Former GFRIEND Star Kim So-won Scores 120 Out of 100 in Her First Supermodel Training Class

Kim So-won has never been one to stay still. The former GFRIEND member turned actress is now adding another chapter to an already varied career: she is officially in training to become a professional runway model. In a YouTube video titled "I got in!! I became a supermodel trainee!!" uploaded to her personal channel on March 27, So-won documented her first session at Esteem Academy, one of South Korea's most respected modeling schools — and walked away with a score her instructor called almost unheard of.

"My coach told me I got 120 out of 100," So-won said with visible delight. "The highest score possible, and then some." The assessment came after her first official training session, which covered the fundamentals of runway posture, rhythm walking, and turning technique. For someone stepping into this world without formal professional runway experience, the result surprised even So-won herself.

A Path That Was Always Part of the Plan

To fans who have followed So-won since her GFRIEND days, her move toward modeling may not be entirely surprising. She attended Hanlim Arts High School — specifically its fashion model department — long before she debuted as an idol. At the time, the choice raised eyebrows. "I know some people must have wondered why I went to the fashion model department if I was going to be an idol," she acknowledged in the video. "But when I went to a profile shoot during my trainee days, I just felt so awkward in front of the camera. I thought I needed to fix that."

The decision to enroll in a modeling course turned out to be more prescient than she could have known. It gave her a foundation in front of the camera that would serve her well through GFRIEND's six-year run and into her acting career. Now, she's choosing to build directly on that foundation — this time as a primary focus rather than a supporting tool.

"I used to do runway shows at home," she said, laughing. "I've practiced so much by myself. Confidence is probably my biggest strength." Her instructor's evaluation seemed to confirm that. In addition to the near-perfect score, the coach described her as possessing exceptional passion and energy — qualities that, in the competitive world of professional modeling, can be harder to teach than technical skill.

GFRIEND's Dissolution and a New Beginning

GFRIEND was one of the most consistent girl groups of the third generation of K-pop. The six-member group debuted under Source Music in 2015 and spent the next six years building a devoted global fanbase — known as BUDDYs — through a string of energetic, choreography-heavy singles. Their sound evolved from synchronized school-uniform concepts to a more ethereal, fantasy-tinged aesthetic, and fans followed them through every shift.

The group's disbandment in 2021, when all six members departed Source Music and went their separate ways, came as a genuine shock to the K-pop community. So-won transitioned into acting and content creation, launching her own YouTube channel and pursuing brand partnerships. She has also been running a skincare brand, showing an entrepreneurial streak that extends well beyond performance.

But the supermodel journey represents something different: a return to the performance stage, on her own terms. Esteem Models, the agency behind Esteem Academy, is one of Korea's most prestigious modeling agencies, representing top commercial and editorial talent. Earning a place in their training program is a competitive achievement, not a casual enrollment.

What the Training Involves

So-won's first session at Esteem Academy covered the foundational skills every aspiring professional runway model must master. Posture correction is typically the first hurdle — the specific alignment of the spine, shoulders, and neck required for runway walking is quite different from everyday movement, and it takes sustained practice to internalize. Rhythm walking involves learning to match stride length and pace to music in a way that looks effortless from the audience's perspective.

The turn, which closes most runway presentations, is a deceptively technical movement. Executed poorly, it can undercut an otherwise strong walk. So-won's instructor specifically noted her turning technique as a strength, alongside her natural stage presence — the kind of quality that comes from years performing in front of audiences under pressure.

For So-won, who attended hundreds of fan events, music show stages, and concert performances as a member of GFRIEND, the experience of reading a room and projecting confidence under bright lights is deeply familiar. The challenge now is translating that stage instinct into the specific, more restrained vocabulary of high fashion.

Fan Reaction and What Comes Next

The video quickly gained traction among former GFRIEND fans and K-pop audiences more broadly. BUDDYs who have followed So-won since her idol days were quick to celebrate the news, pointing out that she has always carried herself with the poise and physicality of someone built for the runway. The 120-out-of-100 score gave everyone a quotable moment, and the clip circulated widely on social platforms.

More broadly, So-won's pivot speaks to a pattern that has become increasingly common in the K-pop industry. As the generation of idols who debuted in the 2010s moves further into their careers, many are discovering that the discipline and presence they developed as performers translates into unexpected new fields — fashion, acting, entrepreneurship, content creation, and now, in So-won's case, professional modeling. The skills travel. The ambition does too.

So-won has not announced a timeline for completing her training or any upcoming runway appearances, but if her first session is any indication, the transition is already well underway. Confidence, as she pointed out, is her biggest strength. Based on the score she walked away with, her instructor appears to agree.

So-won herself has remained characteristically upbeat and engaged throughout the process. Her YouTube channel, which she has used to document behind-the-scenes moments from her various career phases, has given fans a window into her life that feels unusually candid by idol industry standards. The supermodel training video fits the same mold: personal, lighthearted, and direct about both the goal and the work required to reach it. Whether the camera is rolling in a recording studio, on a drama set, or at a modeling academy, So-won brings the same energy — and increasingly, it seems, she's just getting started.