Kim Rae-won
Kim Rae-won (born March 19, 1981) is a South Korean actor renowned for his versatile performances across romantic comedies, medical dramas, action thrillers, and sports-themed series.[1] Debuting in the 1997 drama Me, Kim initially aspired to a professional basketball career but pivoted to acting after an ankle injury.[2] He gained widespread recognition in 2003 with his breakout role as a laid-back law student in the romantic comedy Rooftop Room Cat (also known as Cats on the Roof), earning the Top Excellence Award and Popularity Award at the MBC Drama Awards.[3] Early successes included leading roles in the teen romance film My Little Bride (2004) and the romantic drama Love Story in Harvard (2004), establishing him as a go-to actor for heartfelt, youthful characters.[3] Throughout his over two-decade career, Kim has demonstrated a broad acting range, transitioning from lighthearted romances like Gourmet (2008) to intense thrillers such as Punch (2011) and L.U.C.A.: The Beginning (2021).[4] His portrayal of a brain surgeon in the medical drama Doctors (2016) opposite Park Shin-hye earned him the Top Excellence Award in Genre & Fantasy Drama at the SBS Drama Awards.[5] He further showcased his depth in action roles, including the firefighter captain in The First Responders (2022–2023), for which he received the Top Excellence Award in Genre Miniseries at the 2022 SBS Drama Awards.[6] In 2025, Kim is set to star as a baseball coach in the upcoming SBS sports drama Full Count, marking his return to the genre.[7]Early life
Childhood
Kim Rae-won was born on March 19, 1981, in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea.[8] He grew up in a well-to-do family with a younger sister.[9] The household followed the Catholic faith.[10] During his middle school years, he inherited a small apartment and a substantial sum of money from his grandmother, which provided early financial stability.[11] As a child, Kim aspired to become a professional basketball player, excelling in the sport until an ankle tendon injury in his youth ended that dream.[8] This setback shifted his interests toward modeling, marking a pivotal turn in his formative years. He also developed a passion for fishing early on, recognized as a prodigy by age five, often joining his father—an accomplished fisherman renowned in sea and freshwater circles—for outings that strengthened their bond.[12][13]Education
Kim Rae-won attended Noam Elementary School, followed by Gwangju Middle School and Namkang High School in South Korea.[14] He later enrolled at Chung-Ang University, where he majored in the Department of Theatre and Film.[15][16] His studies at the university provided formal training in acting and performance, which facilitated his shift from a budding career in fashion modeling during the 1990s to pursuing professional acting opportunities.[17][18]Career
Debut and early roles
Kim Rae-won began his entertainment career in 1997 at the age of 16, initially working as a model before transitioning to acting. That same year, he made his acting debut in the MBC youth drama Me, marking his entry into the broadcasting industry alongside co-stars like Ahn Jae-mo.[19][20] In the following years, Kim took on minor supporting roles in several teen-oriented dramas, gradually gaining experience amid the competitive landscape of South Korean television. Notable early appearances include Soonpoong Clinic on SBS in 1998 and School 2 on KBS2 in 1999, the latter earning him the Best Young Actor award at the KBS Drama Awards for his portrayal of a high school student navigating youth challenges. These roles highlighted his youthful energy but kept him in the background as he auditioned persistently for more substantial parts.[21] Kim's early film venture came in 2000 with Plum Blossom, where he played the lead role of Kim Ja-hyo, a high school senior entangled in themes of first love and adolescent turmoil opposite Kim Jung-hyun and Bae Doo-na. As a newcomer, he faced the typical hurdles of limited visibility and the need to balance sporadic acting opportunities with modeling work, contributing to a slow but steady accumulation of industry recognition before his breakthrough in 2003.[19][22]Breakthrough and rise
Kim Rae-won's breakthrough came in 2003 with his lead role as the indolent yet charming law student Lee Kyung-min in the MBC romantic comedy series Cats on the Roof. The drama highlighted his youthful appeal and natural comedic timing, earning him widespread popularity among viewers for portraying a relatable young adult navigating love and personal growth.[21] His performance was critically well-received, leading to a Top Excellence Award and Popularity Award at the 2003 MBC Drama Awards, which solidified his transition from supporting roles to leading status.[15] In 2004, Kim expanded into film with My Little Bride, where he played Park Sang-min, a reluctant young man in an arranged marriage with a high school student. The romantic comedy became a major box-office success, selling 3,149,500 tickets and ranking as the second highest-grossing domestic film of the year in South Korea.[23] The film's lighthearted take on generational clashes and budding romance showcased Kim's ability to blend humor with emotional depth, earning him the Best New Actor award at the 41st Grand Bell Awards and affirming his rising status as a movie star.[24] From 2004 to 2005, Kim demonstrated versatility as a romantic lead in television dramas, further establishing his reputation in the genre. In the MBC series Say You Love Me, he portrayed Kim Byung-soo, a devoted childhood friend entangled in a love triangle, emphasizing heartfelt sincerity and subtle emotional layers.[25] He followed this with the SBS drama Love Story in Harvard, playing Kim Hyun-woo, a composed and warm-hearted Harvard Law freshman pursuing cross-cultural romance, which highlighted his range in portraying intelligent, charismatic suitors.[26] The latter earned him the Popularity Award at the 2004 SBS Drama Awards, reflecting the positive buzz around his evolving screen presence and cements his position as a go-to actor for romantic narratives during this pivotal period.[15]Mid-career and military hiatus
Following his breakthrough romantic leads, Kim Rae-won began diversifying his roles into more varied genres during the mid-2000s. In the 2006 MBC drama Which Star Are You From?, he portrayed Choi Seung-hee, a wealthy man grappling with loss and identity in a melodrama that blended family dynamics and supernatural elements, marking his shift toward emotionally complex characters beyond pure romance. This was followed by the 2008 SBS series Gourmet, where he played Lee Sung-chan, an aspiring chef navigating rivalry and personal growth in a light-hearted food-centric family drama co-starring Nam Sang-mi, which highlighted his versatility in comedic and relational storytelling.[27] By 2009, he ventured into film with Insadong Scandal, taking on the role of Lee Kang-jun, a talented art restorer entangled in forgery and mystery, further expanding his repertoire to include thriller elements.[28] Kim's career momentum was interrupted by mandatory military service, which he began on August 13, 2009, after completing filming for Insadong Scandal. Enlisting as a public service worker due to health considerations, he served for approximately two years, pausing his acting projects. He was discharged on August 23, 2011.[29][30] Upon resuming work, Kim adapted to a matured on-screen image, emphasizing intense and multifaceted characters. His post-military comeback came with the 2011 SBS melodrama A Thousand Days' Promise, where he played Park Ji-hyung, a devoted fiancé supporting his fiancée through early-onset Alzheimer's disease. His significant return to prominence in thrillers followed with the 2014 SBS drama Punch, where he starred as Park Jung-hwan, a terminally ill prosecutor seeking revenge against corruption, delivering a performance that showcased his range in high-stakes thriller territory and earned praise for its emotional depth and intensity.[31] This role allowed him to leverage his post-hiatus growth, transitioning from lighter fare to darker, more authoritative figures that aligned with his evolved persona.[32]Recent works
In the medical drama Doctors, which aired on SBS in 2016, Kim Rae-won portrayed the neurosurgeon Hong Ji-hong, a compassionate mentor figure whose role highlighted his ability to convey profound emotional layers amid high-stakes hospital scenarios.[33] His performance was lauded for its depth, particularly in scenes exploring personal loss and professional dedication, contributing to the series' strong viewer engagement and its resurgence on streaming platforms in subsequent years.[34] Shifting to action-oriented narratives, Kim starred as the determined detective Jin Ho-gae in the SBS series The First Responders (2022–2023), a role that spanned two seasons and depicted the collaborative efforts of police, firefighters, and emergency medics in crisis situations.[35] His portrayal of the no-nonsense yet heroic investigator, who tackles everything from minor incidents to major disasters, underscored his skill in intense, ensemble-driven dynamics, earning acclaim for bringing authenticity to the first-responder theme.[36] Venturing into cinema, Kim appeared in the 2023 science fiction disaster film The Moon, directed by Kim Yong-hwa, where he played the astronaut Lee Sang-won, contributing to the high-tension rescue mission aboard a troubled lunar spacecraft.[37] This big-screen project allowed him to showcase physicality and urgency in a genre-blending narrative of space exploration gone awry, marking a notable expansion into visually ambitious productions.[38] In 2025, Kim is set to lead in the tvN drama My Happy Home, a 16-episode series about a family restarting a counterfeit money operation to cover medical expenses, becoming entangled in unexpected conflicts.[39] Additionally, in October 2025, SBS announced his lead role in the upcoming drama Full Count (working title), a 12-episode sports series centered on a rivalry between baseball coaches chasing past dreams and team glory.[7] Filming is slated to begin early 2026, with Kim embodying a coach navigating competitive pressures and personal redemption in this baseball-themed story.[40] These projects reflect Kim Rae-won's progression toward multifaceted roles in thriller, disaster, and sports genres, emphasizing high-stakes action and character-driven intensity while maintaining his enduring appeal in South Korean entertainment.[13]Personal life
Military service
Kim Rae-won enlisted for his mandatory military service on August 13, 2009, beginning with four weeks of basic training at the Nonsan Training Center in South Chungcheong Province.[41][42] Due to a pre-existing back condition known as degenerative lumbago, he was exempted from active-duty combat roles and instead assigned to public service personnel duties in the Republic of Korea Army system.[41][42] He served as a librarian at the Namsan Library in Seoul, where his responsibilities included handling new book arrivals and library operations, with no special assignments reported during his term.[43] His service lasted two years, and he was discharged on August 23, 2011, opting for a low-key exit without a public ceremony.[44][30] Prior to enlistment, Kim adjusted his career commitments by declining the lead role in the MBC drama Heading to the Ground, prioritizing his military obligation over filming; his final pre-service project was the film Insadong Scandal.[41] Following discharge, he resumed acting immediately with the lead role in the SBS drama A Thousand Days' Promise, marking a swift return to his professional schedule.[30]Private life
Kim Rae-won has consistently maintained a low-profile personal life, avoiding public disclosures about romantic relationships and focusing instead on his career and leisure activities. In interviews, he has expressed that demanding schedules and personal interests often take precedence over dating or marriage, with no confirmed long-term partners or matrimony as of 2025.[9] Past dating rumors, such as those involving co-stars, have been addressed and dismissed by the actor, emphasizing his preference for privacy in such matters.[45] A dedicated hobbyist, Kim enjoys fishing, an activity he has pursued since his youth and frequently shares with his father during downtime. He has described it as a relaxing escape that occupies much of his free time, sometimes even more than professional commitments. Additionally, he maintains interests in sports like golf and scuba diving, which provide outlets for physical activity and reflection away from the spotlight.[46][47] While not overtly public about charitable efforts, Kim has engaged in philanthropy through his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2007, supporting global children's initiatives with understated involvement. This aligns with his overall approach to off-screen life, where contributions remain low-key rather than formally highlighted.[48]Filmography
Films
Kim Rae-won began his film career in the late 1990s and has since starred in a variety of genres, from romance to action thrillers.[16]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Scent of a Man | Supporting role[16] |
| 2000 | Plum Blossom | Lead role as Kim Ja-hyo[16] |
| 2000 | Harpy | Lead role as Hyeon-u[16] |
| 2002 | 2424 | Lead role as Han Ik-su[16] |
| 2003 | ...ing | Lead role as Young-jae[16] |
| 2004 | My Little Bride | Lead role as Park Sang-min[16] |
| 2005 | Mr. Socrates | Lead role as Ku Dong-hyeok[16] |
| 2006 | Sunflower | Lead role as Oh Tae-shik[16] |
| 2008 | Flower Shadow | Lead role[16] |
| 2009 | Insadong Scandal | Lead role as Lee Kang-joon[16] |
| 2013 | My Little Hero | Lead role as Yoo Il-han[16] |
| 2015 | Gangnam 1970 | Lead role as Baek Yong-ki[16] |
| 2017 | The Prison | Lead role as Song Yoo-gun (directed by Na Hyun)[49] |
| 2017 | RV: Resurrected Victims | Lead role as Seo Jin-hong (directed by Kwak Kyung-taek)[50] |
| 2019 | Long Live the King: Mokpo Hero | Lead role as Jang Se-chul (directed by Kang Yoon-sung)[51] |
| 2019 | Crazy Romance | Lead role as Jae-hoon (directed by Kim Han-gyul)[52] |
| 2022 | Decibel | Lead role as Kang Do-young (directed by Hwang In-ho)[16] |
| 2023 | The Moon | Guest role as Lee Sang-won (directed by Kim Yong-hwa)) |
Television series
Kim Rae-won made his acting debut in television with a minor role in the 1997 MBC youth drama Me (16 episodes).[13] His subsequent television appearances span a variety of genres, primarily in leading and supporting roles in Korean dramas broadcast on major networks such as MBC, SBS, KBS, and tvN. The following table lists his drama roles in chronological order, including character details, episode counts, and networks where available.[16]| Year | Title | Role | Character | Episodes | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Me | Minor | N/A | 16 | MBC |
| 1998 | Soonpoong Clinic | Supporting | Kim Rae-won | 682 | SBS |
| 1999 | March | Supporting | N/A | 260 | SBS |
| 1999 | School 2 | Main | Lee Han | 42 | KBS1 |
| 1999 | Sweet Bride | Supporting | N/A | 26 | SBS |
| 2000 | The Thief's Daughter | Supporting | Deok Kyung | 34 | MBC |
| 2001 | Life Is Beautiful | Main | Lee Jae Min | 16 | SBS |
| 2001 | Wuri's Family | Supporting | Lee Young Hoon | 20 | MBC |
| 2002 | My Love Patzzi | Main | Kim Hyun Sung | 10 | MBC |
| 2003 | Snowman | Main | Cha Sung Joon | 17 | MBC |
| 2003 | Cats on the Roof (Attic Cat) | Main | Lee Kyung Min | 16 | MBC |
| 2004 | Say You Love Me | Main | Kim Byung Soo | 15 | MBC |
| 2004 | Love Story in Harvard | Main | Kim Hyun Woo | 16 | SBS |
| 2006 | Which Star Are You From? | Main | Choi Seung Hui | 16 | MBC |
| 2008 | Gourmet | Main | Lee Sung Chan | 24 | SBS |
| 2011 | A Thousand Days' Promise | Main | Park Ji Hyung | 20 | SBS |
| 2014 | Punch | Main | Park Jeong Hwan | 19 | SBS |
| 2016 | Doctors | Main | Hong Ji Hong | 20 | SBS |
| 2017 | Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me | Main | Moon Soo-ho / Lee Myeong So | 20 | KBS2 |
| 2021 | L.U.C.A.: The Beginning | Main | Ji O | 12 | tvN |
| 2022 | The First Responders | Main | Jin Ho Gae | 12 | SBS |
| 2023 | The First Responders Season 2 | Main | Jin Ho Gae | 12 | SBS |
| 2025 | My Happy Home | Main | N/A | 16 | tvN |
| 2026 | Full Count | Main | Hwang Jin-ho | 12 | SBS (upcoming)[7] |