Kim Hyun-joo - From 1996 To Present

From 1996 To Present

In 1996, when she was still a high school-er, she was chosen as model for some magazine. It was the first time she entered the entertainment industry. During this time, she was pretty popular on magazines and she often got offers to feature in music videos of famous singers.

In 1997, Kim Hyun Joo was accepted to Dankook University, film major. But due to her busy schedules as an actress and entertainer, she stopped university for 2 years. 2 years later she came back to school to finish her study.

In 1998, Kim Hyun Joo had her first drama Only Love, her acting was praised by her co-stars and directors. Not only is Kim hyun Joo an active actress but she is also serious in her work. And she is very friendly, that is why she gained a lot of love from public.

In 1999, chance kept coming to Kim Hyun Joo when she was cast as female lead in Days of Youth with Jang Dong Gun and Hwang Su Jung. But the drama didn’t succeed as expected, it also got complains like copying of some Japanese drama. Jang Dong Gun was the one who got the most complaints, while the bubbly, innocent but unhappy character which played by Kim Hyun Joo received so many love by viewers. And Kim Hyun Joo was slowly recognized by viewers.

After success of Into the Sunlight with Jang Hyuk, Cha Tae Hyun, Kim Ha Neul, the 4 leads got popular thanks to this drama. Also thanks to this drama Kim Hyun Joo was cast in another big role in Her House. In this drama, Kim Hyun Joo had to cut her lovely long hair. She played a student from a rich family, who love a guy who has a job as a driver played by Lee Seo Jin. Not only that, Kim Hyun Joo had the chance to compete her acting with her senior, actress Kim Nam Joo.

In 2001, with the success of Glass Slipper which Kim Hyun Joo got to act along with So Ji Sub and the talented actress Kim Ji Ho. With the story of Cinderella, this made Kim Hyun Joo into a Top A actress in Korea and her name is recognized in all of Asia as well. Not only in Korea, the drama was very success in China, Taiwan and HongKong. It is also made a Kim Hyun Joo’s syndrome in Taiwan when a contest is organized to search for the person who looks like Kim Hyun Joo the most. For those who won this contest, they had the chance to meet the real Kim Hyun Joo in person.

With this success, Kim Hyun Joo was expanding to Hong Kong. She was cast in the movie Star Runner with Vanness Wu. Her character is a Korean teacher who is in love with a naughty student whose name is Bond. The movie was a success not only because of an interesting story line but it also had the big names, and there were a lot of fans who only came to the movie to see Kim Hyun Joo’s acting.

Although it was a success but Kim Hyun Joo didn’t forget her Korean fans, she returned to Korea to film a new SBS drama, named Miss Kim Making 1 Million Dollar Quest. This drama is about the life of miss Kim. In this drama, Kim Hyun Joo played a poor girl who is abandoned by her boyfriend on her wedding. Miss Kim tries to make a lot of money to revenge her boyfriend, Kim Hyun Joo’s co-star in this drama is Ji Jin Hee.

2004, her Korean comeback with drama Miss Kim Making 1 Million Quest was a success. Although the drama was not the most popular drama of the drama, but because of its good storyline and the excellent of Kim Hyun Joo as Miss Kim in this drama, Miss Kim received so much love from the puplic. Kim Hyun Joo herself won Best actress and Top 10 Stars for this role at SBS Drama Awards 2004.

After wrapping of drama Miss Kim making 1 million quest, Kim Hyun Joo signed another drama with SBS. November 2004, Kim Hyun Joo was back with a historical drama Land. Land is based on a true story about the life of the woman named Choi Sae hee. Land became very famous and got the highest ratings of the year 2005. This drama also helped Kim Hyun Joo popular actress and Top Excellent Actress at SBS drama awards 2005. She was also nominated at Beaksang awards for this role in 2006.

In the year 2005, Kim Hyun Joo also had a role in her 3rd movie. The movie is called Sinsukkieblues. She acted the girlfriend of actor Lee Seung Jae in this movie.

Her 3rd project of the year 2005 was a 16 eps drama Marrying a Millionaire. This time her leading man is Go Soo. After the success of drama Marrying a millionaire, Kim Hyun Joo took a long break of 2 years. Later when was asked why she disappeared from the industry that long, she said that she hated her image, because she played so many roles, so she didn’t know who she really was. She felt slump. But as time passed, she regretted it. Instead of taking a break she should have work harder to overcome this.

2007, after a break of 2 years, Kim Hyun Joo came back with KBS drama Insoon Is Pretty. It is a very meaningful drama about the life of a woman who went to prison for what she didn’t do. The drama was not popular but Kim Hyun Joo’s acting shone in this drama. She received Best Excellent in Acting at 2007 KBS drama awards.

Early 2009, Kim Hyun Joo accepted the role of Jun Pyo’s sister in Boys Over Flowers. She played Lee Min Ho's sister in the drama. With her charisma she was able to portray the role very well. Even until know, many fans still recognize her as Go Jun Pyo’s beautiful sister.

Summer 2009, after the success of Boys Over Flowers, Kim Hyun Joo came back as lawyer Kang Eun Ho in KBS drama Partners. Partners is about the law industry and the relationship among lawyers.

2010 was the most difficult year for Kim Hyun Joo’s life, she lost her father, friend and colleague. Kim Hyun Joo overcame this hardship and found happiness with her charity work. She became the ambassador for Good Neighbors, She has gone to Bangladesh, Philippines and other countries to help children.

February 2011 Kim Hyun Joo came back as Hang Jung Won in Sparkling/ Twinkle Twinkle. The drama is about the lives of 2 women who got switch at birth. One is rich and the other is poor. Sparkling/ Twinkle Twinkle had the highest ratings among MBC dramas in the year 2011. With this success Kim Hyun Joo won Top Excellent Awards at the year end awards for this role.