# Shin Se-kyung

Shin Se-kyung (Korean: 신세경; born July 29, 1990) is a South Korean actress. She started as a child actress and had her breakthrough in with the sitcom High Kick Through the Roof (2009). Since then she starred in the films Hindsight (2011), R2B: Return to Base (2012) and Tazza: The Hidden Card (2014), as well as the television series Deep Rooted Tree (2011), A Girl Who Sees Smells (2015), Six Flying Dragons (2015–2016), The Bride of Habaek (2017), Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me (2017–2018), Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (2019), Run On (2020) and Captivating the King (2024).
Forbes listed her among the 40 most powerful celebrities in Korea; she ranked 26th in 2011 and 14th in 2012.

## Early life and education

Shin was born on July 29, 1990, in Yangcheon, Seoul, South Korea. She studied at Shinmok High School before enrolling at Chung-Ang University, where she majored in Performing arts.

## Career
### 1998–2009: Beginnings as a child actress

Shin made her entertainment debut at eight years old in 1998 when she was featured on the cover and poster for Seo Taiji's solo album Take Five. As a child actress, Shin was already known to Koreans for her appearance in the popular children's show Popopo, which also starred Big Bang's G-Dragon. She spent her childhood hosting children shows.
After a small part in My Little Bride, she subsequently had starring roles in Cinderella, omnibus films Acoustic and Five Senses of Eros, as well as a well-received turn as the younger version of Princess Cheonmyeong in Queen Seondeok.

### 2009–2014: Rise in popularity and transitioning roles

Shin failed to gain a large following until her breakthrough role as a housemaid on the popular TV sitcom High Kick Through the Roof in 2009. Building on her sitcom fame, Shin signed on to numerous television commercials and print advertisement and became one of the most sought celebrity endorser.
Lead roles in high-profile acting projects followed, among them film noir Hindsight with Song Kang-ho, the highly rated historical drama Deep Rooted Tree with Jang Hyuk and Han Suk-kyu, and aerial action film R2B: Return to Base with Rain.
However, Shin's next project Fashion King (2012) was poorly received by audiences, particularly its controversial ending. Shin then released her first digital single, "You Were Sweet," which she recorded to promote a coffee franchise she models for. A former singer trainee in middle school, Shin has also contributed songs to the soundtrack of Hindsight, the charity album Love Tree Project, and did her own singing in showcase piece Acoustic. In 2012, she recorded a Christmas carol duet with Epitone Project.
Shin returned to television in the 2013 melodrama When a Man Falls in Love opposite Song Seung-heon, but received criticism from viewers for her passive character. In 2014, she played a more "bold and confident" role in the gambling film Tazza: The Hidden Card, followed by the fantasy-action series Blade Man.

### 2015–present: Resurgence and comeback

In a break from her usual dramatic roles, Shin played an aspiring comedian in the webtoon adaptation A Girl Who Sees Smells in 2015 as the titular character. Shin then reunited with Fashion King costar Yoo Ah-in in Six Flying Dragons (2015–2016), another period drama from the screenwriters of Deep Rooted Tree.
In 2017, Shin starred in tvN's fantasy-romance drama The Bride of Habaek alongside Nam Joo-hyuk. This is followed shortly by another fantasy-romance drama, Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me alongside Kim Rae-won.
In 2019, Shin starred in the historical drama Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung, alongside Cha Eun-woo. She played the role of a noble lady who becomes one of the four female historians of the royal court, and won the Top Excellence Award for an Actress and Best Couple Award with Cha Eun-woo at the MBC Drama Awards.
In 2020–2021, Shin starred in JTBC's romance drama Run On, alongside Im Si-Wan. On July 5, 2021, it was announced Shin has signed an exclusive contract with EDAM Entertainment (a subsidiary of Kakao Entertainment) after her contract with Namoo Actors expired.
On July 3, 2024, it was announced that Shin has departed from EDAM Entertainment after her contract expiry. On July 8, 2024, Shin signed an exclusive contract with The Present Company.

## Other activities
### Ambassadorship

On January 15, 2014, Shin was appointed as the goodwill ambassador for UNESCO's Korean Committee. The honor serves as recognition for her contributions in promoting Korean culture and Education and her advocacy for the Korean language, including her appearance in Deep Rooted Tree. In this capacity, she endorses the vision and the mission of the UNESCO bridge program, both in Korea and outside. Shin was appointed as the Korean hanbok ambassador. She attended the hanbok runway show on October 20, 2017.

### Philanthropy

On December 20, 2022, Shin made a donation from YouTube profits to support sanitary napkins for teenage girls in Korea through the G Foundation.

## Personal life

Shin dated Shinee member Kim Jong-hyun in October 2010 until their split in June 2011.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | My Little Bride | Hye-won | |
| 2006 | Cinderella | Hyeon-su | |
| 2009 | Five Senses of Eros | Shin Su-jeong | segment "Believe in the Moment" |
| 2010 | Acoustic | Se-kyung | segment "Broccoli" |
| 2011 | Hindsight | Jo Se-bin | |
| 2012 | R2B: Return to Base | Yoo Se-young | |
| 2014 | Tazza: The Hidden Card | Heo Mi-na | |
| 2017 | The Preparation | Kyeong-ran | Special appearance |
| 2021 | Another Record | herself | Documentary film Showbox KT Season |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Toji, the Land | teenage Choi Seo-hee | |
| 2009 | Queen Seondeok | teenage Princess Cheonmyeong | |
| 2009 | High Kick Through the Roof | Shin Se-kyung | |
| 2011 | Deep Rooted Tree | So-yi / Dam | |
| 2012 | High Kick: Revenge of the Short Legged | Se-kyung | Episode 75 (cameo) |
| 2012 | Fashion King | Lee Ga-young | |
| 2012 | My Husband Got a Family | Shin Se-kyung | Episode 49 (cameo) |
| 2013 | When a Man Falls in Love | Seo Mi-do | |
| 2014 | Blade Man | Son Se-dong | |
| 2015 | A Girl Who Sees Smells | Oh Cho-rim / Choi Eun-seol | |
| 2015 | Six Flying Dragons | Boon-yi | |
| 2017 | The Bride of Habaek | Yoon So-ah | |
| 2017 | Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me | Jung Hae-ra | |
| 2019 | Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung | Goo Hae-ryung | |
| 2020–2021 | Run On | Oh Mi-joo | |
| 2023 | Arthdal Chronicles | Tanya | Season 2 |
| 2024 | Captivating the King | Kang Hee-soo / Kang Mong-woo | |

### Television shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | I'm Real: Shin Se-kyung | Herself | Documentary |
| 2012 | Forever 22-year-old Cheerleader Sanoam | Narrator | Narration |
| 2018 | Pocha Beyond Borders | Cast member | |

### Music video appearances

| Year | Song title | Artist |
| 1999 | "MCMXCIX" | 1999 Dae Han Min Guk |
| 2010 | "Don't Say Anything" | BlueBrand |
| 2017 | "Take Five" | Younha |
| 2022 | "One More Time" | Paul Kim |

## Discography

| Title | Year | Album |
| As lead artist |||
| "The Snow Melts" (눈이 녹아요) | 2010 | Love Tree Project |
| "You Were Sweet" (넌 달콤했어) (featuring Sweden Laundry) | 2012 | Non-album single |
| Collaboration |||
| "Sweet Christmas" (달콤한 크리스마스) (with Epitone Project) | 2012 | Non-album single |
| Soundtrack appearances |||
| "Confessions Of Dangerous Broccoli" (브로콜리의 위험한 고백) | 2010 | Acoustic OST |
| "Summer Blues" (여름날의 블루) (with MY-Q) | 2011 | Hindsight OST |

## Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result |
| APAN Star Awards | 2015 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | A Girl Who Sees Smells | Nominated |
| APAN Star Awards | 2016 | Top Excellence in a Serial Drama | Six Flying Dragons | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2010 | Best New Actress – Television | High Kick Through the Roof | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2011 | Best New Actress | Hindsight | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2014 | Popular Star Award | Tazza: The Hidden Card | Won |
| Brand of the Year Awards | 2019 | Celebrity YouTuber | Shin Se-kyung | Won |
| Grand Bell Awards | 2011 | Best New Actress | Hindsight | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2014 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Blade Man | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2014 | Netizen Award, Actress | Blade Man | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2014 | Best Couple Award | Shin Se-kyung (with Lee Dong-wook) Blade Man | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2018 | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2018 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama | Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2018 | Netizen Award, Actress | Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2018 | Best Couple Award | Shin Se-kyung (with Kim Rae-won) Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me | Nominated |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2012 | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Fashion King | Nominated |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2018 | Excellence Award, Actress | Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me | Nominated |
| Korea Visual Arts Festival | 2011 | Photogenic Award, TV category | Deep Rooted Tree | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2013 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | When a Man Falls in Love | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2013 | Popularity Award, Actress | When a Man Falls in Love | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2013 | Best Couple Award | Shin Se-kyung (with Song Seung-heon) When a Man Falls in Love | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2019 | Best Couple Award | Shin Se-kyung (with Cha Eun-woo) Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2019 | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama | Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2019 | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung | Nominated |
| MBC Entertainment Awards | 2009 | Best New Actress | High Kick Through the Roof | Won |
| MBC Entertainment Awards | 2009 | Best Couple Award in a Comedy/Sitcom | Shin Se-kyung (with Yoon Shi-yoon) High Kick Through the Roof | Won |
| Mnet 20's Choice Awards | 2010 | 20's Most Influential Star | Shin Se-kyung | Won |
| Mnet 20's Choice Awards | 2012 | 20's Female Drama Star | Deep Rooted Tree | Nominated |
| Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival | 2011 | Fantasia Award | High Kick Through the Roof | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2011 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special | Deep Rooted Tree | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Fashion King | Nominated |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Netizen Popularity Award | Fashion King | Nominated |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Best Couple Award | Shin Se-kyung (with Yoo Ah-in) Fashion King | Nominated |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2015 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama | Six Flying Dragons | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2015 | Best Couple Award | Shin Se-kyung (with Yoo Ah-in) Six Flying Dragons | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2015 | Top 10 Stars | A Girl Who Sees Smells, Six Flying Dragons | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2015 | Best Couple Award | Shin Se-kyung (with Park Yoo-chun) A Girl Who Sees Smells | Nominated |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2012 | Outstanding Korean Actress | Deep Rooted Tree | Nominated |
| Soompi Awards | 2018 | Best Kiss Award | Shin Se-kyung (with Nam Joo-hyuk) The Bride of Habaek | Nominated |
| Soompi Awards | 2018 | Best Couple Award | Shin Se-kyung (with Nam Joo-hyuk) The Bride of Habaek | Nominated |
| Style Icon Awards | 2011 | New Icon Award | Shin Se-kyung | Won |

### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| Forbes | 2011 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 26th | |
| Forbes | 2012 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 14th | |