13 Korean Child Actors Who Went On To Become Famous Lead Stars

Kim Yoo-jung

Kim Yoo-jung is only 22, 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.

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Her latest K-drama was "Lovers of the Red Sky." Her must-see K-Dramas include: "Moon Embracing the Sun," "Angry Mom," "Love in the Moonlight," "Clean With Passion for Now," and "Backstreet Rookie."

Photo Credit: Koreaboo, MBC, and Asianfanfics

Park Shin-hye

The 32-year-old actress, who last starred in the series "Sisyphus: The Myth," has been in the entertainment industry for about two decades 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. She tied the knot with actor Choi Tae-joon in January 2022, and the two welcomed their first child, a boy, in May 2022.

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Her must-see K-Dramas include: "You're Beautiful," "Heartstrings," "My Cute Guys," "The Heirs," "Pinocchio," "The Doctors," "Memories of the Alhambra," and "Sisyphus: The Myth"

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, now 23, 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.

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Her must-see K-Dramas include: "Moon Embracing the Sun," "The Suspicious Housekeeper," "Who Are You: School 2015," "Hey Ghost, Let's Fight," "The Emperor: Owner of the Mask," "Radio Romance," "Love Alarm," "The Tale of Nokdu," "Love Alarm 2," and "River Where the Moon Rises"

Yeo Jin-goo

Most of Yeo Jin-goo's 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. He's only 25, and yet he's achieved so much.

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His must-see K-Dramas include: "Moon Embracing the Sun," "Orange Marmalade," "The Royal Gambler," "Circle," "Reunited Worlds," "The Crowned Clown," "My Absolute Boyfriend," "Hotel del Luna," "Beyond Evil," and "Link: Eat, Love, Kill"

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 29-year-old actor who made it, big thanks to a great combo of chance, good looks, charm, and talent!

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His must-see K-Dramas include: "Master of Study," "Flames of Desire," "Warrior Baek Dong-soo," "Operation Proposal," "Missing You," "Remember," "The Emperor: Owner of the Mask," "I'm Not a Robot," "My Strange Hero," "Memorist," and "Moonshine"

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, 22, 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.

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Her must-see K-Dramas include: "Hi! School: Love On," "Secret Healer," "Leverage," and "Excellent Shaman Ga Doo-shim"

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, 29, an especially rare gem in the industry. Following the completion of his mandatory military service, he returned onscreen with the series "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area."

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His must-see K-Dramas include: "To the Beautiful You," "Moorim School: Saga of the Brave," "The Liar and His Lover," and "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area"

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. The 29-year-old actress recently became buzzworthy for her K-drama "The Red Sleeve," and will star in a new one titled "The Law Cafe."

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Her must-see K-Dramas include: "Puberty Medley," "Lovers of Music," "The Vampire Detective," "Hit the Top," "A Korean Odyssey," "The Crowned Clown," "Doctor John," "How Are U Bread," "Memorist," and "The Red Sleeve"

Moon Geun-young

It might have taken a little while longer for Moon Geun-young, now 35, 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.

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Her must-see K-Dramas include: "Painter of the Wind," "Cinderella's Stepsister," "Marry Me, Mary," "Cheongdam-dong Alice," "Goddess of Fire," "The Village: Achiara's Secret," and "Catch the Ghost"

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. 26-year-old 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. She will star in a new series titled "Little Women."

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Her must-see K-Dramas include: "Shopping King Louie," "Suspicious Partner," "100 Days My Prince," and "365: Repeat the Year"

Moon Ga-young

Moon Ga-young, now 26, has more films to her name than series titles despite gaining footing in the industry with her continued starring in K-Dramas. This South Korean actress, who was born in Germany, was 10 when she got her first projects in 2006, and has acted every year until 2020 with only 2012 as a break! Her 2020 series "True Beauty" further boosted her popularity.

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Her must-see K-Dramas include: "Tempted," "Welcome to Waikiki 2," "Find Me in Your Memory," "True Beauty," and "Link: Eat, Love, Kill"

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 22 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. She recently made waves for her role in the series "Penthouse: War in Life" which ran for three seasons.

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She has portrayed the young version of actresses Lee Yo-won ("49 Days,"), Shin Se-kyung ("Deep Rooted Tree"), Jin Se-yeon ("Bridal Mask"), Lee Young-ah ("Dream of the Emperor"), Jun Ji-hyun ("My Love from the Star"), and Lee Bo-young ("Mother") | She starred in K-Dramas "Solomon's Perjury," "Mother," and "Penthouse: War in Life"

Park Eun-bin

She’s been acting since the age of five, and was a favorite to portray the young versions of characters in K-dramas. Park Eun-bin made her acting debut via the 1998 series “White Nights 3.98,” but the first time she starred in her own K-drama was in 2012 with “Operation Proposal” alongside her fellow child actor Yoo Seung-ho. This 29-year-old actress has worked consistently year after year since, and has become buzzworthy for her recent K-dramas, the latest of which is the top-rated series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo.”

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Her must-watch K-dramas include: "Operation Proposal," "Hur Jun, the Original Story," "Secret Door," "Hello, My Twenties!," "Father, I'll Take Care of You," "Judge vs. Judge," "The Ghost Detective," "Hot Stove League," "Do You Like Brahms?," "The King's Affection," and "Extraordinary Attorney Woo"