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Get to Know Korean Actor-Singer Kim Won Shik

This rising artist considers the Philippines his second home

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Grace Libero-Cruz

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/8f3e7e68-8068-44a2-a71b-77db0216c3c3_metro man kim won shik-04.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Get to know Korean actor singer Kim Won Shik"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kim Won Shik | Clothes by GUCCI<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none"><em> Photography by Stephen Capuchino  </em></span></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><strong>Kim Won Shik</strong> is no stranger to the Philippine entertainment scene. Since he lived in the country for six and a half years, he’s familiar with local showbiz and Filipino celebrities, citing <strong><a href="https://metro.style/search?q=kim%20chiu" target="_blank">Kim Chiu</a></strong> as one of the actresses he would watch on television. Now, in a full circle moment, Kim Won Shik got a chance to work with Kim Chiu in the Philippine adaptation of the K-drama <em><strong>What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim</strong></em> (<em>WWWSK</em>), starring Kim and <strong>Paulo Avelino</strong>. </p><div><br/></div><p>Kim Won Shik is an actor and singer, under <strong>Universal Records Philippines</strong>’ roster of artists. Dipping his toes in Philippine showbiz, he took on a special role as Daniel Park in <em>WWWSK</em> and even recorded a song, “<strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4U2GjLpswF/" target="_blank">To Be With You</a></strong>,” for its OST. </p><div><br/></div><p>“To Be With You” was just released on streaming platforms, and netizens not only loved the song itself but also Kim Won Shik’s soothing voice and how it’s a perfect fit for the track. This song and <em>WWWSK</em> mark the beginning of the career he wishes to establish in the country he considers his second home.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>In the gallery below, scroll through some fun facts about rising artist Kim Won Shik, our latest <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C42x7_upq2U/" target="_blank">Metro Man</a> cover star:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div class="article-content" itemProp="articleBody"><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/c5f27af7-e7d4-4b2c-a3f2-60d9f78d8a03_kim%20won%20shik%20fast%20facts%20gallery%20cover.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/40871cb0-6301-4c67-b2c3-0d64f5742672_metro%20man%20kim%20won%20shik-09.jpg" alt="Get to know Korean actor singer Kim Won Shik" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/5bcb372d-6496-4db3-9dd8-53e6fdee6091_metro%20man%20kim%20won%20shik-10.jpg" alt="Get to know Korean actor singer Kim Won Shik" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/6bd356dc-df00-407a-a41e-700675ab95d3_metro%20man%20kim%20won%20shik-11.jpg" alt="Get to know Korean actor singer Kim Won Shik" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d027b893-8e41-426f-8c81-05978fcc62c8_metro%20man%20kim%20won%20shik-12.jpg" alt="Get to know Korean actor singer Kim Won Shik" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d27ac865-269d-4f24-b602-7ee5f712cbbf_metro%20man%20kim%20won%20shik-13.jpg" alt="Get to know Korean actor singer Kim Won Shik" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/1ec4d0aa-aa8f-4b08-9757-8c0746a93be6_metro%20man%20kim%20won%20shik-14.jpg" alt="Get to know Korean actor singer Kim Won Shik" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/8975afaf-d0dc-4eae-b7d3-42360dbd21ed_metro%20man%20kim%20won%20shik-15.jpg" alt="Get to know Korean actor singer Kim Won Shik" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/a901f16e-f616-4e17-b1c3-358bfcc853ae_metro%20man%20kim%20won%20shik-16.jpg" alt="Get to know Korean actor singer Kim Won Shik" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>He appeared in famous K-dramas. - Kim Won Shik, whose English name is Sam, kicked off his entertainment career with stints in the famous K-dramas “True Beauty” and “Alchemy of Souls” (season 1). Though he only had small roles there, this humble artist charges everything to experience, willingly learning the ropes of the business to better equip himself for when bigger roles land in his lap. “I really learned a lot from the main cast. When they were acting, I had a chance to see the monitors, how they really act,” he said, adding that those experiences truly served as training for him.  </p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>His breakthrough projects are… - Kim Won Shik was discovered by his current Korean agency, Inn Company, through the show “I Can See Your Voice.” From there, he was given a chance to audition for “True Beauty.” But it was the 12-episode reality dating show “Love Like a K-Drama,” which featured four Korean actors and four Japanese actresses, that really introduced Kim Won Shik to a wider audience. “That was the first time that I really talked a lot in a show, and I had my own role… with a lot of lines to deliver. It felt really good,” he said. In the Philippines, “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” isn’t actually his first acting stint. He previously appeared in Universal Records Philippines’ first-ever mini series titled “Pag-Ibig Na Kaya” alongside Filipino artists Rayver Cruz and Julie Anne San Jose, and South Korean-German singer Jayden. </p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>He’s a fan of Hallyu superstar IU.  - Kim Won Shik is a Uaena! His favorite song by IU? “Through the Night.” “It’s really calm and makes you comfy and cozy,” he described. He’s been to her concert four times already. But when IU went to Manila in 2019, during which time her K-drama “Hotel del Luna” was huge in the Philippines, Kim Won Shik wanted to watch but unfortunately wasn’t able to secure a ticket.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>If he didn’t pursue an entertainment career, he would’ve been… - …an entrepreneur because he actually took up entrepreneurship in college. But because he also loves cars, Kim Won Shik wanted to become the president of a car company. “Maybe if I didn’t become an actor or a singer, I would do, you know, some jobs. I would have some jobs in a car company siguro,” he shared.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>His favorite music genres are… - …jazz, acoustic, and ballad. Kim Won Shik plays the guitar, too! As for the jazz artists and songs he loves listening to, he mentioned Chet Baker and his song “I Fall in Love Too Easily” as well as Laufey and her song “Valentine.” </p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>His favorite place in the Philippines is… - …Boracay! Kim Won Shik is in awe of the beauty of Boracay, its beaches, and its famous sunset. He told Metro.Style, “The good thing there is, like, I could see the sunset with a sailing boat without a motor. Like it just goes with the wind, and what you can only hear is the sound of the wave with a sunset. It feels really good, you know? You have to experience it.” But another Philippine destination on his bucket list is Oslob, Cebu where he wants to try whale shark watching.</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>His favorite place in Seoul, South Korea is… - …Hangang (or Han River)! In this popular tourist spot, Kim Won Shik said, “I could see the water and the stars and the lights there,” adding added that he doesn’t mind looking at these things for hours. </p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Years from now, he hopes to be known as… - “…a person who inspires people.” When he types in his name on the search engine someday, this Sagittarian (born on November 29) wishes to find results that recognize him as an admirable person not just in the Philippines and in Korea but in other countries as well.</p></div></div></div></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Here&#x27;s a behind-the-scene look at our cover shoot:</strong></div><div class="youtube-iframe"><iframe width="400" height="345" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9-1oKJ2dDnY" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Listen to Kim Won Shik’s song, “To Be With You,” below:</strong></div><div class="youtube-iframe"><iframe width="400" height="345" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/anmC8C2iSvQ" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><em><strong>What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (Philippine adaptation) is <a href="https://www.viu.com/ott/ph/en/vod/2322652/Whats-Wrong-with-Secretary-Kim-Viu-Original-Adaptation?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw8J6wBhDXARIsAPo7QA-768QUZ-zm8H72pTgPZwb5i3GEoHnZEjutWqyeVrPJHVoCzImBO5saAvNBEALw_wcB" target="_blank">now streaming on Viu</a>!</strong></em></div><div><br/></div><p>Photographer: <strong>Stephen Capuchino</strong></p><p>Creative direction: <strong>Grace Libero-Cruz</strong></p><p>Sittings editor: <strong>Red Dimaandal</strong></p><p>Videographers: <strong>Ara Tanagon</strong>, <strong>Alain Capiral</strong>,<strong> Kris Blanco</strong>, and <strong>Dolly Hernandez</strong> of <strong>Spotlight Creatives Studio</strong></p><p>Grooming: <strong>Team Muriel Vega Perez</strong> for <strong>NARS</strong></p><p>Hairstylist: <strong>Jaaron Go </strong>of <strong>Culture Salon MNL</strong></p><p>Stylists: <strong>John Lozano</strong>, <strong>Angelica Yabut</strong>, and <strong>Marlon Morelos</strong></p><p>Editorial assistant:<strong> Mika Yusay</strong></p><p>Photography assistant: <strong>Jobo Antonio Nacpil</strong></p><p>All clothes by <strong>GUCCI</strong></p><p>Special thanks to <strong>Kathleen Dy-Go</strong> of <strong>Universal Records Philippines</strong>, <strong>Grace Foronda</strong>, <strong>Nikki Sindiong</strong>, and <strong>Manam Comfort Filipino</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/people/digital-covers/korean-actor-singer-kim-won-shik-metro-man/37736" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kim Won Shik Makes a Name for Himself in Philippine Showbiz</a></div>