Kim Woojin (Korean: 김우진; born April 8, 1997) is a South Korean singer and actor. He is a former member of the boy group Stray Kids, formed by JYP Entertainment in 2017. After leaving the group in late 2019, Kim debuted as a soloist in 2021 with the release of his first extended play (EP) The Moment: A Minor. Kim has since released two additional EPs. Outside of music, Kim has ventured into acting, most notably with a starring role in HBO Max's Brazilian TV series Além do Guarda-Roupa(English: My Magic Closet). Originally signed to 10x Entertainment for solo activities, Kim has been under contract to Kustomade since the label's acquisition by SM Entertainment in 2024.
In 2017, Kim competed in Mnet's reality survival show Stray Kids to become a member of the record label's forthcoming boy group of the same name.[5] In midst of the competition, the group made the single "Hellevator" available via digital music stores on November 1.[6] The nine-member lineup was confirmed in the final episode of the reality show and Stray Kids released their pre-debut EPMixtape and lead single "Beware" on January 8, 2018.[7][8]
Kim officially debuted with Stray Kids on March 25, 2018 with a debut showcase performance entitled Unveil (Op. 01: I Am Not), at Jangchung Arena.[9][10] On the next day, Stray Kids released an EP titled I Am Not and the lead single "District 9" which they showcased during the debut showcase.[11] In this album, he also participated in the lyrics making of song "Mixtape #1".[a]
On October 28, 2019, Kim left Stray Kids, with JYP Entertainment citing "personal circumstances" as the reason for his departure from the band. At the same time, the JYP announced that their exclusive contract with Kim had been terminated.[13] During his time as a member of Stray Kids, the group released 6 EPs, all of which were certified platinum by the Korea Music Content Association.
2020–2023: Solo releases and acting debut
In January 2020, Kim posted to a newly created Instagram account with the phrase "Kim Woojin restart".[14] He held a fan meeting in May and signed with the newly formed 10x Entertainment in August as the first artist on the label's roster.[15] Ahead of his solo debut, Kim issued the pre-debut digital single "Still Dream" on July 8, 2021.[16] His debut EP, The Moment: A Minor, and its lead single "Ready Now", were released on August 8.[17] The EP peaked at number-seven on the Gaon Album Chart.[18] That November, he provided the song "Because It's You" to the soundtrack of SBS TV drama Let Me Be Your Knight.[19] In December, Kim starred in the web film3.5th Period as the "sweet, handsome guy" Lee Han-ik. In addition to his acting role, Kim also contributed the track "Timeless" to the film's official soundtrack.[20]
After a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim embarked on his first concert tour, the Still Dream World Tour, in 2022. The tour supported The Moment: A Minor,[21] and saw Kim visit nineteen countries and perform 33 shows across Europe, Latin America, North America, and Asia after beginning in July.[22]
News of Kim's acting debut came in April when it was announced that he was cast as the lead role in HBO Max's then-upcoming Brazilian romantic fantasy series Além do Guarda-Roupa(English: My Magic Closet). With this role, he became the first South Korean actor to be cast in an HBO Max series. Kim portrayed Kyung-min, a member of fictional K-pop boy group "ACT", and contributed 3 songs for the soundtrack. The series filmed throughout 2022,[23] and began airing in July 2023.[24] Kim's next soundtrack contribution, a song entitled "In the End", was released in December 2022 as part of the original soundtrack of JTBC drama Reborn Rich.[25] In July 2023, Kim once again contributed to another JTBC drama with song "Dive" for the original soundtrack of King the Land.[26]
The Moment: Bounce, Kim's second EP, was released on August 30, 2023, along with its lead single "On My Way". The EP was described as an extension of his previous EP, The Moment: A Minor, and presented a brighter sound than its predecessor.[27] The EP peaked at number 19 on the Circle Album Chart,[28] and Kim supported it with The Moment Tour, his first tour in India.[29]
Kim made his stage debut in late 2023, starring in the dual-role of twin brothers Adam and Eric Anderson in the musical Sherlock Holmes: The Secret of the Anderson Family.[30] The play ran from September to November 2023.[31]
2024–present: Agency change and continued releases
On March 18, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that they had acquired Kim's agency, 10x Entertainment, and were folding it into their Kreation Music Rights subsidiary under a new name, Kustomade. One week later, the label indicated that Kim would release the agency's first new music in April.[32] Kim's third EP, I Like the Way, was released on April 22, along with the lead single of the same name.[33] The imagery related to the EP was said to symbolize a "fresh start" and be the singer's "declaration to break free from everything that has oppressed him and pave his path".[34] The EP peaked at number-seven on the Circle Album Chart, and was the largest first week sales of Kim's career.[35] To promote the EP, Kim embarked on the I Like the Way Tour in June 2024.[36]
Kim began 2025 with the release of a new single, "5AM", on January 17. The mid-tempo, guitar-driven love song was released as a gift to fans three days prior to his mandatory military service enlistment.[37]
In September 2020, Kim was accused of sexual harassment by unidentified women on the social media platform Twitter.[15] One accuser alleged that, in spite of refusing his approach, Kim had attempted to touch her and her friend.[39] Kim denied the allegations, stating that he "never even met that person" and had "never been to the places that they've mentioned".[39] He filed a suit with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against the individuals for defamation.[40]
The police investigation found the allegations to be completely fabricated, made up by an apparent anti-fan spreading disinformation.[15][41] In addition, the police probe found that both people involved in disseminating the allegations were Brazilian nationals who had never been to South Korea or met Kim.[41] In July 2021, 10x Entertainment published a documentary entitled Finger Killer, which examined the false accusations of sexual harassment made against Kim.[41]
^ abHan, In-ku (October 11, 2017). '스트레이키즈' 김우진 "SM→JYP, 연습생 친구들 NCT로 데뷔". Star Today (in Korean). Maekyung Media Group. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
^"JYP 리얼리티 쇼 'Stray Kids'" [JYP Reality Show 'Stray Kids']. KBS News (in Korean). South Korea. October 17, 2017. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
^Sujin Ji. 스트레이키즈 현진, '귀엽게 뿌~우!' (쇼케이스) [Stray Kids Hyunjin, 'cutely bbu~u!' (Showcase)]. Seoul Daily (in Korean). Seoul. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
^Baek, Jong-mo (January 21, 2020). 스트레이 키즈 출신 김우진, 38주 만에 근황 공개. xportsnews (in Korean). xportsmedia. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
^Yoon, Seong-yeol (June 3, 2022). 김우진, 생애 첫 월드투어..영국·프랑스 등 유럽 5개국 1차 확정 [공식] [Woojin Kim, first world tour in his life..5 European countries including England and France confirmed for the first round [Official]]. Star News Korea (in Korean). Retrieved October 15, 2024.
^Jeong, Bit (August 5, 2024). '솔로 데뷔 3주년' 김우진 "모든 나날 곁에서 응원해 준 팬들 감사"...기념 라이브 방송도 진행 ['Solo Debut 3rd Anniversary' Kim Woo-jin "Thank you to the fans who supported me every day"... Also holding a commemorative live broadcast]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved October 20, 2024.
^Ahn, Byeong-gil (July 7, 2023). 김우진이 부른 '킹더랜드' ["King The Land sung by Kim Woojin"]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved October 20, 2024.
^김우진, HBO Max가 픽한 K팝 인재[TF인터뷰] [Woojin Kim, K-pop talent picked by HBO Max [TF Interview]]. The Fact (in Korean). August 20, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
^ abYoo, Jeong-min (August 16, 2023). 뮤지컬 '셜록홈즈: 앤더슨가의 비밀' 15人 캐릭터 포스터 공개 [15 character posters for 'Sherlock Holmes: The Secret of the Andersons' musical released] (in Korean). MBC Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023 – via Naver.
^Choi, Joo-seong (August 3, 2023). 8년만에 돌아온 뮤지컬 '셜록홈즈'...송용진·김준현·오종혁 출연 [The musical 'Sherlock Holmes' returns after 8 years... Starring Song Yong-jin, Kim Jun-hyun, and Oh Jong-hyuk]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved October 20, 2024.
^Kyung, Ji-min (June 18, 2024). 김우진, 9월 14일 라틴아메리카 투어 돌입..현지 팬덤 열광 [Kim Woo-jin, Latin American tour begins on September 14th.. Local fandom goes wild]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved October 17, 2024.
^Kang, Ga-hee (January 17, 2025). "김우진, 오늘(17일) '5AM' 발매..군 입대 전 깜짝 선물" [Kim Woo-jin, '5AM' released today (17th)... Surprise gift before military enlistment]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2025.
^Kang, Kyeong-yun (February 1, 2021). [단독] '스트레이키즈 前멤버' 김우진, 성추행 루머 유포자 고소. SBS Entertainment News (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
