Kim So-won

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Kim So-jeong (Korean: 김소정; born December 7, 1995), known professionally as Kim So-won (김소원), is a South Korean actress and singer. She is best known as the leader of South Korean girl group GFriend.^[1][2]

Kim So-won
Kim in December 2019
Born	Kim So-jeong (1995-12-07) December 7, 1995 (age 29) Seoul, South Korea
Education	Sungshin Women's University – Department of Media and Film Acting
Occupations	Actress singer
Years active	2015–present
Musical career
Also known as	Sowon
Genres	K-pop
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2015–2021 2024–present
Labels	Source
Member of	GFriend
Korean name
Hangul	김소정
RR	Gim Sojeong
MR	Kim Sojŏng
Stage name
Hangul	김소원
RR	Gim Sowon
MR	Kim Sowŏn
Signature

Early life and education

Kim was born on December 7, 1995,^[3] in Gupabal-dong, Eunpyeong District, Seoul, South Korea.^[4] She graduated from Hanlim Multi Arts High School in 2014, majored in modeling.^[3] She got accepted into the Department of Media and Film Acting at Sungshin Women's University in 2016.^[5]

Career

2010–2014: Pre-debut

Prior to debut, Kim trained with DSP Media for 4 years.^[6] After leaving DSP Media, she joined Source 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

See also: GFriend

On January 15, 2015, Kim debuted as a member and sub-vocal of South Korean girl group GFriend under the stage name Sowon with the released of EP Season of Glass.^[7]

On July 25, 2018, Kim was cast as the main host for MBC's Look 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]

2021–present: Acting career

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 film My Chilling Roommate alongside iKon's Jung Chan-woo.^[13] On December 1, Kim was cast in the short-form horror film 4:44 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 with Oui 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]

Public image

Sowon has received attention for her beauty and physical fitness.^{[18][19][unreliable source?]} 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]

Discography

For Kim's discography with GFriend, see GFriend discography.

Composition credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.^[22]

List of songs, showing year released, artist name, and name of the album

Title	Year	Artist	Album	Composer	Lyricist
"Hope"	2019	GFriend	Fever Season
"Better Me"	2020		回:Walpurgis Night

Filmography

For Kim's filmography with GFriend, see GFriend filmography.

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2024	Astro Boy	Cora	Voice-over for the Korean-dubbed version	[23]
	4:44 Seconds	Choi Hee-young		[24]

Television series

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2022	My Chilling Roommate	Jung Se-ri	Television film	[13]
2024–2025	Who Is She	Seo Chan-mi		[25]
TBA	The Chain	TBA		[26]

Television shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2012	DSP BOYZ – Making the Star	Contestant	With A-Jax	[27]
2018	Look at Me	Host		[8]
2019	Trend by Me	Cast member		[28]

Music videos appearances

Year	Title	Artist	Ref.
2011	"To Me" (내게로..)	Rainbow	[29]
2022	"Endless Night" (긴밤)	Kim Min-jong	[30]

Awards and nominations

For Kim's accolades with GFriend, see List of awards and nominations received by GFriend.

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee(s) / Work(s)	Result	Ref.
Korea First Brand Awards[a]	2018	Beauty Icon	Sowon	Won	[32]

Notes

1. 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]