Kim Jae-young

Kim first entered the entertainment industry as a model at the suggestion of his father. After completing his military service, which left him feeling uncertain about his future, his father recommended modeling. Before pursuing this path, Kim weighed over 100 kg, but he lost more than 30 kg through weight management during and after his military service. Initially aspiring to be a chef, Kim joined Esteem Academy to train as a model. He debuted in 2010 and gained recognition through various fashion shows and pictorials, including those for Mbio and General Idea.

While modeling, he participated in the tvN survival program Flower Boy Casting: Oh! Boy (2011), where he earned the nickname "Sexy Charisma" and discovered his passion for acting. In 2013, he made his acting debut in the film No Breathing, alongside Seo In-guk and Lee Jong-suk.

Initially, Kim worked as a model at Esteem, but after leaving the agency, he faced about 18 months of unemployment. During this time, he began to seriously consider acting. After Esteem closed down, he had the opportunity to audition for the KBS drama Blade Man, featuring Shin Se-kyung and Lee Dong-wook. While filming this drama without a manager, Esteem reached out to him again. A friend and fellow model, Ahn Jae-hyun introduced him to HB Entertainment, leading to him working with both agencies.

In October 2023, he signed an exclusive contract with Management S, an agency established by his longtime manager.