Shin Se-kyung (; born July 29, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She started as a child actress and had her breakthrough in the sitcom ''

High Kick Through the Roof ''High Kick Through the Roof'' () was a popular South Korean situation comedy revolving around the life of the Lee family. Cast Soon-jae's House ;Lee Soon-jae (, Lee Soon-jae) : President of the self-named food company Lee Soon-jae F&B (Food & ...

'' (2009). Since then, she starred in the films ''

Hindsight Hindsight bias, also known as the knew-it-all-along phenomenon or creeping determinism, is the common tendency for people to perceive past events as having been more predictable than they were. After an event has occurred, people often believe ...

'' (2011), '' R2B: Return to Base'' (2012) and '' Tazza: The Hidden Card'' (2014), as well as the television series ''

Deep Rooted Tree ''Deep Rooted Tree'' () is a 2011 South Korean television series starring Han Suk-kyu, Jang Hyuk and Shin Se-kyung. Based on the novel of the same name by Lee Jung-myung, it aired on SBS from 5 October to 22 December 2011 on Wednesdays and ...

'' (2011), ''

A Girl Who Sees Smells ''A Girl Who Sees Smells'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series adapted from the KTOON webtoon of the same title by Seo Soo-kyung a/k/a Man Chwi. Starring Park Yoo-chun, Shin Se-kyung, Namgoong Min and Yoon Jin-seo, it aired on SBS on ...

'' (2015), ''

Six Flying Dragons ''Six Flying Dragons'' () is a South Korean television series starring Yoo Ah-in, Kim Myung-min, Shin Se-kyung, Byun Yo-han, Yoon Kyun-sang and Chun Ho-jin. It aired on SBS on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 for 50 episodes beginning on Oc ...

'' (2015–2016), ''

The Bride of Habaek ''The Bride of Habaek'' () is a South Korean television drama Spin-off (media), spin-off of the 2006 sunjung manhwa ''Bride of the Water God'' by Yoon Mi-kyung. The series stars Shin Se-kyung in the title role alongside Nam Joo-hyuk, Lim Ju-hwan ...

'' (2017), '' Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me'' (2017–2018), ''

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung ''Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Shin Se-kyung, in the title role as a free-spirited female historian, and Cha Eun-woo, as a prince working underground as a romance novelist. It is also a ...

'' (2019), '' Run On'' (2020) and ''

Captivating the King ''Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul'' is a book published in 2005 by John Eldredge and his wife Stasi. The book rejects the idea of an ideal woman and explores biblical scripture from the view that God desires woman to embrace ...

'' (2024). ''

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...

'' listed her on the ''Forbes'' Korea Power Celebrity 40; she ranked 26th in 2011 and 14th in 2012.

Early life and education

Shin was born on July 29, 1990, in . She studied at Shinmok High School before enrolling at

Chung-Ang University Chung-Ang University (CAU; ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. The university operates two campuses: main campus located in Dongjak District, Seoul, and an additional campus in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. CAU consists of 1 ...

, where she majored in

Performing arts The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. P ...

Career

1998–2009: Beginnings as a child actress

Shin made her entertainment debut at eight years old in 1998 when she was featured on the cover and poster for

Seo Taiji Jeong Hyeon-cheol (; born February 21, 1972), better known as Seo Taiji or Seo Tae-ji (), is a South Korean singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. After dropping out of high school to pursue a music career, he rose to become one of t ...

's solo album ''Take Five''. As a child actress, Shin was already known to Koreans for her appearance in the popular children's show ''

Popopo ''Popopo'' () was a South Korean children's television series broadcast on Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC; ) is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters. Its flagship terrest ...

'', which also starred

Big Bang The Big Bang is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. Various cosmological models based on the Big Bang concept explain a broad range of phenomena, including th ...

G-Dragon Kwon Ji-yong (; born August 18, 1988), best known as G-Dragon (), is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur, known as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of K-pop". Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, G-Drag ...

. She spent her childhood hosting children shows. After a small part in ''

My Little Bride ''My Little Bride'' () is a 2004 South Korean romantic comedy film about a teenage girl (Moon Geun-young) who tries to continue her normal social and school life, after her grandfather forces her into an arranged marriage with a man in his twenties ...

'', she subsequently had starring roles in ''

Cinderella "Cinderella", or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a Folklore, folk tale with thousands of variants that are told throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsin Press, 1988. The protagonist is a you ...

'', omnibus films '' Acoustic'' and ''

Five Senses of Eros ''Five Senses of Eros'' () is a 2009 South Korean omnibus film with five short films depicting love and desire, but in different styles and genres. The shorts are: ''His Concern'', directed by Daniel H. Byun; ''I'm Right Here'' (), directed by Hu ...

'', as well as a well-received turn as the younger version of Princess Cheonmyeong in ''

Queen Seondeok Queen Seondeok ( ; ? – ; day of the lunar month of the year of Inpyeong []) reigned as Queen Regnant of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's List of monarchs of Korea, twenty-seventh ruler, and its ...

''.

2009–2014: Rise in popularity and transitioning roles

Shin failed to gain a large following until her breakthrough role as a housemaid on the popular TV sitcom ''

'' in 2009. Building on her sitcom fame, Shin signed on to numerous television commercials and print advertisement and became one of the most sought celebrity endorser. Shin Se-gyeong from acrofan

Lead roles in high-profile acting projects followed, among them

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

'' with

Song Kang-ho Song Kang-ho (; born January 17, 1967) is a South Korean actor. Regarded as one of the most influential actors in Korean cinema, he has appeared in critically acclaimed films across various genres. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, i ...

, the highly rated historical drama ''

'' with

Jang Hyuk Jeong Yong-jun (; born December 20, 1976), better known as Jang Hyuk, is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films '' Volcano High'' (2001), '' Windstruck'' (2004), '' The Flu'' (2013), as well as the television s ...

and

Han Suk-kyu Han Suk-kyu (; born November 3, 1964) is a South Korean actor. One of the leading actors of Korean cinema, he rose to prominence in the 1990s with a string of critically acclaimed films, including '' Green Fish'' (1997), '' No. 3'' (1997), '' T ...

, and aerial action film '' R2B: Return to Base'' with

Rain Rain is a form of precipitation where water drop (liquid), droplets that have condensation, condensed from Water vapor#In Earth's atmosphere, atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is res ...

. However, Shin's next project '' Fashion King'' (2012) was poorly received by audiences, particularly its controversial ending. Shin then released her first digital single, "You Were Sweet," which she recorded to promote a coffee franchise she models for. A former singer trainee in middle school, Shin has also contributed songs to the soundtrack of ''

'', the charity album ''Love Tree Project'', and did her own singing in showcase piece '' Acoustic''. In 2012, she recorded a Christmas carol duet with . Shin returned to television in the 2013 melodrama ''

When a Man Falls in Love ''When a Man Falls in Love'' () is a 2013 South Korean television drama series broadcast by MBC. Directed by Kim Sang-ho and Choi Byung-gil, it stars Song Seung-heon, Shin Se-kyung, Chae Jung-an and Yeon Woo-jin. It aired from April 3 to June ...

'' opposite

Song Seung-heon Song Seung-heon (; born October 5, 1976) is a South Korean model and actor. He has acted in various Korean drama, television dramas, notably ''Autumn in My Heart'' (2000), ''East of Eden (South Korean TV series), ''East of Eden' (2008), ''My ...

, but received criticism from viewers for her passive character. In 2014, she played a more "bold and confident" role in the gambling film '' Tazza: The Hidden Card'', followed by the fantasy-action series ''

Blade Man ''Blade Man'' (; lit. ''Iron Man'') is a 2014 South Korean television series starring Lee Dong-wook and Shin Se-kyung. It aired on KBS2 from September 10 to November 13, 2014, for 18 episodes. Plot Joo Hong-bin (Lee Dong-wook) is a wealthy man w ...

''.

2015–present: Resurgence and comeback

In a break from her usual dramatic roles, Shin played an aspiring comedian in the

webtoon Webtoons () are a type of episodic digital comics that originated in South Korea usually meant to be read on smartphones A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allo ...

adaptation ''

'' in 2015 as the titular character. Shin then reunited with ''Fashion King'' costar

Yoo Ah-in Uhm Hong-sik (; born October 6, 1986), known professionally as Yoo Ah-in (), is a South Korean actor, creative director, and gallerist. He is known for playing a diverse spectrum of roles in both television and film, where he often portrays dyn ...

in ''

'' (2015–2016), another period drama from the screenwriters of ''Deep Rooted Tree''. In 2017, Shin starred in tvN's fantasy-romance drama ''

'' alongside

Nam Joo-hyuk Nam Joo-hyuk (; born February 22, 1994) is a South Korean model and actor. He began his career as a model, and appeared in several music videos before making his screen debut in 2014 with '' The Idle Mermaid''. Nam rose to prominence with his ...

. This is followed shortly by another fantasy-romance drama, '' Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me'' alongside

Kim Rae-won Kim Rae-won (; born 19 March 1981) is a South Korean actor. He first rose to fame with his appearances in the 2003 romantic comedy series '' Cats on the Roof''. He is best known for the movies ''My Little Bride'' (2004), ''Sunflower'' (2006), '' ...

. In 2019, Shin starred in the historical drama ''

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung ''Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung'' () is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Shin Se-kyung, in the title role as a free-spirited female historian, and Cha Eun-woo, as a prince working underground as a romance novelist. It is also a ...

'', alongside

Cha Eun-woo Lee Dong-min (; born March 30, 1997), known professionally as Cha Eun-woo (), is a South Korean singer and actor. He is a member of the South Korean boy band Astro (South Korean band), Astro, and debuted as a solo artist with the extended play ...

. She played the role of a noble lady who becomes one of the four female historians of the royal court, and won the Top Excellence Award for an Actress and Best Couple Award with

at the MBC Drama Awards. In 2020–2021, Shin starred in

JTBC JTBC (shortened from Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company; ; stylized in all lowercase) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on December 1, ...

's romance drama '' Run On,'' alongside

Im Si-Wan Im Si-wan (; born Im Woong-jae, December 1, 1988) is a South Korean actor and singer. He is a member of the South Korean boy band ZE:A and its sub-group ZE:A Five. As an actor, he is best known for starring in the film ''The Attorney'' (2013), ...

. On July 5, 2021, it was announced Shin has signed an exclusive contract with

EDAM Entertainment This is a list of labels controlled, distributed or associated with Kakao M. Subsidiaries House labels BLUEDOT Entertainment BLUEDOT Entertainment was established by Kakao M (formerly known as LOEN Entertainment) to manage their newest boygroup ...

(a subsidiary of

Kakao Entertainment Kakao Entertainment Corp. () is a South Korean entertainment, mass media, and publishing company founded in 2021. A subsidiary of the Internet company Kakao, it was established subsequent to the merger of the latter's two subsidiaries KakaoPa ...

) after her contract with

Namoo Actors Namoo Actors Co. Ltd. (), founded in 2004, is a talent management agency based in Seoul, South Korea. The founder and president of the company is Kim Jong-do. History In 2004, Namoo Actors was established under the name "Namoo Actors Co. Ltd.". ...

expired. On July 3, 2024, it was announced that Shin has departed from EDAM Entertainment after her contract expiry. On July 8, 2024, Shin signed an exclusive contract with The Present Company.

Other activities

Ambassadorship

On January 15, 2014, Shin was appointed as the goodwill ambassador for

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

's Korean Committee. The honor serves as recognition for her contributions in promoting

Korean culture The traditional culture of Korea is the shared cultural and historical heritage of Korea before the division of Korea in 1945. Since the mid-20th century, Korea has been split between the North Korean and South Korean sovereign state, stat ...

and Education and her advocacy for the

Korean language Korean is the first language, native language for about 81 million people, mostly of Koreans, Korean descent. It is the national language of both South Korea and North Korea. In the south, the language is known as () and in the north, it is kn ...

, including her appearance in ''

''. In this capacity, she endorses the vision and the mission of the UNESCO bridge program, both in Korea and outside. Shin was appointed as the Korean

hanbok The hanbok () is the traditional clothing of the Koreans, Korean people. The term ''hanbok'' is primarily used by South Koreans; North Koreans refer to the clothes as (). The clothes are also worn in the Korean diaspora. Koryo-saram—ethnic Ko ...

ambassador. She attended the hanbok runway show on October 20, 2017.

Endorsements

In 2006, Shin was selected as the advertising model for School Looks, a school uniform company. In 2009, she appeared in the commercial for VIPS restaurant along with

Park Ye-jin Park Ye-jin (; born April 1, 1981) is a South Korean actress. Career Park Ye-jin made her acting debut in the 1999 horror film ''Memento Mori'', then appeared in leading and supporting roles in several TV series and films, notably '' What Hap ...

Lee Yeon-hee Lee Yeon-hee (; born January 9, 1988) is a South Korean actress. She is most known for her work in the television series '' East of Eden'' (2008), ''Phantom'' (2012), '' Miss Korea'' (2013), '' The Package'' (2017); and in the films '' A Millio ...

Lee Yoon-ji Lee Yoon-ji (; born March 15, 1984) is a South Korean actress. After making her acting debut in the sitcom '' Nonstop 4'', Lee has starred in the television series '' Pure 19'' (2004), '' Princess Hours'' (2006), ''Dream High'' (2011), '' The Ki ...

and

Park Shin-hye Park Shin-hye (, born February 18, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She gained recognition as a child in Korean drama, television series ''Stairway to Heaven (2003 TV series), Stairway to Heaven'' (2003) and ''Tree of Heaven (TV series), Tree o ...

. Shin was then selected as the model for LG Cyon Crystal phone along with

BigBang BigBang (; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean boy band formed by YG Entertainment. The group consists of three members: G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung. Originally a five-piece band, Seungri retired from the entertainment industry in March ...

. In 2010, Shin was selected as the advertising model for

Lotte liquor Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co., Ltd. () is a drink manufacturer in South Korea affiliated with Lotte Corporation. The company's name, Chilsung (), signifies "Big Dipper" or seven stars, and its logo displays seven stars aligned in a row. History Ch ...

'Cheongha'. She was also selected as the model for Aekyung '2080 Cheong-eun Tea' toothpaste. Shin then appeared in the commercial for Lotte Chilsung G2 ion drink. She was selected as the model for the bag brand Lovcat Paris. Shin was then announced as the brand model of BBQ Chicken along with the boygroup

BEAST Beast most often refers to: * Animal, a multicellular, eukaryotic organism in the biological kingdom Animalia * The Beast (Revelation), one of three beasts described in the Book of Revelation * Monster, a type of creature found in fiction, folklo ...

. She was also the model for ''

New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a 2009 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii. A follow-up to '' New Super Mario Bros.'', it was first released in Australia, North America, and Europe in November 2009, followed by Japan a month later. It was released ...

'' Nintendo Korea. Shin was then selected as the model for Namyoung Vivian's lingerie brand 'Vivian'. She was selected as the exclusive model for the clothing brand SOUP. In 2012, Shin was announced as the model for the Korean cosmetics brand

Nature Republic Nature Republic (Hangul: 네이처리퍼블릭) is a South Korean cosmetics brand created in 2009. History Nature Republic opened its first store in March 2009. Stores were opened outside of South Korea in Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Mala ...

. She then appeared in a commercial for

Yakult is a Japanese sweetened probiotic milk beverage fermented with the bacteria strain '' Lacticaseibacillus casei'' Shirota. It is sold by Yakult Honsha based in Tokyo. The name "Yakult" was coined from ''jahurto'', an Esperanto word meaning "yogu ...

's R&B. She is also featured in the commercial for Dongseo Food's 'Light Up' cereal.

Philanthropy

On December 20, 2022, Shin made a donation from YouTube profits to support sanitary napkins for teenage girls in Korea through the G Foundation.

Personal life

Shin dated

Shinee Shinee ( ; ; ; stylized as SHINee) is a South Korean boy band formed by SM Entertainment in 2008. The group consists of four members: Onew, Key (entertainer), Key, Choi Min-ho, Minho, and Taemin. Originally a five-piece band, Jonghyun died on ...

member

Kim Jong-hyun Kim Jong-hyun (; April 8, 1990 – December 18, 2017), known mononymously as Jonghyun, was a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer, radio host, and author under the SM Entertainment label. He was the vocalist of the South Korean boy ...

in October 2010 until their split in June 2011.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Television shows

Music video appearances

Discography

Awards and nominations

Listicles

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shin, Se-kyung 1990 births Living people Actresses from Seoul Singers from Seoul People from Yangcheon District South Korean film actresses South Korean female models South Korean television actresses 21st-century South Korean singers 21st-century South Korean women singers Chung-Ang University alumni