The Korean screen is currently witnessing fierce competition among many popular dramas. Notably, there’s a showdown between two former child stars: Kim Yoo Jung in “100 Days of Deception” and Kim So Hyun in “Between Steps.” The return of these two beauties also reminds viewers of the trio of child stars named Kim who were once highly sought after. However, after many years, each of them has gone their separate ways.

Kim Sae Ron: From promising child star to a life full of ups and downs.

Kim Sae Ron was once considered one of the most talented child stars in Korean cinema. “A Brand New Life” and “The Man from Nowhere” brought her closer to the public and solidified her abilities. At just 10 years old, she demonstrated a natural ability to embody characters, especially those with challenging destinies.

Before reaching adulthood, Kim Sae Ron won the Best New Actress award at the Blue Dragon Awards for “A Girl at My Door,” solidifying her reputation as a promising young actress. Later, she transitioned to television, taking on the lead role in “Mirror Of The Witch” and receiving critical acclaim.

However, a drunk driving incident in 2022 led to a wave of criticism for Kim Sae Ron, disrupting her artistic activities and further limiting her chances of returning to the screen. In 2025, Kim Sae Ron’s sudden death at the age of 24 brought stories surrounding her life back into the media spotlight.

Particularly when Kim Se Ui, head of the Garo Sero Institute, along with the actress’s family, publicly accused Kim Soo Hyun of having a romantic relationship with her when she was underage. Kim Soo Hyun denied the accusation, but his career and reputation were severely affected, making the incident one of the most talked-about scandals of that year.

Kim Yoo Jung: Striving to break free from the shadow of child star

Kim Yoo Jung started her career earlier than the other two, and was remembered by audiences for her bright appearance and ability to express emotions. However, becoming famous so early also presented a challenge: how to make the public see her as a mature actress, instead of forever as a child star.

In 2016, *Moonlight Drawn by Clouds* marked a significant turning point for Kim Yoo Jung. The drama’s success gave her more opportunities to showcase herself, but building a new image still required time. In the following years, she continued to participate in *Saet Byul’s Convenience Store* and *My Devil Man*, trying out various types of roles, but without achieving a clear breakthrough.

It wasn’t until 2025 that her edgy role in Dear X helped change how audiences perceived her, transforming her from a familiar child star into an actress capable of portraying complex and multifaceted characters. This is considered a significant milestone in Kim Yoo Jung’s journey of self-reinvention.

However, the success of Dear X doesn’t mean every subsequent project will be positively received. Upon returning with 100 Days of Deception, Kim Yoo Jung continued to receive mixed reviews, showing that she still needs to choose suitable scripts to maintain her appeal. Nevertheless, daring to try different roles has helped her expand her acting horizons and create more opportunities for further career advancements.

Kim So Hyun: She has considerable talent but lacks a breakthrough role.

Kim So Hyun was also famous from a young age and was once expected to have a thriving career as an adult. She showcased many emotional nuances in School 2015 and affirmed her ability to play leading roles. Unfortunately, after this milestone, Kim So Hyun’s artistic career did not flourish as everyone had hoped.

In the following years, Kim So Hyun tried her hand at various genres through dramas like *Let’s Fight, Ghost!*, *The Masked Monarch*, *The River That Welcomes the Moon*, and *Good Boy*. These roles showed an effort to break away from her innocent childhood image, but they weren’t enough to create a significant breakthrough in terms of recognition. This caused Kim So Hyun’s career to gradually stagnate, even though she continued to have opportunities to appear in new works.

Even Between Steps, a drama receiving positive reviews for its relatively good quality, hasn’t helped Kim So Hyun break through. Compared to Kim Yoo Jung, Kim So Hyun still lacks a role that could significantly change how the public perceives her.

Compared to her two colleagues with the same surname, Kim So Hyun’s current career clearly doesn’t match her acting skills and popularity. Given this situation, many viewers believe Kim So Hyun could try her hand at playing villainous roles or characters with complex psychology, like Kim Yoo Jung in Dear X. This direction would both create a new challenge and help her break away from her familiar roles.