[edit]

Year Title Role Venue Date Ref.

Hedwig and the May 14 to June

2011 Hedwig KT&G Sangsang Art Hall [53]

Angry Inch 19

Hongik University Daehakro Art March 15 to

2024 Paghwa Tu-woo [54]

Center Grand Theater May 26

Discography[edit]
Year Song Album Name Publisher Agency Ref.

[55]
2011 "To Be" Walrus The Single Sony Music CJ

"Mozaic"
 "Seoul Witch"

"Reorganize"

2014 "It's Alright" Walrus The 2nd Single Sony Music SSS RECORDS [56]

"Summer Rain"

Awards[edit]
Year presented, name of the award ceremony, award category, nominated work and the result of
the nomination

Nominated
Year Award Category Result Ref.
work

2007 1st Korea Drama Awards Netizen Popularity Award Coffee Prince Won [57]

16th Korean Culture

Best New Actor Antique Won [58]

Entertainment Awards
2008

Asia Model Awards Fashionista Award — Won [59]

Japan's Korean Wave 10th

2013 Anniversary Korean TV Jury Special Award — Won [60]

Drama Awards

Excellence Award, Actor

Temperature of
2017 SBS Drama Awards in a Monday–Tuesday Nominated [61]

Love
Drama

Her Private
2019 StarHub Night of Stars 2019 Best Male Asian Star Won [62]

Life