Yunjin Kim (; born November 7, 1973) is a South Korean and American actress. She is best known for her role as North Korean spy Bang-Hee in the South Korean film Shiri (1999) and Sun-Hwa Kwon on the American television series Lost (2004–2010). Her other notable works include Seven Days (2007), Harmony (2010), and Ode to My Father (2014).
Early life
Kim was born in Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea. They lived in Staten Island, New York. She joined the middle school drama club in the 7th grade and performed in the musical My Fair Lady. From there, she went on to study drama at the London Academy of Performing Arts (LAPA),
Career
After graduation, Kim played several minor parts on MTV, in soap opera-style dramas on ABC, and on the off-Broadway stage.
In 2006 she was featured on the cover of Stuff, as well as an inside spread. In 2006, Maxim named Kim number 98 on its annual Hot 100 List.
thumb|upright=1|Kim in 2011
In 2013, she had a leading role in the ABC drama series Mistresses.
thumb|upright=1|Kim in 2015
In 2018, Kim returned to South Korean television by headlining the series Ms. Ma, Nemesis.
In 2022, she starred as Seon Woo-jin in the South Korean remake of Money Heist, Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1999
| Shiri
| Lee Myung-hyun / Lee Bang-hee
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2000
| The Legend of Gingko
| Yeon
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2001
| Rush!
| Seo-yeong
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="3" | 2002
| Iron Palm
| Ji-ni
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
| Yesterday
| Kim Hisu / No Hisu
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
| Ardor
| Mi-heun
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2005
| Diary of June
| Seo Yun-hee
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2007
| Seven Days
| Yoo Ji-yeon
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2010
| Harmony
| Jeong-hye
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2011
| Heartbeat
| Chae Yeon-hee
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2012
| The Neighbors
| Kyung-hee
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2014
| Ode to My Father
| Young-ja
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2017
| House of the Disappeared
| Kang Mi-hee
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2020
| Pawn
| Myung-ja
| Cameo
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2022
| Confession
| Yang Shin-ae
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2024
| Dog Days
| Jeong-ah
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2025
|KPop Demon Hunters
|Celine
|Voice
| style="text-align: center;" |
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1996
| Splendid Holiday
|
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1997
| Foreboding
| Jang Se-young
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1998
| Wedding Dress Drama
| Gina
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 1999
| Love in 3 Colors
| Jang Hee-ju
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2004–2010
| Lost
| Sun-Hwa Kwon
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2013–2016
| Mistresses
| Karen Kim
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2018
| Ms. Ma, Nemesis
| Ms. Ma / Ma Ji Won
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2022
| Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area
| Seon Woo-jin
| Part 1–2
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2023
| XO, Kitty
| Principal Jina Lim
| Season 1
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2024
| Station 19
| Jeonghee Lee
| Episode: "Ushers of the New World"
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2026
|
| Ahn Eun-joo
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|}
Video games
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Voice role
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2007
| Lost: Via Domus
| Sun-Hwa Kwon
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" | 2012
| Sleeping Dogs
| Tiffany Kim
| style="text-align:center" |
|}
Accolades
Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! Award
! scope="col" | Category
! Recipient
! scope="col" | Result
|-
| rowspan="5" | 1999
| 35th Baeksang Arts Awards
| Best New Actress (Film)
| rowspan="5" | Shiri
|
|-
| 36th Grand Bell Awards
| rowspan="3" | Best New Actress
|
|-
| 19th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards
|
|-
| 22nd Golden Cinematography Awards
|
|-
| 20th Blue Dragon Film Awards
| Best New Actress
|
|-
| 2000
| 21st Blue Dragon Film Awards
| Best Supporting Actress
| The Legend of Gingko
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2002
| 23rd Blue Dragon Film Awards
| Best Leading Actress
| rowspan="6" | Milae
|
|-
| 5th Director's Cut Awards
| rowspan="4" | Best Actress
|
|-
| 7th
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2003
| 40th Grand Bell Awards
|
|-
| 2nd Korean Film Awards
|
|-
| 39th Baeksang Arts Awards
| Best Actress (Film)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| Asian Excellence Awards
| Outstanding Television Actress
| rowspan="2" | Lost
|
|-
| 12th Screen Actors Guild Awards
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
|
|-
| 2007
| 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards
| Best Dresser Award
|
|
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2008
| 2nd Asian Film Awards
| Best Actress
| rowspan="6" | Seven Days
|
|-
| 44th Baeksang Arts Awards
| Best Actress (Film)
|
|-
| 45th Grand Bell Awards
| rowspan="2" | Best Actress
|
|-
| 5th Max Movie Awards
|
|-
| 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards
| Best Leading Actress
|
|-
| 7th Korean Film Awards
| Best Actress
|
|-
| 2009
| 35th Saturn Awards
| Best Supporting Actress
| Lost
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| 47th Grand Bell Awards
| Best Actress
| rowspan="2" | Harmony
|
|-
| 31st Blue Dragon Film Awards
| Best Leading Actress
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| 52nd Grand Bell Awards
| Best Actress
| rowspan="2" | Ode to My Father
|
|-
| 8th Seoul Senior Citizen Movie Awards
| Movie in couple Award
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| 2017 Korean Film Shining Star Awards
| Star Award
| rowspan="2" | House of the Disappeared
|
|-
| 1st The Seoul Awards
| Best Actress
|
|-
| 2018
| SBS Drama Awards
| Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Daily and Weekend Drama
| Ms. Ma, Nemesis
|
|-
| 2023
| 43rd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards
| Newcomer Criticism Award
|
|
|}
Listicles
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
! scope="col" | Publisher
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Listicle
! scope="col" | Rank
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |
|-
! scope="row" | Korean Film Council
| style="text-align:center" | 2021
| style="text-align:left" | Korean Actors 200
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | The Screen
| 2009
| 1984–2008 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|-
| 2019
| 2009–2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies
|
| style="text-align:center" |
|}
Notes
References
External links
- Official Website