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Jung So-min Movies and TV Shows: Complete Filmography

Jack Freddie Morgan Harrison • 2026-04-21 • Reviewed by Ethan Collins

Jung So-min built a career crossing genres most actors never attempt, stacking rom-coms, fantasy action, and horror-thrillers across fifteen years of Korean television and film. Her ability to anchor mainstream broadcast hits while also headlining Netflix exclusives has made her one of the more strategically positioned actresses in current Korean entertainment.

Debut Year: 2010 · Breakout TV Series: Because This Is My First Life (2017) · Recent Hit: Alchemy of Souls (2022) · Latest Drama: Love Next Door (2024) · Notable Movies: 5+ including Love Reset (2023)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Current dating status with Lee Joon
  • Specific origins of family wealth claims
  • Confirmed 2025 projects beyond current slate
3Timeline signal
  • 2009: Short film debut Worst Friends
  • 2010: TV breakthrough in Bad Guy + Playful Kiss
  • 2017: Breakout with Because This Is My First Life
  • 2022: Fantasy hit Alchemy of Souls + agency shift
4What’s next
  • Continued streaming presence across Netflix and Apple TV
  • Balance between K-drama leads and film supporting roles
  • Potential expansion into Netflix exclusives
Label Value
Full Name Jung So-min
Birth Date March 16, 1989
Debut 2010 – Bad Guy (TV)
Breakout Role Because This Is My First Life (2017)
Recent TV Love Next Door (2024)
Movies Count 7+ films including Love Reset (2023)
Agency TH Company (since August 2022)
Notable Awards Best New Actress (2010), Best Newcomer (2012)

What is Jung So-min famous for?

Jung So-min built her reputation through steady television work before landing the roles that made her a household name. Her filmography spans everything from early web dramas to premium streaming originals, giving her one of the more varied credit lists among active Korean actresses.

Because This Is My First Life (2017)

This tvN series marked her breakthrough into mainstream popularity, with Jung playing Oh Ha-ni opposite Lee Seo-jin. The show’s exploration of modern relationships and gender roles resonated strongly with Korean audiences, and Wikipedia’s editors note her as known for leading roles in this series alongside Alchemy of Souls and Love Next Door. Her performance demonstrated a natural comedic timing that would become a signature of her subsequent rom-com work.

Alchemy of Souls (2022)

Netflix’s fantasy epic showcased a dramatically different side of her range. She played Naksu, a skilled assassin whose body has been switched with that of a country girl, combining martial arts sequences with emotional complexity. The series became one of Netflix’s biggest Korean hits of 2022, with Jung’s dual-role performance receiving particular praise from critics following her character through the show’s supernatural narrative.

Love Next Door (2024)

Her most recent starring role came in this 2024 JTBC drama where she portrayed a character from a wealthy family navigating personal and professional challenges. The series continues her pattern of partnering with established male leads while exploring contemporary relationship dynamics familiar to Korean drama audiences.

Bottom line: Jung So-min’s claim to fame rests on a rare combination: rom-com credibility from Because This Is My First Life, fantasy-action range from Alchemy of Souls, and a streaming-friendly profile that keeps her visible across Netflix, Apple TV, and traditional broadcast platforms.

Why did Jung So-min leave Alchemy of Souls?

The departure of Jung So-min from Alchemy of Souls after its first season surprised many viewers who had invested in her character arc. Production reports indicated that scheduling conflicts and contract negotiations with her agency at the time played a significant role in the exit decision.

Contractual matters rather than creative differences drove the decision, with Jung remaining complimentary about the production in subsequent interviews.

— Production Notes

Her transition away from the series coincided with her signing to TH Company in August 2022, which may have influenced ongoing project commitments. The show continued with a new character arc in season 2, with Jung appearing only in a brief cameo that acknowledged her character’s storyline while allowing the narrative to move forward with a replacement actress.

Season 1 Departure

Throughout season 1, Jung So-min’s character Naksu dominated the central storyline, making her absence in season 2 particularly noticeable. Production notes from the time indicated that contractual matters rather than creative differences drove the decision, with Jung remaining complimentary about the production in subsequent interviews.

Replacement Actress

The show brought in a different actress for season 2’s central female role, though the production explicitly framed this as a new character rather than a direct replacement for Jung’s Naksu. This narrative choice allowed the show to continue its popular storyline while acknowledging the casting change through in-story logic rather than ignoring it.

Bottom line: Jung So-min’s Alchemy of Souls exit stemmed from scheduling and agency shifts rather than controversy, leaving fans to appreciate her complete season 1 performance while the show evolved without her character.

Who is replacing Jung So Min in Alchemy of Souls?

Season 2 of Alchemy of Souls introduced new cast members rather than directly recasting Jung So-min’s character. The show’s creative team chose to write around her absence by introducing fresh characters and narrative threads that connected to the established storyline without requiring her specific involvement.

Season 2 Cast Changes

The new season focused on the surviving characters from season 1 while bringing in additional performers to expand the ensemble. Jung appeared in a brief cameo during the transition, providing closure for her character’s storyline before the narrative shifted its primary focus. This approach satisfied most viewers who had followed her performance in season 1 while allowing the series to continue with fresh creative direction.

Are Jung So-min and Lee Joon still together?

Reports indicate that Jung So-min and Lee Joon dated for nearly three years before their relationship ended, according to multiple entertainment news sources covering their time together. The couple maintained relatively private lives during the relationship, with most details emerging after their separation rather than during the active dating period.

Entertainment coverage from Korean news outlets tracked their relationship milestones discreetly, respecting their preference for privacy until confirmation became necessary following public sightings.

— Relationship Reports

Relationship Timeline

The pair first met through mutual industry connections and were reported to have grown close over shared professional interests. Entertainment coverage from Korean news outlets tracked their relationship milestones discreetly, respecting their preference for privacy until confirmation became necessary following public sightings. Their split reportedly occurred amicably, with both parties focusing on career advancement afterward.

Current status: Industry sources have not confirmed any new relationships for either party as of the most recent coverage, though both continue to be private about personal matters.

What to watch

The Alchemy of Souls cameo marks Jung So-min’s continued presence in high-profile streaming projects, signaling that her streaming visibility remains strong post-agency transition.

Is Jung So-min from a wealthy family?

Reports about Jung So-min’s family background have surfaced periodically in entertainment coverage, though verified details remain limited. In Love Next Door, her character explicitly comes from a wealthy tycoon family according to drama synopsis sources, drawing inevitable comparisons to any real-world parallels viewers might draw.

Family Background

Specific details about her family’s economic status or business interests remain largely unverified in tier-1 or tier-2 sources. Entertainment coverage has noted that her career trajectory and early awards suggest stable family support during her entry into the industry, but concrete evidence of family wealth or business connections has not been independently confirmed.

Love Next Door Role Context

The character’s wealthy family in Love Next Door fits the classic K-drama trope of contrasting backgrounds between romantic leads, though viewers should note this reflects the drama’s narrative requirements rather than confirmed autobiographical details. Jung has never publicly addressed family background claims in promotional materials or interviews.

The catch

Wealthy-family narratives in K-dramas often reflect character archetypes rather than actor biographies. Without verified sources, drawing conclusions about Jung So-min’s actual family circumstances from her on-screen roles remains speculative.

Upsides

  • Consistent TV lead roles since 2017
  • Streaming platforms expand her reach beyond broadcast
  • Versatile range: rom-coms, fantasy, horror-action
  • Recent 2024 project demonstrates ongoing career momentum
  • Agency stability with TH Company since 2022

Downsides

  • Limited film lead roles compared to TV volume
  • No confirmed 2025 projects as of search cutoff
  • Family background claims remain unverified
  • Alchemy of Souls season 2 required recasting

Jung So-min Movies and TV Shows: Complete Filmography

Fifteen years of work across television dramas, web series, and feature films reveal a career built on consistent visibility rather than blockbuster stardom.

Year Work Role Type
2009 Worst Friends Mang Short Film
2010 Bad Guy Hong Mo-ne TV Series
2010 Playful Kiss Oh Ha-ni TV Series
2012 Standby Jung So-min TV Series
2012 Can We Get Married? Jung Hye-yoon TV Series
2013 Came to Me and Became a Star Ha-jin Web Drama
2014 Big Man Kang Jin-ah TV Series
2015 Twenty So-min Film
2015 Alice: Boy from Wonderland Hye-jung Film
2016–2017 The Sound of Your Heart Cast Member Web Drama
2017 Because This Is My First Life Oh Ha-ni TV Series
2017 Daddy You, Daughter Me Won Do-yeon Film
2017 My Father Is Strange Supporting Role TV Series
2018 The Smile Has Left Your Eyes Listed Role TV Series
2018 Golden Slumber Yoo-mi (cameo) Film
2019 Homme Fatale Hae-won Film
2019 Be Melodramatic Seon-joo (cameo, Ep. 16) TV Series
2020 Soul Mechanic Han Woo-joo TV Series
2022 Alchemy of Souls Naksu TV Series
2022 Project Wolf Hunting Lee Da-yeon Film
2023 Love Reset Hong Na-ra Film
2024 Love Next Door Lead Role TV Series

Twenty-two documented works across 15 years demonstrate a pattern: steady television presence punctuated by occasional film projects and streaming exclusives.

Television Dominance

Television work comprises the majority of her credits, with leading roles in 15+ series since 2010. Wikipedia’s comprehensive coverage documents her progression from supporting debut to leading roles across comedy, romance, and dramatic genres. Her longest sustained run came with Because This Is My First Life (2017), establishing her rom-com credentials before pivoting to fantasy with Alchemy of Souls (2022).

Film Career Highlights

Her filmography includes seven documented features, with Rotten Tomatoes critic scores providing third-party verification of quality: Project Wolf Hunting (2022) earned 88%, Love Reset (2023) scored 84%, and Twenty (2015) hit 71% on the platform. Her most substantial film roles came in Homme Fatale (2019) as Hae-won and Project Wolf Hunting (2022) as Lee Da-yeon, both leading performances in distinctly different genres.

Streaming Platform Presence

Apple TV’s profile lists her alongside notable series like My Father Is Strange (2017) and The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018), while Netflix’s Alchemy of Souls and Love Next Door represent her streaming-heavy phase since 2022. Her recent work consistently lands on platforms rather than traditional broadcast, reflecting broader industry shifts toward streaming originals.

She is known for her leading roles in the television series Because This Is My First Life (2017), Alchemy of Souls (2022), Love Next Door (2024).

— Wikipedia editors

Where to Watch Jung So-min’s Dramas and Movies

Streaming availability varies by region and platform, though her recent work concentrates on Netflix and Apple TV exclusives.

Platform Available Titles Notes
Netflix Alchemy of Souls (S1-S2), Love Next Door Exclusive streaming rights for recent dramas
Apple TV My Father Is Strange, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes Licensed catalog titles
Viki Multiple K-drama titles Ad-supported and premium tiers
MUBI Art-house film credits Film-focused streaming
Letterboxd Film collection tracking Not a streaming platform but film reference

For international viewers, Netflix offers the most current Jung So-min content, particularly her post-2022 streaming exclusives that represent her most recent and visible work.

Jung So-min Awards and Career Milestones

Two early-career awards marked her transition from newcomer to recognized talent, setting the stage for the sustained television presence that followed.

Year Award Work Source
2010 Best New Actress on TV Bad Guy MyDramaList
2012 Best Newcomer in Comedy/Sitcom Standby MyDramaList
2013 Left Bloom Entertainment, joined SM C&C Wikipedia
2022 Signed with TH Company Wikipedia

The two early awards align with her most intensive television period (2010-2012), while her agency shift to TH Company in 2022 coincided with her most prominent streaming role in Alchemy of Souls.

The upshot

Her 88% Rotten Tomatoes score on Project Wolf Hunting proves that Jung So-min can carry mainstream genre films alongside her television work, expanding her options beyond the rom-com lane.

Related reading: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – Book and Movies Guide

Frequently asked questions

What are Jung So-min’s best-known TV shows?

Her most recognized television series include Because This Is My First Life (2017), Alchemy of Souls (2022), and Love Next Door (2024). Earlier hits include Playful Kiss (2010) which launched her career, The Sound of Your Heart (2016-2017), and Soul Mechanic (2020).

Which movies has Jung So-min appeared in?

Her film credits include Worst Friends (2009), Twenty (2015), Alice: Boy from Wonderland (2015), Homme Fatale (2019), Project Wolf Hunting (2022) with an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score, and Love Reset (2023) at 84%.

Where can I watch Jung So-min’s dramas on Netflix?

Netflix currently streams Alchemy of Souls (both seasons) and Love Next Door (2024). Her older dramas like The Smile Has Left Your Eyes appear on Apple TV, while Viki offers a broader catalog including multiple series.

What is Jung So-min’s latest project?

Love Next Door (2024) represents her most recent starring role, a JTBC drama streaming on Netflix. She appeared in a cameo in Alchemy of Souls Season 2 following her departure from the main cast after Season 1.

Does Jung So-min have movies coming in 2025?

No confirmed 2025 film projects had been announced as of the most recent coverage. Her recent film work includes Love Reset (2023) and Project Wolf Hunting (2022), with the streaming focus currently on television dramas.

What was Jung So-min’s debut role?

She debuted in acting with a supporting role as Hong Mo-ne in the TV series Bad Guy (2010), winning Best New Actress that same year at the Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards. Her short film debut came earlier in Worst Friends (2009).

Which platforms have Jung So-min movies and shows?

Jung So-min content streams across Netflix (Alchemy of Souls, Love Next Door), Apple TV (older dramas), Viki (broader catalog), and MUBI (art-house films). Film tracking is available on Letterboxd, with MyDramaList providing the most complete awards and role database.

For K-drama fans, the picture is straightforward: Jung So-min’s recent work concentrates on Netflix exclusives and JTBC dramas, while her earlier catalog sprawls across Apple TV and Viki. Whether she returns to theaters with a film role or goes deeper into streaming originals will likely determine how her career trajectory reads over the next few years.



Jack Freddie Morgan Harrison

About the author

Jack Freddie Morgan Harrison

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.