Management S’ Naver Post
Kim JaeYoung captured the hearts of many with his portrayal of Han DaOn, a passionate Violent Crimes detective in the popular drama “The Judge From Hell.” Co-starring seasoned actress Park ShinHye, it was a defining moment in the 36-year-old actor’s career, marking his first leading role in a drama that achieved both local and international success.
“The Judge From Hell” captured an impressive average viewership rating of 11.9% nationwide, dominating its time slot across all channels. This success also elevated JaeYoung’s public recognition, landing him in 27th place in the October Drama Actor Brand Reputation Rankings. The actor also gained a significant following on social media, surpassing one million followers on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Following the success of the drama, he rocked the stage as a presenter at the “Korean Grand Music Awards.” Curious about Kim JaeYoung? Here’s a closer look into his life and journey.
Model Times
Esteem Entertainment Official Instagram
bnt International
Kim JaeYoung began his career as a model under ESteem Entertainment, following his father’s advice. After receiving training at the agency’s academy, he launched his modeling career. JaeYoung has since walked on numerous runways, participated in various photoshoots, and became the face of the denim brand “Jambangee” alongside EXID’s HaNi.
In addition to his modeling works, JaeYoung has appeared in music videos for Korean artists including Jewelry’s ‘So What’ and KARA’s ‘Pandora.’ He also starred alongside ASTRO’s Cha EunWoo and Park GyuYoung in Urban LoZakapa’s ‘As I Wished.’
Acting
Management S’ Naver Post
In 2013, Kim JaeYoung landed his first movie role as a swimmer in “No Breathing,” a sports drama featuring Lee JongSuk and Seo InGuk. He expanded his range by playing a villain in “Derailed,” where he earned the title of “scene stealer,” in the South Korean media, gaining recognition for the first time. Continuing his action-packed roles, he appeared in “Golden Slumber” and showcased a new side in “Money,” where he played the best friend to Ryu JunYeol’s character.
Kim JaeYoung has taken on both supporting and lead roles in about a dozen dramas. Highlights include “100 Days My Prince,” his only historical drama, and “My Secret Romance,” his first main role. In 2019, he landed his first lead role in “Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life” alongside Seol InAh. The KBS weekend drama gained widespread popularity in South Korea, reaching a 32.3% rating. Its success earned Kim JaeYoung his first-ever award at the “2019 KBS Drama Awards” for “Best New Actor.” For his next role, JaeYoung took up the psychological thriller and melodrama, “Reflection of You.” He played the role of Seo WooJae, a sculptor whose initially caring demeanor shifts to one of obsession, as the story unfolds. His performance was praised by netizens who hoped for more opportunities to showcase his talent and versatility. After building a solid reputation in Korea, Kim JaeYoung gained international recognition with his second lead role in the Park MinYoung-led “Love In Contract.”
In the course of his career, he has made two cameo memorable appearances. In the SBS drama “Yong Pal”, he played the role of a Korean adoptee doctor from the United States, who saves the female lead’s life in the final episode. A year later, he appeared in the tvN drama, “Entourage.” Kim JaeYoung has also showcased his vocal talent by singing the soundtrack of the web series, “Dear My Room,” in which he starred with actress Ryu HyeYoung. The song was titled, ‘At Home.’
About His Personality
Management S’ Naver Post
In an interview, Kim JaeYoung shared that the character most similar to his real personality is Jung HyunTae from “My Secret Romance.” He describes himself as an indoor person, who loves drinking, watching movies and golf matches. When he was much younger, he preferred hanging out with friends, but now finds himself wanting to relax often.
A main personality trait of Kim JaeYoung is his commitment to improving and always learning something new – whether for a project, a hobby, or just personal development. For his role in “Derailed,” he learned boxing for three months. He also got the urge to learn how to play golf from watching a lot of matches and tournaments. To satisfy his childhood dream, he spent about four to five months in a cooking class prior to shooting “The Judge From Hell.” Among his future ambitions, JaeYoung wants to give English a try.
TMI Info
Management S’ Naver Post
Since his elementary school days, JaeYoung dreamed of becoming a chef, a passion he set aside due to his parents’ disapproval. Despite finding success as an actor, he has not lost his culinary interest. He recently learned how to cook Western dishes and is confident in making pasta.
From previous stories shared, one can tell that the actor has a good relationship with his parents. When asked about a cherished movie memory, Kim JaeYoung mentioned ” Spider-Man.” According to him, it was the first movie he took his mom to watch with his own money. Likewise, after his mandatory military service, when he felt lost about his career path, his father encouraged him to pursue modeling, which ultimately led to his acting career.
JaeYoung cites science fiction as one of his favorite movie genres. This soft spot for sci-fi was born from watching “Spider-Man” and “The Lord of the Rings.” He is also a fan of city pop, particularly Japanese city pop hits from the 80s, even if he doesn’t always know the titles or lyrics. In an interview with Rolling Stone Korea, he shared that the music’s rhythm is what draws him in.
Since 2017, Kim JaeYoung has been a devoted dog dad to a long-haired chihuahua named Kkandol, whose charming talents include offering his paws and playfully biting fingers.
Friends and Role Models
Management S’ Naver Post
Kim JaeYoung has built a strong network of friends within the entertainment industry, many of whom have supported him throughout his journey. Among his close friends is model and TV celebrity Joo WooJae, who runs a popular YouTube channel where he talks about fashion and interviews celebrities. He has previously hosted Stray Kids, Kim JaeJoong, and JaeYoung on more than one occasion. The two have had many fun conversations, one of which led JaeYoung to reveal his MBTI, INFP. JaeYoung is also friends with Byeon WooSeok. He revealed that he has in the past received a lot of encouragement from the “Lovely Runner” star.
When asked which actress he would love to work with, Kim JaeYoung mentioned Kim HyeSoo, who captivated audiences in the 2022 drama “Under the Queen’s Umbrella.” “She will draw a lot of things from me when we act together,” he shared, expressing admiration for the veteran actress’s skill. He also holds deep respect for actor Lee ByungHun, renowned for roles in “Mr. Sunshine” and “Squid Game.” “His aura is intense, on and off screen,” JaeYoung noted. “When he acts, his expressions are amazing,” he added.
What’s your favorite fact about Kim JaeYoung?
