Kim Hye-yoon Movies and TV Shows to Add to Your Watchlist
South Korean star Kim Hye-yoon has shown great versatility through her hit movies and TV shows that stand as a testament to her successful career trajectory. Amid the success of Lovely Runner, here’s taking a closer look at some of her hit titles.
Kim Hye-yoon, who has been included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 2023 list, has been consistently delivering some of the best movies and TV shows in the last few years. Standouts from her portfolio are Extraordinary You (2019), Snowdrop (2021), Ditto (2022) and Cleaning Up (2022). Not to forget her special cameo appearances in 2020 hits like True Beauty and Record Of Youth. Another feather in her cap is the webtoon-based K-drama Lovely Runner. One of the highest-rated Korean TV shows of 2024, the love story enjoys a solid 9.1 on IMDb and 9.8 on its streaming platform Rakuten Viki.
Kim made her acting debut in 2013 with the KBS2 drama series Samsaengi alongside Korean stars Hong Ah-reum and Cha Do-jin. While her acting portfolio boasts hits like Sky Castle (2018) and Secret Royal Inspector & Joy (2021), it was only after Park Yi-woong’s The Girl on a Bulldozer (2022) that Kim gained global fame. Her performance as the independent Goo Hye-young in the film earned her Best New Actress at prestigious award shows such as the Blue Dragon Film Awards and Grand Bell Awards, as well as the Rising Star Asia Award at the New York Asian Film Festival.
In a 2024 interview with TheKoreaTimes, Kim talked about her craft and said, “I haven’t played a lot of different characters yet. With whatever roles I take, I want to be able to do a good job in fitting into them. I will show myself growing and getting better with each project I take on.”
8 Kim Hye-yoon movies and TV shows that will keep you hooked
Directed by: Jo Hyun-tak
Other stars: Yum Jung-ah, Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, Oh Na-ra
Episodes: 20
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr 15 min
Synopsis: Han Seo-jin (Yum) is a wealthy woman who resides in Korea’s most popular neighbourhood, Sky Castle. Her only goal is to be better than her friends Lee Soo-im (Lee), No Seung-hye (Yoon) and Jin Jin-hee (Oh). She is also fixated on sending her elder daughter Kang Ye-seo (Kim) to Seoul National University, even if it costs ruining others’ lives.
Trivia: This Kim Hye-woon starrer is regarded as the best dark comedy drama to come out of Korea, due to its relatable storyline over the country’s toxic and extremely competitive education system. SKY Castle is also one of the most popular K-dramas of all time.
Directed by: Kim Sang-hyub and Kim Sang-woo
Other stars: Lee Jae-wook, Ro Woon, Lee Na-eun
Episodes: 32
Approx. duration per episode: 35 min
Synopsis: High schooler Eun Dan-oh (Kim) studies at a famous academy and is deeply in love with her introverted fiance Baek Kyung (Lee). However, she gets the shock of her life when she learns that her world is that of fantasy comics and not a real one. Was Dan-oh’s whole life then a lie?
Trivia: This romantic fantasy is a K-drama adaptation of the 2018 webtoon Eojjeoda Balgyeonhan 7wol by artist Moo Ryoo.
Directed by: Jo Hyun-taek
Other stars: Jung Hae-in, Jisoo, Jang Seung-jo
Episodes: 16
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr 30 min
Synopsis: It’s 1987 Seoul when South Korean university student Run Young-ro (Jisoo) falls for North Korean spy Lim Soo-ho (Jae). As the duo plan to stay together, Young Ro is commanded to complete his tasks and go back to his country. Also causing issues between the lovebirds is Gye Bun-ok (Kim), Yeong-ro’s friend turned enemy.
Trivia: Snowdrop is BLACKPINK Jisoo’s debut Korean drama in a leading role and is inspired by the handwritten journal of a North Korean defector.
Directed by: Yoo Jong-sun
Other stars: Ok Taecyeon, Chae Won-bin, Lee Jae-kyun
Episodes: 16
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr
Synopsis: Ra Yi-eon (Taec-yeon) begins work in the Office of Special Advisors and gets appointed as a royal secret agent. One day, he comes across the curious and progressive Kim Joy (Kim). The duo initially starts on the wrong footing. Over time, Yi-eon falls for Joy. But what happens when Joy’s past comes in the way of their blooming romance?
Directed by: Park Yi-woong
Other stars: Park Hyuk-kwon, Oh Man-seok, Park Si-woo
Approx. duration of movie: 1 hr. 52 min.
Synopsis: A 19-year-old Goo Hye-young (Kim) is fed up with her drunk and abusive father Goo Bon-jin (Park). But when the latter gets into an accident and ends up in the hospital, Hye-young is forced to accept the fact that deep down she cares for Bon-jin.
Trivia: An instant box office success, The Girl on a Bulldozer became the seventh highest-grossing Korean film of 2022. It also earned the Best Film nomination at the Osaka Asian Film Festival.
Directed by: Seo Eun-young
Other stars: Yeo Jin-goo, Cho Yi-hyun
Approx. duration of movie: 1 hr 54 min
Synopsis: Kim Yong (Yeo) is a university student trying to move on from his first love Seo Han-sol (Kim). The former’s only hobby is listening to the radio. One day, he connects with Kim Mu-nee (Cho), another radio enthusiast from his university. What happens when the duo discover that they are from different time periods and can only communicate through the radio?
Trivia: One of the best Kim Hye-yoon movies, this 2022 South Korean science fiction romance is a remake of the 2000 flick Donggam.
Directed by: Yoon Sung-shik
Other stars: Yeom Jung-ah, Jeon So-min, Kim Jae-hwa
Episodes: 16
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr 10 min
Synopsis: Eo Yong-mi (Yeom), a single mother and professional cleaner, struggles to make ends meet. One day, she meets Joo-hyeon (Kim), a job seeker experiencing the bitter taste of life. Scared of losing her job and becoming a job seeker herself, Yong-mi gets her hands on insider stock information and resorts to trading in order to pay her debts.
Trivia: It is a Korean drama adaptation of the 2019 British series of the same name, starring popular English actor Sheridan Smith.
Directed by: Boo Sung-chul, Yoon Jong-ho and Kim Tae-yeong
Other stars: Byeon Woo-seok, Song Geon-hee, Jung Young-joo
Episodes: 16
Approx. duration per episode: 1 hr 10 min
Synopsis: Im Sol (Kim) is devastated after the demise of her favourite musician Ryu Seon-jae (Byeon). But when she mysteriously gets transported 15 years into the past, Sol chances upon a 19-year-old Seon-jae, who is now her classmate. Determined to undo his future death, Im Sol takes it upon herself to change Seon-jae’s career trajectory.
Trivia: This 2024 romantic Korean drama is adapted from the web novel The Best of Tomorrow by artist Kim Bbang. It was also serialised as a webtoon by illustrator Doong Doong.
(Main and featured image: Courtesy Kim Hye-yoon/Instagram)
This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia India.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Which is the best show Kim Hye-yoon has worked in?
Some of the best shows starring the South Korean actress include Extraordinary You (2019), Snowdrop (2021), Cleaning Up (2022) and Lovely Runner (2024).