The Pulse of K-Entertainment

Kim Young-dae
ActorOUTERUNIVERSE

Kim Young-dae

Kim Young-dae (김영대) built his rise the hard way, first through web dramas, then by turning every supporting role into a larger audition. Extraordinary You pushed him into wider view in 2019, but the real mass-market breakout came with the SBS juggernaut The Penthouse, where his turn as Joo Seok-hoon gave him mainstream recognition and proved he could hold tension inside one of Korean TV's loudest ensemble hits.

What followed was a clean move from buzz to bankable lead status. He fronted Shooting Stars on tvN, anchored the period rom-com The Forbidden Marriage, and kept stacking headline work with Moon in the Day, No Gain No Love, To the Moon on MBC, and TVING's Dear X. His official OUTERUNIVERSE profile also maps that run clearly, including Perfect Family in 2024 and the 2025 to 2026 lead stretch that landed just before military enlistment.

That trajectory is why Kim Young-dae matters now. He has the face and scale of a classic romance lead, but his best work comes when the material asks for edge, volatility, or emotional pressure. With enlistment beginning in April 2026, his pre-service run already reads like a transition point from breakout actor to dependable top-line name.

1 articles8 creditsDebut: January 1, 2017South Korean

Gallery

Official promotional poster for Dear X (TVING, 2025). Photo: TVING / OUTERUNIVERSE

Filmography

2026
Dear XK-Drama
LeadTVINGOUTERUNIVERSE
2025
To the MoonK-Drama
Ham Ji-woo (Lead)MBCOUTERUNIVERSE
2024
No Gain No LoveK-Drama
Kim Ji-wook (Lead)tvNOUTERUNIVERSE
2024
Perfect FamilyK-Drama
Park Kyung-ho (Special Appearance)KBSOUTERUNIVERSE
2023
Moon in the DayK-Drama
Do-ha / Han Joon-oh (Lead)OUTERUNIVERSE
2022
The Forbidden MarriageK-Drama
Lee Heon (Lead)MBCOUTERUNIVERSE
2022
Shooting StarsK-Drama
Gong Tae-sung (Lead)tvNOUTERUNIVERSE
2020-2021
The PenthouseK-Drama
Joo Seok-hoonSBS

Fans Also Ask

What is Kim Young-dae best known for?
Kim Young-dae is best known for The Penthouse, where his role as Joo Seok-hoon pushed him into mainstream Korean TV conversation. He later converted that attention into lead parts in Shooting Stars, The Forbidden Marriage, Moon in the Day, No Gain No Love, To the Moon, and Dear X, giving him one of the stronger post-2020 actor growth curves in his lane.
When did Kim Young-dae debut as an actor?
Kim Young-dae debuted in 2017 and spent his early period building credits through web dramas and supporting television roles. That slow-build route matters because his breakout did not come from a single launch vehicle. It came from steady accumulation, then a major visibility jump with Extraordinary You in 2019 and The Penthouse from 2020 to 2021.
What agency is Kim Young-dae under?
Kim Young-dae is managed by OUTERUNIVERSE. His official profile on the company site lists his drama and fashion-show work, including To the Moon, Dear X, and earlier titles that shaped his climb. The agency has been central to his career development and was still presenting his 2025 to 2026 lead run before his April 2026 enlistment.
Did Kim Young-dae star in Dear X?
Yes. Kim Young-dae starred in TVING's Dear X as Yoon Joon-seo, one of the major lead roles in his pre-enlistment run. The project followed To the Moon and No Gain No Love, helping lock in a period where he was no longer just a breakout face from The Penthouse, but a repeat top-line casting choice.
Is Kim Young-dae in the military now?
Yes. Korean coverage in April 2026 reported that Kim Young-dae began his mandatory military service on April 20, 2026. That makes his 2024 to 2026 run, including Perfect Family, No Gain No Love, To the Moon, and Dear X, the key body of work closing out his first full chapter as a leading actor.

Latest Articles

Kim Young Dae Enlists in the Korean Military This April.
K-Drama5 min read

Kim Young Dae Enlists in the Korean Military This April

Kim Young-dae enlists in April 2026 as an active-duty soldier, with discharge expected around October 2027. A look at his nine-year career and what comes next.

PakMarch 29, 2026
1🔥00