Kim Hyo-jin (Korean: 김효진; born February 10, 1984) is a South Korean actress and model. She began modeling in teen magazines, and made her acting debut in 1999. She made her theater debut in 2009 in the play A Midsummer Night's Dream and followed this up by appearing in the theatrical production Fool for Love a year later. She is best known for playing the youngest of the three sisters in sex comedy film Everybody Has Secrets (2004), a con artist in the television dramaPrivate Lives (2020) and a top star in Castaway Diva (2023).
Kim Hyo-jin was born on February 10, 1984, in Seoul. She attended Ewha Girls' High School.[2] In 2002, she enrolled in Undergraduate School of Hanyang University's Department of Theatre and Film. On February 22, 2007, Kim, who had her Bachelor Degree, delivered a speech representing the other graduates during the graduation ceremony held at Hanyang University in Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.[3][4] In September 2007, Kim entered Graduate School of Department of Theatre and Film at Hanyang University.[5]
Kim began her career as a teen model after being cast at the suggestion of a model agency that happened to see her while she was walking around Dongdaemun. She made her debut as a cover model for the teen magazine Cindy the Perky. After appearing in various commercials and sitcoms, she made her acting debut in the television drama "Love Story" in 1999. She also made her big-screen debut as Jaunbi in the 2003 movie "The Millennium."[2]
After a series of forgettable roles, she is best known for playing the youngest of the three sisters in sex comedy film Everybody Has Secrets,[6] and the female lead in family drama I Am Happy.[7]
In 2011 Kim replaced Han Chae-young in the Korea-China-Japan joint production Strangers 6,[14] which tells the story of six individuals assigned by the highest level authorities of their respective countries to protect the three countries' joint economic area from being infiltrated by a hostile organization.[15] Filming in Japan was delayed by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami,[16] and the TV series aired on Japan's WOWOW TV and Korea's Channel A in 2012.[17]
In 2020, after a long hiatus, she appeared in JTBC's television dramaPrivate Lives, alongside Seohyun and Go Kyung-pyo, as Jeong Bok-gi/Sophia Chung, a former announcer by the name of Jeong Yoon-kyung. She is a woman who uses other people's private lives and become a con woman.[21] It aired on JTBC from October 7 to November 26, 2020 and is available for streaming worldwide on Netflix.[22]
In 2021, Kim acted as Kyung-eun, Jung-soo's (Park Byung-eun) first love,[23]inLost, a 2021 television series starring Jeon Do-yeon and Ryu Jun-yeol. It was part of "JTBC's Tenth Anniversary Special Project", it was broadcast from September 4 to October 24, 2021 every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST).[24]
In 2022, Kim acted as Cheon Na-na in Season 2 of The Good Detective. Cheon Na-na is Director of TJ Group born out of wedlock to the group president and treated like an orphan.[25] It aired on JTBC from July 30, 2022 on Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST).[26][27]
Kim first met actor-director Yoo Ji-tae in 2003 when they were models for a clothing brand, and their friendship turned into a romantic relationship in 2006.[32] One of the few Korean star couples who openly admitted their dating status, they are very active in charitable organizations, and in 2011 were both appointed as honorary ambassadors for World Vision.[33][34][35]
They announced their engagement in August 2011 (Kim reportedly turned down a movie role to prepare for her upcoming nuptials),[36][37][38][39][40] and subsequently released pre-wedding photos.[41][42] Their minimalist invitation was made from environmentally friendly paper and had the number 1,825 written on it, the exact amount of the days the two have spent together as a couple.[43][44] They were married at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on December 2, 2011.[45][46][47] The date marked the couple's fifth anniversary together and was booked by Yoo one year in advance despite landing on a Friday – an unusual day for a wedding.[44] The ceremony was officiated by the president of World Vision Korea; Yoo and Kim then donated a portion of their monetary gifts to the organization to help build an elementary and middle school in Myanmar.[48][49][50] The couple have two sons, born on July 5, 2014, and April 15, 2019.[51][52]
Kim adheres to a vegetarian diet for ethical and health reasons.[53][54]
^Jeon Hyo-jin (June 29, 2022). "김효진X정문성, 재벌가 부부 탄생…'모범형사2' 합류" [Kim Hyo-jin X Jung Moon-seong, a chaebol couple is born... Joining ‘Exemplary Detective 2’] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved June 29, 2022 – via Naver.
^"'모범형사2' 다시 뭉친 손현주X장승조, 첫 스틸컷 공개" [Son Hyeon-joo X Jang Seung-jo reunited for 'Exemplary Detective 2', first still cut released]. JTBC (in Korean). Naver. July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
^Jinju-hee (July 30, 2022). "'모범형사2' 오늘(30일) 첫 방송…손현주x장승조, 출동 준비 완료" ['Exemplary Detective 2' premieres today (30th)... Son Hyun-joo x Jang Seung-jo, ready to go]. MK Sports (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
^Moon Ji-yeon (March 8, 2023). "[공식] 김효진=박은빈의 우상..'무인도의 디바' 출연 확정" [[Official] Kim Hyo-jin = Park Eun-bin's idol... confirmed to appear in 'Inhabited Island Diva'] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee Min-ji. "박은빈 차기작 '무인도의 디바' tvN 편성 확정 [공식]" [Park Eun-bin's next film 'Diva on a desert island' tvN confirmed [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Naver.
^Choi Na-young (June 9, 2023). "신혜선∙박은빈 귀환→'경소'∙'아스달' 2편 tvN 하반기 드라마 라인업 [공식]" [Shin Hye-sun∙Park Eun-bin return→'Gyeongso'∙'Arthdal' 2 episodes tvN drama lineup in the second half [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023 – via Naver.
^'결혼' 유지태·김효진, '완벽비주얼' 웨딩화보 [Yoo Ji Tae and Kim Hyo Jin reveal new pre-wedding photos] (in Korean). Star News. December 1, 2011. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
^유지태-김효진 예비부부 '착한 청첩장' 공개 [Yoo Ji Tae & Kim Hyo Jin, simplest of wedding invitations] (in Korean). Economy Today. November 29, 2011. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
^Kim, Kyu Hyun. "Legend of the Evil Lake". Koreanfilm.org. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
^Tae Yu-na (July 12, 2021). "전도연→류준열 '인간실격' 베일 벗었다" [Jeon Do-yeon → Ryu Jun-yeol took off the veil of 'disqualification']. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
^Jeon Hyo-jin (June 29, 2022). "김효진X정문성, 재벌가 부부 탄생...'모범형사2' 합류" [Kim Hyo-jin X Jung Moon-seong, a chaebol couple is born... Joining 'Exemplary Detective 2'] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022 – via Naver.
^Moon Ji-yeon (March 8, 2023). "[공식] 김효진=박은빈의 우상..'무인도의 디바' 출연 확정" [[Official] Kim Hyo-jin=Park Eun-bin's idol... confirmed to appear in 'Inhabited Island Diva'] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^"환상을 살아야 하는 치명적 사랑" [Fatal love to live a fantasy]. Art Chosun (in Korean). July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
^Lee, Young-kyung (July 20, 2010). "[연극 포토] 너를 찾아4천 킬로미터, 연극 '풀포러브' - 뉴스테이지" [[Theatre Photo] 4,000 kilometres to find you, play 'Full For Love' - Newstage]. www.newstage.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved March 29, 2024.
