Kim Go Eun is a total treat to watch. Whether you know her as Ji Eun-tak in Goblin or as Kim Yu-mi in Yumi's Cells, the 30-year-old actress never fails to make us fall in love with her in every single role she takes on. A decade or so later in the biz, and it looks like there's no stopping her from being one of the best leading ladies Hallyu land has to offer.
To get to know her better, here are 10 facts you have to know about Korean actress Kim Go Eun:
1. She's a Cancer
Go Eun was born on July 2, 1991 in Seoul. At the age of three, she and her family relocated to Beijing, China, and eventually lived there for 10 years. Growing up in the country made her fluent in Mandarin.
2. A Chinese movie inspired her to get into filmmaking
Her childhood in Beijing was filled with endless rewatches of Together, a Chinese movie directed by Chen Kaige. Her affinity for the 2002 flick made her fall in love with filmmaking, so much so that she enrolled in the Kaywon High School of the Arts upon returning to South Korea. She then went on to pursue a degree in Drama at the Korean National University of Arts.
3. Her debut role was in a critically-acclaimed erotic romance film
In 2013, Go Eun officially broke into the scene with her beguiling performance in the erotic romance film A Muse. At the time, the actress was still completing her studies in college, and didn't have any TV or film credits under her belt. Even if that was the case, she edged out about 300 other auditionees for the lead role of Han Eun-gyo.
For such a stellar debut, Go Eun earned several Best New Actress nods from different award-giving bodies in Korea, two of which were from the prestigious Busan Film Critics Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards. She was even given the Star Asia Rising Star Award from the New York Asian Film Festival that same year!
4. She was a red-head in her first K-drama
After taking a two-year break from acting, she made her first small-screen appearance (sporting a whole new 'do) via the hit 2016 rom-com drama Cheese in the Trap. Alongside Park Hae Jin, Seo Kang Joon, and Lee Sung Kyung, Go Eun led the series to national recognition. She even took home another Baeksang Arts Award for Best New Actress, for the television category this time around!
5. She's an ambassador for Chanel
Go Eun's sweet demeanor and go-getter attitude has not only captured the attention of K-drama fans, but also of high fashion houses like Chanel. In 2019, she was tapped to be one their South Korean ambassadors, and a year later, became one of the seven faces of their "J12 Turns 20" campaign.
6. She's gone on great lengths to fulfill some of her roles
With a decade's worth of acting experience, Go Eun has consistently exemplified just how dedicated she is to her craft. For starters, she willingly gained 8kg in order to fully embody her character of Sun-mi in Sunset in My Hometown. As a foodie, she stated that was actually more than happy to put on a couple of extra pounds.
For The King: Eternal Monarch, her second drama opposite Lee Min Ho, Go Eun plays a skilled taekwondo instructor slash undercover detective. To make her performance more believable and less "stereotypical," she went through martial arts lessons and studied interviews with actual detectives.
7. She's a proud monolid beauty
In South Korea, where getting double eyelid surgery is a prevalent trend among women, Go Eun is one celeb who proudly flaunts her monolid eyes. While there's nothing wrong with getting cosmetic enhancements, the actress sees no need to change how her eyes look. "I have no plans to get plastic surgery. I like monolids," she said in an interview.
8. She's also a philanthropist
Not one to turn a blind eye on those in need, Go Eun has reportedly made generous donations to different disenfranchised communities back home. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, she financially supported the Good Neighbors NGO in order to provide 40,000 facemasks to several low-income families.
9. She'll be starring in the K-drama version of Little Women
Alongside the second season of Yumi's Cells, Go Eun will also be fronting the Korean adaptation of Little Women as Oh In-ju, the eldest among the three sisters. Playing her leading man, Choi Do-il, is Squid Game and Bad and Crazy star Wi Ha Joon.
10. She's on Instagram
To keep yourself updated on this lovable leading lady, hit the follow button on her Instagram account here.
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