11 Facts About Kim Seon Ho, The Actor Giving Everyone Second Lead Syndrome In K-Drama "Start-Up"

By Wei Yin on 02 Dec 2020

Digital Editor

An INFP who enjoys watching sappy Korean dramas in her free time. Good food and cute dogs are all she needs.

Start-Up is the hottest K-drama on Netflix right now and you are definitely missing out if you haven't jumped on the bandwagon!

With two more episodes to go, fans of the drama are feeling torn, as some are rooting for Nam Do San (the male lead character), while others are hoping for Han Ji Pyeong (the second lead) to get his happily ever after.

Kim Seon Ho has successfully captured viewers' hearts with his perfect portrayal of the straightforward but caring Han Ji Pyeong, further intensifying the second lead syndrome viewers are feeling.

Here are 11 facts about Kim Seon Ho, the up-and-coming actor and second lead who has viewers wishing they could love him instead.

Read on to find out more!

#1 His favourite song is Confession by Yim Jae Beom

Kim Seon Ho's favourite song is Confession by Yim Jae Beom, a rock ballad singer known for his husky vocals. He previously sang the song on 2 Days & 1 Night, a Korean variety show, and hilariously tried impersonating Yim Jae Beom's husky voice.

In an interview with Netflix Korea, he had a hard time deciding on his favourite song when the interviewer told him to choose something other than Confession and it just goes to show how much he loves this song!

#2 He is a fixed cast member of 2 Days & 1 Night

Photo from @seonho__kim via Instagram

2 Days & 1 Night is one of the more popular Korean reality-variety shows where cast members go on short trips within Korea and complete missions to earn rewards.

Kim Seon Ho joined the show as a cast member in season four in December last year and has been gaining fans with his dorky personality and good looks. He isn't afraid to show his unglamorous sides and tries his best in every mission, which is one of the reasons why he is so well-liked.

#3 His Instagram follower count increased dramatically

Photo from @seonho__kim via Instagram

Kim Seon Ho's Instagram follower count prior to Start-Up was in the 600,000s but when the drama started airing and gaining traction, his follower count had a sharp increase to over a million. It continued increasing and less than one month later, he had over 2.4 million followers. He now has 2.8 million followers as of the time of writing.

He has been updating his Instagram account with selfies, photos of himself with the cast of 2 Days & 1 Night, as well as photos of him on the set of Start-Up frequently. Follow him here to get a glimpse into his life and to also swoon at his dreamy dimples!

#4 He once lied to a classmate about how he got his dimples

Photo from @seonho__kim via Instagram

Who knew that having dimples (such an attractive quality), would actually give young Kim Seon Ho so much worries? In an interview with W Korea, he revealed that he used to get stressed out as his classmates would tease him for "looking like a girl" for having fair skin and dimples.

Once, he even lied to a female classmate that he got his dimples by placing hot peas on his cheeks! His reason? Compliments felt equally annoying as his dimples were a complex to him. His cheeky reply got him in trouble and earned him a visit from the girl's mother.

Please don't put hot peas on your cheeks to get those cute dimples like Kim Seon Ho's because that's not how it works!

#5 He overcame his childhood trauma through acting

Photo from @seonho__kim via Instagram

According to Koreaboo, Kim Seon Ho revealed in a past interview that he had childhood trauma from a robbery incident which took place in his home. He and his mother were the only ones at home at that time and he witnessed his mother getting hurt. This caused him to feel anxious whenever someone stood behind him and he would have a hard time breathing.

Thankfully, things have changed. He mentioned that studying plays was kind of like a form of training which helped him to overcome his trauma when he started acting.

#6 He has been acting since 2009 but only made his television debut in 2017

Photo from @seonho__kim via Instagram

Kim Seon Ho first started out as a theatre actor in 2009 and only made his television debut in 2017 taking on a minor role. He then landed a role in Strongest Deliveryman, followed by Two Cops, 100 Days My Prince, Welcome to Waikiki 2, Catch the Ghost and now, in Start-Up, one of the hottest Korean dramas.

With 11 years of acting experience under his belt, it's no wonder he's slowly being recognised for the versatile actor that he is.

#7 He won't be leaving 2 Days & 1 Night

Photo from @seonho__kim via Instagram

Some viewers were worried that Kim Seon Ho might be too tired from doing both dramas and variety shows but it seems like they won't have to worry about that! He addressed the comments that were asking him not to leave 2 Days & 1 Night in the latest episode by saying he will "hang on until the bitter end and never let this go".

#8 He is a softie at heart who has many worries

In one of the 2 Days & 1 Night episodes, the cast members were given a drawing task and their artworks were then interpreted. When it was Kim Seon Ho's turn, it was revealed through his drawing that he feels inner conflict, has many worries that he's constantly thinking about and is often debating about things within himself.

He started tearing up as he was listening and shared his concerns with the rest of the members. Turns out, beneath all his goofiness is a softie at heart! We are so glad that he is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

#9 He wouldn't do something he would regret for the rest of his life if he could live as Han Ji Pyeong

Photo from @seonho__kim via Instagram

In an interview with Netflix Korea, Kim Seon Ho was tasked with forming an acrostic poem using the words "Han Ji Pyeong". This is what he came up with, "If I could live as Han Ji Pyeong not in the drama but in real life, I wouldn't choose something that would make me regret for the rest of my life."

Is this a spoiler or nothing to read too much into? We will only find out in the last two episodes of Start-Up.

#10 He may be the male lead in an upcoming drama

Photo from @seonho__kim via Instagram

Kim Seon Ho is in talks to lead a new drama even before Start-Up has finished airing, further proving his growing popularity! He has been offered to star in Link, a fantasy romance drama scheduled to air in the first half of 2021.

Although it has not been finalised yet, fans are hoping he will take up the offer so they can catch him on screen again soon!

#11 He recently won an award

Photo from @seonho__kim via Instagram

Kim Seon Ho took home the AAA Best Emotive (Actor) award at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards last week. It's honestly well-deserved, considering the fact that all his crying scenes in Start-Up managed to induce viewers' tears as well.