Jung So-min Biography: Parents, Siblings, Partner, Instagram, Age, Net Worth, Movies, TV Shows

Kim Yoon-ji, professionally known as Jung So-min, is a prominent South Korean actress recognized for her roles in both television and film.

She began her acting career with a supporting role in the 2010 TV series Bad Guy and quickly rose to fame with her first leading role in the same year’s Playful Kiss, a Korean adaptation of the manga Itazura na Kiss.

Although the series received modest ratings domestically, it gained significant popularity abroad, which helped propel her career.

Jung So-min has since starred in several well-regarded TV dramas, including My Father Is Strange (2017), Because This Is My First Life (2017), The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018), Alchemy of Souls (2022), and Love Next Door (2024), alongside her appearance in the 2023 film Love Reset.

Profile

• Full Name: Kim Yoon-ji
• Stage Name: Jung So Min
• Born: 16 March 1989
• Age: 36 years old
• Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Occupation: South Korean actress
• Height: 1.63 m
• Parent: Jung Gi-sub and Lee Myung-hee
• Siblings: Jung Joon-ho
• Partners: Lee Jun (d. 2017–2022), Lee Jae-wook (rumors)
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Not Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life And Education

Kim Yoon-ji, born on March 16, 1989, in Seoul, South Korea, she is the daughter of Jung Gi-sub, a retired Korean literature teacher, and Lee Myung-hee, a retired English teacher.

She has an older brother, Jung Joon-ho, who is a singer-songwriter and actor. Kim Yoon-ji pursued her studies in acting at the Korea National University of Arts.

She is of Korean ethnicity, and her religious affiliation is not publicly known.

Career

Jung So-min began her entertainment career with modeling, music video appearances, and advertisements before transitioning into acting. She made her acting debut in the 2009 short film Worst Friends, which also featured Kim Soo-hyun.

Her first notable television role came in 2010 with the SBS melodrama Bad Guy, where her supporting performance garnered critical attention, setting the stage for her rise in the industry.

Later that year, she starred in her first leading role in the romantic comedy series Playful Kiss, a Korean adaptation of the manga Itazura na Kiss. Although the series faced low domestic ratings, it gained substantial popularity overseas, especially in Asia, boosting Jung’s career. Her performance earned her a nomination for Best New Actress at the 2010 MBC Drama Awards.

After a brief hiatus in 2011 to focus on her studies at the Korea National University of Arts, Jung returned to television in 2012 with the sitcom Standby. She also showcased her range in the cable series Can We Get Married?, playing a more mature role.

Jung continued to diversify her career with roles in projects such as the 2013 single-episode anthology Drama Special: Came to Me and Became a Star. In 2014, she played a self-centered heiress in the drama Big Man and appeared in Miss Korea.

Her film career expanded in 2015 with roles in the coming-of-age movie Twenty and the horror-romance film Alice: Boy from Wonderland, along with the disaster-medical drama D-Day, further solidifying her status as a leading actress in both television and film.

Jung’s popularity continued to soar, especially with her role in the 2016 sitcom The Sound of Your Heart, which became a massive hit in China, attracting over 100 million online views. She also starred in the drama special Red Teacher during this period.

In 2017, she earned an Excellence Award nomination at the KBS Drama Awards for her role in My Father Is Strange and appeared in the film Daddy You, Daughter Me and the romantic series Because This Is My First Life, where she also contributed a single to the soundtrack.

Jung’s career flourished in the following years with roles in the action thriller Golden Slumber (2018), the mystery romance The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018), and the mental health drama Soul Repairer (2020), for which she earned another Excellence Award nomination.

More recently, Jung starred in the fantasy period drama Alchemy of Souls (2022), the romantic comedy film Love Reset (2023), and the series Love Next Door (2024), further cementing her position as one of South Korea’s most versatile and sought-after actresses.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @somin_jj

Personal Life

Jung So-min’s most recent confirmed relationship was with actor Lee Jun, whom she dated from late 2017 until their breakup in June 2020, attributed to conflicting schedules and career commitments.

She has also been the subject of rumors linking her to several co-stars, including Lee Jae-wook, her Alchemy of Souls co-star, and actor Jung Hae-in, her co-star in Love Next Door, due to their on-screen chemistry and public appearances together.

However, as of now, there is no confirmed information regarding Jung So-min having a current boyfriend or spouse.

Filmography

Films:

• Worst Friends (2009, Short film)
• Twenty (2015)
• Alice: Boy from Wonderland (2015)
• Daddy You, Daughter Me (2017)
• Golden Slumber (2018, cameo)
• Homme Fatale (2019)
• Project Wolf Hunting (2022)
• Love Reset (2023)

Television Series:

• Bad Guy (2010)
• Playful Kiss (2010)
• Standby (2012)
• Can We Get Married? (2012–2013)
• Came to Me and Became a Star (2013, Drama special)
• Big Man (2014)
• D-Day (2015)
• The Red Teacher (2016, Drama special)
• The Sound of Your Heart (2016)
• My Father Is Strange (2017)
• Because This Is My First Life (2017)
• What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018, cameo)
• Soul Mechanic (2020)
• My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021, cameo)
• Monthly Magazine Home (2021)
• Alchemy of Souls (2022)
• Love Next Door (2024)
• Would You Marry Me

Net Worth

Jung So-min’s estimated net worth is approximately $5 million, with her primary source of income stemming from her successful acting career in numerous K-dramas and films.

In addition to acting, she also generates income through brand endorsements, modeling, social media promotions, and musical performances, further contributing to her financial success.