Kim made his small screen debut in 2016 and gained attention with his role as Gong Hyo-jin's younger brother in the romance comedy Don't Dare to Dream.[3]
Kim then featured in 4Men's Music Video Break Up In The Morning.[citation needed]
Later in the year Kim was cast in a lead role in KBS2 drama special Buzzcut Love.[8]
In 2018, Kim starred in JTBC's youth series titled Welcome to Waikiki playing a cynical but kind-hearted movie director.[9] The series was popular across Asia and solidified Kim's status as a versatile actor.[citation needed]
He then starred in the 4DX VR movie Stay With Me alongside Seo Yea-ji playing the role of an aspiring musician with stage fright.[10][unreliable source?] Kim lent his vocals to the OST of the movie titled Moonlight.
In July 2018, he starred in MBC melodrama Time alongside Girls' Generation's Seohyun, playing a chaebol whose time is running out due to his failing health.[11] During the press conference for the drama, he was criticised for "answering questions unenthusiastically" and for refusing to link arms with his co-star Seohyun.[12][13] He explained that it was because he was trying to stay in his character from the drama.[13] He withdrew from the series halfway through its run, officially citing health reasons.[14]
2019–present: Comeback and international fame
Kim in December 2019
Kim returned to television in December 2019 when he joined the tvN romance drama Crash Landing on You alongside Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin and Seo Ji-hye.[15] It became the highest-rated tvN drama and the third-highest-rated Korean drama in cable television history. Kim's portrayal of Goo Seung-joon, former fiancé of Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) and eventual love interest to Seo Dan (Seo Ji-hye), received positive reviews from audiences. His character's name "Goo Seung-joon" went on to trend at No. 1 in Korea's realtime search rankings, which he later described in an interview as incredibly rewarding.[16]
On June 5, 2020, it was confirmed that Kim would lead tvN's fusion sageuk drama, Mr. Queen alongside Shin Hye-sun playing the role of King Cheoljong.[18] The drama aired from December 2020 to February 2021. On February 15, 2021, Mr. Queen became the seventh-highest-rated Korean drama in cable television history and the fifth highest rated tvN drama on record.[19]The Korea Times article praised Kim's complex portrayal of the two-faced King and noted that he "left a deep impression on viewers with a heavy presence that took the center of the play."[20] Kim contributed his vocals to the soundtrack with the song Like the First Snow; for which he also wrote the lyrics.[21]
In September 2021, Kim signed with Story J Company[22] followed by movie and drama casting news in 2022.[citation needed]
Kim in March 2022
In January 2022, his agency confirmed that he will appear as a Detective in an indie film called Se2cret.[23]
In 2023, Kim returned to television with MBC's Kokdu: Season of Deity opposite actress Im Soo-hyang playing dual role of a Grim reaper and doctor.[24] Kim received praise for 'Perfectly portraying two conflicting characters' through a variety of charms.[25] He also lent his vocals to the opening theme song of the drama titled I am.[26]
In April 2021, South Korean local tabloid Dispatch revealed alleged text messages between Kim and actress Seo Yea-ji and pointed out requests from Seo as the reason behind Kim's behaviour at the Time press conference.[12]"[12] In response, Seo's agency, Gold Medalist, denied the claim that she was the reason behind Kim's behaviour and abrupt exit from the series.[28] On April 14, he posted a personal handwritten apology.[29]
On May 12, Kim's representative released a statement to announce the expiration of his contract with O& Entertainment and to address the actor's health condition while filming Time in 2018.[30] Kim claimed that his agency had failed to fulfill their duty, and that he would take legal action against them for defamation and spreading false information.[31] The same day, YTN revealed that they had obtained Kim's hospital records which showed that he was diagnosed with anxiety disorder, panic disorder, sleep disorder, and having depressive episodes.[32] After the handwritten apology, he met Time director, Jang Jun-ho, who expressed his willingness to work with him again.[33]
^ abYoo, Ji-hye (July 20, 2018). [Oh!쎈 이슈] "역할 몰입해 실수"..김정현의 무표정 논란, '시간'만이 답(종합) [[Oh! Strong Issue] "A mistake by immersing in a role"..Junghyun Kim's expressionless controversy, only 'Time' answers]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Naver.
^김정현 '철인왕후' OST 참여 [공식]. Sports Trend. February 9, 2021. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021 – via Naver.
^Jeong Hee-yeon (September 24, 2021). 김정현 전속계약, 김태희 소속사行 "연기 열의 [공식] [Kim Jung-hyun's exclusive contract, Kim Tae-hee's agency "Passion for acting" [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via Naver.
^ abJeong Hee-yeon (January 28, 2022). 김정현 복귀, 영화 '비²밀' 출연 [공식] [Kim Jung-hyun returns, starring in the movie 'Secret Secret' [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022 – via Naver.
^ abYoo Jeong-min (September 26, 2022). 김정현·임수향, '꼭두의 계절' 캐스팅...탄탄한 호흡 예고 [Kim Jung-hyeon and Im Soo-hyang cast in 'Season of Kkokdu'... Strong breathing notice] (in Korean). iMBC. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Naver.
^강서정 (February 19, 2023). 김정현, 꼭두vs도진우 1인 2역으로 '셀프 연기배틀'('꼭두의 계절') [Kim Jung-hyun, Kokdu vs Do Jin-woo in a 'self-acting battle' ('Kokdu Season')] (in Korean). OSEN [ko]. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023 – via Chosun Ilbo.
^안태현 (February 3, 2023). 김정현, '꼭두의 계절' OST 첫 가창자로 나선다 [Kim Jung-hyun, the first singer of the 'Kokdu's Season' OST] (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Hee-yeon (April 14, 2021). [전문] 김정현 사과문 "변명 여지없이 죄송" 서예지 언급 無 [[Full text] Kim Jung-hyun's apology: "Sorry for no excuse." No mention of Seo Yea-ji]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Naver.
^Ho-young, Lee (March 27, 2024). [단독] 김정현, '미녀와 순정남' 후속 '다리미 패밀리' 주연 발탁 [[Exclusive] Kim Jeong-hyun selected as lead in 'Iron Family', follow-up to 'Beauty and the Innocent Man']. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved March 27, 2024 – via Naver.
^Hwang Hwang Young (January 11, 2025). "'개소리' 이순재, 'KBS 연기대상' 역대 최고령 눈물의 대상[종합]" [Lee Soon-jae, the oldest tearful grand prize in history at the 'KBS Acting Awards [Comprehensive]]. JTBC (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
^2024 KBS 연기대상 인기상 투표 [2024 KBS Drama Awards Popularity Award Voting] (in Korean). KBS. Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
^Im Jae-seong (December 26, 2024). "'2024 KBS 연기대상' 대상 후보 공개…'개소리' 이순재 등 6명" ['2024 KBS Drama Awards' Grand Prize Candidates Revealed... 6 People Including 'Doggy Talk' Lee Soon-jae]. KBS (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
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