Kim Jae Won is currently one of the hottest rising actors in Korea! After the finale of “Yumi's Cells”, many viewers completely fell for him, and with the drama’s growing popularity, his fame is rising quickly. The series became a major turning point in his career.
For those not familiar with him yet, here is a quick introduction. Born in 2001, Kim Jae Won debuted as a model in 2018 before officially starting his acting career in 2021.
He first gained attention for his role as the younger flight attendant Kim Ro Woon in “King the Land” in 2023. The following year, he became even more well-known through Netflix’s “Hierarchy” and “The Tale of Lady Ok”, where he played the second male lead.
Check out a review of the "King the Land" K-drama here.
Following these successful projects, he was cast as the male lead in the third season of “Yumi's Cells” alongside superstar Kim Go Eun. Since the first two seasons were already hugely popular and the original "Yumi's Cells" webtoon has many readers, his casting naturally drew a lot of attention.
In the drama, he plays Shin Soon Rok, the publishing editor of Yumi, played by Kim Go Eun. His character initially appears smart and cold, like a rational robot, but little by little, his charming “younger boyfriend” side is revealed to viewers.
Unsurprisingly, he gained a lot of attention for his acting, his strong resemblance to the original webtoon character, his chemistry with Kim Go Eun, and his visuals. Korean online communities even started discussions such as Soon Rok with bangs vs slicked-back hair Soon Rok (“덮머순록 vs 깐머순록”) and gave him nicknames like “puppy look” and “the nation’s younger boyfriend type” (“국민 연하남”).
At the time of writing, his Instagram followers have already surpassed 2.1 million, proving just how fast his popularity is growing.
Fan already or just discovering him now, here are some interesting facts about the actor.
1. A Stylish Modeling Past
Kim Jae Won began working as a fashion model during his second year of middle school and went through numerous auditions before officially debuting as a model for Solid Homme during the brand’s 2018–2019 Spring/Summer collection.
He later successfully transitioned from modeling into acting.
2. A “Munjjaknam”
“Munjjaknam” (문짝남) is a newly coined Korean slang term referring to a very tall man (usually around 190 cm) with broad shoulders and a sturdy build, resembling a “door panel” (문짝). You can think about Byeon Woo Seok or Ro Woon, for example.
Kim Jae Won’s official height is listed as 188 cm, but many fans believe he may actually be taller. Why? Because on screen, he often appears significantly taller than expected.
Some Korean actors are rumored to list their height slightly below 190 cm in order to access a wider variety of acting roles. While nothing has ever been confirmed regarding Kim Jae Won, this remains a fan theory online.
3. A “Music Bank” Host Like Many Big Hallyu Stars
Since February, Kim Jae Won has been serving as an MC for KBS music show “Music Bank” and many fans see this as another sign of his growing popularity.
Several major Hallyu stars also increased their visibility through music show hosting early in their careers, including Park Bo Gum, Song Joong Ki, and Park Seo Joon on KBS, as well as Kim Woo Bin on Mnet, and Lee Jong Suk and Song Kang on SBS
It is an important opportunity that could open many doors for him.
On his debut day as an MC, Kim Jae Won shared:
4. Kim Jae Won’s Ideal Type
For those curious about the actor’s ideal type, Kim Jae Won said he likes people who appreciate even small things and have a positive personality.
Although he does not have one fixed ideal type, he believes the overall feeling and connection between two people matter the most.
5. A “Mystic” Agency With Famous Artists and Band
Kim Jae Won is signed under Mystic Story, home to actors such as Go Min Si, Jung Yu Mi, Park Hyuk Kwon, and Jeong Jin Woon.
The company is also home to several singers and the popular band LUCY. In Korea and overseas, the group is especially known for its healing music, strong live performances, and unique use of violin in its songs.
Interestingly, Kim Jae Won even posted a video of himself singing along to one of LUCY’s songs on Instagram together with them.
6. Part of the “2000s Tall and Rising Actor Line”
Kim Jae Won is often mentioned as part of the new generation of tall rising actors born in the early 2000s, alongside Lee Chae Min and Moon Sang Min, in the Korean media.
All three actors are around 190 cm tall, were born between 2000 and 2001, and are increasingly being cast in leading drama roles thanks to their visuals and acting potential.
Among them, Lee Chae Min is currently slightly ahead in terms of popularity, with over 3.9 million Instagram followers.
Interestingly enough, both Lee Chae Min and Moon Sang Min also worked as hosts for Music Bank!
7. His Interests and the Seoul Neighborhoods He Likes
If you are curious to know more about Kim Jae Won and the kind of places he enjoys in Seoul, here are some details he previously shared.
First, he is a morning person who usually goes to bed between 10 PM and 11 PM. He also prefers daytime over nighttime and likes winter more than summer.
He enjoys visiting exhibitions and mentioned that while he likes paintings, he especially enjoys sculpture exhibitions and unique structures.
Kim Jae Won also shared that he often visits neighborhoods such as Hannam-dong, Mangwon-dong, Yeonnam-dong, Yeonhui-dong, and Sharosu-gil.
In Korea, these areas are often described as hip neighborhoods or aesthetic/lifestyle commercial areas. These neighborhoods are known for combining quiet residential streets with hidden cafés, shops, galleries, and restaurants, creating the famous Korean vibe of “walking around and discovering places.”
Kim Jae Won already has several upcoming projects planned, including two movies and two dramas.
One of the most anticipated projects is the historical romance drama “The Palace Is Home to Dog Flowers”, where he is reportedly in talks to star alongside Park Eun Bin. However, his casting has not yet been officially confirmed.
