Kim Ah-ra | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kim Ah-ra 7 September 1993 |
| Other name | Kim A-ra |
| Education | Myongji University, Kookmin University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2011 – present |
| Agent | Bless Entertainment |
| Children | 1 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김아라 |
| RR | Gim Ara |
| MR | Kim Ara |
Kim Ah-ra (Korean: 김아라; born September 7, 1991) is a South Korean television personality and actress and North Korean defector. She first gained national prominence on the reality talk show Now On My Way to Meet You before transitioning into a career as a dramatic actress in television and film.
Kim was born in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea. Her childhood was marked by the extreme North Korean famine; she has recalled foraging for grass and roots to supplement meager rations of rice porridge. She did not receive a formal education during her youth in the North, instead spending her time scavenging for calories to help her family survive.
She eventually escaped North Korea at age 12, fleeing to China before finally settling in South Korea around 2009. Upon her arrival, she pursued higher education, attending Myongji University and Kookmin University.
Kim's entry into the entertainment industry was driven by the rise of "defector TV" in the 2010s. She became a regular cast member on the Channel A talk show Now On My Way to Meet You (2011–present), where her appearance and stories of survival earned her the nickname "the goddess of North Korean defectors".
In 2016, Kim transitioned into scripted acting with a minor role in the acclaimed horror film The Wailing. She gained wider recognition through supporting roles in several television dramas, frequently portraying North Korean characters or resilient young women.
Her most significant mainstream breakthrough occurred in the global hit series Crash Landing on You (2019–2020), where she played a North Korean village resident. Kim notably influenced the production by proposing authentic North Korean dialogue based on her own experiences.
In October 2023, Kim married a non-celebrity whom she met at her church. The couple held a private wedding ceremony in Seoul on October 28, 2023. She remains active in the South Korean entertainment industry, continuing to use her platform to humanize the lives of North Korean defectors.
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Someone I Know | Kim Yeon-hee | |
| 2017 | Calm Down Cheon Doong | Ah-ra | |
| 2017 | Ugly Miss Young-ae | Mi-na | |
| 2018 | Tempted | Bing Bing | |
| 2019 | Crash Landing on You | North Korean Village Housewife | |
| 2023 | DMZ Daeseongdong | Na-ri |
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The Wailing | Dermatology Nurse | |
| 2018 | The Soul-Mate | So-young | |
| 2020 | Sixball | Choi Seo-kyeong | |
| 2022 | Honest Candidate 2 | Announcer from the North |
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24th Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards Multi-Channel Network Award | 2016 | Masterpiece Brand Special Award | Now On My Way to Meet You | Won |