Kim Su-mi begins new chapter as model with ballet photoshoot

Broadcaster and entrepreneur Kim Su-mi has stepped into a new field following her divorce. Rather than making a grand announcement of a return to the entertainment industry, she is expanding her horizons in an unexpected way: stepping directly in front of the camera as a model.

On the 21st, Kim released several photos taken at a modeling shoot via her SNS. Posing in a space equipped with a ballet barre, she carried off various concepts with different moods, utilizing a short hairstyle, outfits reminiscent of ballet wear, sleeveless tops, shorts, and knee-high socks.

What is eye-catching is not just the fact that she took new pictorials, but that Kim combined intense exercise and diet management for a month to prepare for the shoot. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "There are so many wonderful and beautiful models these days, and I am so grateful they sought me out," and added, "I worked hard on exercising and dieting for a month so as not to be a nuisance."

The expression "so as not to be a nuisance" clearly shows Kim's attitude toward this challenge. It suggests she did not want to stand in front of the camera simply because she is a celebrity, but rather wanted to approach the shoot as a prepared professional working alongside other models. Her month of rigorous preparation can be seen as both physical management and a form of responsibility toward her new endeavor.

After finishing the shoot, she did not lose her characteristic cheerfulness. After stating, "Thanks to this, I had a healthy month," Kim added, "Now I am going to have a glass of draft beer. Haha." After preparing for the shoot with strict self-discipline, she appeared to shake off the tension by making a light joke as if returning to her daily life.

It is also interesting that she revealed herself leaving autographs on instant photos at the scene. Kim, who has met the public as a broadcaster, entrepreneur, and influencer, has now added a new identity as a model to her career. Considering she has already demonstrated a keen sense in the fashion and beauty sectors, this can be seen not as a completely unfamiliar field, but as an expansion of her existing brand into direct modeling work.

The reason this challenge is receiving even more attention lies in the personal changes reported earlier this year. Kim announced in January that she had ended her 14-year marriage with Dynamic Duo's Gaeko. The two announced that they made a choice to respect each other's lives after long conversations, stating that while their relationship as a married couple has ended, they will continue their joint responsibility and role as parents.

The two married in 2011 and have one son and one daughter. At the time of the divorce announcement, both sides cautioned against speculation regarding specific reasons and requested that they be watched with warm eyes. Since then, they have focused on their respective activities, such as cleaning up traces of each other on SNS and YouTube.

Therefore, it is inappropriate to link this modeling challenge to the specific reasons for the divorce or her subsequent feelings. However, it is clear that even after the change in her married life, Kim is creating new opportunities under her own name. This move serves as a reminder that a change in private relationships does not necessarily mean the cessation of an individual's social activities.

The way Kim has conducted her activities so far is closely related to this challenge. Beyond appearing on broadcasts, she has shared her experiences and tastes in the beauty and lifestyle sectors. She gained recognition by appearing on the beauty variety program "Get It Beauty" in 2018 and has since expanded her reach through SNS and digital content.

The recent trend in the entertainment industry, where the boundary between influencers and broadcasters is blurring, is also noteworthy. In the past, modeling was considered the exclusive domain of a specific profession, but in the SNS era, as one's image and lifestyle become content themselves, it has become natural for broadcasters and entrepreneurs to participate in fashion and beauty pictorials. Kim's recent shoot can be interpreted as a way of expanding her brand amidst this shift.

Above all, what stands out in these photos is not the label of "someone's wife," but Kim standing as the primary subject of the shoot. If her marriage to Gaeko was a significant background that defined her identity to the public for a long time, the new interest now lies in what kind of work she chooses and how she presents herself to the world, independent of that relationship.

Kim did not frame the shoot as a grand declaration. Her comment about looking forward to a glass of draft beer after a month of dieting reflects an attitude of accepting this new start as a natural part of her daily life.

After concluding 14 years of marriage, the first scene Kim has chosen for this new phase of life is not a flashy official comeback, but a fresh challenge as a model. Whether this shoot remains a one-time project or leads to further activities in fashion and beauty remains to be seen, but it is clear that Kim has begun to write her next chapter on her own terms.