An idol-turned-actress, Kim Sejeong is one of the most popular and sought-after South Korean female icons of her generation.
From her impressive athletic skills in OCN’s The Uncanny Counter 1 (2020) to the iconic “Samantha and Rachel” in SBS’ A Business Proposal (2022), she became a household name, earning global fame and recognition.
Here are 100 things to know more about Kim Sejeong with facts and stories gathered from various South Korean shows, media and magazine interviews, in random order:
1. She is called Korea’s Emma Stone.
Sejeong’s blind date scene with Ahn Hyo-seop in SBS’ A Business Proposal (2022) garnered lots of interest that she earned the nickname โKoreaโs Emma Stone.โ
2. She performed for the OST of “Crash Landing On You”.
Song title: All Of My Days
3. She was a runner-up in โProduce 101โ Season 1.
In 2016, Sejeong was a runner-up on the first season of the survival show, โProduce 101โ then debuted as a member of the showโs project group I.O.I.
4. She was a member of “Gugudan”.
In June 2016, Sejeong debuted with Jellyfish Entertainment’s first girl group, “Gugudan”, which disbanded in December 2020.
5. She launched her personal Instagram in February 2021.
After her group “Gugudan” parted ways, Sejeong officially launched her personal Instagram along with other social media accounts. Now, she has over ten million followers on Instagram: clean_0828.
6. She is a fan of webtoons.
Sejeong revealed that she enjoys reading webtoons especially now that more and more webtoons are being adapted into dramas.
7. She can write songs.
Sejeong mentioned that there are quite a lot of people who don’t know that she can write songs since she is widely known as an actress. But in fact, she participates in composing and writing lyrics, and mostly wrote all of her songs on her solo albums.
8. She likes “cheonggukjang”.
Sejeong likes “cheonggukjang”, a traditional Korean food made by fermenting soybeans that she would like her international fans to try. She also recommends cheese tteobokki.
9. She lives on her own.
During Sejeong’s guesting in JTBCโs โNice Alone,โ she shared that she moved into a three-room apartment after the OCN drama, The Uncanny Counter (2020). She also mentioned that she likes to invite people over.
10. She made her solo debut with a song for her mom.
Sejeong made her solo debut with a heartwarming song for her mother. The lyrics talk about a mother’s hardships to make her daughter shine and so in return, the daughter makes a promise to provide a flowery path for her mom.
โTo raise a single flower
How much rain fell in your eyes?
Oh rewind, the more I think back, the more Iโm sorry
So I wonโt give up
You gave up your youthful and beautiful season
Look at me, I have bloomed prettily
Even if I fall to the ground
I will make you walk only on flower pathsโ
11. She has a dog named “Doenjang”.
Sejeong finds extra happiness in “Doenjang”, her female dog that has its own Instagram account.
12. She finds song writing best in the middle of the night.
Sejeong revealed that writing songs come to mind the easiest in the middle of the night but she spends the entire day thinking about the lyrics.
13. She calls her fans โSesangโ.
In March 2021, Sejeong revealed the name of her official fan club, โSesang,โ which means โworldโ in Korean.
14. She shared donations to Turkey and Syria.
Following the earthquakes that badly affected Turkey and Syria in February 2023, Sejeong made a donation of 40 million won (approximately $31,500) through the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.
15. She’s good at making “doenjang jjigae”.
According to Sejeong, her mom taught her how to make braised kimchi pork ribs but still finds herself confidently good at preparing “doenjang jjigae”, a soybean paste stew.
16. She’s a fan of 2D1N.
Kim Sejeong was revealed to be a fan of 2D1N and was asked via phone call who her favorite member is. Without hesitation, she replied, “Kim Seonho!”
17. Chemistry is important for her in acting.
When asked about how she prepares for her role, Sejeong replied that she finds chemistry with co-actors the most important factor when it comes to acting.
18. She likes the word “dream”.
While talking about her role in Today’s Webtoon (2022), a drama about career and achieving dreams, she mentioned that she has always liked the word “dream”. She also revealed that she and the drama’s character are almost exactly alike in the way they chase after their dreams with determination and positive energy.
19. She composed all of the songs in โIโMโ.
Sejeong personally composed all of the songs on her new mini album โIโMโ and put her own stories into it.
20. She took part in an army musical.
Sejeong joined the original military musical, Return: The Promise of the Day (2020) by playing the role of a twin sister. The musical took place in Seoul from June 4 to July 12.
21. Her favorite emoji is ๐.
Sejeong mentioned that her favorite emoji is the one with a heart and a throwing kiss.
22. She considers “A Business Proposal” her spring.
When asked about what โA Business Proposalโ means to her, Sejeong explained that she will think of the drama as her youth, the spring of her late twenties and definitely one to remember even in her thirties and fifties.
23. She fears love life.
When asked about which song she wrote that personally expressed her true self, Sejeong replied, “Maybe I Am”.
She explained further that the song talks about a girl who feels afraid of love, reflecting her perspective on romantic relationships. “I never allowed myself to get too close [to the other person],โ she said.
24. She received a “Best Challenge Award”.
Sejeong joined the Law of the Jungle in Sumatra (2017), a reality-documentary show, and was awarded with the “Best Challenge” Award at the SBS Entertainment Awards.
25. She divides her time during long breaks.
According to Sejeong, she divides her time when she takes a long break, two weeks at most. First, she visits her family then spends time with friends she haven’t seen in awhile and stays at home, relaxing.
26. She admires Kim Jong-Min’s character.
Sejeong talked about who she wants to be 10 years down the road and mentioned Kim Jong-min, a co-member in Busted! She said that she admires how Jong-min carries his image, one that truly represents him. Similarly, she hopes to enjoy a character or image that represents her.
27. She filmed a commercial with Cha Eun-woo in 2017.
28. She was born in 1996.
Sejeong was born on August 28, 1996 in the province of North Jeolla, South Korea but grew up at her aunt’s house in Anyang, Gyeonggi with her older brother after their parents divorced.
29. She had her first major acting role in 2017.
Sejeong decided to give acting a shot. She had her first major role in School 2017 (2017) where she played a low-ranked student but cheerful with her dreams in becoming a webtoon artist. This earned her the “Best New Actress” at the 31st KBS Drama Awards.
30. She considers herself very subdued.
While people see Sejeong as bubbly and bright, she revealed that she’s actually very subdied outside of work or when she’s home alone.
31. Music has always been her passion as a kid.
Sejeong shared that she loves to study music even when she was still a kid. Now in her adult years, she’s still passionate about doing research about music.
32. She performed for the 2018 World Cup Tournament.
Sejeong with VIXX’s LEO performed the official cheer song, “We, the Reds” for the South Korea national football team during the 2018 World Cup Tournament in Russia.
33. She manages her finances wisely.
Sejeong revealed that she keeps nine different bank books to separate her everyday expenses, savings, parents’ allowance, two installment savings, a deposit account, and others.
34. She is good friends with Park Min-young.
After being cast together in Busted!, Sejeong became good friends with Park Min-young. She even sent Min-young a food truck during her drama taping.
35. She was active in sports and theater as a kid.
During elementary, Sejeong actively participated in the track and field competitions. During highschool, she joined a Theatre Club.
36. She performed for the OST of “Legend Of The Blue Sea”.
Song title: If Only
37. She admires Red Velvetโs Joy.
During a radio interview, Sejeong revealed that she followed Red Velvetโs Joy on Instagram even though they are not acquainted because she is pretty and would love to learn from her poses and pretty facial expressions.
38. She was 16 when she joined a K-pop competition.
Sejeong was 16 when she joined the competition in the second season of the television show “K-pop Star 2”.
39. She’s a fan of IU.
Sejeong is a fan of IU and considers her her role model. When IU praised her performance on โYoo Hee Yeolโs Sketchbookโ, she was the happiest fan!
40. She auditioned for multiple idol agencies.
Sejeong revealed that she went through a lot of auditions for various idol agencies in the past, including SM Entertainment.
41. She filmed a commercial with Park Bo-gum in 2018.
42. She had a difficult childhood.
After her parents divorced, Sejeong and her older brother were raised by their single mother and grew up attending school using a welfare card that was provided for students who couldn’t buy meals.
43. She received her first solo artist trophy in 2016.
After the release of her single “Flower Way”, Sejeong won her first music program as a solo artist and received the trophy on the episode of “Show Champion”.
44. She was named “Strong Female Idol.”
Known for her athletic skills, Sejeong earned the nickname “Strong Female Idol.”
45. She performed for the OST of “Mr. Sunshine”.
Song title: Paramour
46. She played the main protagonist in the musical “Red Book”.
In 2021, Sejeong played Anna, the main protagonist in the musical “Red Book“, which won the Best Picture Award at the 2022 Korean Musical Awards.
It was her second musical appearance, earning her a nomination for Best New Musical Actress.
47. She’s the first Asian Global ambassador for “Longchamp”.
In February 2023, Sejeong was announced to be the first Asian Global ambassador of Longchamp, a French luxury brand.
48. She performed for the OST of “Record Of Youth”.
Song title: What My Heart Says
49. She has worked with several brands.
Sejeong became the face of many brands ranging from health, food, architecture, drinks, beauty, home appliances, and games. She has worked with Crocs, Samsung’s Bixby, Acwell, Cocolab, to name a few.
50. She was known as the icon of “Flower Way”.
After a famous speech to her mom during “Produce 101, “I will only let you walk on the flower road from now on,” Sejeong was called the icon of “Flower Way” by media.
51. She wants her own live music cafe.
Sejeong revealed that one of her top goals in life is to set up her own live music cafรฉ.
52. She prefers comfortable outfits.
When it comes to clothes, Sejeong likes it simple and comfortable, wearing “wide-leg pants and cargo pants and, for tops, oversized shirts, hoodies or loose knitwear”.
53. She was a broadcasting announcer in school days.
When Sejeong was in elementary, she joined a Broadcasting Club and was tasked to be the announcer.
54. Her favorite movie is “About Time”.
Sejeong shared that she likes the movie About Time (2013), a romance fantasy about a young man with the ability to time travel who tries to change his past in hopes of improving his future. She watched it with her family, laughing and crying together.
55. She is on YouTube.
56. She likes wide and spacious bags.
As Sejeong brings a lot of things, she loves bags that are wide and spacious, at the same time bags that look good for both chic and casual styling. Specifically, she likes the shoulder bag from Longchamp, the one with leather and canvas versions and long and short straps.
57. She’s an ace at archery.
During the Women’s Archery Competition in Idol Star Athletics Championships, Sejeong was described as a professional and great archer. She even earned a gold medal thrice for three consecutive years with her group, Gugudan.
58. She desires to be a triple threat.
Known as an artist with multiple talents, Sejeong desires to be a triple threat as a singer, actress, and variety entertainer.
59. She considers her notepad an essential.
Sejeong likes to take down notes so her notepad is the most essential item in her bag. In fact, she brings about five notebooks, one for ideas, one for journaling, and so on.
60. She eats bellflower extract juice for her voice.
To maintain her voice, Sejeong’s mom sends her bellflower extract juice mixed with some pears.
61. She composed and performed “Meet Again” for the OST of “The Uncanny Counter”.
62. She wishes to play in a musical film.
Sejeong has never played a role in a movie yet and wants to challenge herself, preferably in a musical film.
63. She listens to Beotnimdul music.
Recently, Sejeong is listening a lot to an old song by Beotnimdul, titled “Only You”.
64. She was a cast member of “Law of the Jungle in Sumatra” .
In 2017, Sejeong participated as a cast member of SBS’ reality-documentary show, Law of the Jungle in Sumatra (2017). She and the team were taken to an abandoned island resort that was hit by a tsunami in 2009 without their luggage and had to survive as hunters. She received the award, “Best Challenge” at the 11th SBS Entertainment Awards.
65. She loves to read a book.
Besides taking photos and videos when traveling, Sejeong also makes it sure that she packs a book to read.
66. She dreams to own two houses on Jeju.
One of Sejeong’s ultimate goals in life is to buy two houses with gardens on Jeju island, one for her family and one for rental.
67. She prefers sneakers.
Sejeong prefers to wear sneakers than high heels.
68. She admires Chinese actress Zhou Dong Yu.
After watching the film, Us and Them (2018), Sejeong became a fan of Chinese actress Zhou Dong Yu and watched all her movies.
69. She uses a camcorder.
Camcorder is one of Sejeong’s favorite items and uses it for documentation. She said that it makes her more emotional when she wants to record something.
70. She is known as “God Sejeong”.
During her participation in the survival show, “Produce 101”, Sejeong always took first or second place each week, earning the nickname “God Sejeong”.
71. She loves shared breakfast and coffee.
Sejeong told Elle Singapore that her idea of a perfect day begins with a shared breakfast and coffee with people and some music playing in the background.
72. She likes writing.
Sejeong likes to write down her feelings on her notepad she calls “Growth Notebook” besides her diary where she writes longer thoughts. She shared some of her written words to Marie Claire Korea, “Life is an ocean and I’m a turtle”, reflecting that she’d better not stay in one place because she’s a turtle who can breathe anywhere.
73. She is managed by Jellyfish Entertainment.
After “Produce 101”, Sejeong started her singing career with the girl group, “Gugudan”, under the management of Jellyfish Entertainment. When the group disbanded in 2020, Sejeong renewed her contract with the same agency as a solo artist and actor. Jellyfish is also the home of actors Kim Sun-young and Kim Min-kyu.
74. She loves caps.
Sejeong often wears caps when she goes outside. “I look good when I put it on”, she said jokingly.
75. She was a cast member of “Busted!”
Sejeong was a cast member of Netflix’s variety show, Busted! (2018-2021) in all three seasons. She and other celebrities played private detectives with a new case to solve in every episode.
76. She was listed in Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40.
In 2023, Sejeong ranked 26th in the list of Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40. It is an annual list of the 40 most powerful celebrities in South Korea from sports, music, arts, film and television, selected according to their professional achievements, media exposure, social media popularity, TV appearances and earnings from the past year.
77. She held her first solo fan meeting in 2022.
Sejeong met her fans domestically and internationally through her first solo fan meeting in 2022. After Seoul, she also went to Jakarta, Indonesia, Bangkok, Thailand and Japan.
78. She performed for the OST bonus track of “A Business Proposal”.
Song title: Love Maybe
79. She was awarded “Multi-tainer of the Year”.
In 2021, Sejeong was awarded the “Multi-tainer of the Year” by Brand of the Year Awards for her impressive works on various fields from music to acting to variety and musical theater.
80. She is on Weverse.
Sejeong often updates fans and chats with them live on Weverse.
81. She heats her eyelash curler.
Sejeong revealed that heating her eyelash curler is good to curl her eyelashes.
82. She used to smile to hide her true emotions.
During a guesting appearance on JTBCโs โTalking Streetโ in 2016, Sejeong talked about her family’s financial difficulties and how her mom struggled to make ends meet. She said, “I couldnโt even show my true emotions to my family. So I hid my emotions by smiling, and a dark child grew inside of me.”
83. She is witty.
When asked some difficult questions, Sejeong amazed people with her witty answers. To give an example, she was asked, โHow do you get a camel to pass through a needle hole?โ Sejeong quickly replied, โAll you have to do is look at the camel through the needle hole.โ
84. She had collaboration with various artists.
In 2017, Sejeong collaborated with Lee Tae-il of Block B for the single, “I Like You, I Don’t”, and NCT’s Doyoung on the song, “Star Blossom”, for the SM Station Season 2 music project. In 2021, she collaborated with Municon for the digital single “Baby I Love U”.
85. She prefers long coats.
According to Sejeong, she prefers long coats because it looks better and feels warmer than the short coat.
86. Her MBTI is “INTP-A”.
Sejeong’s MBTI often changes everytime she takes the test. But ultimately, Sejeong is naturally an introvert person despite her bubbly and outgoing personality onscreen. Her latest MBTI is “INTP-A”, also known as the “Assertive Logician,” the introvert type of person who is comfortable and confident about one’s self.
87. She appeared on “I Live Alone”.
Sejeong made an appearance on the 337th episode of MBC’s “I Live Alone”, a reality program that shows the lifestyle of celebrities who are single or living alone.
88. She prefers short hair.
According to Sejeong, she prefers short hair than long hair.
89. She studied music.
According to various articles, Sejeong studied or currently studying music at Hanyang Women’s University.
90. She is smart and brave.
Sejeong has shown to be a smart and brave person in solving various cases on Netflix’s Busted!
91. She is on Spotify.
92. She likes purple.
Sejeong’s favorite color has always been purple.
93. She is kind and humble.
Media crew and entertainment industry people including reporters talked about Sejeong’s kind and humble personality:
“She doesn’t get mad”, “She always takes the initiative,” “She’s mature”, “She’s well-mannered”, “She’s not arrogant”.
94. She has achieved 14 awards.
So far, Sejeong has achieved 14 wins out of 35 nominations including “Best Female Idol Actress” for two consecutive years at the 2021-2022 Brand Consumer Loyalty Awards and “Best Couple” with Ahn Hyo-seop for A Business Proposal (2022) at the 2022 SBS Drama Awards.
95. She looks pretty even without make-up.
Sejeong truly embodies beauty in simplicity. Even without make-up on, she seems unbothered to chat with fans, still looking pretty.
96. She participated in the 2023 Ice Bucket Challenge.
After having been nominated by The Uncanny Counter: The Counter Punch (2023) co-star Kim Hieora, Sejeong participated in the 2023 Ice Bucket Challenge and donated 10,000,000 won to Seungil Hope Foundation.
97. She loves taking selfies.
Browse through her IG feed and you’ll see Sejeong in multiple cute and pretty selfie shots.
98. She follows a diet plan.
According to Sejeong, she avoids food after 6:00 PM. Some of her diet plans include cereal, baked pumpkin, tofu, veggies, and others. Check out her “Diet Vlog”.
99. She looks good in different hairstyles.
Sejeong can appear chic or elegant with whatever hairstyle she wears, braided or ponytail or curly or wavy, and still look pretty overall.
100. She will hold her first solo concert tour.
Sejeong will kick off her first concert tour โThe ้โ in Seoul on September 23 and 24, then head to Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta, Taipei, Tokyo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Melbourne, and Sydney.
This will also be Sejeong’s comeback as a music artist after two years, in which she will release a new album according to her agency, Jellyfish Entertainment.
That is Kim Sejeong, ladies and gentlemen.
By KORB Blog Team
Cover image: Jellyfish Entertainment
KORB 