Kim Ah-joong South Korean actress, singer and model Date of Birth: 16.10.1982 Country: South Korea

1. Early Life and Education
2. Modeling Career and Film Debut
3. Breakthrough with "200 Pounds Beauty"
4. Versatility and Notable Roles
5. Personal Life and Controversies
6. Recent Projects and Current Status

Early Life and Education

Kim Ah-joong, a renowned South Korean actress, model, and singer, began her journey as a model before transitioning into acting, television hosting, and radio presenting. Despite her fame in South Korea, she is selective in her projects, resulting in a modest filmography.

Kim was born on October 16, 1982, in Seoul, South Korea. Aspiring for the entertainment industry from a young age, she studied at Dongduk Women's University, majoring in Broadcasting and Entertainment. She later pursued a Master's degree in Journalism at Korea University, which she credits with enhancing her acting abilities.

Modeling Career and Film Debut

Kim's career took flight in the early 2000s when she was cast in a mobile phone commercial. Subsequently, she established herself as a sought-after model for various brands, including clothing, cosmetics, printers, and credit cards. She earned the unofficial title of "Advertising Queen" for her frequent appearances in promotional campaigns.

Her modeling career caught the attention of film and drama producers, leading to her acting debut in the 2004 film "Who's Got the Tape?" and the television series "The Ruler of the Sea." By 2006, she had landed her first starring role in "200 Pounds Beauty."

Breakthrough with "200 Pounds Beauty"

"200 Pounds Beauty" was a smash hit, based on a Japanese manga. Kim played Kang Han-na, an overweight singer who undergoes plastic surgery to become a pop idol. She performed the Korean rendition of "Ave Maria" for the film's soundtrack, which later spawned a full album featuring her on four tracks. The comedy became the third highest-grossing film of 2006 and earned Kim several awards for Best Actress.

Versatility and Notable Roles

After her breakthrough success, Kim continued to act in films and appeared on television, radio, and in music videos. While some fans suggested she was typecast as a pop diva, she embraced diverse projects and roles. She refused numerous scripts, releasing only one film per year or occasionally taking extended breaks from the big screen.

Kim's next triumph came with the romantic comedy "My Tutor Friend." In this film, she played a woman who attempts to revive a five-year relationship and mistakenly calls a stranger (Ji Sung) instead of her boyfriend for phone sex. The film grossed over $12 million in its first ten days of release.

Personal Life and Controversies

Kim keeps her personal life private, sharing only career-related posts on her Instagram account. Fans have observed that she has lost weight and had plastic surgery on her eyelids and chin in comparison to her earlier appearances.

Kim has faced controversies, including a $600,000 fine for tax evasion in 2011, which led to a three-year suspension from television contracts. She shifted her focus to film during this time. In 2018, she was involved in a hit-and-run accident and was found unconscious in her home, prompting false reports of her death, which were later debunked. Her current height is 170 cm (5'7"), and her weight is 48 kg (106 lbs).

Recent Projects and Current Status

Kim continues to star in film and television. In February 2022, Disney+ released the detective web series "Grid," where she plays a lead role alongside Seo Kang-joon. The series revolves around a mysterious phantom-like entity that saves humanity in the late 1990s and re-emerges a quarter of a century later.