Kim You-jung Age, Wiki, Boyfriend, Family, Career, Net Worth

Kim You-jung is a South Korean actress who has practically grown up in front of the Korean public.

She was born on September 22, 1999 (26 years old) in Seongdong District, Seoul, South Korea.

She is one of those rare child stars who turned her early fame into a long, layered acting career across film, television, theatre, and now global streaming. Her work moves easily between historical dramas, romantic comedies, and dark psychological roles.

Kim started acting in 2003 at the age of four, and quickly became the face Koreans grew up with on screen. She first led a drama as an adult with the historical romance Love in the Moonlight (2016), which became a national hit alongside Park Bo-gum.

Her career also includes Moon Embracing the Sun (2012), Backstreet Rookie (2020), Lovers of the Red Sky (2021), the Netflix film 20th Century Girl (2022), My Demon (2023 to 2024), and the psychological thriller Dear X (2025).

In September 2025, she was honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Busan International Actors Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, a landmark moment in her transition from child star to leading lady.

Quick Facts of Kim You-jung

Full Name	Kim You-jung
Profession	Actress
Age	26 years old
Date of Birth	September 22, 1999
Nationality	South Korean
Zodiac/Sun Sign	Virgo
Birthplace	Seongdong District, Seoul, South Korea
Current Address	Seoul, South Korea
Gender	Female

Kim You-jung Early Life and Education 

Kim You-jung was born in the Seongdong District of Seoul, South Korea.

She is the youngest of three siblings in a family that has been quietly supportive of her work since she was a toddler.

Her acting story began almost by accident. Her mother posted a baby photo of her on an online community for fun, and the image led to her first commercial offer at the age of four.

Education

Kim attended Goyang High School of Arts and graduated in January 2018.

In 2017, she chose to defer the national College Scholastic Ability Test in South Korea so she could focus on her growing acting career.

She has not pursued a university degree publicly, choosing acting full-time instead.

School	Goyang High School of Arts
Alma Mater	Goyang High School of Arts
Highest Qualification	High School Graduate

Kim You-jung Personal Life 

Kim You-jung is known in the Korean entertainment industry for keeping her personal life tightly private, even after more than two decades in the spotlight.

Boyfriend and Relationship Rumours

As of June 2026, Kim You-jung is single. She has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationship.

She has been linked to several co-stars over the years, but every major rumour has been denied by her agency, Awesome ENT.

In September 2025, online posts suggested she was dating Dear X co-star Kim Do-hoon after reports that the two had travelled to Vietnam together post-filming. Her agency denied the rumours, clarifying that the actors were not alone on the trip.

In November 2025, fresh rumours linked her with Dear X co-star Hwang In-youp. Her agency once again denied the speculation. Earlier rumours with My Demon co-star Song Kang also went around online, but neither side ever confirmed anything.

Parents

Kim You-jung’s parents have stayed out of the public eye and have not made formal media appearances.

Her mother once briefly appeared on the radio show Cultwo Show in 2014, where she shared that Kim’s first commercial came after she casually uploaded her baby pictures online.

The names and professions of her parents are yet to be updated.

Siblings

Kim You-jung is the youngest of three siblings. She has an older brother and an older sister.

Her older sister, Kim Yeon-jung, is also an actress. She debuted in 2017 through a web drama. The sisters share a close bond, and Kim You-jung has often spoken about her sister with warmth in interviews.

Her older brother, Kim Bu Geun, stays completely away from the spotlight. His personal details are yet to be updated.

Relationship Status	Single
Boyfriend	Yet to be updated
Parents	Yet to be updated
Siblings	Brother: Kim Bu Geun Sister: Kim Yeon-jung

Kim You-jung Career

Kim You-jung is one of the rare child actresses in Korea who managed to keep working steadily into adulthood. Her career spans more than twenty years across film, television, web drama, theatre, and hosting.

Child Acting Debut (2003 to 2007)

Kim You-jung made her debut at the age of four in 2003 as a model for Crown Confectionery.

She then quickly transitioned into acting, becoming one of the most in-demand child actresses in South Korea. By the time she was in fifth grade, she had already appeared in 13 dramas and 15 films.

Her early film work included Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) byPark Chan-wook, Lump of Sugar (2006), and The Chaser (2008) with Kim Yoon-seok and Ha Jung-woo.

Rise as a Top Child Star (2008 to 2011)

In 2008, Kim won her first acting award as Best Child Actress for the action adventure series Iljimae, starring Lee Joon-gi, and the historical drama Painter of the Wind, starring Moon Geun-young and Park Shin-yang.

She followed this with strong child roles in Dong Yi (2010) opposite Han Hyo-joo and Ji Jin-hee, Flames of Desire (2010), and Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho (2010) with Seo Shin-ae and Lee Tae-ri. Grudge gave her the first big role that wasn’t just the child version of a heroine.

National Recognition (2012 to 2013)

In 2012, she rose to national fame in the fantasy historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun, where she played the young Heo Yeon-woo alongside Yeo Jin-goo, Lee Min-ho, and Lee Tae-ri. The drama crossed 40 percent ratings and became a national phenomenon.

She followed it the same year with May Queen, sharing the screen with Han Ji-hye, Jae Hee, and Kim Jae-won. In 2013, she appeared in the espionage thriller Commitment with T.O.P, and the family drama Golden Rainbow alongside Uee, Jung Il-woo, and Cha Hwa-yeon.

Teen Lead Roles and Hosting (2014 to 2015)

In 2014, Kim drew critical praise for Thread of Lies alongside Kim Hee-ae and Go Ah-sung, which earned her a Blue Dragon Best New Actress nomination.

She also starred in the period drama Secret Door with Han Suk-kyu and Lee Je-hoon, and began hosting SBS’s music programme Inkigayo in November 2014, staying until April 2016.

In 2015, she led the school violence drama Angry Mom with Kim Hee-sun, Ji Hyun-woo, and Ji Soo. She also appeared in the thriller Circle of Atonement opposite Sohn Hyun-joo and the web series Love Cells.

First Adult Lead Role (2016)

In August 2016, Kim took her first adult lead role in the youth historical drama Love in the Moonlight on KBS, playing Hong Ra-on, a girl raised as a boy who becomes a palace eunuch.

She starred opposite Park Bo-gum, with Jinyoung, Chae Soo-bin, and Kwak Dong-yeon also in lead roles. The drama crossed 23.3 percent ratings, was called the “Moonlight Syndrome”, and made her a star at 17.

Romantic Comedy and Genre Shifts (2017 to 2019)

In 2017, she paired with Cha Tae-hyun in the romantic comedy film Because I Love You, which also featured Kim Sung-oh and Sung Dong-il.

In 2018, she led the JTBC romantic comedy Clean with Passion for Now with Yoon Kyun-sang and Song Jae-rim, playing a happily messy cleaning company employee.

She took a short health break the same year after being diagnosed with thyroid issues, then returned to projects soon after.

Convenience Store, Painters, and Netflix Era (2020 to 2022)

In June 2020, she headlined the SBS romantic comedy Backstreet Rookie with Ji Chang-wook, Han Sun-hwa, Do Sang-woo, Ahn Sol-bin, and Kim Min-kyu. She trained at Action School for fight and wire stunt scenes.

In 2021, she played the female lead Hong Chun-gi, the only female painter of Joseon, in the SBS historical fantasy Lovers of the Red Sky, opposite Ahn Hyo-seop, Gong Myung, and Kwak Si-yang. 

The same year, she appeared in the Netflix mystery thriller The 8th Night with Lee Sung-min and Park Hae-joon, and made a cameo in Coupang Play’s One Ordinary Day with Kim Soo-hyun and Cha Seung-won.

In October 2022, she headlined the Netflix film 20th Century Girl as Na Bo-ra opposite Byun Woo-seok, Park Jung-woo, and Roh Yoon-seo. The film topped Netflix charts in 33 countries and earned her the nickname “Nation’s First Love”.

Theatre Debut, My Demon, and Global Reach (2023 to 2024)

In January 2023, Kim made her stage debut at the CJ Towol Theater in the play Shakespeare in Love, playing Viola de Lesseps opposite Kim Sung-cheol.

In March 2023, she made a special appearance in the film My Heart Puppy, starring Yoo Yeon-seok and Cha Tae-hyun.

From November 2023 to January 2024, she led the SBS fantasy romance My Demon with Song Kang, Lee Sang-yi, and Jo Hye-joo, playing chaebol heiress Do Do-hee.

In 2024, she made a special appearance in the Netflix dark comedy Chicken Nugget, starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Ahn Jae-hong, and Jung Ho-yeon.

Busan Honour and Dear X (2025 to 2026)

In September 2025, Kim was honoured as the inaugural recipient of the Busan International Actors Award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival.

In November 2025, she starred in the TVING original psychological thriller Dear X as the sociopath Baek A-jin, alongside Kim Young-dae, Kim Do-hoon, and Hwang In-yeop. The series topped streaming charts in 108 countries within weeks of release and is considered a career-best performance for her.

Upcoming Work

Kim Yoo-jung is set to star in tvN’s historical spy romance 100 Days of Lies, directed by Yoo In-sik, with Park Jinyoung, Kim Hyun-joo, Lee Moo-saeng, and Jin Sun-kyu. The drama is scheduled for the second half of 2026. 

She will also appear in the fantasy-occult film Revenger / Vengeful Spirit, playing a ghost who tries to save her younger sibling. The movie wrapped up filming and is highly anticipated.

Kim You-jung Awards and Achievements 

Kim You-jung has been winning acting awards since she was nine years old, picking up Best Child Actress honours at SBS, MBC, and KBS Drama Awards. As an adult, she has won top trophies at the Baeksang Arts Awards, SBS Drama Awards, and Asia Artist Awards for her work in Love in the Moonlight, Lovers of the Red Sky, My Demon, and Dear X.

Her major wins

• SBS Drama Awards (2008): Won Best Young Actress for Iljimae and Painter of the Wind.
• MBC Drama Awards (2010): Won Best Young Actress for Dong Yi and Flames of Desire.
• KBS Drama Awards (2010): Won Best Young Actress for Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho.
• APAN Star Awards (2012): Won Best Young Actress for Moon Embracing the Sun.
• MBC Drama Awards (2012): Won Best Young Actress for Moon Embracing the Sun and May Queen.
• Pierson Movie Festival (2012): Won Best Child Actress.
• SBS Drama Awards (2014): Won New Star Award for Secret Door.
• Pierson Movie Festival (2014): Won Trend Choice Best Actress.
• MBC Drama Awards (2015): Won Top 10 Stars Award for Angry Mom.
• APAN Star Awards (2016): Won Best New Actress for Love in the Moonlight.
• KBS Drama Awards (2016): Won Excellence Award, Actress, and Best Couple Award with Park Bo-gum, both for Love in the Moonlight.
• Asia Artist Awards (2016): Won Best Icon Award, Drama.
• Style Icon Asia (2016): Won Awesome Teen Award.
• Yahoo! Asia Buzz Awards (2016): Won Top Buzz Star, Female.
• Baeksang Arts Awards (2017): Won Most Popular Actress (Television) for Love in the Moonlight.
• SBS Drama Awards (2020): Won Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Fantasy/Romance Drama, for Backstreet Rookie.
• SBS Drama Awards (2021): Won Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Fantasy Drama, and Best Couple Award with Ahn Hyo-seop, both for Lovers of the Red Sky.
• Asia Star Awards (2022): Won Face of Asia.
• SBS Drama Awards (2023): Won Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Romance/Comedy Drama, and Best Couple Award with Song Kang, both for My Demon.
• Asia Artist Awards (2025): Won Best Artist, Actress, for Dear X, and Legendary Couple with Park Bo-gum.
• Busan International Film Festival (2025): Won inaugural Busan International Actors Award.

Her key nominations

• Grand Bell Awards (2006): Nominated for Best New Actress for All for Love.
• Baeksang Arts Awards (2012): Nominated for Best New Actress, Television, for Moon Embracing the Sun.
• Blue Dragon Film Awards (2014): Nominated for Best New Actress for Thread of Lies.
• APAN Star Awards (2021): Nominated for Excellence Award, Actress, for Backstreet Rookie.
• APAN Star Awards (2024): Nominated for Popular Actress Award.
• Asia Star Entertainer Awards (2026): Nominated for Best Artist, Actress.

Other recognitions

• Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 (2017): Ranked 8th, the youngest to be in the Top 10.
• Forbes 30 Under 30 Korea (2024): Included.
• Teen Vogue New Hollywood Class of 2025: Included.
• Times Now India Top 10 K-Drama Performers of 2025: Included.

Kim You-jung Controversies

Kim You-jung has had a long, mostly clean career, but a few of her projects and red carpet moments have drawn public debate.

Kim You-jung Net Worth 

Kim You-jung has not officially shared her net worth. Most figures online are estimates based on her acting fees, brand deals, and over two decades of consistent work in the industry.

Her net worth is estimated to be around $6 million to $25 million, depending on the source, with British magazine Nubia Magazine placing her among the top 10 richest Korean actresses of 2024 at an estimated $25 million.

Her income comes from acting fees, brand endorsements with names like Laneige, FILA, Hana Bank, Coca-Cola’s Toretta, BBQ, Nordisk, and Couronne, and from her ambassador roles.

Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.)	$6 million to $25 million (approx. ₹56 crore to ₹235 crore)
Salary (Approx.)	Yet to be updated

Kim You-jung Height, Weight and Physical Stats

Height	In centimetres: 165 cm In meters: 1.65 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 5 inches
Weight	In kg: 48 kg In lbs: 105 lb
Body Measurements	32-24-30 inches
Hair Color	Dark Brown
Eye Color	Dark Brown

Kim You-jung Social media 

Instagram

@you_r_love

Interesting Facts about Kim You-jung

• She is signed with Awesome ENT, where she shares an agency roof with stars like Park Seo-joon and Hwang Jung-eum.
• Kim is the youngest patron of the Green Noble Club at ChildFund Korea, joining at age 20 after donating over 100 million won by 2019. She has continued to give large amounts each year for children with serious illnesses and disaster victims.
• In March 2025, she donated 80 million won through Hope Bridge to wildfire recovery efforts in Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam.
• She is known to be close friends with the late actress Kim Sae-ron, whom she has known since their child actor days.
• She has a strong dislike for horror films, which she has openly said she will never get used to watching.
• Painting and drawing are her favourite hobbies, and she often shares her artwork during interviews and behind-the-scenes clips.

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