Watch Yunjin Kim Online

Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea. At the age of ten, Kim immigrated to the United States with her family. They lived in Staten Island, New York, one of New York City's five boroughs. She joined the middle school drama club in the 7th grade and performed in the musical My Fair Lady.

Kim attended high school at the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, a public high school located in Manhattan. From there, she went on to study drama at the London Academy of Performing Arts and later earned her drama degree at Boston University.

After graduation, Kim devoted herself full time to acting. She garnered several minor parts on MTV, in soap opera-style dramas on ABC, and on the off-Broadway stage. In 1996, a Korean TV show filming in Manhattan called and persuaded her to return to her country of origin, to appear in the Korean TV drama A Gorgeous Vacation. This was followed by two other roles in Foreboding and the miniseries Wedding Dress. Then in 1997 she was offered a script for her debut film, Shiri (1999). Shiri was Korea's first blockbuster film and became the highest grossing film in the history of Korean cinema in 1999. As a result, Kim became a household name in Korea.

Over the next several years, she starred in five additional films. In July 2003, Kim signed a three-year contract with William Morris, an American agency representing Hollywood stars such as Halle Berry, Salma Hayek, Kevin Spacey, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lucy Liu, Jackie Chan, and Reese Witherspoon.

Kim can currently be seen as the character Sun-Hwa Kwon in the television series Lost (2004), where, in addition to acting, she also serves as a translator between the show's Korean dialect coach and fellow castmember Daniel Dae Kim.

In May 2006, Maxim named Kim #98 on its annual Hot 100 List. In October 2006 she was featured on the cover of Stuff, as well as a spread inside the magazine.

Kim appeared in Maxim again in March 2007, where she was described as "the Korean Julia Roberts" in her native Asia.

• Although born in Korea, she was raised mostly in New York City.
• Already a bankable star in Asia, she is crossing over the Pacific and gaining American fans in the hit TV show "Lost" (2004).
• Although she shares the name of Kim with her "Lost" (2004) co-star and on-screen husband, Daniel Dae Kim, they are neither related nor married.
• A trained dancer: Ballet, Jazz, Afro-Caribbean and Peking Opera Dance.
• She is also a trained fighter. Her combat skills are Unarmed, Quarter Staff, Broad Sword and Tae Kwon Do.
• Published a Japanese photobook called "XOXO".
• Trained at Boston University (BFA Acting), British American Drama Academy, High School of Performing Arts (N.Y.).
• Spokesperson for Kanebo, a Japanese cosmetics company.
• Recently bought a house in Hawaii
• Speaks fluent Korean and English.
• Goodwill Ambassador for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea, representing Korea.
• Does not drink any alcohol because she suffers from a common genetic disorder known as alcohol flush reaction, which is often referred to as "Asian red". [Jimmy Kimmel Live - March 2006].
• She has been called "The Korean Julia Roberts."
• Originally auditioned for the part of Kate on Lost, but the producers didn't believe she was right for the part. Instead they created the character of Sun for her.
• She has been appointed to the publicity committee of the American Red Cross. She appears in a poster promoting the donation campaign 'GIVE 100, NEW YORK'. The poster will be shown at the public place such as the bus stops in New York.
• Made #98 on Maxim's "hot 100" list of 2006
• Was the February 2007 entry in Stuff magazine's 2006-2007 pin up calendar

On her character on Swiri (1999): "I was playing a "La Femme Nikita" (1997)-type role - a North Korean spy who falls in love with her enemy. From then on, I played every cool girl with a gun. My nickname in Korean is "Woman Warrior". "I watched an auction on Ebay for my photo. It went all the way up to $15!" (In Style/Sept/2006) On her first acting break: "After graduating [from Boston University], I was cast in a Korean miniseries that took off. It was crazy! I became recognizable overnight." (In Style/Sept/2006)