12 Korean Child Actors Who Went On To Become Recognizable Lead Stars
They've definitely gone from cute and sweet, to alluring and oh-so-swoon-worthy
Now this is what we call growing up!
Everyone with a dream they conceived when they were little hopes to make it reality when they're older, but actors and actresses who began as child actors and are now some of the biggest stars in entertainment have definitely won the lottery of life.
This rings truest for some of Korea's most recognizable stars who owe their rise to stardom to a commercial role, a bit part, or even an audition where they beat the odds. Making it as a child actor is one thing, but sustaining momentum and proving oneself year after year? That's a league of its own, and making a name for yourself in an arena like that requires a killer combo of talent and dedication.
There are only a handful of Korean actors and actresses who made the cut, so get to know them below!
Check out the gallery below:
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Korea's child stars, all grown up
Korea's child stars, all grown up
By Metro.StyleJanuary 16 2021, 8:59 AM
Kim Yoo-jung
Kim Yoo-jung is only 21, yet got a headstart in the industry when she began acting at a tender age of four! Young as she was when she broke into the scene, critics were quick to predict a quick rise to fame for her considering her maturity for a child artist and because of the sheer amount of hours she was willing to dedicate to work. Before she became a teenager, she had already starred in at least 10 productions.
Photo Credit: @you_r_love
Park Shin-hye
The 30-year-old actress, who recently starred in the zombie film #Alive, has been in the entertainment industry for more than 15 years now. She debuted as an actress back in 2003 when she was only 13 years old, starring in K-Drama "Stairway to Heaven" as the young version of actress Choi Ji-woo's character Han Jung-su. She's been unstoppable, and has had projects every year since.
Photo Credit: @ssinz7
Kim So-hyun
She was 11 years old when she was signed by an agency, and in the same year, made her big screen debut! Kim So-hyun has more than 40 entries in her filmography mostly comprising of TV roles, with the very first one dating to 2006 when she got her first acting job at age seven. More than being a successful child actress, Kim So-hyun is also lauded for seamlessly transitioning from child-friendly roles, to made-for-teenager characters and mature roles.
Photo Credit: @wow_kimsohhyun
Yeo Jin-goo
Most of his roles as an up-and-coming child actor required him to play younger versions of a show or film's leading man, but there were a handful of times when he eclipsed his adult counterparts! His third and fourth K-Dramas earned him the award for Best Child actor, an experience that taught him how to take acting more seriously. He was 13 when he decided to pursue acting as a profession and has gone on to headline series and films and is almost always a sure winner at Korean awards ceremonies.
Photo Credit: @yeojin9oo
Yoo Seung-ho
Yoo Seung-ho's acting origins are the stuff of every aspiring actor's dreams. He entered the industry by luck; his mother sent in a headshot to an agency that put him in a commercial. Less than a year later, he was auditioning for roles in dramas and films—and getting them, too. It's only been up and forward for this actor who made it, big thanks to a great combo of chance, good looks, charm, and talent!
Photo Credit: @dandyoo93
Kim Sae-ron
Talk about making big impressions as a child! In Kim Sae-ron's first-ever big screen project, she was invited to the Cannes Film Festival, officially making her one of the prestigious event's youngest (if not the youngest) attendee in its history. She was nine at the time, and 11 years later, that brings us to today where she continues to master portraying the kinds of roles that got her recognition in her career's beginnings. Kim Sae-ron is a broody, melancholy presence on-screen as an adult actor, but those she's worked with in her earlier years had consistently noted that she was always a great fit for serious, dramatic roles.
Photo Credit: @ron_sae
Lee Hyun-woo
There was no way that Lee Hyun-woo wasn't destined for life onstage, and in front of the camera. Discovering his talents for acting and singing before he turned 13 and making it big before his 18th birthday, he proved to be a versatile actor who was just as effective on film and in front of a live audience. It's not often that celebs easily cross over between mainstream media and musical theater, making Lee Hyun-woo an especially rare gem in the industry.
Photo Credit: @hihyunwoo
Lee Se-young
Lee Se-young's child acting career began like that of many others, but what set hers apart is how a five-year break between her earliest projects and the second half of her still-active career wasn't a setback. She could officially call herself an actress at age 12, then returned to the screen to take on acting full-time as a teenager.
Photo Credit: @se_young10
Moon Geun-young
It might have taken a little while longer for Moon Geun-young to find her big break, but her longevity in the industry proves that it was worth the wait! She started acting when she was 12, but really only caught the attention of filmmakers and critics at 16. Despite being diagnosed with Compartment Syndrome (a painful condition that could require lifetime management), she continues to act and more impressively, went on to become a face of Korean stars' charitable activities.
Photo Credit: Vita Energy
Nam Ji-hyun
When they're young, most Korean celebs dream of diving deep into the world of acting. They do it as a profession, and they go to school for it and train for it, too. Nam Ji-hyun, however, chose to study Psychology despite being a critically acclaimed actress who showed her promise as early as the age of 9. She's been cast in many dramatic and period-specific roles ever since, with the occasional romantic project.
Photo Credit: @hyuniiiiiii_95917
Moon Ga-young
Moon Ga-young has more films to her name than series titles despite gaining footing in the industry with her continued starring in K-Dramas. She was 10 when she got her first projects in 2006, and has acted every year until 2020 with only 2012 as a break!
Photo Credit: @m_kayoung
Kim Hyun-soo
You may remember Kim Hyun-soo in her role as the young Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun) in the hit K-Drama "My Love from the Star." Although she's just 20 now, her filmography already features titles she can be truly proud of. She started out as a commercial model back when she was just a kid, debuting as an actress in 2011 when she was 10 years old.
Photo Credit: HanCinema
Photos from @you_r_love @wow_kimsohyun @ron_sae @hihyunwoo @se_young10 @yeojin9oo
Check out our picks for the most handsome Korean actors in the video below:
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