In August 2016, Kim starred in her first adult leading role, alongside Park Bo-gum, in the youth historical drama Love in the Moonlight.[20] A domestic and international hit, Moonlight achieved peak audience rating of 23.3% and its popularity was referred to as "Moonlight Syndrome".[21][22][23] Kim won "Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama" for portraying Moonlight's cross-dressing heroine at the 30th KBS Drama Awards.[24]