6 facts about Rowoon, star of Netflix’s Tomorrow and SF9 K-pop idol who has lucrative deals with beauty brands Biotherm Homme, Estée Lauder Korea and Klavuu
- Singing, dancing and acting are the tip of the iceberg – Rowoon also plays the Korean flute, writes poems, cooks, paints and could even have been a pro footballer
- He made his break in 2019’s Extraordinary You, which won him best new actor at the MBC Drama Awards, while 2021’s The King’s Affection made him a global star
After playing the charming and sweet student Haru in Extraordinary You, and handsome and smart royal teacher Jung Ji-woon in historical drama The King’s Affection, we’re excited to see K-pop act SF9’s Rowoon in fantasy action Tomorrow alongside veteran actress Kim Hee-sun.
1. His grandfather gave him a meaningful name
Rowoon’s real name is Kim Seok-woo, a special name that was given by his grandfather. “Seok stands for mineral and Woo stands for helper. He wanted me to help others and contribute to the world,” Rowoon told Studio A.
Today, it might even inform his life philosophy. “I think my strength is the fact that I want to be a good person. There is no clear-cut standard about being a good person, and everyone has a different perspective on it. Wherever I am, I want to bring good vibes,” he told Men’s Folio.
2. His first TV drama role was a K-pop idol
Making his acting debut in School 2017, Rowoon brought his real-life career to the screen as Issue, a student member of a boy band. The minor role landed him supporting roles in About Time and Where Stars Land a year later.
He was the breakout star in 2019’s Extraordinary You, winning him best new actor at the 2019 MBC Drama Awards. His next lead role in historical drama The King’s Affection (2021) sealed his popularity globally.
3. He works hard for his success
Rowoon’s achievements are the fruit of his hard work. During his six-year training before his debut as SF9’s lead vocalist and visual core, he “just worked through whatever came up and prepared for the next thing”, he said, according to Soompi. He usually spends his time studying his scripts and characters to portray them convincingly.