Kim Tae-ri

South Korean actress (born 1990) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kim Tae-ri

Kim Tae-ri (Korean: 김태리; born April 24, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She gained widespread recognition for her breakout role as Sook-hee in Park Chan-wook's critically acclaimed film The Handmaiden (2016), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and earned her multiple Best New Actress awards. She went on to star in 1987: When the Day Comes (2017), Little Forest (2018), and Space Sweepers (2020).

Quick Facts Born, Alma mater ...
Kim Tae-ri
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Kim in August 2024
Born (1990-04-24) April 24, 1990 (age 35)
Seoul, South Korea[1]
Alma materKyung Hee University – Department of Journalism and Communication
OccupationActress
Years active2014–present
AgentManagement MMM
Height166 cm (5 ft 5 in)[2]
Korean name
Hangul
김태리
Revised RomanizationGim Taeri
McCune–ReischauerKim T'aeri
Websitemanagement-mmm.com
Signature
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Kim also found success in television, making her small-screen debut in the historical drama Mr. Sunshine (2018) and later received acclaim for her role in Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022), winning the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress. She continued her success with Revenant (2023) and Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born (2024).

In 2024, Kim was named Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year.[3]

Early life

Kim Tae-ri was born on April 24, 1990, in Sangbong-dong, Jungnang District, Seoul, South Korea.[1] After graduating from Youngshin Nursing Business High School [ko], Kim studied Journalism and Communication at Kyung Hee University from 2008 to 2012.[4][5] Kim was inspired to become an actress in her second year of college after joining a college theater club.[6]

Career

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Perspective

2012–2015: Early career

After graduating from college, Kim worked for a year as a member of the technical crew of Iru theatre troupe in Daehakro.[7] Later, Kim was cast as an understudy for Kang Ae-shim in the 2012 production of Spoonface Steinberg but did not get to perform on stage.[8] She subsequently acted in the plays Pansy and Ask for Love, and was double-cast for the rerun of Spoonface Steinberg in 2013.[8][9] In the same year, she filmed Moon Young, a short film which debuted at the Seoul Independent Film Festival in 2015; a theatrical version was released in 2017.[10][11] In 2014, Kim joined J-Wide Company and appeared in a number of TV commercials.[12] During this period, she acted in several short films and attended many auditions for film roles but faced multiple rejections.[9]

2016–present: Feature debut and high-profile roles

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Kim Tae-ri winning the Blue Dragon Film Awards 2016 for Best New Actress

In 2016, Kim made her feature film debut in Park Chan-wook's The Handmaiden, where she was chosen from 1,500 actresses who auditioned for the role.[13] For her performance in the film, she won the award for Best New Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Director's Cut Awards, Buil Film Awards, and Busan Film Critics Awards. Park recounted his first impression of Kim reminded him strongly of his first meeting with actress Kang Hye-jung, who had her career breakthrough in Park's 2003 film Oldboy.[14][15]

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Kim in 2017

In 2017, Kim was part of the ensemble cast in the political thriller 1987: When the Day Comes, which garnered her a nomination for Best Actress at the Grand Bell Awards.[16][17][18]

In 2018, Kim headlined the Korean film adaptation of the manga series Little Forest alongside Ryu Jun-yeol and Jin Ki-joo,[19][20] for which she won the Director's Cut Award and received nominations for the Blue Dragon Film Award, Baeksang Arts Award and Buil Film Award, all for Best Actress.[21][22] In the same year, Kim made her small-screen debut in the period melodrama Mr. Sunshine, written by Kim Eun-sook,[23] and she was nominated for the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Actress for her performance.[24] Mr. Sunshine became the sixth-highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history.[25] In 2019, Kim was ranked among Forbes 30 Under 30 in the Entertainment & Sports category.[26][27]

In 2021, Kim starred in the first Korean space blockbuster Space Sweepers alongside Song Joong-ki. Originally slated for a July 2020 premiere which was cancelled due to COVID-19,[28] the film was released on Netflix in February 2021.[29][30] The film debuted at No. 1 on Netflix in at least 16 countries and gathered more than 26 million household viewers on Netflix during the first 28 days of its release.[31] In August 2021, Kim moved to Management MMM after her contract with J-Wide expired.[32]

In 2022, Kim starred in the tvN coming-of-age drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One with Nam Joo-hyuk making her comeback to the small-screen in four years since 2018. The series was a commercial success and became one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history.[33] For her portrayal of Na Hee-do in the drama, she won both Best Actress – Television and Most Popular Actress at 58th Baeksang Arts Awards.[34]

The same year, she starred in Choi Dong-hoon's sci-fi crime film Alienoid.[35][36] To prepare for her role as Lee Ahn, Kim attended action school and learned martial arts, shooting, and gymnastics.[37][38]

In November 2023, Kim was announced that she would be cast in tvN's historical musical drama, Jeong Nyeon, portraying the titular role, Jeong Nyeon.[39]

Endorsements

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Kim promoting a film alongside Prada in 2023

Since 2017, Kim was selected as brand ambassador for South Korean high-end cosmetics brand O Hui.[40] Since 2018, she became the face of Kenzo's signature fragrance, Flower By Kenzo.[41] She was selected as Korean ambassador for French-owned American luxury jewelry house Tiffany & Co. between 2018 and 2021.[42] In September 2021, she introduced herself as a brand ambassador on a video about Prada's Spring-Summer 2022 collection live show.[43] On January 25, 2022, the women's fashion brand Itmichaa announced her selection as its new muse.[44]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Note Ref.
2015 Moon Young Moon-young Independent film [45]
2016 The Handmaiden Sook-hee [13]
2017 1987: When the Day Comes Yeon-hee [16]
2018 Little Forest Song Hye-won [19]
2021 Space Sweepers Captain Jang / Jang Hyun-sook [29]
2022 Alienoid Lee Ahn [46]
2024 Alienoid: Return to the Future [47]
TBA Lost in Starlight Nan-young Voice [48]
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Television series

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Note Ref.
2016 Entourage Herself Cameo (episode 1) [49]
2018 Mr. Sunshine Go Ae-shin [23]
2022 Twenty-Five Twenty-One Na Hee-do [50]
2023 Revenant Gu San-young [51]
2024 Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Yoon Jeong-nyeon [52]
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Hosting

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Notes Ref.
2024 2024 MAMA Awards November 23 only [53]
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Theater

More information Year, Title ...
Theater play performances
Year Title Role Ref.
2012 Spoonface Steinberg (넙쭉이) Flounder (Understudy) [8]
2013 Ask for Love (사랑을 묻다) Tae-ri [54]
Spoonface Steinberg (넙쭉이) Flounder [55]
I'm Disappointed in You (너한테 실망이야) Yuna [56]
Pansy (팬지) Min-hee [57]
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Discography

Singles

More information Title, Year ...
Title Year Peak chart positions Album Ref.
KOR
Gaon

[58]
KOR
Hot

[59]
"Segimalui Norae" 2016 The Handmaiden OST [60]
"Hidden Road by Lee Hanyeol"
(with Gang Dong-won)
2018 1987: When the Day Comes OST [61][62]
"Hidden Road by Yeonheui"
(with Gang Dong-won)
[63]
"With"
(with Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Ji-yeon, Choi Hyun-wook and Lee Joo-myung)
2022 4054 Twenty-Five Twenty-One OST [64]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart
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Accolades

Awards and nominations

More information Award, Year ...
Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award and the result of the nomination
Award Year Category Nominee(s) / Work(s) Result Ref.
APAN Star Awards 2018 Best New Actress Mr. Sunshine Won [65]
2022 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Twenty-Five Twenty-One Nominated [66]
Popularity Star Award, Actress Nominated [67]
2023 Top Excellence Actress in Medium-Length Series Revenant Nominated [68]
2024 Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Nominated [69]
Grand Prize (Daesang) Won [70]
Asia Artist Awards 2017 Best Entertainer Kim Tae-ri Won [71]
Asian Film Awards 2017 Best Newcomer The Handmaiden Won [72]
Baeksang Arts Awards 2017 Best New Actress – Film Nominated [citation needed]
2018 Best Actress – Film Little Forest Nominated [21]
2019 Best Actress – Television Mr. Sunshine Nominated [24]
2022 Twenty-Five Twenty-One Won [73]
Most Popular Actress Won [74]
2025 Best Actress – Television Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Pending [75]
Blue Dragon Film Awards 2016 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Won [76]
2018 Best Actress Little Forest Nominated [22]
Brand of the Year Awards 2022 Best Actress Kim Tae-ri Won [77]
Buil Film Awards 2016 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Won [78]
2018 Best Actress Little Forest Nominated [79]
2022 Popular Star Award – Female Alienoid Nominated [80]
Busan Film Critics Awards 2016 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Won [81]
Chunsa Film Art Awards 2017 Nominated [citation needed]
2018 Best Actress 1987: When the Day Comes Nominated [82]
2019 Little Forest Nominated [83]
Cine 21 Awards 2016 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Won [84]
Director's Cut Awards Won [85]
2018 Best Actress Little Forest Won [86]
Grand Bell Awards 2018 Best Actress 1987: When the Day Comes Nominated [87]
Fundex Awards 2024 TV Drama Female Lead Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Nominated [88]
Huading Awards 2023 Best Global Teleplay Leading Actress Twenty-Five Twenty-One Nominated [89]
Kinolights Awards 2022 Actress of the Year (Domestic) 3rd place [90]
K-Culture Trend Forum 2024 'MVP of the Year' for Drama category Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Won [91]
KOFRA Film Awards 2017 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Won [92]
Korea Advertisers Contest Advertisers Night-KAA Awards 2022 Advertiser's Model Award Kim Tae-ri Won [93]
Korea Broadcasting Awards 2024 Best Actress Revenant Won [94]
Korea Drama Awards 2018 Best New Actress Mr. Sunshine Nominated [95]
2022 Grand Prize (Daesang) Twenty-Five Twenty-One Nominated [96]
Korea First Brand Awards 2025 Best Actress (Drama) Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Won [97]
Korea World Youth Film Festival 2017 Favorite New Actress The Handmaiden Won [98]
2018 Popular Actress Award Little Forest Won [99]
Marie Claire Film Festival 2017 Best Newcomer The Handmaiden Won [citation needed]
SBS Drama Awards 2023 Grand Prize (Daesang) Revenant Won[note 1] [100]
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama Nominated [101]
The Seoul Awards 2018 Best Supporting Actress 1987: When the Day Comes Nominated [102]
Best New Actress Mr. Sunshine Nominated
Shinfilm Art Film Festival Choi Eun-hee Actor Award Little Forest Won [103]
University Film Festival of Korea Best Actress Won [104]
Women in Film Korea Festival 2016 Best New Actress The Handmaiden Won [105]
Yang Hye-sook Korean Theater Award 2024 Special Award Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born Won [106]
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State honors

More information Country, Award ceremony ...
Name of country, year given, and name of honor
Country Award ceremony Year Honor or Award Ref.
South Korea Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[note 2] 2018 Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation [110]
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Listicles

More information Publisher, Year ...
Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Forbes 2018 30 Under 30 Asia Placed [26][111]
2019 Korea Power Celebrity 40 23rd [112]
2023 28th [113]
Gallup Korea 2018 Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year 2nd [114]
2023 18th[note 3] [115]
2024 1st [116]
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Notes

    1. Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[107][108] They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.[109]
    2. Kim Tae-ri tied with Han So-hee and Lim Ji-yeon (above 1.3%)

    References

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