Public interest is heating up around actor Kim Seoyeon, the partner of Michelin 1-star chef Kim Doyun, who rose to stardom through the Netflix variety show Culinary Class Wars (hereinafter Culinary Class Wars). After the on-air revelation of their four-year romance, renewed attention has focused on the fact that the two have been running a restaurant bearing the partner's name together and on Kim Seoyeon's past dramatic acting transformations.
Recently, through episode 1 of the production company StudioSlam's official YouTube channel Sa-eolbbak, the two's joint appearance and love story were revealed. On the show, Kim Seoyeon voiced her frustrations about a boyfriend who had hidden her online for four years, and the unveiled Kim Doyun confessed his true feelings, saying, "I wanted to protect her because I was afraid the negative issues would cause harm."
The two, who first met after a theater afterparty when chef Kim Doyun sent a direct message saying "let's go eat samgyeopsal," became lovers. They thoroughly hid their relationship online by not following each other, but offline they already showed exceptional affection. In fact, chef Kim Doyun has been running a restaurant named after his partner together with her.
Last year chef Kim Doyun opened a Korean noodle brand called "Seoyon" at Shinsegae Department Store's Gangnam branch. Kim Seoyeon has actively participated in running the restaurant, and restaurant-related social media posts included Kim Seoyeon's account along with the explanation, "This lovely person whose name is Seoyon is currently co-CEO," revealing that she is effectively serving as co-CEO. Although they did not explicitly reveal their romance on social media, putting the partner's name on the restaurant sign has been a way of expressing their deep affection.
Moreover, Kim Seoyeon played a decisive role in chef Kim Doyun's television appearance. She strongly urged the hesitant Kim Doyun, saying, "If you won't go on, let's break up," and in fact chef Kim Doyun said in a 2024 interview with Michelin, "My girlfriend encouraged me to go on." As a result, thanks to Kim Seoyeon's discernment and strong urging, chef Kim Doyun built public recognition and had his skills acknowledged through Culinary Class Wars.
At the same time, actor Kim Seoyeon's solid filmography and daring acting transformations are receiving renewed attention. Kim Seoyeon, who debuted in the 1999 film "Whispering Corridors 2: Memento Mori," has appeared in works such as the drama "Taejong Yi Bangwon" as Queen Jeongan, "Juvenile Justice," and the films "The King" and "The Merciless."
In particular, her surprise appearance in episode 47 of the KBS 2TV weekend drama Live Your Own Life, broadcast in March 2024, in the role of Mihee is being recalled. At the time, to heighten the drama's immersion, Kim Seoyeon perfectly pulled off "old-person makeup" that was completely opposite to her actual beautiful appearance. Not only the shocking makeup but also the veteran-level voice and meticulous facial expressions matched the role, enriching the drama and leaving viewers with a strong impression.
[photo] video capture
[OSEN]