Actor You Need to Know: Shin Sae-kyung

In 1998, as a child artist on the cover and poster for Seo Taiji’s solo album Take Five, Shin Sae-kyung headlined her debut in Korean showbiz. Her strong sense of self, enough to uphold her self-image, provided her with a distinct identity as a person and, most importantly, as a performer. Even as young as she was, it was an attribute that helped her grab attention quickly. She enjoyed a tryst with the camera, and Korea embraced her while she was presenting an assortment of kids’ shows, stunning the viewers along the way with her endearing charm.

One such show at the time, Ppo Ppo Ppo, which also starred G-Dragon of Big Bang, proved a huge hit partly because of her participation. Anecdotally, it was noted that Shin was a talented artist who, despite being a child, was successfully making a name for herself solely using her artistic abilities. However, the shift from being regarded as a child actor to being regarded as a professional actor can be challenging, and hence only a few individuals succeed in making the move. Shin, fortunately, did so with ease.

Following a supporting role in the romantic comedy film My Little Bride (2004), she starred in the supernatural horror movie Cinderella (2006), the omnibus films Five Senses of Eros (2009) and Acoustic (2010). Meanwhile, her portrayal as the younger Princess Cheonmyeong in the period drama Queen Seondeok (2009) received rave reviews.

Shin gave a standout performance in the second season of the renowned TV sitcom High Kick! (2009), revealing how talented she could be. After a crazy incident involving her father’s debt to some loan sharks, her character in the story seeks work as a live-in maid—her portrayal of a conscientious and thrifty person was highly appreciated.

High Kick! shot her to fame, earning her multiple endorsement deals in broadcast and print media as a celebrity model, alongside lead parts in the noir film Hindsight (2011), the popular historical drama Deep Rooted Tree (2011), and the aerial action movie R2B: Return to Base (2012), sharing screen time with notable actors in the Korean entertainment industry.

Shin Sae-kyung returned to television in 2013’s melodrama When a Man Falls in Love, as a diligent young woman; she played a tough and confident character in the gambling drama Tazza: The Hidden Card; and had a sensitive role in the fantasy-action-comedy drama Blade Man in 2014.

Shin has consistently proven her range with challenging roles, bringing complex characters to life. As the titular character in the 2015 webtoon version of The Girl Who Sees Smells, she revealed her creative potential by depicting an aspiring comedian, followed by her popular portrayals in hit titles including the period drama Six Flying Dragons (2015–2016), fantasy romances like The Bride of Habaek (2017) and Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me (2017–2018), the historical-romance series Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019), and the romance-life-sports series Run On (2020–2021). And so, the journey continues, a testament to the artist’s talent and fearless approach to acting.