Kim Seo-hyung (; born October 28, 1973) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her portrayal as the evil mistress Shin Ae-ri in the SBS revenge drama Temptation of Wife (2008) and as Coach Kim in the JTBC television series Sky Castle (2018), for which she received a Best Actress nomination at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.
As of May 2025, she is currently signed to Mystic Actors.
Career Early career Kim participated in the 1992 Miss Gangwon Pageant and made her acting debut as a KBS talent in 1994. Breakthrough role She gained recognition for her portrayal as the evil mistress Shin Ae-ri in the SBS revenge drama Temptation of Wife which marked a significant shift in her career. Subsequently, she appeared in various dramas and movies, showcasing her talent in diverse roles. In 2014, she earned the award for Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film at the 3rd Madrid International Film Festival for her performance in the film Late Spring. She also gained international attention for her role in The Villainess, which had its world premiere at the 70th Cannes Film Festival in May 2017. Career resurgence In the 2018 series Sky Castle, Kim Seo-hyung plays Coach Kim, a ruthless college entrance exam private tutor for wealthy families in an exclusive neighborhood. Coach Kim is known for her perfect success rate in getting students into top universities and uses psychological pressure to manipulate parents and children. Her character is driven by a dark past and a desire for revenge against society. She represents the damaging effects of South Korea's elite education system. Kim's performance as Coach Kim was widely acclaimed, earning her nomination for best supporting actress in 55th Baeksang Arts Awards, followed by a win in 12th Korea Drama Awards.
In 2020, she starred as the lead in SBS crime-thriller drama Nobody Knows. Kim Seo-hyung portrays Cha Young-jin, a detective in the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Violent Crimes Division. Her character is defined by a past trauma: the loss of her best friend to a serial killer 19 years prior. This event drives her relentless pursuit of justice.
In Mine, Kim portrayed Jung Seo-hyun, the sophisticated daughter-in-law of the powerful Hyowon Group. Leading Seohyun Gallery, she exudes intelligence and composure, prioritizing family and business. Yet, beneath her facade, she grapples with societal pressures, including her suppressed sexuality and love for artist Suzy Choi.
In 2022, Kim starred in her first OTT drama Recipe for Farewell, which was based on the autobiographical essay book It Might Be a Little Spicy Today (오늘은 좀 매울지도 몰라) by Kang Chang-rae, which was published in 2018. Kim took on the role of Jung Da-jung, an independent woman who is the head of a small book publishing company in Seoul. The series centers around her poignant journey after she is diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer. Facing difficulties eating due to her condition, she makes an extraordinary request to her estranged husband, Kang Chang-wook (played by Han Suk-kyu), a humanities lecturer who only knows how to cook ramen: she asks him to cook for her every day. Her performance earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the 2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards.
In the independent film Vinyl House (also known as "Greenhouse"), Kim played the leading role of Moon-jung, a dedicated caregiver for a blind couple, Tae-kang and Hwa-ok, who also has dementia. Moon-jung lives in a vinyl house and dreams of finding a proper home for herself and her son. The film explores the difficult choices she makes after one of her elderly charges dies in an accident. Kim's performance in this challenging role earned her seven Best Actress nominations, winning six awards, including one at the 27th Busan International Film Festival and the Grand Prize at the 2023 Buil Film Awards.
Filmography
Film Year Title RoleNotes 2000 The Record Teacher 2001 Kiss Me Much Ballet teacher cameo2002 Over the Rainbow Kyung-hee A Perfect Match Lee Kang-hyun 2003 The Sweet Sex and Love Shin-ah 2005 Whispering Corridors 4: Voice Hee-yeon 2006 The City of Violence Jang Mi-ran Forbidden Floor Chae Min-young 2007 Black House Jang Mi-na 2010 A Barefoot Dream Yu Bo-hyeon Desire To Kill Department Chief Baek 2012 Doomsday Book Min Yoo-ni segment: "The Heavenly Creation" Wedding Ceremony Woman short film2013 The Berlin File North Korean embassy secretary Shorts Meet Shorts Mi-jung segment: "Waltzing on Thunder" 2014 Late Spring Jung-sook 2017 The Villainess Kwon-sook 2020 Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP Min Soo-hee 2021 Whispering Corridors 6: The Humming Noh Eun-hee 2023 Greenhouse Moon-jung 2024Dog DaysJin-yeong
Television series + Year Title Role Notes1994 Tomorrow's Love Daughters of a Rich Family 1995 Blue Sky 2003 Breathless Yoon Yeo-joo 2004 Lovers in Paris Baek Seung-kyung Best Theater Yoon Da-hee episode: "Love, Standing on a Slope" Drama City Jae-kyung episode: "His Wife's Diary"2005 Be Strong, Geum-soon! Ha Seong-ran Green Rose Cha Yoo-ran 2007 Oh Lovers Ha Jae-in 2008 Temptation of Wife Shin Ae-ri 2010 Giant Yoo Kyung-ok 2012 History of a Salaryman Mo Ga-bi My Husband Got a Family Chun Jae-yong's older sister guest role, episodes 47-48 What is Mom Park Seo-hyung 2013 After School: Lucky or Not Cafeteria Lady cameo, episodes 4 & 9 Empress Ki Empress Dowager Hwang (Budashiri) 2014 A New Leaf Lee Seon-hee recurring role 2015 Assembly Hong Chan-mi 2016 The Good Wife Seo Myeong-hee 2018 Welcome to Waikiki Kim Hee-ja guest role, episode 4 Tempted Myeong Mi-ri Come and Hug Me Park Hee-young recurring role, episodes 5-22 Sky Castle Kim Joo-young 2020 Nobody Knows Cha Yeong-jin 2021 Mine Jeong Seo-hyeon 2023 Pale Moon Yoo Yi-hwa
Web series Year Title Role 2022 Recipe for Farewell Da Jung
Discography Soundtrack appearances + Year Song title Notes2009 "In the Flower Garden (Shin Ae-ri Ballad)" Temptation of Wife OST "Can't Forgive (Shin Ae-ri Rock)" 2014 "Spring" Late Spring OST
Accolades Awards and nominations + Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1992 Miss Gangwon Pageant Miss Samsung 2009 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Temptation of Wife 2010 SBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Special Planning Drama Giant 2012 SBS Drama Awards Special Award, Actress in a Miniseries History of a Salaryman 2014 3rd Madrid International Film Festival Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Film Late Spring 14th Milan International Film Festival Best Supporting Actress 2015 KBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actress Assembly 2017 1st The Seoul Awards Best Supporting Actress (Film) The Villainess 2018 MBC Drama Awards Best Supporting Actress in a Wednesday-Thursday Miniseries Come and Hug Me 2019 55th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress (TV) Sky Castle Brand of the Year Awards Actress of the Year 12th Korea Drama AwardsHot Star China Award 202024th Asian Television AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting Role SBS Drama AwardsTop Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Action DramaNobody Knows 20232nd Blue Dragon Series AwardsBest ActressRecipe for Farewell 32nd Buil Film Awards Best Actress 43rd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best Actress 43rd Best Actress 13th Beautiful Artist Awards (Shin Young-kyun Arts and Culture Foundation)Independent Film Artist Award 59th Grand Bell Awards Best Actress 44th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Leading Actress 9th APAN Star AwardsExcellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesPale Moon
State honors +Name of country, award ceremony, year given, and name of honorCountryAward CeremonyYearHonor South KoreaThe 52nd Savings Day 2015Financial Chairman's Award 10th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards 2019 Prime Minister's Commendation
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