When a superstar actor learns he may have only months to live, the natural instinct is to withdraw. Kim Woo-bin did the opposite—he leaned on his partner, his faith, and returned to the screen stronger than before.
Born: July 16, 1989 ·
Profession: Actor, model ·
Years active: 2007–present ·
Known for: The Heirs, Uncontrollably Fond, The Divine Fury ·
Diagnosis: Nasopharyngeal cancer (2017) ·
Partner: Shin Min-a (since 2015)
Quick snapshot
- Dating Shin Min-a since 2015 (Zoom TV Entertainment)
- Age gap: 5 years (Shin Min-a is older) (Wikipedia)
- Not married as of 2025 (Times of India)
- Diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in May 2017 (The Indian Express)
- Took 2-year hiatus for treatment (Wikipedia)
- Declared fully recovered by 2019 (Maeil Business Newspaper)
- The Heirs (2013) (Wikipedia)
- Uncontrollably Fond (2016) (Wikipedia)
- The Divine Fury (2019) (The Chosun Ilbo English)
Seven key facts about Kim Woo-bin, from his birth details to his current social media reach:
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kim Woo-bin ( ) |
| Date of birth | July 16, 1989 |
| Birthplace | Seoul, South Korea |
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Agency | Sidus HQ |
| Instagram followers | 6M+ |
Are Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah still together?
Yes—by every available public record, the couple remains together as of 2025. Kim Woo-bin and Shin Min-a have been in a relationship since mid-2015, when their respective agencies confirmed they were dating after rumors circulated in Korean entertainment media (Zoom TV Entertainment).
How long have they been together?
- Relationship confirmed: Summer 2015 — nearly a decade by 2025 (Times of India).
- Shin Min-a accompanied Kim Woo-bin to hospital appointments during his 2017 cancer treatment, signaling sustained commitment through a severe health crisis (Zoom TV Entertainment).
- Kim Woo-bin appeared at Shin Min-a’s film preview in 2026, showing continued public support (The Chosun Ilbo English).
Why haven’t they married?
Neither party has publicly stated a reason. Multiple outlets report they are not married as of mid-2025, and no engagement has been announced. The couple has historically kept their private life very guarded, releasing only brief statements through their agencies (The Indian Express).
The implication: their decade-long bond through cancer and career pauses shows that age difference and public scrutiny have mattered far less than mutual support during crisis.
What is the age difference between Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin?
Shin Min-a is five years older than Kim Woo-bin. She was born April 5, 1984; he was born July 16, 1989 (Wikipedia).
Who is older: Kim Woo-bin or Shin Min-ah?
- Shin Min-a is older by 5 years and 3 months.
- Their age gap fits a common pattern in Korean celebrity couples where the female partner is older—though it remains a topic of consistent search interest, as reflected in People Also Ask data.
An older female partner in a Korean celebrity relationship still draws public curiosity, yet this couple’s decade-long track record—through cancer and career pauses—suggests age difference has mattered far less than mutual support during crisis.
What this means: the public’s continued curiosity about their age gap contrasts with the couple’s own clear focus on each other.
When was Kim Woo Bin diagnosed with cancer?
Kim Woo-bin was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in May 2017. His agency, Sidus HQ, released a statement explaining that the actor had noticed something abnormal while juggling multiple schedules and received the diagnosis shortly after (The Indian Express).
What type of cancer did Kim Woo-bin have?
- Nasopharyngeal cancer—a malignancy in the upper part of the throat behind the nose.
- His treatment included drug therapy and radiation, according to secondary reporting of his agency’s statements (Wikipedia).
- In December 2017, multiple outlets reported he had completed his treatment plan.
What is his health status now?
- By 2019, Korean news sources described Kim Woo-bin as fully recovered (Maeil Business Newspaper).
- In a 2024 interview, Kim Woo-bin recalled a doctor’s warning that he might have only six months to live, making his recovery particularly notable (Hindustan Times).
- He returned to screen acting in 2022 with Our Blues and Alienoid (The Chosun Ilbo English).
The implication: Kim Woo-bin’s recovery timeline—from a diagnosis with a potentially terminal prognosis in 2017 to active filming by 2022—makes his story one of the most dramatic career comebacks in modern Korean entertainment.
What happened to Kim Woo Bin?
Kim Woo-bin’s career trajectory was interrupted at its peak. After rising to fame through The Heirs (2013) and headlining the melodrama Uncontrollably Fond (2016), he abruptly halted all professional activities in 2017 to focus on cancer treatment.
Did his career stop because of cancer?
- Yes—his agency confirmed the hiatus was directly caused by the nasopharyngeal cancer diagnosis (The Indian Express).
- He stepped away from all public appearances and filming for approximately two years.
- In 2019, he made his first public appearances post-treatment, including attending a film premiere.
What is he doing now?
- Resumed acting with The Divine Fury (2019), a supernatural action film.
- Starred in the drama Our Blues (2022), a multi-story ensemble piece.
- Appeared in Alienoid (2022), a sci-fi fantasy film.
- Remains active in public events and supports Shin Min-a’s professional activities as of 2025–2026 (The Chosun Ilbo English).
The pattern: Kim Woo-bin’s return to acting after a two-year hiatus, with a doctor’s dire prognosis in his past, redefines what resilience looks like in the public eye.
Is Kim Woo Bin Catholic?
Yes, Kim Woo-bin is Catholic. He has made public references to his faith in interviews, and his religious background is noted in several biographical profiles (Wikipedia).
What is Kim Woo-bin’s religion?
- Kim Woo-bin was raised Catholic and has spoken about his faith providing comfort during his cancer treatment.
- His Catholicism is a matter of public record, though he does not frequently discuss it in interviews.
Kim Woo-bin’s faith is a quietly held part of his identity—yet it surfaces precisely at the most intense moment of his public narrative: his cancer battle. In South Korea, where Catholics make up about 11% of the population, his faith positions him within a minority religious community that often emphasizes social service and hospital ministry.
What this means: his faith, though rarely discussed, became a quiet anchor during the most public battle of his life.
Timeline
- 2007: Began modeling career (Wikipedia)
- 2011: Acting debut in White (Wikipedia)
- 2013: Rose to fame in The Heirs (Wikipedia)
- 2015: Started dating Shin Min-a (Zoom TV Entertainment)
- 2016: Starred in Uncontrollably Fond (Wikipedia)
- May 2017: Diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer (The Indian Express)
- December 2017: Completed treatment plan (Wikipedia)
- 2019: Declared fully recovered; returned to public life (Maeil Business Newspaper)
- 2022: Resumed acting in Our Blues and Alienoid (The Chosun Ilbo English)
- 2026: Shows support for Shin Min-a at film preview (The Chosun Ilbo English)
Kim Woo-bin’s timeline is a rare case of a major Korean star openly navigating a life-threatening illness and returning to full-time acting. For Korean entertainment fans and health advocates alike, his trajectory shows that a cancer diagnosis—even one with a dire prognosis—does not necessarily end a career.
The catch: his comeback required not just medical recovery but also a public willingness to re-engage after years of silence.
Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Kim Woo-bin and Shin Min-a have been in a relationship since 2015. (Zoom TV Entertainment)
- He was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in May 2017. (The Indian Express)
- His treatment included drug and radiation therapy. (Wikipedia)
- He completed treatment in December 2017. (Wikipedia)
- He was declared fully recovered by 2019. (Maeil Business Newspaper)
- He returned to screen acting in 2022. (The Chosun Ilbo English)
- He is Catholic. (Wikipedia)
- His height is 188 cm. (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Whether the couple will marry and when.
- Detailed health status beyond “recovered” (no public medical records).
- Exact financial details or net worth.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com, oncodaily.com, youtube.com, facebook.com, republicworld.com
For a deeper look into his journey, you can read more about Kim Woo-bins cancer diagnosis and career comeback in a detailed article.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Kim Woo-bin from?
He was born in Seoul, South Korea, on July 16, 1989 (Wikipedia).
What is Kim Woo-bin’s height?
He is 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) tall.
Does Kim Woo-bin have Instagram?
Yes, his account has over 6 million followers, though the handle is not publicly verified through official channels.
What are Kim Woo-bin’s best movies?
Notable films include The Divine Fury (2019), Alienoid (2022), and Master (2016).
What dramas is Kim Woo-bin known for?
He is best known for The Heirs (2013), Uncontrollably Fond (2016), and Our Blues (2022).
How can I watch Kim Woo-bin’s dramas?
Most of his works are available on major streaming platforms like Netflix, Viki, and Disney+ depending on regional licensing.
Did Kim Woo-bin win any awards?
He has received several awards, including the Best New Actor award at the 2013 Korea Drama Awards and the Excellence Award at the 2014 APAN Star Awards.
What is Kim Woo-bin’s net worth?
His net worth is not publicly disclosed, but given his leading roles in major dramas and films plus model endorsements, estimates by entertainment publications place it in the multi-million-dollar range.
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For Korean entertainment fans invested in Kim Woo-bin’s story, the decision to resume a full acting career after a near-fatal diagnosis is not just a comeback—it’s a redefinition of what resilience looks like in the public eye. For Shin Min-a, the choice to stand by her partner during treatment and into the present day has become as defining as her own acting career. The trade-off: one of Korea’s most private celebrity couples has become its most publicly admired, precisely because they navigated the hardest parts of life without retreating from each other.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Focus, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.