Key Takeaways
- Matthew Kim (stage name BM) makes his acting debut in Beef Season 2 as Woosh, a mysterious tennis coach who also peddles K‑beauty products at an elite country club.
- A Korean‑American rapper, Kim debuted in 2016 with the co‑ed K‑pop group KARD, has released solo music (e.g., “Broken Me”), and works as a composer, songwriter and producer for both his own and KARD tracks.
- Beyond music, he co‑hosts the English‑language podcast GET REALLY with Eric Nam’s DIVE Studios and is the creator of the viral Big Tiddie Gang meme, which has generated over $20,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation through merchandise sales.
- Kim describes Woosh as “attention hungry” but notes that he himself is “a little less greedy” than the character, highlighting a contrast between his real‑life persona and the role.
- He calls working on Beef “acting school,” saying the experience with veteran Korean actors reshaped his approach to performance and deepened his authenticity as an artist.
Matthew Kim, known to fans as BM, stepped into the spotlight of Beef Season 2 not as a musician but as Woosh, a charismatic yet enigmatic tennis instructor who arrives at Monte Vista Point alongside its new chaebol owner, Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh‑jung). While Woosh spends much of his time hawking high‑end K‑beauty products and procedures to the club’s affluent housewives, his seemingly carefree, himbo demeanor masks deeper motivations—secrets that may or may not be fully apparent to him. Kim’s portrayal blends the physicality of a former pro‑tennis player with a shrewd salesmanship that hints at a more complex interior life.
Born in October 1992 in Southern California, Kim grew up in Los Angeles before moving to Seoul in 2011 to compete on the singing competition K‑Pop Star. Though he did not win the show, his performance caught the eye of DSP Media, leading to a five‑year trainee period. In 2016 he debuted under the moniker BM (short for “Big Matthew”) as a rapper in KARD, a groundbreaking co‑ed K‑pop group that bucked the industry’s typical gender‑segregated formula. Alongside bandmates J.Seph, Somin, and Jiwoo, Kim helped craft a sound that blended hip‑hop, EDM, and pop, earning the quartet a dedicated international following. His solo career began with the 2021 single “Broken Me,” and he has since written, composed, and produced tracks for both his own releases and KARD songs such as “Dumb Litty” and “Break Down.” Most recently, he contributed production to Somin’s EP Unveil, underscoring his growing reputation as a versatile musician behind the scenes.
Kim’s influence extends far beyond the recording studio. Since 2020 he has been a longtime co‑host of the English‑language podcast GET REALLY, produced by Eric Nam’s DIVE Studios. Joined by pen pals Peniel (BTOB), Ashley Choi (former Ladies’ Code), and JUNNY, the show explores the “ups and downs of work, love, and adulthood,” frequently featuring English‑speaking entertainers who have transplanted their careers to South Korea. The podcast’s candid, conversational tone mirrors Kim’s own public persona, which he has described as “blatantly honest”—a trait he attributes to his Los Angeles upbringing and a willingness to speak his mind despite the polished expectations placed on K‑pop idols.
Perhaps the most unexpected facet of Kim’s public image is the Big Tiddie Gang meme, which sprang from a March 2019 livestream where he jokingly declared a preference for chest workouts. The joke caught fire online, and a chance encounter with a fan undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer during a KARD tour stop in Los Angeles inspired Kim to turn the meme into a philanthropic venture. Partnering with his parents’ clothing brand Staydium LA, he sold Big Tiddie Gang merchandise, directing more than $20,000 of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The initiative highlighted how his humor could be leveraged for tangible social good, reinforcing his reputation as an idol who balances entertainment with activism.
When discussing his acting debut, Kim draws a clear line between himself and Woosh. He admits that both characters share an “attention‑hungry” quality, yet he insists that his real‑life drive is tempered: “Matthew is a little less greedy. Woosh is very hungry still.” This self‑awareness underscores a nuanced performance in which he channels the character’s ambition while infusing it with his own grounded sensibility. Reflecting on the crossover between music and acting, Kim told TV Guide that both mediums demand emotional honesty, though acting frees him from the rigid timing and rhythm of a song. He credited years of conveying feeling through music as a valuable foundation that helped him navigate the nuances of Woosh’s portrayal, calling the Beef set “the most prestigious acting school” he has ever attended.
In sum, Matthew Kim’s journey from K‑pop trainee to rapper, producer, podcaster, meme‑originator, and now actor illustrates a multifaceted artist unafraid to cross cultural and creative boundaries. His role in Beef Season 2 not only showcases his burgeoning acting chops but also serves as a platform to share the deeper layers of his personality—honesty, humor, and a commitment to using his influence for positive change.