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https://scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3088551/itaewon-class-extracurricular-5-things-know-about-kim Celebrities
Itaewon Class to Extracurricular: 5 things to know about Kim Dong-hee, the 21-year-old student primed for Korean drama superstardom
Also known for his roles in hit K-dramas Sky Castle and A-Teen, could this promising young Korean actor – who won Rising Star award for his versatility on-screen – be destined for greatness?
Korean actor Kim Dong-hee, known for his roles in Itaewon Class and Extracurricular, has transitioned from rookie actor to rising star. Photo: @kim_d.he/Instagram
Entering his prime as he celebrates his 21st birthday on June 13, Kim Dong-hee is widely known for his roles in Itaewon Class and Extracurricular, but what else is there to know about the promising actor?
Kim Dong-hee turned heads for his stellar performance in the web series A-Teen and in the hit K-drama Sky Castle .
These stints landed him bigger roles. This year, he acted in Itaewon Class as Jang Geun-soo, the good-guy-turned-villain who inherits his father’s company, Jangga, and uses it to take down Park Saeroyi (played by Park Seo-joon). As one of the main leads in Extracurricular, he played a model student who lives a double life.
Here are five things you should know about Kim Dong-hee which spell out why he’s primed for success.
He wanted to become a musical actor
In an interview with The Swoon, Kim Dong-hee first joked that he wanted to become a rapper. He then revealed that he majored in musical theatre in high school. He took lessons for three years. “I spent a lot of money on that. But I ended up having a job that has nothing to do with musical theatre, and my mum said I wasted all of that money.” He added he also plans to do a musical in the future.
He’s still a student
Despite a busy schedule due to his acting commitments, Kim Dong-hee values education. He is currently taking up acting arts at Seongnam’s Gachon University to hone and refine his craft.
Fans thought he was dating Sky Castle co-actor Jo Byung-gyu
There were rumours swirling that Kim Dong-hee and his co-actor Jo Byung-gyu were in love. In an episode of South Korean talk show Happy Together, Jo Byung-gyu clarified their relationship. “We’re brothers. But since we care a lot for each other, many speculated we were in love.” Kim Dong-hee responded, “He was like this though. On set, he’d come and cling to me.”
He doesn’t mind being typecast
Kim has appeared as a student in all his main acting credits to date, but isn’t fazed about being pigeonholed into one role. “I don't mind playing the role of a student,” he told The Korea Times. “In the future, I want to become an actor who can fit into any role and have a positive influence on the public.”
He’s won a big award – already
Kim made his debut in A-Teen, which was a commercial success, attracting million views for each episode. He bagged a role in Sky Castle, which was the most successful drama last year. He won rising star at the Brand of the Year ceremony in 2019 in recognition of his versatility on-screen.