Jin Se-yeon
Kim Yoon-jung, commonly known as Jin Se-yeon, is a South Korean actress. She is notable for her appearances in television series Bridal Mask, Doctor Stranger, Flowers of the Prison, and Grand Prince.
Career
2010–2015: Beginnings and breakthrough
Jin Se-yeon began her career as an idol trainee for girl group Jewelry under Star Empire Entertainment. Before long, she started to appear in various TV commercials, which then steered her direction into acting. Even though her debut role was in the 2010 SBS drama It's Okay, Daddy's Girl, but her first casting was actually for the 2011 film White: Melody of Death. She then acted in the highly-controversial lesbian-themed Drama Special titled Daughters of Bilitis Club and portrayed the teenage version of Han Ji-hye's female lead character in The Duo.Her first chance at starring role came when she won the audition for the titular protagonist in the daily drama My Daughter the Flower. She cemented her leading actress status with the acclaimed 1930s-setting period drama, Bridal Mask. Since then, Jin has been starred in various genres, among them a musical melodrama Five Fingers, medical-espionage drama Doctor Stranger, and romantic-comedy film Enemies In-Law.
2016–present: Transition to leading roles and rising popularity
In 2016, Jin played the heroine for the summer blockbuster war film, Operation Chromite, alongside Liam Neeson and Lee Jung-jae. She was then chosen as the protagonist for MBC's 55th-founding anniversary historical drama directed by a famed director Lee Byung-hoon, Flowers of the Prison.In 2018, Jin's popularity started to rise due to her performance in the historical drama Grand Prince. The series was a ratings success, becoming the highest rated TV Chosun drama since the network's establishment in 2011.
In 2019, Jin starred in the fantasy-mystery drama Item as a criminal profiler. The same year she was cast in the historical fantasy drama Queen: Love and War. In 2020, Jin was cast in the mystery romance drama Born Again alongside Jang Ki-yong and Lee Soo-hyuk. Jin made a comeback in 2024 after four-year hiatus with a psychiatrist role in the coming-of-age romantic series Bad Memory Eraser. She then led the 2026 KBS2's weekend family drama Recipe for Love as medical school graduate-turned-fashion designer.
Personal life
Jin revealed in late 2012 that she had added a year to her real age in her résumé, actually being born in 1994, and not in 1993. Her agency explained, "Jin Se-yeon was only 17 years old when she debuted. She was so young that it was hard for her to land any roles. That's why we added a year to her age."Jin also denied a rumor that she comes from a wealthy or influential family, due to her being one of the fastest-rising young actresses despite it not being long since her debut. She answered, "I was very surprised by the rumor myself. Though it was for a short period of time, I had also done secondary roles and acted out the younger versions. Maybe that's because I got to play a main role earlier than others. My father is running an IT company that is not listed. I actually don't know very well."
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | |
| APAN Star Awards | 2014 | Popular Star Award | Doctor Stranger | Won | |
| APAN Star Awards | 2014 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Doctor Stranger | Nomitated | |
| K-Drama Star Awards | 2012 | Acting Award, actress | Bridal Mask | Nomitated | |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Best New Actress | Bridal Mask | Won | |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Best Couple Award | Jin Se-yeon Bridal Mask | Nomitated | |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama | Bridal Mask | Nomitated | |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Netizen Award, actress | Bridal Mask | Nomitated | |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2020 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Born Again | Nomitated | |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2012 | Best New Actress | My Daughter the Flower | Nomitated | |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2016 | Excellence Award, actress | Flowers of the Prison | Nomitated | |
| Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | 2012 | Best New Actress | Bridal Mask | Nomitated | |
| Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | 2016 | Best Actress | Operation Chromite | Won | |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2016 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama | Flowers of the Prison | Won | |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2016 | Best Couple Award | Jin Se-yeon with Seo Ha-joon Flowers of the Prison | Nomitated | |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2016 | Grand Prize | Flowers of the Prison | Nomitated | |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2019 | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Miniseries | Item | Nomitated | |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2011 | New Star Award | My Daughter the Flower | Won | |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2012 | Best Couple Award | Jin Se-yeon with Ju Ji-hoon Five Fingers | Nomitated | |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2014 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Drama Special | Doctor Stranger | Nomitated |