Eugene (actress)

---

title: "Eugene (actress)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1981-births", "living-people", "s.e.s.-(group)-members", "south-korean-baptists", "south-korean-women-pop-singers", "south-korean-film-actresses", "south-korean-musical-theatre-actresses", "south-korean-female-idols", "south-korean-television-actresses", "korea-university-alumni", "singers-from-seoul", "actresses-from-seoul", "20th-century-south-korean-actresses", "21st-century-south-korean-actresses", "gwangsan-kim-clan"] description: "South Korean actress (born 1981)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_(actress)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary South Korean actress (born 1981) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Eugene
image	Eugene in Feb 2021.jpg
alt	Eugene smiling for the camera in February 2021
caption	Eugene in February 2021
birth_name	Kim Yoo-jin
birth_date
birth_place	Seoul, South Korea
education	Korea Kent Foreign School
occupation
years_active	1997–present
agent	INN Company
spouse	Ki Tae-young (m. 2011)
children	2
module	{{Infobox musical artist
genre	K-pop
instrument	Vocals
label
past_member_of
module2	{{Infobox Korean name/auto
hangul	%김유진
hanja	金梄眞
hanjaref
::

| name = Eugene | image = Eugene in Feb 2021.jpg | landscape = | alt = Eugene smiling for the camera in February 2021 | caption = Eugene in February 2021 | birth_name = Kim Yoo-jin | birth_date = | birth_place = Seoul, South Korea | education = Korea Kent Foreign School | occupation = | years_active = 1997–present | agent = INN Company | spouse = Ki Tae-young (m. 2011) | children = 2 | signature = | signature_alt = | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | genre = K-pop | instrument = Vocals | label = | past_member_of = | website = | module2 = {{Infobox Korean name/auto|child=yes|headercolor=transparent | hangul = %김유진 | hanja = 金梄眞 | hanjaref =

Kim Yoo-jin (; born March 3, 1981), known anglicizedly and mononymously as Eugene, is a South Korean actress and singer. She is a former member of the girl group S.E.S., which went on to become one of South Korea's best-selling artists. Following the group's disbandment in 2002, she subsequently left SM Entertainment and released two solo studio albums.

As an actress, Eugene has participated in various television dramas and movies, making her acting debut in KBS2 Loving You (2002). Her other notable roles include in Save the Last Dance for Me (2004), Wonderful Life (2005), Bread, Love and Dreams (2010), A Hundred Year Legacy (2013), All About My Mom (2015) and The Penthouse: War in Life (2020–2021).

Early life and education

Eugene was born in Seoul, South Korea. With the suggestion of her grandfather, who settled down in Guam, her family immigrated to Guam after she finished the first semester of 5th grade elementary school. She attended Agueda I. Johnston Middle School from October 1992 until June 1995, and John F. Kennedy High School from June until September 1996. She returned to Korea with her mother and younger sister to finish high school, and eventually graduated from Korea Kent Foreign School, Seoul in June 1999. At high school, more than 80% of her subjects were A credits. In elementary school, only 23 out of 24 subjects were awarded. In middle school, almost all her subjects were excellent.

Career

S.E.S.

Main article: S.E.S. (band)

Eugene made her debut with S.E.S. in 1997. S.E.S enjoyed tremendous success, becoming the top-selling K-pop girl group during their era. The group disbanded at the end of 2002 after Bada and Eugene parted ways from SM Entertainment, while Shoo stayed with SM Entertainment until 2006.

On May 28, 2016, Eugene with S.E.S. members Bada and Shoo attended a charity event, Green Heart Bazaar. In October 2016, Eugene along with Bada and Shoo re-formed S.E.S. to celebrate their 20th anniversary since the debut of the group. They started their project of the 20th anniversary debut with released digital single "Love[Story]", a remake of their 1999 single "Love", through SM Entertainment's digital project SM Station on November 28 and its music video released on December 29.

In early December 2016, they aired their ten episode reality show Remember, I'm Your S.E.S., which broadcast through mobile app Oksusu. To accompany their 20th anniversary debut, they held a concert, Remember, the Day, on December 30 and 31 at Sejong University's Daeyang Hall in Seoul.

On January 2, the special album of their 20th anniversary debut Remember was released. The album consists of double lead singles. "Remember" was digitally released on January 1 and "Paradise" was released along with the album on January 2. They held a fanmeet as their last project of 20th anniversary debut called I Will Be There, Waiting For You on March 1, 2017.

Solo career

After S.E.S. disbanded in late 2002, Kim released two solo albums: My True Style and 810303. Her first album sold nearly 65,000 records and had one hit ballad, The Best which included bonus tracks, "Jesus Loves Me", in which she handwritten the lyrics to this special mashup. She had also previously released a single, "Shout to the Lord" in 2001 under a collaborative Christian album The Gift. Besides releasing solo albums, she also starred in four Korean dramas: Loving You, Save The Last Dance for Me, Wonderful Life, and Love Truly.

Eugene made her theater debut in the musical adaptation of the film Innocent Steps and her film debut in Unstoppable Marriage. After taking on the lead roles in the dramas One Mom and Three Dads, and Creating Destiny, Eugene then starred in the television series Bread, Love and Dreams, which was a huge hit and earned "national drama" status.

| image1 = Eugene in 2008.jpg | image2 = 2010KBS연기대상 109.jpg | direction = horizontal | total_width = 300 | align = right | width = | footer = | caption1 = Eugene in 2008 | caption2 = Eugene at the 2010 KBS Drama Awards In 2007, Eugene took over from Lee Hyori as one of the co-hosts of the variety show Happy Together Friends, until the show was overhauled for a third season. After the success of her previous program Eugene's Makeup Diary, cable style network O'live again chose her as the host of new show Get It Beauty which began airing in July 2010.

Eugene has authored two books: Eugene's Beauty Secrets and Eugene's Get It Beauty. She is also the co-president of the clothing brand byMOMO.

In 2012, she became the host of season 3 of MBC's revamped flagship amateur singing competition show The Great Birth. Her next leading role was in the 2013 weekend family drama A Hundred Year Legacy, which reached ratings of over 30 percent. She then starred in two more family dramas, Can We Fall in Love, Again? and All About My Mom.

On December 17, 2018, it was announced that Eugene had signed with INN Company after deciding not to renew her contract with C9 Entertainment.

In 2020, she appeared in TV series The Penthouse: War in Life aired on SBS TV from October 26.

On August 12, 2022, Eugene held a fan sign event in front of the Lotte World Mall Jamsil store.

Personal life

Marriage and family

On May 11, 2011, Eugene announced that she would be married to Ki Tae-young, her leading man in the 2009 TV series Creating Destiny. Their wedding was held at the Seoul Central Church in Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, on July 23, 2011. They were the first couple featured on Super Couple Diary, a reality show filming the daily married life of celebrity couples. Eugene gave birth to their first child, a daughter named Lohee on April 12, 2015. She also gave birth to another girl, Lorin, on August 18, 2018.

Beliefs

After the sinking of the MV Sewol, fans of Eugene began to doubt her belief in the Evangelical Baptist Church of Korea. She explained she is not a believer of the Evangelical Baptist Church, but in the Korean Christianity Baptist Church which separated from the Evangelical Baptist Church 32 years ago.

Discography

Studio albums

::data[format=table] | Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | KOR MIAK album chart peak positions: | My True Style... | 810303 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | 10 | | | | | | | | 9 | | | | | | ::

Soundtrack contributions

::data[format=table] | Title | Year | Peak positions | Album | KOR | "Narration" (with Park Yong-ha) | "Love Montage" (with Park Yong-ha) | "Salang...geu Cheosneukkim" (사랑...그 첫느낌) (with Park Yong-ha) | "Dalaeui Tema (Chorus Ver.)" | "My Dream" | "Like Candy" | "I like you" (duet with Mr. Burn) | "Jeongseon Arirang" | "Romantic Christmas" (duet with Lee Sun-kyun) | "Plastic syndrome" | "Travel Memories" | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2002 | — | Loving You OST | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2004 | — | Save the Last Dance for Me OST | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2006 | — | I Really Really Like You OST | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2008 | — | Romantic Island Christmas story OST | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | Romantic Island OST | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | "—" denotes release did not chart. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Participation in albums

::data[format=table] | Title | Year | Peak positions | Album | KOR | "Shout to the Lord" | "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2001 | — | The Gift | | | | | | 2004 | — | *Christmas With Pfull * | | | | | | "—" denotes release did not chart. | | | | | | | ::

Filmography

Film

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role
2007	Unstoppable Marriage	Park Eun-ho
2008	Heartbreak Library	Jo Eun-soo
Romantic Island	Yoo Ga-young
2009	Yoga Hakwon	Hyo-jung
2020	Paper Flower	Go Eun-sook
::

Television series

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2002	Loving You	Jin Da-rae
2004	Save the Last Dance for Me	Ji Eun-soo
2005	Wonderful Life	Jung Se-jin
2006	Love Truly	Yeo Bong-soon
2008	One Mom and Three Dads	Song Na-young
2009	Creating Destiny	Han Sang-eun
2010	Bread, Love and Dreams	Shin Yoo-kyung
2011	KBS Drama Special	Princess Hwapyung	Episode: "Princess Hwapyung's Weight Loss"
2012	Ohlala Couple	Min-young	Cameo appearance (Ep. 2)
2013	A Hundred Year Legacy	Min Chae-won
2014	Can We Fall in Love, Again?	Yoon Jung-wan
2015	All About My Mom	Lee Jin-ae
2020–2021	The Penthouse: War in Life	Oh Yoon-hee
2025	First Lady	Cha Soo-yeon
::

Television show

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Notes
2002	Saturday is Coming	Host
2003	Nam Hui-seok and Eugene's Love Story
2005	Happy Together Friends
2009	Living Beauty - Eugene's Makeup Diary, Season 1
2012	Super Couple Diary
The Great Birth - Season 3
2010–2014	O'live TV Get It Beauty
2016	The Return of Superman	Ep 114 - Ep 210
2022	The Battle for Move-in: Penthouse	Tenant
Oh! My Wedding	Wedding planner
Hot Goodbye	Host
::

Web shows

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.	2022
Half of Me	Narrator	Good Neighbors YouTube channel
::

Hosting

::data[format=table]

Year	title	Notes
2023	30th Hanteo Music Awards	with Shin Dong-yup
::

Musical theatre

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role
2007	Innocent Steps	Chae-rin
::

Books

• Eugene's Beauty Secrets (2009)
• Eugene's Get It Beauty (2011)

Awards and nominations

::data[format=table title="Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination"]

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / work	Result	Ref.	APAN Star Awards	KBS Drama Awards	Korea Best Dresser Awards	Korea Drama Awards	Korea Visual Arts Festival	MBC Drama Awards	Mnet KM Music Festival	SBS Drama Awards	Seoul International Drama Awards
2013	Excellence Award, Actress	A Hundred Year Legacy
2002	Best New Actress	Loving You
Popularity Award
2010	Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama	Bread, Love and Dreams
2011	Best Actress in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama	Princess Hwapyung's Weight Loss
2015	Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama	All About My Mom
Best Couple Award	Eugene (with Lee Sang-woo)
(All About My Mom)
Netizen Award, Actress	All About My Mom
1999	Best Dressed, Female Singer	Eugene
2013	Excellence Award, Actress	A Hundred Year Legacy
2004	Photogenic Award, Singer	Eugene
2005	Excellence Award, Actress	Wonderful Life
Popularity Award
2013	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama	A Hundred Year Legacy
Best Couple Award	Eugene (with Lee Jung-jin)
(A Hundred Year Legacy)
Popularity Award	A Hundred Year Legacy
2005	PD's Choice Special Award	Eugene
2004	Top Excellence Award, Actress	Save the Last Dance for Me
New Star Award
2020	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-Length Drama	The Penthouse: War in Life
2021	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Fantasy Drama	The Penthouse: War in Life 2 and 3
2021	Outstanding Korean Actress	The Penthouse: War in Life
::

References

References

1. link. 차연. Newsen. (August 2, 2009)
2. link. 티브이데일리. 이소담. (April 26, 2013)
3. link. 고려대학교 자유게시판. 홍보실장 심재철. (January 2001)
4. link. Dispatch]]. (October 3, 2016)
5. (November 28, 2016). ""원조 요정의 귀환"...S.E.S., 오늘(27일) 밤 'Love [story]' 공개".
6. (December 29, 2016). "[STATION] S.E.S._Love [story]_Music Video".
7. (November 23, 2016). "S.E.S., 데뷔 20주년 기념 프로젝트 'REMEMBER' 시동! 28일 0시 음원 발매".
8. (December 30, 2016). "[2017 가요②] S.E.S부터 악동뮤지션까지... 레전드vs루키website=Tenasia".
9. "Remember - S.E.S. 20th Anniversary Special Album".
10. "[단독] S.e.s, 오늘(1일) 20주년 팬미팅 '재결성 후 첫 만남'".
11. Suh, Jung-bo. (December 31, 2004). "Singer and Actress Eugene's Wishes for the Year of the Rooster". [[The Dong-A Ilbo]].
12. Hwang, You-mee. (August 10, 2006). "Actresses venture to show their other side on TV". [[The Korea Herald]].
13. Cho Chung-un. (April 5, 2010). "Pop star Eugene makes debut on musical stage".
14. "Unstoppable Marriage review - I wish Eugene was my wife".
15. (March 27, 2008). "Eugene to Play Second Mother Role".
16. (October 2, 2010). "Eugene Finds Life Abroad Reflected in New Drama". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
17. Jessica Kim. (September 2, 2010). ""Bread, Love and Dreams" set to rise in Asians' hearts". Asia Economy.
18. Han Sang-hee. (July 12, 2010). "Can Eugene add something new to beauty scene?".
19. [http://www.jazzholic.com/2009/12/10/eugenes-beauty-secret-book/ "Eugene's Beauty Secret book"] {{Webarchive. link. (August 27, 2011 . Jazzholic. December 10, 2009.)
20. "Eugene's Get It Beauty".
21. An. Jin-yong. (October 5, 2011). link
22. Ho, Stewart. (September 20, 2012). "Eugene to Serve as MC of ''The Great Birth's'' Third Season". enewsWorld.
23. Sunwoo, Carla. (September 21, 2012). "Eugene to host ''Great Rebirth''". [[Korea JoongAng Daily]].
24. (June 28, 2013). "An interview with Eugene, singer-turned-actress". [[The Dong-A Ilbo]].
25. Jang, Seo-yoon. (July 8, 2013). "INTERVIEW: Actress Eugene". 10Asia.
26. (December 17, 2013). "Eugene asks, 'Can We Love'?". [[Korea JoongAng Daily]].
27. (July 24, 2015). "Eugene starts filming her first drama post pregnancy : "a mixture of a pinch of nervousness and anticipation"". Hacinema.
28. link. Newsen. Kim Ye-eun. (December 17, 2018)
29. link. [[Hankook Ilbo]]. Yoo Soo-kyung. (November 2, 2018)
30. (October 24, 2020). "Eugene Talks About What It Was Like To Play The Mother Of A Teenager In "The Penthouse"".
31. link. Kim Jae-won. spots world. (August 9, 2022)
32. Park Min-young. (May 11, 2011). "S.E.S.'s Eugene to wed in July".
33. (May 24, 2011). "Yoo Jin and Ki Tae Young: 'We Will Live Happily Ever After'". KBS Global.
34. (May 12, 2011). "Eugene of SES to Tie the Knot".
35. Jonathan M. Hicap. (July 25, 2011). "Monique Lhuillier designs elegant wedding dress of Korean star Eugene".
36. Choi, Eun-hwa. (March 27, 2012). "Eugene and Ki Tae Young to Appear as First Couple on ''Super Couple Diary''". enewsWorld.
37. Jin Min-ji. (April 12, 2015). "S.E.S' Eugene has a baby girl".
38. link. (August 23, 2018)
39. link. News1. Lee Han-sol. (May 8, 2014)
40. link. Recording Industry Association of Korea
41. link. Recording Industry Association of Korea
42. "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart.
43. 손봉석. link. (April 17, 2025)
44. (December 10, 2015). "Ki Tae-young and Eugene to appear on 'The Return of Superman'". [[Kpop Herald]].
45. link. Park Seo-yeon. [[Herald POP]]. (May 31, 2022)
46. link. Kang Seon-ae. SBS Entertainment News. (June 10, 2022)
47. link. Ha Su-jeong. [[OSEN (newspaper). OSEN]]. (October 11, 2022)
48. link. Lee Jun-hyun. Ten Asia. (July 22, 2022)
49. Lee, Seul. (February 11, 2023). "BTS, 대상 2관왕...NCT 드림 '네온빛' 물든 '한터뮤직어워즈' (엑's 현장)[종합]". X-ports News.
50. Cho, Bum-ja. (January 3, 2011). "Jang Hyuk scores top prize at KBS Drama Awards".
51. Hong, Lucia. (January 2, 2012). "Shin Ha-kyun scores top prize at 2011 KBS Drama Awards". 10Asia.
52. (September 23, 2013). "Korea Drama Awards 2013 Nominees". Beatus Corner.
53. Kim. Jong-eun. link. TV Daily. (January 1, 2021)
54. link. Jung Hee-yeon. Sports Donga. (January 1, 2022)
55. link. The Fact. Lee Han-lim. (August 20, 2021)

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