Singer and actor Kim Se-jeong is back in office rom-com drama series “A Business Proposal” on SBS, which started airing on Feb. 28.

The story has already earned a strong fanbase with the original web novel and webtoon published on Kakao. It centers around a romance between handsome CEO Kang Tae-moo (portrayed by Ahn Hyo-seop in the television series) and his employee Shin Ha-ri (played by Kim).

It all begins when Shin Ha-ri takes her friend's place on a blind date. However, the blind date turns out to be her boss, Kang Tae-moo, who is famous for his handsomeness but has a picky personality. Ha-ri takes on two personas throughout the story — a femme fatale who immediately captures Tae-moo’s interest, and also as an ordinary office worker who cowers in fear in case she meets Tae-moo in the office.

The total number of views for the web novel and webtoon surpassed 450 million worldwide according to data collected by Kakao Entertainment on February 2022.

Kim is a versatile entertainer who is active as a singer, shows off her fun side on variety shows, and is active in musicals and television series as well. She started off as a trainee for her current agency Jellyfish Entertainment in September 2013, beating out some 3,000 other hopefuls. She shot to stardom by appearing as one of the 101 contestants — K-pop trainees from 46 global agencies — who competed against each other in rounds of auditions on the highly-popular Mnet audition show “Produce 101” (2016). The show’s original aim was to have viewers vote and ultimately choose the final 11 contestants who would debut as a project girl group. Kim ranked second overall, being beaten only by Jeon So-mi, and debuted in the K-pop industry as a member of the girl group I.O.I in May 2016.

After wrapping up activities for I.O.I’s debut EP “Chrysalis,” Kim debuted as a member of Gugudan on June 2016 with the debut EP “Act. 1 The Little Mermaid,” the first girl group that her agency ever launched.

She successfully juggled being a member of two girl groups until I.O.I disbanded on Jan. 3, 2017. Her other group Gugudan disbanded on Dec. 31, 2020.

Kim debuted as an actor through KBS teen drama series “School 2017" (2017), taking on the lead role of high school student Ra Eun-ho. The series tackled a variety of social issues centering around high school such as class disparity and discrimination based on the students’ grades. Kim received the Popularity Award and Best Young Actress Award at the annual KBS Drama Awards for her role in the series.

Kim’s breakthrough as an actor came through OCN drama series “The Uncanny Counter” (2020-21) when she portrayed Do Ha-na, an employee at a noodle shop also referred to as a “Counter” — a spirit hunter who searches for and fights evil spirits using their supernatural abilities.

Kim made her musical debut by taking on the lead role in “Red Book” in 2021.

“A Business Proposal” airs 10 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday on SBS. The series is also available on Netflix.




Kim Se-jeong





Date of birth: August 28, 1996
Zodiac sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Gimje, North Jeolla
Debut: May 2016 through girl group I.O.I
Agency: Jellyfish Entertainment

After spending time as a K-pop trainee in her current agency Jellyfish Entertainment since 2013, Kim debuted as a member of hit project girl group I.O.I in 2016 through Mnet’s audition show “Produce 101.” I.O.I is an abbreviation for “Ideal Of Idol.” With her distinct bubbly image and energy, Kim has been active in the entertainment industry as a singer, actor, entertainer and a musical actor. She is currently portraying the role of Shin Ha-ri with Ahn Hyo-seop in SBS drama series “A Business Proposal.”

This information was confirmed by Jellyfish Entertainment on March 7, 2022.




BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]