Kim So-hye

Kim So-hye is a South Korean actress and singer, best known as a former member of the project girl group I.O.I. After finishing fifth on Mnet's survival show Produce 101 in 2016, she transitioned into acting, taking lead roles in dramas such as Best Chicken (2019) and My Lovely Boxer (2023). As of 2026, she is active under S&P Entertainment, focusing primarily on her acting career. With over 1.2 million Instagram followers, she maintains a warm, down-to-earth public persona that resonates with fans who followed her journey from untrained trainee to respected actress.[edit]

Kim So-hye grew up in Seoul's Gangnam district, attending Jeongneung Elementary School before enrolling at Hanlim Multi Art School. She initially studied practical dance but later transferred to focus on acting, a field she had been drawn to since childhood after watching dramas and movies. Unlike most K-pop trainees, she had no formal singing or dancing training before auditioning for Produce 101. She was a trainee for only about three months and had no agency backing when she entered the show. Her casting as a surprise contestant with minimal training made her journey compelling to viewers. She was placed in the lowest F class during the first evaluation but showed rapid improvement, eventually placing 5th in the final episode on April 1, 2016. Her transformation became a central narrative of the season, often referred to by fans as the Sohye Miracle.[edit]

So-hye debuted as a member of I.O.I with the EP Chrysalis on May 4, 2016. The group's debut single Dream Girls charted in the top 10 on the Gaon Digital Chart. After I.O.I disbanded in January 2017, she immediately pivoted to acting, landing her first lead role in the web drama Poetry Story (also known as Poetry Class), playing a high school student. She followed this with a role in Kang Deok-soon's Love History later that year. In 2019, she took the female lead in the cable drama Best Chicken, a romantic comedy about a fried chicken franchise. Her most notable role came in 2023 when she starred in the sports drama My Lovely Boxer as a boxer, earning praise for her physical transformation and acting range. She won the Best New Actress award at the 2023 KBS Drama Awards for this performance. Since then, she has continued to take roles in independent films and web series, building a reputation as a serious actress.[edit]

So-hye is known for her natural, girl-next-door style, often seen in casual streetwear or simple dresses. The media portrays her as an underdog who succeeded through hard work, and she is praised for her growth as an actress. Her fans, informally called Sohye's Angels, appreciate her warm and grateful social media presence. She rarely posts controversial content and maintains a family-oriented image.[edit]

Kim So-hye maintains a steady presence in the entertainment landscape, anchored by a dedicated following that identifies as Soyang. This moniker distinguishes her specific fanbase from the broader collective of I.O.I supporters, reflecting a shift toward her individual acting career since the project group's dissolution. While the wider K-pop community often recalls the 2026 reunion of the original lineup under the name I.O.I, Sohye's own narrative is defined by her transition from an untrained trainee to a recognized actress, a journey her fans have chronicled through consistent support on social media platforms. The distinction between the group's legacy and her personal trajectory remains clear, with Soyang focusing on her recent roles rather than the historical reunions of the survival show cast. Regarding her global standing, Kim So-hye is currently evaluated by iFANN but does not hold a placement in the published rankings. She is not ranked within the Global Top 1,000 nor featured on any Top-100 scope list. This status indicates a significant reach without a quantified position in the current hierarchy of worldwide fame metrics. Her influence is substantial enough to warrant evaluation, yet she has not crossed the threshold into the top-tier numerical brackets at this time. The absence of a numeric rank does not diminish her established reputation in South Korea, where her work in cable dramas and web series continues to garner attention. Fans remain active in promoting her projects, ensuring her visibility despite the lack of a formal global ranking. The dynamic between her personal brand and the larger pop culture phenomena of her past collaborators creates a unique space for her career growth.[edit]

During her time on Produce 101, So-hye learned to dance and sing from scratch, a rapid improvement that fans dubbed the Sohye Miracle. Originally placed in the lowest F class, she successfully navigated the competition to finish fifth. She has openly discussed her fear of heights on various variety shows and enjoys cooking, frequently sharing photos of homemade meals on Instagram. A close friend of fellow former member Kim Do-yeon, she maintains a family-oriented image and rarely posts controversial content. While no specific viral legends exist solely for her within the provided research, the broader context of her former group includes the widely retold story of their 10th-anniversary reunion in 2026. This event saw the group release the EP Suddenly and embark on a tour, marking a cultural phenomenon after a decade-long hiatus. Another notable moment involved the exclusion of two members from the practice room segment during their anniversary celebrations, sparking intense discussion among the fanbase known as Kkakkak. These events highlight the enduring connection between the original members and their audience, even as individual careers diverge.[edit]

Kim So-hye keeps her family life largely private. She has a younger brother whose name has not been publicly disclosed. She completed her high school education at Hanlim Multi Art School but did not pursue university, choosing to focus on her acting career immediately after I.O.I. As of 2026, she is not married and has no children.[edit]

Kim So-hye is close friends with fellow I.O.I member Kim Do-yeon. She co-starred with Jung Chae-yeon in My Lovely Boxer.[edit]

As of 2026, Kim So-hye has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationships. She has stated in interviews that she prioritises her career and has not been in a public relationship since her debut. There have been no official dating reports, engagements, or marriages. Her relationship status remains single.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Kim So-hye's net worth stands at $2 Million as of 2026. Her financial stability is primarily derived from acting fees, which are reported to range from ₩30–50 million per episode for cable and web series productions. Additional income streams include occasional brand endorsements with small to mid-tier Korean companies and appearances on variety programs. Unlike many peers in the industry, she has not pursued ventures into business ownership or real estate investments. Her wealth has accumulated steadily since her acting debut in 2017, with a marked increase following her lead performance in My Lovely Boxer and the subsequent recognition at the KBS Drama Awards.[edit]

Kim So-hye won the Best New Actress award at the 2023 KBS Drama Awards for her role in My Lovely Boxer. She also won the Female Web Drama Actress award at the 2017 Korea First Brand Awards for Poetry Story. She was nominated for Best New Actress at the 2019 Korea Drama Awards and for Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries at the 2023 KBS Drama Awards.[edit]