After being loved as I.O.I member, Kim Sohye slowly drifted away from the music scene when the group disbanded and chose to follow her initial dream. Six years after she parted ways with members, whatever happened to her?
Kim Sohye in 2016 to 2022: Mnet 'Produce 101,' I.O.I Debut, Acting Career
In 2016, Kim Sohye was revealed to the public for the first time as a participant in Mnet's "Produce 101." At the time, she was a trainee who represented Redline Entertainment.
As she came from an acting company, Kim Sohye originally trained to become an actress. Thus, it was revealed that she had no prior experience in singing and dancing.
During the show, she was immediately loved by K-pop fans for her beauty, smile and adorable personality. Sohye even earned the nickname, "Penguin," after claiming that all humans came from the bird species.
During the show, she particularly struggled due to lacking in dance skills and became one of the trainees to be scolded by trainer Bae Yoon Jung. But as the episode went on, she received the moniker, "Victory Fairy," after unleashing her full potential and finishing the show at No. 5.
In May 2016, Sohye, after 8 months of training, officially debuted as an idol under I.O.I. The group rose to fame and became notable for hits, "Very Vey Very," "Whatta Man," and "Downpour."
Unfortunately, I.O.I was only a project girl group for a year, leading them to disband in 2017.
At the time, the idol didn't return but terminated her contract with Redline Entertainment. Kim Sohye and her family created their own label instead. At a young age, Sohye became CEO of S&P Entertainment, which managed her idol and acting activities.
As her original dream was to become an actress, she left her career as a top idol and pursued acting.
From 2017, she appeared in various web dramas, and small-screen projects, but it was only in 2020 that she was recognized as an actress for her mini-drama, "How to Buy a Friend." Sohye was also loved for her work, "Her Bucket List," co-starring with Na In Woo.
Unfortunately, she had to stop working in 2021 after Sohye's first controversy throughout her career appeared.
In February, a third party took to an online community that Sohye physically assaulted their classmate at a beach, leading her to be dismissed from her position as vice president.
In July, Sohye's bullying accusation turned out to be false.
Despite that, she remained away from the limelight for a long time amid criticism.
Where Is Kim Sohye in 2023? Idol-Actress To Make Acting Comeback With 'Pure Boxer'
After about 2-year hiatus, Kim Sohye will be back in September with "Pure Boxer," a sports drama about a sports agent who was tasked to bring a genius boxer back in the ring after 3 years.
Kim Sohye will play the role of Lee Kwon Sook, who became an elite boxer at the age of 17. She was a "genius," who never experienced losing, but she suddenly disappeared one day.
Kim Tae Young (Lee Sang Yeob) will then start his journey to bring back Lee Kwon Sook who already left her life as a boxer.
Kim Sohye, who participated as a presenter at the KBS Acting Awards in December 2022 also drew attention by confessing:
"I am currently learning boxing hard for the drama."
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Written by Eunice Dawson.
