Kim Yeji, the acclaimed South Korean sharpshooter, is captivating the online world with her magnetic presence.
Kim Yeji, a 31-year-old South Korean sharpshooter, made a splash at the recent Paris Olympics, capturing the silver medal in the women's 10-metre air pistol event on 28 July 2024 [1]. Her roommate and compatriot, Oh Ye Jin, took home the gold in the same event [2].
Kim's journey to Olympic glory began in middle school when she took up shooting out of curiosity [3]. Her dedication and exceptional skills soon set her apart, culminating in her impressive performance at the Paris Olympics.
In the midst of her record-breaking performance, Kim was seen with a grey elephant plush dangling from her fingers [4]. It was later revealed that the toy belonged to her five-year-old daughter who is still in kindergarten [5].
Kim's intense expressions and nonchalant demeanour during the competition garnered worldwide attention, earning her comparisons to action heroes such as Keanu Reeves' John Wick and Matt Damon's Jason Bourne [6]. TikTok users have also likened her to the white-haired anime character Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen.
Despite her fierce competition, Kim expressed her happiness for Oh Ye Jin's gold medal win and stated that she does not view her as a rival [2]. Instead, she described Oh Ye Jin as her youngest sibling, expressing a desire to always care for and be there for her [7].
Kim's viral moments included her gripping gaze into the camera after setting a world record in the 25-metre air pistol event [8] and a clip of her performance at the ISSF World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, which contributed to her popularity [9].
The Korean Instagram account of the Olympics tagged the Korean Shooting Federation and Team Korea in an image carousel of the air pistol event [10]. Elon Musk even commented on Kim, suggesting she should be cast in an action movie and stating that she doesn't need to act [11].
Prior to the Paris Olympics, Kim secured bronze at the Munich leg of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup earlier this year [12]. She also bagged the silver medal at the Asian Rifle or Pistol Championships in Indonesia earlier in 2024 [13]. Kim also won gold and silver at the Baku leg of the same competition.
Despite her success on social media platforms, Kim is not active on Instagram, X, or TikTok [14]. Regardless, her performances at the Paris Olympics have solidified her status as a top Olympic marksman and a prominent figure in the sport of shooting.
Kim's viral moments on social media, such as her gripping gaze into the camera after setting a world record in the 25-metre air pistol event, have contributed to her popularity in the realm of pop-culture, often being compared to action heroes. Her unique on-screen presence on social media platforms, despite not being active on certain ones like Instagram, X, or TikTok, has solidified her status as a social-media sensation. Meanwhile, her dedication to entertainment beyond shooting, such as her strong bond with her young daughter and her fellow athletes like Oh Ye Jin, showcases that her interests extend beyond the to-firing range, hinting at her involvement in broader entertainment and pop-culture scenes.
