Actress Kim Go-eun made her debut with the movie “Eungyo” in 2012. As she marks her 12th year since debut, she is receiving much praise for her enhanced acting skills
In the recently released occult film “Exhuma” directed by Jang Jae-hyun, Kim Go-eun captivated viewers with a powerful performance as the shaman Hwa-rim. Despite being among prominent male actors like Choi Min-sik, Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Do-hyun, Kim Go-eun stood out with her distinctive presence, leading the success of “Exhuma”. Let’s take a look at Kim Go-eun’s diverse roles throughout her career.
■ Movie “Eungyo” (2012)
Kim Go-eun debuted through the film adaptation of the novel “Eungyo” by author Park Bum-shin. In “Eungyo”, she portrayed the seventeen-year-old girl Eungyo, who admires the poet’s world. Kim Go-eun gained significant attention for her bold skin-revealing performance. Kim Go-eun, who was only 20 years old during the filming period at the time, stated, “It was burdensome, but I decided to film the scenes because nudity played a crucial role in the story.” She won both the Blue Dragon Film Awards for Best New Actress and the Grand Bell Awards for Best New Actress for her role in “Eungyo”.
■ Movie “Coin Locker Girl” (2015)
After “Eungyo”, Kim Go-eun appeared in films like “Monster” and “The Advocate: A Missing Body”. She then portrayed the abandoned child Il-young in director Han Jun-hee’s film “Coin Locker Girl”. She collaborated with senior actress Kim Hye-soo in “Coin Locker Girl”, showcasing a short haircut reminiscent of a male high school student and engaging in acting showdowns with Kim Hye-soo. The film was praised as it was completed as a female-centered action film through the acting skills of Kim Hye-soo and Kim Go-eun. According to industry insiders, Kim Go-eun received numerous offers from directors after her appearance in “Coin Locker Girl”.
■ Drama “Cheese in the Trap” (2016)
Based on the webtoon of the same name by Soonkki, “Cheese in the Trap” focuses on the life and relationships of a group of university students, particularly the difficult relationship between hard-working scholarship student Hong Seol and deceptive senior Yoo Jung. In “Cheese in the Trap”, Kim Go-eun played Hong Seol, a college student who works various part-time jobs to pay her tuition and stays up all night studying for better grades. Despite controversies over miscasting, Kim Go-eun silenced the critics with her immersive portrayal of the character.
■ Drama “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” (2017)
Kim Go-eun starred alongside actor Gong Yoo in the fantasy romance drama “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” written by Kim Eun-sook. “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” tells the story of a goblin in need of a human bride to end his immortality, a grim reaper suffering from amnesia who starts living together with him, and an optimistic and bubbly 19-year-old high school student who is the legendary Goblin’s bride. In the drama, Kim Go-eun portrayed Ji Eun-tak, a girl with spiritual abilities who can see the souls of the deceased. Kim Go-eun’s interpretation of the seemingly ordinary and dull high school girl character in “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” created the “Goblin Syndrome” among viewers.
