Updated: January 25, 2023
From a breakout TV star to a soon-to-be movie actor, Kim Seonho continues to be one of the most buzzworthy and bankable Hallyu talents in South Korean entertainment. Even before his global fame, he was already a theater star who captivated people’s hearts with his stage presence and talent for more than a decade now. It was only in 2017 when he started to appear on TV and rose to stardom through his secondary yet well-loved role as Han Jipyeong in Start-Up (2020).
Here’s a rundown of Kim Seonho’s drama roles from 2017 to 2021 (cameo roles are not included):
Rookie employee | Good Manager (2017)
After a rich experience as a stage play actor for several years, Kim Seonho finally made his small screen debut through the KBS drama, Good Manager (2017). In this workplace-comedy series, he played Seon Sang-tae, the cute rookie employee in the accounting department who gets bossed around by his co-workers. He wears eye glasses, full bangs, acts nerdy, but always radiates sunshine in the office with his warmth, kindness, and adorable smile.
Chaebol heir | Strongest Deliveryman (2017)
In the same year, Kim Seonho auditioned and was selected to portray a secondary role in KBS’ drama, Strongest Deliveryman (2017). He played Oh Jin-gyu, a spoiled chaebol heir who loves car racing, talks harshly, and whose father abuses him physically and emotionally. Although he appears to have a silly personality, he is quick to learn and able to adapt to changes especially when his world turned upside down from living a full life of luxury to living a life of misfortunes. To survive, he worked as a deliveryman, read a lot of books about business, studied English, and managed a restaurant, totally transforming from being a dependent son to an independent man.
Con-artist | Two Cops (2017-2018)
Kim Seonho finally took a leading role in MBC’s Two Cops (2017-2018), alongside actor Jo Jong-suk. In this fantasy-comedy drama, he played Gong Su-chang, a con artist and swindler who tricks people with his sly techniques and whose life changes when his soul begins to inhibit the body of a police detective. This is the first drama series that Kim Seonho won an acting award, taking home the “Best New Actor” and “Excellence Award for Actor” at the 2017 MBC Drama Awards.
Advisor to the Crown Prince | 100 Days My Prince (2018)
In tvN’s historical drama, 100 Days My Prince (2018), Kim Seonho played Jung Jae-yoon, a magistrate and advisor to the Crown Prince portrayed by singer-actor Doh Kyung-soo and where he also first worked with actress Han So-hee. His role is the intelligent type who is trustworthy with a sense of humor, but suffers from a condition called Prosopagnosia or face blindness that limits him to recognize faces, except the woman that he loves who likes another one.
Artist | You Drive Me Crazy (2018)
Kim Seonho played Kim Rae-wan, a playboy artist and long-time friend in MBC’s mini-series, You Drive Me Crazy (2018). His relationship with a woman he has been best friends with for 8 years changes after a night of sleeping together. He portrayed this character well, bringing viewers to a rollercoaster of heart-thumping moments, confusion, and pain as he deals between friendship and love.
Aspiring Singer/Musician | Welcome To Waikiki 2 (2019)
Kim Seonho showed more versatility as an actor when he took a comedic role, Cha U-sik, an aspiring singer who manages a guesthouse with his high school friends in JTBC’s comedy series, Welcome To Waikiki 2 (2019). He managed to portray an introvert, charming character who has a silly older sister and silly friends. One day, he encounters his long-time secret crush dressed in a wedding gown played by Moon Ga-young and ends up with her as he and his friends helped her overcome life’s hurdles.
Police officer | Catch The Ghost (2019)
Kim Seonho as Go Ji-seok in Catch The Ghost (2019) is presented as a handsome and upright police officer who strictly follows rules and avoids causing troubles at all costs. He gets promoted to metro police chief but due to circumstances, he gets stationed at a subway and partnered with a lady officer whose principles differ from him. Together they embark challenges as partners-in-crime, bickering and fighting.
Investor/Director| Start-Up (2020)
In another tvN drama, Start-Up (2020), Kim Seonho played Han Ji–pyeong, a perfectionist team leader at SH Venture Capital who sets a very high standard when it comes to investments and start-ups. He grew up in an orphanage but managed to live a successful life due to his intelligence, wisdom, and determination. He may be sharp with his words but deep within lies a “good boy” who knows how to love, give, and get hurt. Kim Seonho definitely stole the show with his outstanding performance, which led him to Hallyu stardom. He also made it to 2021 Baeksang Arts Awards, attaining nomination for “Best Supporting Actor” and taking home the “Most Popular Actor” award. Moreover, he won the “Emotive Award” at the 2020 Asia Artist Award and “Character of the Year” at the 2021 Seoul International Drama Awards.
Jack-of-all-trades | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Kim Seonho captivated more hearts globally when he played the most charming town hero, Hong Dusik, a man who assists everyone around the village in tvN’s slice-of-life countryside drama, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021). Although he appears to be a nosy and reliable person, he lives a life of undisclosed feelings of trauma and fear of abandonment, rooted from high stress producing situations in the past. However, he begins to heal upon meeting a woman who loves him for who he is, played by Shin Mina. With this role, Kim Seonho was named by Gallup Korea as “TV Actor Of The Year” in 2021. He also won the “Outstanding Korean Actor” at the 2022 Seoul International Drama Awards and four awards at the 2022 Asia Artist Awards including “Asia Celebrity Award”, “Best Choice Award”, “Idol Plus Popularity Award”, and “DCM Popularity Award”.
What’s next for Kim Seonho on TV?
In October 2022, it was confirmed by Salt Entertainment that Kim Seonho received an offer to play the Crown Prince in the new historical series, Hash’s Shinru (2023) and is positively reviewing it. The main casting has not been confirmed yet but it is already gaining massive attention among fans who have been eagerly awaiting for his drama comeback. The story is based on the web novel of the same name written by Yoon Yi-soo who will also pen the drama’s script that is set during the reign of King Sejong. It depicts the fate of Joseon under the leadership of crown prince Lee Hyang, a genius scientist who loves the stars, meeting a mysterious woman who can see the future.
KORB 