Kal So-won

In this Korean name, the family name is Kal.

Kal So-won (Korean: 갈소원; born 14 August 2006) is a South Korean child actress. She debuted with the television series Take Care of Us, Captain (2012) and is best known for starring in Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013), one of the best-selling Korean films of all time.^[1][2][3]

Kal So-won
Kal So-won attending the Miracle in Cell No. 7 stage greeting in 2013
Born	(2006-08-14) 14 August 2006 (age 18) Oryu-dong, Guro, Seoul, South Korea
Other names	Gal So-won
Education	Aewol Middle School
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2012–present
Agent	YG Entertainment
Awards	Full list
Korean name
Hangul	갈소원
Hanja	葛瀟轅
Revised Romanization	Gal So-won
McCune–Reischauer	Kal Sowŏn

Life and career

Kal So-won (Korean: 갈소원) was born on 14 August 2006 in Seoul, South Korea. Her family consists of her parents and Kal Sun-woo, her younger brother who was born two years after. Kal is also the granddaughter of Jo Eun-il, a writer who is known for one of the best-selling series' "Baker Mom's 100 Point Diary" (빵점엄마 백점일기). Jo had also previously written pieces based on her granddaughter's life in the format of letters similarly to diary entries.^[4] Kal briefly attended Seoul Ojung Elementary School [ko] before transferring to Nabeup Elementary School [ko]. She currently resides in Jeju Island and attends Aewol Middle School [ko].^{[citation needed]}

6-year-old Kal began her journey as a child actress following her debut acting role in Take Care of Us, Captain (2012). Her performance in the South Korean film, Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013) gained her domestic recognition after becoming one of the best-selling Korean films of all time. Her role earned her numerous nominations and awards including "Best New Actress" at the Baeksang Arts Awards and Max Movie Best Film Awards, and notably made her the youngest nominee for the "Best New Actress" and "Best Actress" awards in the history of the Grand Bell Awards'. In February 2014, Kal signed an exclusive contract under YG Entertainment. She revealed amongst several candidates, she chose YG Entertainment as her first agency. In celebration, she had a meal with singers and actors including Big Bang, 2NE1, Cha Seung-won, and Yoo In-na.^[5] Under the agency, her credits include the television series' My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol (2015), Glamorous Temptation (2015), The Doctors (2016), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), and A Korean Odyssey (2017).

In 2015, Kal joined BigBang onstage and performed the intro to their single "Blue" at their MADE World Tour held in Seoul, South Korea.^[6] Kal also appeared as a guest performer for iKon during the first portion of their stage for the single "Love Scenario" (사랑을 했다) at the 2018 Continue Tour held in Seoul, South Korea.^[7]

Ambassadorship

Year	Title	Ref.
2013	Handon Public Relations Ambassador	[8]
	The Seoul Guro Children Film Festival	[9]
	Suncheon Bay World Animal Film Festival	[10]
2014	Child Abuse Prevention	[11]
2016	Child Safety Ambassador	[12]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title		Role	Notes	Ref.
	English	Korean
2012	The Taste of Money	돈의 맛	Ri-ni	Supporting role	[13]
2013	Miracle in Cell No. 7	7번방의 선물	Ye-seung (young)	Main cast	[14]
	One Stormy Night	폭풍우 치는 밤에	Narrator	Korean dubbing	[15][a]
2020	Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP	미스터 주: 사라진 VIP	Seo-yeon	Supporting role	[14]

Television series

Year	Title		Role	Notes	Ref.
	English	Korean
2012	Take Care of Us, Captain	부탁해요 캡틴	Han Da-yeon	Supporting role	[16][b]
2013	The Secret of Birth	출생의 비밀	Hong Hae-deum	Main Role	[16]
	Medical Top Team	메디컬 탑팀	Eun Ba-wi	Supporting role	[17]
2014	Lump in My Life	내 인생의 혹	Geum-ji (young)		[18][c]
2015	My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol	내 딸, 금사월	Geum Sa-wol (young)		[16]
	Glamorous Temptation	화려한 유혹	Hong Mi-rae		[16]
2016	The Doctors	닥터스	Hye-jeong (young)		[16]
	The Legend of the Blue Sea	푸른 바다의 전설	Se-hwa (young)		[16]
2017	A Korean Odyssey	화유기	Jin Seon-mi (young)		[16]
2022	Tomorrow	내일	Goo-ryeon (young)		[19]
	Cleaning Up	클리닝업	Jin Yu-na		[20]
2023	Delivery Man	딜리버리맨	Choi Ha-yul	Cameo (episode 5–6)	[21]

Web series

Year	Title		Role	Notes	Ref.
	English	Korean
2018	YG Future Strategy Office	YG 전략자료본부	Kal So-won (Herself)	Cameo (Episode 6)	[22]
2021	Writing Your Destiny	당신의 운명을 쓰고있습니다	Sam-shin	Supporting role	[23]

Television show

Year	Title		Role	Notes	Ref.
	English	Korean
2018	Nest Escape 3	둥지탈출3	Cast member	Episode 4	[24]
2020	King of Mask Singer	복면가왕	Contestant (Innocent Manga)	Episodes 281–282	[25]

Music video appearances

Year	Title	Artist	Length	Ref.
2013	"After Winter" (이 겨울이 가도)	Koyote (featuring Kal So-won)	4:06	[26]
	"Hurtful" (아프고 아프다)	Shin Ji-hoon	3:07	[27]

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee(s) / work(s)	Result	Ref.
APAN Star Awards	2015	Best Young Actress	My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol	Won	[28]
Baeksang Arts Awards	2013	Best New Actress – Film	Miracle in Cell No. 7	Nominated	[29]
Buil Film Awards	2013	Best New Actress		Nominated	[30]
Grand Bell Awards				Nominated	[31]
		Best Actress		Nominated
		Special Jury		Won
Korea Drama Awards		Best Young Actress	The Secret of Birth	Won	[32]
Korea Yakult Superstar V-KIDS Contest	2011	—	Kal So-won	Won	[33]
Max Movie Awards	2014	Best New Actress	Miracle in Cell No. 7	Won	[34]
MBC Drama Awards	2015	Best Young Actress	My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol Glamorous Temptation	Won	[35]

Notes

1. Animated movie
2. Acting debut
3. MBC Drama Festival Chuseok Special