Lance Joseph Martinez

10 Reasons Kim Sejeong Is a Total K-star Favorite

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<p>South Korean actress <strong>Kim Sejeong </strong>is once again making waves, this time for her latest K-drama series <strong><em>Moon River.</em></strong> </p><p>Starring alongside <strong>Kang Tae-oh, </strong>the two have sent fans swooning with their heartfelt and romantic scenes, further fueling excitement among viewers. The series follows the story of a crown prince who has lost his smile and a peddler who has lost her memory, whose destined love transcends lifetimes.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767854750472588025885_18108449224726260_2423925168653740492_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Kim Sejeong | Photo from @clean_0828</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767675147054clean_0828_1764382974_3776240546021868890_21658598259.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @clean_0828</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>This, however, is far from the first time Sejeong has trended for her powerful on-screen performances. She first caught public attention with her debut lead role as <strong>Ra Eun-ho </strong>in the hit youth drama <strong><em>School 2017.</em></strong> She went on to solidify her acting credentials through standout roles in <strong><em>The Uncanny Counter</em></strong> and the wildly popular romantic comedy <strong><em>Business Proposal</em></strong>, where she starred opposite <strong>Ahn Hyo-seop.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767675399407clean_0828_1767150726_3799458129873168568_21658598259.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @clean_0828</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>While many fans know Sejeong for her iconic K-drama characters and undeniable chemistry with her co-stars, there is much more to her than meets the eye. Beyond acting, she is also a gifted singer who creates her own music and is a former member of several K-pop groups.</p><p>In October 2023, Kim Sejeong held a concert in Manila in line with her &quot;The Door&quot; tour, to promote her first full-length album <em><strong>The Door</strong></em><strong>.</strong> Now, with excitement building as she prepares to return to the Philippines for her upcoming fan concert, <strong></strong>“<strong>Tenth Letter</strong>,”<strong></strong> happening at the New Frontier Theater on <strong>February 21, 2026</strong>, <strong></strong>here are 10 facts about well-loved K-star Kim Sejeong.<em></em><em></em><em></em></p><div><strong></strong><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767675266129588542728_1333210092176200_5729389003320868920_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from Wilbros Live</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She participated in <em>K-pop Star </em><em>2.</em><br/></strong></div><p>Kim Sejeong’s first brush with the spotlight came when she joined the second season of the hit South Korean reality competition <strong><em>K-pop Star,</em></strong> where she impressed viewers with her strong vocal skills.</p><p>Although she failed to advance during the second round of the ranking auditions, judge <strong>Yang Hyun-suk</strong> gave her a second chance by bringing her back as a wildcard for the casting round. Sejeong went on to perform a duet of <strong>Taeyang’s “I Need A Girl”</strong> with fellow contestant<strong> Jo Yoo-min,</strong> a performance that earned them a spot in the final casting round alongside <strong>Nicole Curry </strong>and <strong>Lee Soo-kyung.</strong></p><p>Despite the momentum, Sejeong was eventually eliminated from the competition—but her brief <em>K-pop Star </em>journey marked the beginning of a career that would soon take off. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767862299359419392341_917446392798328_6852260638805518671_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @clean_0828</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>She auditioned under Jellyfish Entertainment.<br/></strong></div><p>After her early elimination from <strong><em>K-pop Star 2,</em></strong> Sejeong refused to let go of her dream of becoming a singer. The following year, she took another leap by auditioning for <strong>Jellyfish Entertainment</strong>—where she beat the odds in a highly competitive 3,000-to-1 audition process, successfully earning a spot as a trainee under the South Korean label.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She participated in<em> Produce 101.</em><br/></strong></div><p>As a trainee under <strong>Jellyfish Entertainment,</strong> Kim Sejeong returned to the spotlight by joining the very first season of <strong>Produce 101, </strong>competing alongside fellow Jellyfish trainees <strong>Kang Mina </strong>and <strong>Kim Nayoung.</strong></p><p>From the start, Sejeong captured attention not only for her stunning visuals but also for her impressive singing and dancing, consistently holding a spot in the Top 2 out of 101 contestants. She ultimately secured the second-place finish in the finale, earning her a spot in the highly anticipated project group.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nbfA3WjIIfs?si=alnqI4N_L4rWcAE2" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" spellcheck="false"></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She became a member of I.O.I.<br/></strong></div><p>After clinching second place in the finale, Sejeong officially joined the temporary 11-member girl group<strong> I.O.I</strong>,<strong> </strong>reuniting with fellow Jellyfish trainee Mina. The group dominated the K-pop scene for about a year, dropping chart-topping hits like <strong>“Whatta Man”</strong> and <strong>“Very Very Very.”</strong></p><p>Sejeong shared the spotlight with fellow members <strong>Jeon So-mi</strong>,<strong> Choi Yoo-jung</strong>,<strong> Kim Chung-ha</strong>,<strong> Kim So-hye</strong>,<strong> Zhou Jieqiong</strong>,<strong> Jung Chae-yeon</strong>,<strong> Kim Do-yeon</strong>,<strong> Lim Na-young</strong>,<strong> </strong>and <strong>Yoo Yeon-jung</strong>,<strong></strong> making I.O.I a powerhouse lineup fans still remember fondly.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She was a member of the K-pop group Gugudan.<br/></strong></div><p>In 2016, Kim Sejeong, alongside Kang Mina and Kim Nayoung, made her debut with <strong>Gugudan</strong>, Jellyfish Entertainment’s first-ever girl group. Sejeong quickly established herself as the group’s main vocalist, center, and prominent visual.</p><p>During her time with Gugudan, she also became part of the subunit<strong> Gugudan SeMiNa.</strong> The group released several notable tracks, including <strong>“The Boots” </strong>and<strong> “Not That Type</strong>,<strong>” </strong>before officially disbanding in 2020, following active promotions from 2016 to 2018.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y3KSD5sI0OM?si=G3R533N9Sw_z5qSo" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She established herself as a solo singer-songwriter.<br/></strong></div><p>Kim Sejeong isn’t just a K-pop group powerhouse—she’s proven herself as a formidable solo artist as well. Beyond her remarkable vocal abilities, Sejeong has impressed fans with her songwriting chops, contributing original tracks like &quot;<strong>Meet Again</strong>&quot;<strong> </strong>for<strong><em> The Uncanny Counter,</em></strong> her 2019 EP <strong><em>Plant</em></strong>, and her 2021 EP <strong><em>I’m</em>.</strong></p><p>Her debut solo single, &quot;<strong>Flower Way</strong>,&quot;<strong></strong> quickly became iconic. Inspired by a heartfelt letter to her single mother, the song carries a message of happiness, success, and a life free of hardships—Sejeong promising to pave a path of flowers for her mother after years of sacrifice.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She has sung several K-drama OSTs.</strong></div><p>Kim Sejeong’s talent also shines in the world of K-drama OSTs. She lent her voice to memorable tracks like &quot;<strong>All of My Day</strong>&quot;<strong></strong> for <strong><em>Crash Landing on You</em></strong> and &quot;<strong>What My Heart Says</strong>&quot;<strong> </strong>for<strong><em> Record of Youth</em></strong>,<strong></strong> solidifying her reputation as one of K-pop’s most versatile and emotive singers.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/2RBuzNyLuV1jXU8qi84Hiy?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She is athletic.<br/></strong></div><p>Long before making waves in the entertainment industry, Sejeong showcased her athletic talent, competing in track and field events throughout elementary and middle school. Her sports prowess caught the spotlight once again in 2020, when she went viral for flawlessly hitting a bullseye during the <strong>Idol Star Athletics Championships.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>She first gained international recognition through <em>School 2017</em>.<br/></strong></div><p>Although Kim Sejeong first captured fans’ hearts as a singer and K-pop idol through <em>Produce 101 </em>and her time in various girl groups, it was her acting that truly skyrocketed her fame. She made a great impression in <em><strong>School 2017</strong></em>, portraying <strong>Ra Eun Ho</strong>,<strong> </strong>an 18-year-old underdog student with big dreams of becoming a webtoon artist, despite coming from a working-class family running a chicken restaurant. She starred in the series opposite actor <strong>Kim Jung-hyun</strong>.</p><p>Sejeong’s performance, especially her charming <em>aegyo</em>-filled moments, quickly went viral, earning her critical acclaim. For her breakout role, she took home the <strong>Best New Actress</strong> award at the <strong>KBS Drama Awards</strong> and also clinched the <strong>Popular Actress award</strong> at <strong>The Seoul Awards</strong> in 2017.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QnGhTmrWTrc?si=7Qqe70sWeGDR91uc" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>She is an award-winning actress.<br/></strong></div><p>Building on her breakout success in <em>School 2017, </em>Kim Sejeong quickly became one of the most sought-after actresses, landing roles in a string of popular dramas and earning multiple acting accolades along the way.</p><p>Her career reached new heights in 2022 with her standout performance in <em><strong>Business Proposal</strong>,<strong></strong></em> a role that brought her widespread acclaim. That year, she took home several prestigious awards, including the <strong>Best Actor Award</strong> at the<strong> Asia Artist Awards</strong> and the<strong> Top Excellence Award for Actress</strong> <strong>i</strong><strong>n a Miniseries Romance/Comedy Drama</strong> at the <strong>SBS Drama Awards.</strong></p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767675516910clean_0828_1767150726_3799458129940256856_21658598259.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from @clean_0828</span></span></span></div><div><strong><em>Kim Sejeong is set to hold her fan concert, Tenth Letter, in Manila on February 21, 2026, at the New Frontier Theater. Fans can grab their tickets now at </em></strong><a href="https://www.ticketnet.com.ph/event-detail/KIM-SEJEONG"><strong><em>ticketnet.com.</em></strong></a></div><div><strong></strong><br/></div><p><strong><em></em></strong>Lead photos from <strong>@clean_0828<em></em></strong></p>

<p>With excitement building as she prepares to return to the Philippines for her upcoming fan concert, “Tenth Letter,” happening at the New Frontier Theater on February 21, 2026, <i>here are 10 facts about well-loved K-star Kim Sejeong.</i></p>

With excitement building as she prepares to return to the Philippines for her upcoming fan concert, “Tenth Letter,” happening at the New Frontier Theater on February 21, 2026, here are 10 facts about well-loved K-star Kim Sejeong.

10 Things You May Not Have Known About Ultimate K-Star Kim Sejeong

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10 Things You May Not Have Known About Ultimate K-Star Kim Sejeong

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published Jan 08, 2026 03:00 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 09, 2026 11:54 AM PHT

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Kim Sejeong

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