Actress Kim Seo-hyung Parts Ways with KeyEast, Becomes a Free Agent

Actress Kim Seo-hyung has become a free agent.

According to a report by TenAsia on the 24th, Kim Seo-hyung's contract with her agency, KeyEast, has recently expired. Kim signed an exclusive contract with KeyEast in October 2020 and worked with them for nearly five years.

KeyEast expressed their gratitude to TenAsia, stating, "We are thankful to Kim Seo-hyung for being with us. We deeply respect her passion for acting and her admirable values, and we will cherish all the time spent together." They added, "We sincerely support Kim Seo-hyung's bright future as she continues to resonate with the public."

Kim Seo-hyung debuted in the entertainment industry in 1994 as part of KBS's 16th class of public talent. She gained significant popularity for her role as admissions coordinator Kim Joo-young in the 2018 JTBC drama 'SKY Castle.' She has since showcased her wide acting range in dramas such as 'Nobody Knows,' 'Mine,' 'Recipe for Farewell,' and 'Paper Moon,' balancing softness and intensity. Her film credits include 'The Villainess,' 'Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP,' 'Whispering Corridors: The Humming,' 'A House of Straw,' and 'Dog Days.'

For her performance in 'Nobody Knows,' Kim won the Best Actress award in the Mini-Series Genre/Action category at the SBS Drama Awards. Her portrayal of Moon-jung in 'A House of Straw,' a character yearning to leave the greenhouse and live with her son, earned her Best Actress awards from the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards, Buil Film Awards, Golden Cinematography Awards, and Grand Bell Awards. She also received the Prime Minister's Commendation at the 10th Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards.

KeyEast is not only an entertainment management company but also produces dramas and variety shows. Recently, SM Studios, a subsidiary of SM Entertainment and the largest shareholder of KeyEast, announced plans to sell KeyEast. SM stated, "SM Studios will negotiate with the preferred bidder regarding major contract terms." The preferred bidders are Cheongdam Investment and KNT Investment.

SM Studios holds a 28.38% stake in KeyEast, while SM Entertainment Japan owns 5.33%. It is expected that SM will sell all of its KeyEast shares held by its affiliates. The sale price is estimated to be around 37 billion KRW (approximately $31 million USD).

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr