Kim Seon-ho has established himself as a versatile actor in the Korean entertainment industry since his screen debut in 2017. His career trajectory shows remarkable growth, culminating in his recent special appearance in the Netflix original series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' (Korean title: 폭싹 속았수다).
Career Milestones with Numerical Data
Kim Seon-ho began his acting journey on stage before transitioning to television in 2017. Born on May 8, 1986, the 38-year-old actor has been active in the industry for approximately 16 years (since 2009). His breakthrough came with the following key works:
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Good Manager (2017) - His screen debut in a supporting role
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Two Cops (2017) - Won 2 awards at the 2017 MBC Drama Awards
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100 Days My Prince (2018) - One of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history
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Start-Up (2020) - Experienced a surge in popularity, topped monthly brand reputation rankings
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Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) - Achieved 12.7% peak viewership, led to him being named Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year
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The Childe (2023) - His film debut in the title role
'When Life Gives You Tangerines': A New Chapter
Released on March 7, 2025, 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' represents a significant addition to Kim Seon-ho's filmography. In this Netflix original series, he makes a special appearance as Park Chung-seop, a painter nicknamed "the Picasso of the Kanne Theater basement."
Release Schedule and Format
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Total episodes: 16
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Release pattern: 4 episodes weekly over 4 weeks
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Final episodes (9-12): Released on March 21, 2025
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Broadcast period: March 7 - March 28, 2025
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This marks Netflix's first Korean original series to be released in weekly installments rather than all at once
Production Details
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Production companies: Fan Entertainment, Baram Pictures
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Director: Kim Won-seok
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Screenplay: Im Sang-chun
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Main cast: Lee Ji-eun (IU) and Park Bo-gum, with Kim Seon-ho in a special role
Evolution of Kim Seon-ho's Acting Through His Roles
Kim Seon-ho's acting journey shows clear progression:
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Early Career (2017-2018): Started with supporting roles, showing promise in comedic performances
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Rising Phase (2019-2020): Secured his first leading role in "Catch the Ghost" and gained international recognition with "Start-Up"
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Breakthrough (2021): Cemented his status as a leading actor with "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha"
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Diversification (2023-2025): Expanded to film with "The Childe" and took on special roles like in "When Life Gives You Tangerines"
Character Analysis in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'
In this series, Kim Seon-ho portrays Park Chung-seop, an art school graduate working as a theater sign painter. Despite his limited screen time as a special appearance, his character adds significant depth to the narrative. Park Chung-seop represents one of the potential husband candidates for the character Geum-myeong (played by IU).
The series, set in 1950s Jeju Island, follows the adventurous life story of a rebellious character named Ae-soon (IU) and her relationship with Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum). Kim Seon-ho's character introduces an artistic element to this period drama, showcasing his ability to adapt to different time periods and character types.
His performance in this special role demonstrates his growth as an actor, particularly in his ability to make a strong impact with limited screen time - a skill he has refined since his breakthrough second lead role in "Start-Up."
