2007–2009: Television career beginnings
Kim made his television debut with a supporting role in the 2007 family sitcom Kimchi Cheese Smile and in 2008, landed a lead role in KBS's critically acclaimed youth drama, Jungle Fish. Based on a true story, it tackles the serious issues of school cheating, competitive academic standards, and interactive blogging in a fresh way. The drama won a number of awards, including thePeabody Award, a Seoul Drama Festival award as well as an Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union prize.
For the latter half of the year, Kim appeared in the food-based variety show Delicious Quiz (also known as The Taste of Life) as one of the hosts and in the short film Cherry Blossom.
In 2009, Kim acted in the short film Worst Friends by Namkoong Sun, which won the Best Film in Social Drama award at the Mise en Scène Short Film Festival and the well-received SBS drama special Father's House where he acted alongside veteran actor Choi Min-soo. He also co-hosted Mnet's Boys & Girls Music Countdown along withKara's Han Seung-yeon in 2009.
2010–2011: Dream Highand rising popularity
Kim raised his profile through memorable turns as the younger version of the male lead characters in Will It Snow for Christmas? and Giant, the latter winning him the New Star award at the SBS Drama Awards. Upon receiving the award, Kim made his famous "10 years promise" acceptance speech and was quoted saying, "Please take care of me by giving me more attention in this ten years, I will become a real actor."
Kim became a household name in 2011 after starring in teen musical drama Dream High. He plays a country bumpkin who turned out to be a musical genius. The drama brought in high domestic ratings and was also popular overseas, winning several international awards. As the only young actor in a cast of idols, Kim studied song and dance for three months atJYP Entertainment to pull off the required scenes in the drama. For the drama's soundtrack, he recorded two songs, his solo "Dreaming" as well as the title track "Dream High" with the rest of the cast.
2012–2013: Moon Embracing the Sun and big screen debut
Kim's popularity skyrocketed when he starred in the hit period drama Moon Embracing the Sun as the young king Lee Hwon. The drama recorded a peak rating of 42.2 percent, thereby earning the "national drama" status. Kim contributed his vocals to the soundtrack with the traditional ballad "Only You" and the more modern composition "Another Way".
In costume as King Lee Hwon inMoon Embracing the Sun, 2012
Due to his popularity on-screen, Kim landed him 15 product endorsement deals ranging from apparel to electronic devices. He also won the Best TV Actor award at the 2012 Baeksang Arts Awards. Beating out heavyweight veterans such asHan Suk-kyu, Shin Ha-kyun andCha Seung-won, Kim said "I am very grateful for this moment, but I am ashamed as well. It’s like getting a lot of homework. I’ll keep trying to become a better actor in order to remain worthy of this award".
In May 2013
Kim made his big-screen debut in the star-studded heist film The Thieves, touted by the press as the Korean version ofOcean's Eleven. With over 12.9 million ticket sales, the film became the second highest-grossing movie in Korean film history.
In 2013, Kim was cast to play the role of a North Korean spy who infiltrated South Korea as a village idiot in the movieSecretly, Greatly, an adaptation of the popular webtoon seriesCovertness by Hun. The film broke several records and was one of the most successful box office hits of the year. Kim won Best New Actor awards at the 50thGrand Bell Awards and the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards.
2014–present: My Love from the Star and international fame
From 2013 to early 2014, Kim starred in SBS fantasy romance series My Love from the Star alongside Jun Ji-hyun. The drama had over three billion hits on the Chinese streaming website iQiyi and also sparked trends in fashion, make-up and restaurants.Kim experienced a growth in popularity throughout Asia and became one of the most in-demand endorsers. He won the Daesang (or "Grand Prize"), the highest award for television, at the 7thKorea Drama Awards.
In September 2014
For the latter half of the year, Kim attended two international sports events. Held on 16 August 2014, Kim sang the official theme song "Light up the Future" with several artists at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games held in Nanjing, China. He also participated in the opening ceremony of the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Along with actor Jang Dong-gun, Korean opera singer Ahn Sook-sun and people from 45 nations, they delivered the message of "One Asia" at the second part of the highlight stage.
In May 2014
In 2015, Kim starred in KBS’ variety drama The Producers, written by My Love From the Star writer Park Ji-eun. The drama drew solid domestic ratings domestically, and was also sold to several countries internationally. Kim once again won the Daesang (or "Grand Prize") at the 8th Korea Drama Awards, 3rd APAN Star Awards and the 2015 KBS Drama Awards for his acting performance.
Kim will be starring in the upcoming action-noir filmReal, which will be shown in theaters in the first half of 2017
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