Who would have thought these celebrities we see in our favorite K-dramas started at a very young age and even started appearing on TV at four years old?! They are definitely born for the camera!
Here are a few child actors who found their way up into the spotlight.
Lee Se Young
At age four, this actress first appeared in the K-drama "The Brother's River" in 1997. Her acting was highlighted for her elementary student role in "Lovely Rivals" as Go Mi Nam. She gained popularity and won Best New Actress Award at the 2016 Baeksang Arts Awards in the TV category for her role in "The Gentlemen Of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop." Her 2020 drama series includes TVN's "Memorist" and MBC's "Kairos."
Kim Yoo Jung
"Freezing Point" is the first drama of Kim Yoo Jung, and she was just four years old as Choi Eun Yi. Since then, she became one of the best-known child actresses. In 2008, she won her first acting award as "Best Child Actress" for action-adventure series, "Iljimae," followed by another two superb actings for "Dong Yi" and "Flames of Desire." Catch her in her upcoming rom-com series in the webtoon hit "Backstreet Rookie" alongside Ji Chang Wook!
Ryu Deok Hwan
Soon Gil was the first role, Ryu Deok Hwan, in the 1996 drama "Lifetime In The Country" at the age of six. He played the role for eight years. His breakout role in "Like a Virgin" was critically acclaimed. He gained 61 pounds in three months to play the role of a transgender teenager who joins the ssireum team, a Korean wrestling traditional national sport of Korea that began in the fourth century.
In 2012, this actor directed the short film "Waiting for Jang Joon-hwan" for the Olleh Smartphone Film Festival.
Watch his latest drama, SBS's "Nobody Knows."
Yoo Seung Ho
In 2000, Yoo Seung Ho debuted as a child actor and in the television drama "Daddy Fish." His role as a spoiled brat in the movie "The Way Home" made him rise to stardom. His acting skills showcased how great an actor he is and even got the title of "The Nation's Little Brother."
In 2010, Yoo Seung Ho took on his first adult role in the MBC drama series "Flames of Desire." He was only 17 years old but played a 21-year-old married man. He recently starred in the drama series "Memorist," alongside the fellow and formerly child actress Lee Se Young.
Nam Ji Hyun
The actress was seven years old when she first appeared on television for the drama series "Say You Love Me." She was recognized for playing the role of a young Deokman in "Queen Seondeok." She continued appearing in several dramas and movies, and in 2016, she headlined her first series, "Shopaholic Louis," an MBC romantic-comedy series, with Seo In Guk.
She recently starred in MBC's "365: Repeat The Year" as Shin Ga Hyun, a workaholic, and a perfectionist webcomic writer.
These stars have touched our hearts for their innocent roles way back, and now, they have succeeded in the industry they love most. They will surely achieve more.
Comment below if you think we missed someone you like who started as a child actor.
