Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
Kim Se Jeong, who rose to fame as a member of I.O.I and later Gugudan, is a multi-talented all-rounder who has found success as both a solo singer-songwriter and an actress. Currently, she’s starring as a spirited top saleswoman in the ENA romantic comedy Brewing Love. Here’s a look back at some of the key dramas that helped establish Kim Se Jeong as an actress.
>> Kim Se Jeong on Kiss Scene Prep: ‘It’s Like Laying the Foundation for a Building’
Today’s Webtoon (2022)
Today’s Webtoon is an office drama adapted from a Japanese manga, capturing the lives of those working in the webtoon industry. Kim Se Jeong plays On Ma Eum, a former judo athlete whose dreams are crushed, leading her to start anew as an intern at a webtoon company. On Ma Eum is a character brimming with passion and grit, the kind of person hiring managers love to see. Although she’s on a one-year contract, she finds a renewed sense of purpose in chasing a new dream. The drama resonates with viewers by depicting not only the struggles of webtoon creators and industry professionals but also the experiences of young adults entering the workforce. While the original manga gave a realistic portrayal of Japan’s publishing industry, Today’s Webtoon brings its story to life within a webtoon editorial office.
Business Proposal (2022)
Business Proposal was a romantic comedy hit in 2022, tapping into the trend of “main characters” and “alter egos” in Korea. Based on a popular web novel, it tells the story of Shin Ha Ri (Kim Se Jeong), who goes on a blind date pretending to be her friend, only to discover that her date is Kang Tae Mu (Ahn Hyo Seop), the CEO of her company. To ruin the date, Ha Ri acts over-the-top, leading fans to nickname her “Korea’s Emma Stone” for her comedic flair, which evoked Stone’s performance in Easy A. Kim Se Jeong’s hilarious portrayal of Ha Ri, who juggles a double life between her real self and her “blind date” persona Shin Geum Hui, quickly won viewers’ hearts. She is now reunited with Business Proposal director Park Sun Ho in Brewing Love.
The Uncanny Counter (2020-2023)
The Uncanny Counter is a fantasy drama about “Counters,” demon hunters disguised as noodle shop employees, who fight against evil spirits on Earth. In 2020, it became a sensation in Korea as one of the few hero-based dramas, gaining massive popularity. Kim Se Jeong plays Do Ha Na, a Counter who can read others’ memories and sense demons. Known for her positive and lovable characters, she took on a different vibe here—Ha Na is straightforward, rarely smiles, and keeps her emotions in check. In the second season, released in 2023, Kim Se Jeong showed impressive growth, performing intense action scenes, most of them without a stunt double, which wowed viewers.
I Wanna Hear Your Song (2019)
In the mystery romance drama I Wanna Hear Your Song, Kim Se Jeong plays Hong Yi Young, a timpanist who loses her memory after a car accident and teams up with a strange, tone-deaf man, Jang Yoon (Yeon Woo Jin), to uncover the truth. Yi Young, who struggles with both her career and love life, joins an orchestra only to become the subject of rumors. After the accident, she finds herself unable to sleep unless she hears Yoon’s off-key singing. Jang Yoon, an enigmatic character who shadows her, keeps viewers guessing well into the story. In her second lead role, Kim Se Jeong showcased her versatility, moving seamlessly between comedy, tears, and even drunken antics, further establishing herself as a bankable actress.
School 2017 (2017)
School 2017 is the seventh installment in the iconic high school drama series. In her first lead role, Kim Se Jeong played Ra Eun Ho, an optimistic 18-year-old high schooler. Eun Ho is a bright character who, despite her poor grades, dreams of going to college to date her crush. She fills her days sketching comics of her imagined love life, brimming with innocence and a playful spirit. She also faces bullying, has physical scuffles with friends, and ends up in the school’s discipline committee. Eun Ho’s defiance comes across in lines like, “The top students’ futures shouldn’t be all that matters!” and “Honestly, the school has done way worse things than I have!” Kim Se Jeong’s performance earned positive reviews, and she received both the Popularity Award and Best New Actress Award at the KBS Drama Awards that year.
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
