Artist Profile
- Full Name: Kim Yoo-jung
- Native Name: 김유정 (Korean), 金裕貞 (Hanja)
- Nicknames: Nation's Little Sister, Sageuk Fairy, Nation's First Love, Global First Love
- Birthday: Sep 22, 1999 (26 years old)
- Blood Type: O
- Height/Weight: 160 cm (5’3") / 45 kg (99 lbs)
- Gender: Female
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Debut: 2003
- Birthplace: Seongdong District, Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Profession: Actress
- Language Skills: Korean (Native), English
- Current Agency: Awesome ENT
- Active Years: 2003–present (23 years)
Kim Yoo-jung (born September 22, 1999, in Seongdong District, Seoul) is a South Korean actress. She began her career in 2003 at the age of four, first appearing in commercials.
By 2004, Kim transitioned into acting and quickly rose to prominence as one of Korea’s most recognized child actresses. Growing up on screen, she successfully made the leap into more mature roles and is now regarded as one of the leading young stars of Korean television and film. In addition to acting, she has also hosted music and variety programs.
Early Life
From her elementary school years, Kim showed a natural talent for performance and frequently participated in stage and media-related activities. Her fresh, camera-friendly appearance made her an in-demand face for both commercials and screen roles.
She attended Goyang High School of Arts, graduating in January 2018. In 2017, Kim chose not to sit for the national university entrance exam (CSAT), instead dedicating herself fully to her acting career.
Career
Kim Yoo-jung debuted in 2003 at the age of four through a television commercial for a South Korean confectionery brand. In 2004, she secured her first television role and rapidly became one of the most prolific child actresses in the industry, appearing in both period dramas and contemporary series.
Throughout the 2000s, Kim Yoo-jung established her reputation in large-scale historical dramas such as Iljimae (2008), Dong Yi (2010), and Moon Embracing the Sun (2012). As she transitioned away from child roles, she began portraying teenage characters with greater psychological depth in dramas such as May Queen (2012) and Angry Mom (2015). Her notable film credits during this period include Commitment (2013), Thread of Lies (2014), and Circle of Atonement (2015).
From 2014 to 2016, in addition to acting, Kim Yoo-jung served as a co-host for the SBS music program Inkigayo.
In 2016, she took on her first leading role in the KBS2 romantic historical drama Love in the Moonlight. The series achieved high viewership ratings and is considered a significant milestone in her career, marking her successful transition from a child actress to adult leading roles.
Between 2018 and 2021, Kim Yoo-jung continued to diversify her leading roles across various genres, including the romantic comedies Clean with Passion for Now (JTBC, 2018–2019) and Backstreet Rookie (SBS, 2020), as well as the historical fantasy drama Lovers of the Red Sky (SBS, 2021). She also appeared in the Netflix thriller film The 8th Night (2021).
In 2022, Kim Yoo-jung starred in the Netflix youth romance film 20th Century Girl. In 2023, she made her stage debut playing Viola de Lesseps in the South Korean production of the play Shakespeare in Love. That same year, she returned to television as Do Do-hee in the SBS fantasy romance My Demon.
In 2024, she starred in the Netflix series Chicken Nugget, portraying Choi Min-ah, a girl who transforms into a chicken nugget after entering a mysterious machine. The series premiered on March 15, 2024.
In 2025, Kim Yoo-jung starred as Baek Ah-jin in the TVING original melo-thriller Dear X, which began airing on November 6, 2025. Her character is a famous actress with a complex past and a conflicted internal life. The series received critical acclaim; the South China Morning Post ranked Dear X 11th on its list of the 15 best Korean dramas of 2025. The production also achieved commercial success on the TVING platform, topping the rankings for new paid subscriptions for five consecutive weeks.
Fun Facts
- She once revealed she’s into deep-sea fishing and even caught a fish over 1.2 meters long.
- On Instagram, she often shares snapshots of her “squad” — cat Ddo Ddo and dog Sa Wol.
- She once doodled a cartoon octopus and joked, “Even if you fall down, you can still get back up,” making fans smile.
- Her idea of happiness is lying on a warm floor, staring out the window, and doing absolutely nothing.
- While filming Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, she cried for real because actor Choi Min-sik’s intense gaze was too scary.
- In Commitment, she played T.O.P’s younger sister — funny enough, he was also her longtime “dream oppa.”
- Back in 2019, she guested on Running Man and became the youngest participant at the time.
- International fans once said she looks like Danielle from NewJeans, and she laughed, admitting she’s a fan of the group too.
- Behind the scenes of My Demon, Song Kang tried hugging her with one arm while holding a cake in the other.
- In another My Demon blooper, she suddenly grabbed Song Kang’s ID card, leaving him frozen in shock.
- During a vacation in Vietnam, she happily tried tropical fruits and shared travel photos that fans loved.
- At the SBS Drama Awards, her candid backstage photos went viral because they looked like professional posters.
- Kim Yoo-jung is close friends with Suhyun and Yeri (Red Velvet), and they often hang out together over spicy chicken feet.