Kim So-jeong (Korean: 김소정; born December 7, 1995), known professionally asKim So-won (김소원), is a South Korean actress and singer. She is best known as the leader of South Koreangirl groupGFriend.[1][2]
Prior to debut, Kim trained withDSP Media for 4 years.[6] After leaving DSP Media, she joinedSource Music as trainee in 2013, where she trained for 1 year and 6 months before debuting as a member of GFriend.[6]
2015–2020: Debut with GFriend, solo activities and disbandment
On January 15, 2015, Kim debuted as a member and sub-vocal of South Korean girl groupGFriend under the stage name Sowon with the released of EPSeason of Glass.[7]
On July 25, 2018, Kim was cast as the main host for MBC'sLook at Me beauty program, marking her first time hosting a television program.[8] On October 17, Kim made her debut as runway model for D-Antidote at S/S Hera Seoul Fashion Week 2019.[9]
On May 18, 2021, Source Music announced that she and the other members of GFriend decided not to renew their contracts with the agency.[10] The group officially disbanded on May 22.[11]
On August 2, 2021, it was announced that she has signed with IOK Company as an actress under her birth name.[12] On September 30, she made her acting debut in the television filmMy Chilling Roommate alongsideiKon'sJung Chan-woo.[13] On December 1, Kim was cast in the short-form horror film4:44 Seconds.[14] The film is set to release on November 1, 2024.[15]
On November 15, 2022, it was announced that Kim had signed a contract withOui Entertainment, continuing her acting career under stage name "Kim So-won".[16]
On August 8, 2024, Oui Entertainment announced that Kim would be leaving the company after deciding not to renew her exclusive contract.[17]
Sowon has received attention for her beauty and physical fitness.[18][19] On the Korea's Corporation Reputation Research Institution Monthly "Individual Girl Group Members Brand Power Ranking" Sowon placed #2 on the January 2019 search[20] and #36 on the October 2019 search.[21]
^Hosted by the Korea Consumer Brand Committee and the Korea Consumer Forum, the Korea First Brand Awards bases its winners on a nationwide South Korean survey.[31]
^abHwang, Hye-jin (September 30, 2021).여자친구 출신 배우 김소정, 시네라마 '오싹한 동거' 주연 캐스팅(공식) [Actress Kim So-jeong from girlfriend, cast as the lead in Cinemarama 'Chilling Co-Habitation' (official)] (in Korean). Newsen. RetrievedSeptember 30, 2021 – viaNaver.
^Jung, Hee-yeon (December 1, 2021).유지애·김소정→온유·성열 '4분 44초' 캐스팅 [공식] [Yoo Ji-ae, Kim So-jeong → Onew, Seong-yeol's '4:44' Casting [Official]] (in Korean).Sports Donga.Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. RetrievedDecember 1, 2021 – viaNaver.
^샤이니 온유 주연 스낵 호러 '4분 44초', 11월 1일 개봉 [SHINee Onew Starring Snack Horror '4 Minutes 44 Seconds' to be Released on November 1st].YTN (in Korean). Kang Nae-ri. October 14, 2024 – viaNaver.
^Lee, Seung-rok (November 15, 2022).[단독] 여자친구 소원, 활동명 '김소원' 배우 새출발...위아이와 한식구 됐다 (종합) [[Exclusive] GFRIEND's Sowon, a new start as an actress under the stage name 'Kim Sowon'... Became a Korean family with Wei (Comprehensive)] (in Korean).My Daily [ko]. RetrievedNovember 15, 2022 – viaNaver.
^"서로 의견 존중" 여자친구 김소원, 위엔터테인먼트와 이별...전속 계약 종료 (전문) ["Respect each other's opinions" Girlfriend Kim So-won, breaks up with We Entertainment... Exclusive contract ends (Full text)].Top Star News (in Korean). Oh Se-rin. August 8, 2024.
^Park, Dong-je (January 19, 2019).블랙핑크 제니, 1월 걸그룹 개인 브랜드평판 1위..여자친구 소원·신비 상위권 [BLACKPINK Jennie, January Girl Group Individual Brand Reputation Ranking 1st..GFriend Sowon & Mystery Top Rank].Break News Korea (in Korean). RetrievedApril 11, 2023.
^함연지부터 이진기·임나영·권현빈까지...'4분 44초' 실종자 포스터 공개 [From Ham Yeon-ji to Lee Jin-ki, Im Na-young, and Kwon Hyun-bin... '4 Minutes 44 Seconds' Missing Person Posters Revealed].Aju Economy (in Korean). Choi Song-hee. October 23, 2024.
^Jeong, Seo-young (December 10, 2024).'수상한 그녀' 진영의 패밀리 군단, 차화연-이화겸-이달-김소원-오지연! 유니스 엔터테인먼트 식구로 뭉친다! ['Suspicious Partner' Jinyoung's family corps, Cha Hwa-yeon, Lee Hwa-gyeom, Lee Dal, Kim So-won, Oh Ji-yeon! Unite as a Eunice Entertainment family!].Vision 21 (in Korean).
^[단독] 여자친구 출신 김소원, '더 체인' 출연...박기웅-유인영과 호흡 [[Exclusive] Kim So-won from GFriend appears in 'The Chain'...Working with Park Ki-woong and Yoo In-young].Hanryu Times (in Korean). Kwon Gu-hyeon. August 22, 2023.
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