Kim Se-jeong


Kim Se-jeong, better known by the mononym Sejeong, is a South Korean singer and actress signed under Jellyfish Entertainment. She is best known as the runner-up contestant in Produce 101, a former member of the girl group I.O.I, and as a member of Gugudan and its subgroup Gugudan SeMiNa. She was a co-host of the variety show Talents for Sale in 2016. She also played the leading role in the teen drama School 2017 and in the 2019 mystery romantic-comedy I Wanna Hear Your Song.

Early life and education

Kim Se-jeong was born in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, but moved to Anyang, Gyeonggi where she stayed with her mother and older brother at her aunt's house. Her parents split when she was a child, leaving her mother to single-handedly raise her and her brother, and she has previously stated that she did not contact her father until her third year of middle school. Kim is currently studying practical music in Hanyang Women's University.

Career

In 2012, Kim participated in the second season of competition television show K-pop Star 2 at the age of 16. She did not make it through the second round ranking audition, but Yang Hyun-suk brought her back as a wildcard for the casting round, where she performed a duet of Taeyang's "I Need A Girl" with fellow contestant Jo Yoo-min. Yang cast the both of them, grouping Kim with contestants Nicole Curry and Lee Soo-kyung for the final casting round. However, at the end of the round, she was eliminated from the competition.

''Produce 101'' and I.O.I

In January 2016, she represented Jellyfish Entertainment together with fellow trainees Kim Na-young and Kang Mi-na on the reality survival show Produce 101 for the chance to debut in a Mnet girl group. All three were assigned to "Group A" in the first episode of the program, and she achieved the first-place ranking on several episodes, earning the nickname "God Sejeong". The program came to an end on April 1, 2016, and the final line-up of I.O.I, made up of the top 11 poll-winners, was announced. Kim finished second overall, with 525,352 votes, becoming an official member of the girl group. I.O.I promoted as a whole for events and advertising gigs.

Gugudan and solo career

Plans for Kim to host a new KBS show Talents for Sale alongside Kim Jong-kook, Lee Seo-jin and Noh Hong-chul were announced in April 2016. She displayed a variety of talents on the show and earned the nickname 'Variety Cheat Key'. On June 10, 2016, YMC Entertainment revealed that Kim would not be taking part in I.O.I's unit promotions but would instead return to her agency to debut and promote with its upcoming girl group. On June 28, 2016, Kim officially debuted as a member of South Korean girl group Gugudan. On November 23, 2016, Kim participated in Jellyfish Entertainment’s music channel project Jelly Box and released the single "Flower Way", produced by Zico, along with a music video. The single topped seven major charts upon its release, and Kim received her first music program trophy as a solo artist with "Flower Way" on the November 30 episode of Show Champion.
On January 12, 2017, Kim released the song "If Only" for the OST of the Korean drama The Legend of the Blue Sea. That month, she became a permanent MC for OnStyle's Get It Beauty. In July 2017, she took on her first major acting role as the lead, Ra Eun-ho, in KBS2's teen drama School 2017.
Later that year, she sang "Star Blossom" for SM Station with NCT's Doyoung. In September 2017, It was confirmed that Kim will be a fixed cast member in Netflix's variety show Busted!.
In June 2018, a Gugudan subgroup named Gugudan Semina was formed with Sejeong and members Mina and Nayoung. They debuted on July 10, 2018. In September 2018, Sejeong released the song "Lover" for the OST of the Korean drama Mr. Sunshine.
In 2019, she went on to take the leading role in the mystery romantic-comedy I Wanna Hear Your Song. After a year of hiatus as a singer, on December 2, 2019, Kim released the single "Tunnel" with Dingo Music, followed by her first EP "Plant", with its lead single of the same name, released on March 17, 2020.

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

Notes

Filmography

Drama

Variety show

Theatre

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
201615th KBS Entertainment AwardsRookie VarietyTalents for Sale
201710th Korea Drama AwardsBest New Actress School 2017
20171st The Seoul AwardsBest New Actress School 2017
20171st The Seoul AwardsPopularity Award, Actress
20172nd Asia Artist AwardsPopularity Award, Actress
20172017 Mnet Asian Music AwardsBest Vocal Performance "Flower Way"
20172017 Mnet Asian Music AwardsQoo10 Song of the Year"Flower Way"
20179th Melon Music AwardsTop 10 Artists
20179th Melon Music AwardsHot Trend Award"Flower Way"
20179th Melon Music AwardsHot Trend Award"I Like You, I Don't"
201711th SBS Entertainment AwardsBest Challenge AwardLaw of the Jungle in Sumatra
201731st KBS Drama AwardsBest New ActressSchool 2017
201731st KBS Drama AwardsNetizen AwardSchool 2017
201854th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest New Actress School 2017
201918th Korea First Brand AwardsFemale Idol-Actor Award
201933rd KBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesI Wanna Hear Your Song
201933rd KBS Drama AwardsBest Couple Award I Wanna Hear Your Song
201933rd KBS Drama AwardsK-Drama Hallyu Star Award
20202020 Brand Consumer Loyalty AwardsBest Female Variety Idol