Kim Jae-won made his debut as a fashion model in 2018,[5] and subsequently commencing his acting journey in 2021 with the Filipino-Korean web seriesLove From Home directed by Kristel Fulgar (a Filipino actress and singer), and later appearing in the series titled Romanced.[6][7]
2022–present: Rising popularity
In 2022, Kim made his notable appearance in the television drama Our Blues on tvN, portraying the character of a young Cha Seung-won. After playing the role he received immense adoration from the viewers and left a lasting impression.[8] Continuing to demonstrate his talent, he was then cast as the lead protagonist, Je Soo-oh, in the EBS television drama Fall For You. Excellently portraying the role of a beloved high school student, which he effectively embodied the image of first love.[9]
In the year 2023, an additional invitation was extended to him, presenting an opportunity to showcase his talent in the renowned television series Stealer: The Treasure Keeper on tvN. In this production, he assumed the role of Shin Chang-hoon, a former homicide detective.[10] Furthermore, he has made a recent appearance in the JTBC romantic comedy drama King the Land.[5]
In 2024, he took on the lead role for the first time in the original Netflix drama series Hierarchy as Kim Ri-an, alongside Roh Jeong-eui and Lee Chae-min, and will debut in the sageuk drama The Tale of Lady Ok.
^Kang Seo-jeong (June 3, 2023). "김재원, 이번엔 설렘 유발..고원희에 오빠美 넘치는 '직진 연하남'" [Kim Jae-won, this time causing excitement...'Straight Younger Man' full of older brother beauty in Go Won-hee]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jo Eun-ae (June 4, 2022). "김재원 "우리들의 블루스' 차 승원 아역 캐스팅, 살면서 가 장 설렜다"" [Kim Jae-won "Casting Cha Seung-won's child role in "Our Blues' was the most exciting in my life"]. Sports Korea (in Korean). Retrieved June 4, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Sung-mi (June 6, 2023). "넷플릭스 '하이라키' 노정의ㆍ이채민ㆍ김재원ㆍ지혜원ㆍ이원정 '아는 형님' 출격" [Netflix's 'Hairaki' Noh Jeong-ui, Lee Chae-min, Kim Jae-won, Ji Hye-won, Lee Won-jeong appears on 'Knowing Brothers'.]. BizEnter (in Korean). Retrieved July 16, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abAhn Eun-jae (August 10, 2023). "'킹더랜드' 김재원 "롤모델은 이준호, 자기관리 철저해...반할 뻔"" ['King the Land' Kim Jae-won "My role model is Lee Jun-ho, he manages himself thoroughly... I almost fell for him"]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved August 10, 2023 – via Naver.
^"백이삭은 누구? 지금 가장 핫한 신인 배우들" [Who is Isaac Baek? The hottest new actors right now you]. Marie Claire (in Korean). April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022 – via Naver.
^"<우리들의 블루스> 차승원×이정은 아역 누구지?" [<Our Blues> Cha Seung-won X Lee Jeong-eun Who are the child actors?]. Harper Bazaar (in Korean). April 11, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Min-ji (October 19, 2022). "'네가 빠진 세계' 김재원 "사대천왕, 부담감보단 호기심이 더 컸다"" ['Fall For You' Kim Jae-won "Four Great Heavenly Kings, curiosity was greater than burden"]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved October 19, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ahn Byung-gil (May 4, 2023). "'스틸러' 김재원의 치명적 매력 셋" ['Stealer' Kim Jae-won's three fatal charms]. Sports Trend (in Korean). Retrieved May 4, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim Seon-hee (March 11, 2022). "김재원, 영화 '드림메이커' 주연 캐스팅[공식]" [Kim Jae-won, starring in the movie 'Dreammaker' [Official]]. Sports Kyunghang (in Korean). Retrieved March 11, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Joo-hee (May 4, 2022). "청소년·청년 위한 웹드라마...'내 인생의 타임라인'·'드림런노트'" [Web film for teenagers and young adults... 'Timeline of My Life' · 'Dream Run Notes']. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Naver.
^Hwang Seo-yeo (April 11, 2022). "김재원, '우리들의 블루스'로 안방극 장 눈도장" [Kim Jae-won 'Our Blues' a home theater snow stamp]. TV Daily (in Korean). Retrieved April 11, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Chae-yeon (October 19, 2022). "'네가 빠진 세계' 김재원 "'우블' 첫사랑 기억조작남, 수식어에 누가 되지 않도록 노력"" ['Fall for You' Kim Jae-won "'Wooble' first love memory manipulation man, try not to become someone in the modifier"]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved October 19, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Jae-hwan (December 8, 2022). "'열아홉 해달들' 신은수-김재원, "서로의 버팀목이 되어주다" (KBS드라마스페셜2022)" [‘Like Otters’ Shin Eun-soo and Kim Jae-won, “Becoming each other’s support” (KBS Drama Special 2022)]. KBS Media (in Korean). Retrieved July 16, 2024 – via Naver.
^Ahn Eun-jae (May 19, 2023). "'스틸러' 김재원 "액션 첫 도전 부담됐지만...만족스러운 결과 뿌듯"" ['Stealer' Kim Jae-won "I was burdened with the first action challenge... but I'm proud of the satisfactory result"]. News 1 (in Korean). Retrieved May 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^Ha, Su-jeong (September 21, 2022). "[단독] '킹더랜드' 안세하, 이준호 비서된다..'우블' 김재원도 캐스팅" [[Exclusive] 'King the Land' Ahn Se-ha becomes Lee Jun-ho's secretary..'Wooble' Kim Jae-won is also cast] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022 – via Naver.
^Hong Seon-hwa (June 11, 2024). "연우ㆍ김재원, 드라마 '옥씨부인전' 합류…임지연ㆍ추영우와 호흡" [Yeonwoo and Kim Jae-won join the drama ‘The Tale of Lady Ok’… Working with Lim Ji-yeon and Choo Youngwoo]. Bizenter (in Korean). Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kim Chae-yeon (December 28, 2022). "김민하·김재원·문상민, 2022년 샛별처럼 나타난 신예 [2022 연말결산]" [Kim Min-ha·Kim Jae-won·Moon Sang-min, a rookie who appeared like a morning star in 2022 [2022 year-end settlement]]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved December 28, 2022 – via Naver.
^"해피엔딩으로 막을 내린 단짠 로맨스 <나의 별에게2>" [Sweet and salty romance with a happy ending <To My Star 2>]. Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
^Ahn Tae-hyun (May 15, 2023). "노정의·이채민·김재원·지혜원·이원정, 넷플릭스 '하이라키' 출연 확정" [Roh Jung-eui, Lee Chae-min, Kim Jae-won, Ji Hye-won, Lee Won-jeong confirmed to appear in Netflix's 'Hierarchy']. News 1 (in Korean). Retrieved May 15, 2023 – via Naver.
^Cha Hye-young (September 27, 2021). "신예 김재원, 웹드라마 '바다마을 구름펜션' 캐스팅...여자친구 예린과 호흡" [Rookie Kim Jae-won, cast in web drama 'Sea Village Cloud Pension'... Breathing with girlfriend Yerin]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via Naver.
^Ahn Ha-na (January 23, 2014). "에디킴, 윤종신 손잡고 'track by YOON' 신곡 '괜찮아지겠지' 발매..."삶의 위안과 공감 전하길"" [Eddy Kim and Yoon Jong-shin join hands to release new song ‘It's gonna be alright’ on ‘track by YOON’… “I hope to convey the comfort and empathy of life”]. MBN Star (in Korean). Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Naver.