Biography
Who is Kim Rae-won?
Early Life and Education
Kim Rae-won was born in Gangneung, South Korea. During his childhood, he originally wanted to pursue a career as a professional basketball player. However, an injured ankle tendon ended that athletic dream, prompting him to shift his focus toward acting. He attended Namkang High School and Kwangshin Middle School before studying Theater and Film at Chung-Ang University.
Kim made his acting debut in the 1997 teen drama Me, playing a newcomer at his high school broadcasting club. This early role was followed by appearances in School 2 in 1999 and the coming-of-age film Plum Blossom in 2000.
Rise to Fame
Kim rose to wider prominence after starring in the 2002 romance comedy series My Love Patzzi. His popularity increased significantly in 2003 when he played a law student in the popular romantic series Cats on the Roof. He then starred alongside Moon Geun-young in the romantic comedy film My Little Bride, which emerged as a major sleeper hit and ranked as the second top-grossing Korean film of 2004.
He continued taking on prominent roles in romantic television dramas such as Love Story in Harvard in 2004 and Which Star Are You From in 2006. On the big screen, Kim began focusing on more mature and masculine projects, including the action film Mr. Socrates and the drama Sunflower.
Career Highlights
Kim starred as an aspiring chef in the 2008 television series Gourmet, based on a popular manhwa. He later impressed audiences and critics with his performance in the 2014 legal thriller Punch, portraying a prosecutor diagnosed with a terminal illness who works to dismantle corruption within the legal system. In 2015, he starred in the noir action film Gangnam Blues, shedding significant weight to portray a fist-fighting gangster.
He achieved further commercial success starring in the 2016 medical drama Doctors, which topped viewership ratings during its broadcast. His subsequent credits include the crime action film The Prison, the fantasy romance series Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me, and the action drama series The First Responders.
Personal Life
Kim is a practicing Roman Catholic. In 2011, he was involved in a physical altercation at a bar in Gangnam, Seoul, where he and representatives from his agency were drinking. He later issued a public apology regarding the incident after denying allegations of initiating a physical confrontation. He also addressed public rumors regarding his family background, confirming that he inherited an apartment unit during middle school and a sum of money from his grandmother, while denying reports of extreme affluence.
Agency and Management
Kim was previously managed by HB Entertainment, but his contract concluded in July 2021 and he chose not to renew it. In April 2022, reports indicated that he had established his own sole agency, founding an entity known as the Whale Company. Through this independent structure, he continued his work in television and film projects.
Birthday and age
Kim Rae-won was born on March 19, 1981, which makes Kim 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Kim shares the date with 19 other famous people.
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