Kim Bum’s mischievous smile can disarm the smuggest of surgeons (Rain in Ghost Doctor, 2022), an insecure classmate (Ryu Hye-yeong in Law School, 2021), or an estranged half-brother (Lee Dong-wook in Tale of the Nine-Tailed, 2020).
Photo from KING KONG by STARSHIP
Birthday: July 7, 1989 Instagram: @k.kbeom Tiktok: @kimbeom_official
Born Kim Sang-beom, he attended Chung-ang University as a Film and Theater major. Ranking 6th in Survival Star Audition opened doors for him, including a supporting role in the MBC sitcom Unstoppable High Kick! (2006) and cameos in its sequels.
While he shot to stardom in the KBS2 megahit youth romance Boys over Flowers (2009) as a charming rich artist playboy, he had already shown his acting prowess in the MBC romance action East of Eden (2008). For his performance as the teen version of Song Seung-heon's character, he earned a Baeksang Best New Actor nomination.
Despite the growing popularity and recognition of his talent, he maintained his work ethic. To prepare for the JTBC fantasy melodrama Padam Padam (2011) by esteemed screenwriter Noh Hee-kyung, he sported long hair, studied foreign films about angels, and lost 11 kg in his portrayal of the friend and “guardian angel” of Jung Woo-sung's character. Unfortunately, this extreme weight loss and his 2009 car accident contributed to him being diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
Nevertheless, his projects were punctuated only by his compulsory military service from 2018 to 2020—neither the pandemic nor his health condition could stop him from working. Exploring music in 2012, he released his first studio album and held his first concert. He then started to work on numerous Chinese films and dramas in 2013.
His fans know he is so much more than his smile and looks. In Ghost Doctor, he impressed viewers with his portrayal of both the reluctant resident Go Seung-tak and the soul of the arrogant surgeon Cha Young-min, played by Rain.
Delighting his fans further, he showed off his great chemistry with Lee Dong-wook as he reprised his role Lee Rang in the tvN fantasy Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 (2023).
Last year, he held his Asia fan meeting “Between U and Me” where his fans in Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and South Korea got a glimpse of his signature smile up close.
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