Actor Kim Seung-hyun finds new career path in art after 6-year hiatus

Actor Kim Seung-hyun has discovered new possibilities in art, a dream he held since childhood, following a six-year hiatus from acting. Moving beyond a simple hobby, he has begun exhibiting and selling his original works and has even received proposals to work as a partner artist, opening an unexpected career transition from actor to painter.

On the 6th, a video titled 'Former [Professional] in Mid-40s II: Honey, what are you going to do...' was released on the YouTube channel 'Gwangsan Kim Family.' In the video, Kim transforms a hotel room into an exhibition space to showcase his paintings while acting as a one-day docent, explaining the meaning and production background of his works to visitors.

The interesting part is that his painting was not merely a one-time performance for broadcasting. At the actual exhibition, visitors were seen purchasing his works, and he even received a proposal from an industry professional to begin his activities as an artist in earnest.

His wife, Jang Jeong-yun, also showed significant confidence in Kim's artistic skills. She explained that she suggested he set up a separate studio, but Kim has been painting at home with canvases spread out instead of having a dedicated workspace. After seeing the works completed using materials like crayons, Jang evaluated him, saying, "It is certain that he has a talent for drawing."

For Kim, art is not a new hobby that appeared suddenly. He revealed, "I have loved drawing since I was young," and explained that he entered the entertainment industry after unexpectedly passing a model audition while considering a career path that included attending an art college. It turns out he was someone who could have taken a different path but chose the route of model and actor first.

Even after entering the entertainment industry, drawing never completely disappeared. While active as an actor, Kim drew in his spare time, and he confessed that drawing provided significant comfort, especially while enduring difficult periods in his entertainment career. The life of an actor performing before the public and the time spent sitting alone in front of a canvas were two entirely different ways of self-expression.

The reason this exhibition is drawing even more attention is due to the significant gap in his acting career. Kim previously revealed that his period of inactivity last year marked five years, and this year, that gap has entered its sixth year. At the time, his family members also expressed regret over his acting skills and shared their frustration regarding why drama casting offers were not coming in.

Recently, he even revealed thoughts about ways to make a living outside of his main profession as an actor. Last March, he introduced a 'sub-character' of himself as a caricature artist and made a joking confession that he is working as both a caricaturist and a physiognomist because "money isn't coming in lately." The long-term acting hiatus has naturally expanded his field of activity.

The family's YouTube channel has also served as a window into his reality. While 'Gwangsan Kim Family' once earned around 10,000,000 won per month, it was revealed that recent monthly earnings have dropped to the 1,000,000 won range. The channel honestly showed the reality that it is difficult for Kim and his family to rely on YouTube as their sole profession.

In that context, this art exhibition holds a slightly different meaning. It was not a setup for a broadcast or a secondary content piece for a family variety show; he created actual works to present to visitors, people appeared to purchase those works, and he received a proposal from an external professional to pursue artist activities.

Kim's cautious approach was also evident in his attitude toward the pricing of the works. Although an industry professional advised him that he could raise the prices, it was reported that he declined, stating that it wouldn't be right to raise prices starting from his very first work. This choice is interpreted as being conscious of the fact that he is still in the stage of having his work evaluated by the market.

At the same time, he was active regarding the artist activities themselves. In response to the proposal to work as a partner artist, he replied, "I will accept quickly," showing no hesitation in his enthusiasm for the new field. It is the sight of a mid-40s actor standing at the starting line again before new professional possibilities, much like a rookie in their 20s.

Kim's life path has not been a single direction from the beginning. He entered the entertainment industry through a model audition, became known as an actor, went through broadcast activities and family variety shows, and has now returned to the starting point of art from his childhood. It seems that the void caused by the acting hiatus has paradoxically called forth a long-forgotten talent.

It is too early to conclude that he will immediately quit acting to become a painter. This exhibition is merely a stage to confirm new possibilities, and it remains to be seen how long his artist activities will continue. However, the fact that concrete results such as work sales and collaboration proposals have emerged marks a clear difference from his past as a simple hobbyist.

Kim married broadcast writer Jang Jeong-yun in 2020 and had his second daughter in 2024. Including his journey of raising his daughter, Su-bin, as a single father, his life has undergone many layers of change, making it difficult to explain through his profession as an actor alone.

A six-year gap can be fatal for an actor. However, for Kim, that time does not seem to have meant only loss. Rather, in front of a canvas instead of a camera, he discovered another talent he had held for a long time, and now those paintings are reaching actual viewers and the market.

It remains to be seen whether Kim's next step will be a drama set or an art studio. What is certain is that during the time acting offers ceased, the canvas he never let go of has begun to show new professional possibilities.