10 Things About Korean Child Actress-Turned-Lead Star Kim Yoo-Jung

She was totally discovered by chance. In a children's competition that her sister joined, Kim Yoo-jung was spotted by the judges and even won the "Most Popular" award—without even joining! She's since taken her introduction to the limelight seriously, making acting her life's biggest passion.

Kim Yoo-jung just turned 21 (she was born on September 22, 1999) but can already boast of a filmography peppered with highly successful K-Dramas and movies. (She's starred in at least 50 titles, to be exact!). Landing her first acting gig when she was four years old, she has since become a mainstay in South Korea's booming entertainment industry and has been recognized internationally.

Kim Yoo-jung has committed her life to acting. She wasted no time in making a name for herself in a highly competitive industry, going straight to work after high school graduation and deferring university.

One of the biggest achievements she can boast of is being the youngest Korean star to make it to the 2017 Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list's Top 10. The annual ranking includes prominent Koreans across industries, and at just 17 years old, Kim Yoo-jung made it to the 8th spot. No other Korean celebrity has beaten her record, so far.

Kim Yoo-jung has starred in several period dramas that have helped hone her acting abilities, earning her the nickname Sageuk Fairy. ("Sageuk" is a term often used to refer to projects, especially those made for the screen, based on historical events).

For those who wish to go through a crash course on her best work, it's highly recommended that "Moon Embracing the Sun" and "Love in the Moonlight" be the first titles they watch. These projects have garnered her the most awards and nominations, and helped her transition from a cute child star to a budding actress with an undeniable on-screen impact.

She's not the only famous member of her family! Her older sister, Kim Yeon-jung, is also an actress but made her acting debut much later in 2016. The sisters are four years apart, and have a brother between them.

Her fans who have been following her since her early days as an actress will know how important it was for her to return to the screen. That's because in 2018, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a thyroid disorder that commonly causes weight gain, joint pain, heart disease, fatigue, weakness, and a host of other problems. The diagnosis prompted her to halt all projects to focus on her well-being and receive proper treatment.

2020 is considered her comeback year. She returns to the small screen with "Backstreet Rookie." The webtoon-based series portrays her as a feisty young woman who scores a job at a convenience store and develops an interest in her boss.

"Backstreet Rookie" has her starring alongside Ji Chang-wook, another bright star in the industry. The match-up is considered one of her post-transition pairings, or one that allows her to take on more adult roles and shed her child star image. She was also matched with Park Bo-gum for "Love in the Moonlight," a project thought to be her first mature role.

Keep scrolling to see more photos of Kim Yoo-jung, and appreciate her different beauty looks...