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Kim Kang-woo (born July 11, 1978) is a South Korean actor. He is best known from his roles in ''
The Taste of Money ''The Taste of Money'' () is a 2012 South Korean erotic thriller film about a conglomerate-owning family. It triggered controversy and hype with its portrayal of the lives of the privileged in Korean society, exploring themes of sex and money, ...
'' and '' The Missing''.


Career

Kim Kang-woo majored in Theater and Film at
Chung-Ang University Chung-Ang University (CAU; ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. It is widely regarded as one of the best universities in South Korea. The university operates two campuses: main campus located in Dongjak District, Seoul, and ...
. In early, Kim work as
singer Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...
in 1998. In 2001, Kim made his acting debut in SBS TV Movie's and MBC Serie's ''
Wuri's Family ''Wuri's Family'' (aka ''My Home'' or ''Our House'') was a popular South Korean household drama produced by JS Pictures for MBC. It aired from November 9, 2001, to March 29, 2002 for 20 episodes. Storyline The story is mainly based on love ...
'' as bit part. Next Year, Kim make his first acting debut in Movie '' The Coast Guard'' while still a senior, later commenting that the role of a soldier was the only one he could get without any prior experience. Subsequent roles in the
drama series In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-ge ...
''Breathless'' and ''Three Leafed Clover'' earned Kim the nickname "Mr. Right" as he became known for his portrayal of honest and diligent characters.Kwon Mee-yoo.
Actor Kim Works to Enjoy His Calling
. ''
The Korea Times ''The Korea Times'' is the oldest of three English-language newspapers published daily in South Korea. It is a sister paper of the ''Hankook Ilbo'', a major Korean language daily; both are owned by Dongwha Enterprise, a wood-based manufacturer ...
'', 25 December 2007.
His first leading film role was in
Jeong Jae-eun Jeong Jae-eun (; born March 26, 1969) is a South Korean film director. Career Jeong Jae-eun attended and was one of the first graduates of the School of Film, TV and Multimedia of the Korea National University of Arts. Early in her career she ...
's 2005 sophomore feature '' The Aggressives'', for which he and co-star
Chun Jung-myung Chun Jung-myung (, born November 29, 1980) is a South Korean actor. Chun made his break into the entertainment industry in the KBS teen drama ''School 2'' (1999). He is best known for his leading roles in TV dramas such as ''Fashion 70's'' (2005 ...
were the co-recipients of the "Best New Actor" award at the 6th
Busan Film Critics Awards Established in 2000, the Busan Film Critics Awards is run by the Busan Film Critics Association (BCFA), a small but independent-minded group of critics based in Busan, South Korea. Each year they announce their choices shortly before the opening o ...
. In 2007, Kim starred in Park Heung-sik's ''
The Railroad ''The Railroad'' () is a 2006 South Korean film starring Kim Kang-woo and Son Tae-young. The second feature film of writer and director Park Heung-sik, it was also co-produced and co-edited by his wife, Park Gok-ji. ''The Railroad'' won the FIPRE ...
'', which told the story of two strangers who reveal their inner pain to each other when they are stranded at the last railway station before the
Korean Demilitarized Zone The Korean Demilitarized Zone ( Korean: ; Hanbando Bimujang Jidae) is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula near the 38th parallel north. The demilitarized zone (DMZ) is a border barrier that divides the peninsula roughly in ...
. Kim was upset when the film was only released in ten theaters, and went to screenings by himself in an effort to promote the film, where he greeted and conversed with members of the audience.Actor Inspired by Hungry Spirit
. ''
The Dong-a Ilbo The ''Dong-A Ilbo'' (, literally ''East Asia Daily'') is a newspaper of record in Korea since 1920 with a daily circulation of more than 1.2 million and opinion leaders as its main readers. ''The Dong-A Ilbo'' is the parent company of Dong-A M ...
'', 4 December 2007.
Jean Oh.
No run-of-the-mill Romeo
. ''
The Korea Herald ''The Korea Herald'' is a leading English-language daily newspaper founded in 1953 and published in Seoul, South Korea. The editorial staff is composed of Korean and international writers and editors, with additional news coverage drawn from int ...
'', 9 April 2009.
In spite of its poor box office performance, ''The Railroad'' found favour with critics, and Kim won the "Best Actor" award at the
25th Torino Film Festival The 25th Torino Film Festival was held 23 November – 1 December 2007 in Turin, Italy and was directed by Nanni Moretti. Films in competition *'' The Art of Negative Thinking'' ( Bård Breien) *'' Away from Her'' ( Sarah Polley) *'' The Blu ...
. Although happy to win the award, Kim found it more gratifying to observe Italian audiences responding to the film in the same way as Korean audiences, recognizing the power of film to transcend national borders.Cathy Rose A. Garcia.
Actor Kim Kang-woo Wins in Turin
. ''
The Korea Times ''The Korea Times'' is the oldest of three English-language newspapers published daily in South Korea. It is a sister paper of the ''Hankook Ilbo'', a major Korean language daily; both are owned by Dongwha Enterprise, a wood-based manufacturer ...
'', 2 December 2007.
He also admitted to being anxious because of the increased expectations people would have over his future performances. Kim found commercial success with his next film, '' Le Grand Chef'', which despite opening during a slow season sold more than three million tickets to become the fourth biggest selling South Korean film of 2007. Based on a popular
manhwa (; ) is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons. Outside Korea, the term usually refers to South Korean comics. is greatly influenced by Japanese Manga comics. Modern Manhwa has extended its reach to many other countries. ...
, the film focused on the conflict between two rival chefs, played by Kim and
Im Won-hee Im Won-hee (born October 11, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Im was an alumnus of the legendary Daehak-ro theater troupe ''Mokhwa'' (), starring in many of Jang Jin's stage plays. He made his film debut in Jang's black comedy ''The Happenings'' ...
. To prepare for his role, Kim attended cooking classes for one and a half months, and for one crucial scene in particular he visited a
slaughterhouse A slaughterhouse, also called abattoir (), is a facility where animals are slaughtered to provide food. Slaughterhouses supply meat, which then becomes the responsibility of a packaging facility. Slaughterhouses that produce meat that is no ...
, receiving a big shock as he knew nothing about the slaughtering process. In addition, he was required to film a number of scenes with a cow, and spent some ten days acquainting himself with it—grooming it, feeding it and taking it for walks—remarking that it was "like working with a very sensitive actress". He next starred in the crime thriller ''
Rainbow Eyes ''Rainbow Eyes'' () is a 2007 South Korean crime thriller film directed by Yang Yun-ho. The story follows a police inspector who discovers that his friend is now a serial killer. The movie was remade into a Thailand thriller named 'Cheun'. Plot K ...
'' the same year, portraying a tough detective who is also a homosexual. In 2008, Kim took on the lead role in ''
Marine Boy ''Marine Boy'' was one of the first color anime cartoons to be shown in a dubbed form in the U.S., and later in Australia and the United Kingdom. It was originally produced in 1965 in Japan as by Minoru Adachi and animation company Japan ...
'', portraying a former professional swimmer who falls into a debt trap. The same year, he starred in the short film ''I'm Right Here'' as part of the omnibus ''
Five Senses of Eros ''Five Senses of Eros'' () is a 2009 South Korean omnibus film with five short films depicting love and desire, but in different styles and genres. The shorts are: ''His Concern'', directed by Daniel H. Byun; ''I'm Right Here'' (), directed by Hu ...
''. Kim returned to the small screen in 2009, playing a psychopath in the action thriller ''
The Slingshot ''The Slingshot'' (; lit. "Story of a Man") is a 2009 South Korean television series starring Park Yong-ha, Park Si-yeon, Kim Kang-woo, Han Yeo-woon, Lee Phillip, and Park Ki-woong. It aired on KBS2 from April 6 to June 9, 2009 on Mondays and Tue ...
''. Following a supporting role in
Hong Sang-soo Hong Sang-soo (홍상수, born 25 October 1960) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. Early life Hong's parents owned the film production company Cinetel Soul. Hong took the entrance exam and entered the theater department at Chun ...
's comedy drama '' Hahaha'', Kim starred in the
remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the sam ...
of the 1986 Hong Kong film '' A Better Tomorrow''. Kim was then cast in the Japanese film '' Black Dawn'', playing a Korean agent. He then starred in the short film ''The Heavenly Creature'' as part of Kim Jee-woon's science-fiction anthology film '' Doomsday Book''; and played the lead role in erotic thriller ''
The Taste of Money ''The Taste of Money'' () is a 2012 South Korean erotic thriller film about a conglomerate-owning family. It triggered controversy and hype with its portrayal of the lives of the privileged in Korean society, exploring themes of sex and money, ...
'' by
Im Sang-soo Im Sang-soo (born April 27, 1962) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He has twice been invited to compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, with '' The Housemaid'' in 2010 and '' The Taste of Money'' in 2012. Early l ...
. Kim returned to the small screen in the romantic comedy action drama ''
Lovers of Haeundae ''Lovers of Haeundae'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series about a prosecutor who goes undercover to infiltrate a crime family in Haeundae, Busan, and after losing his memory, falls in love with the daughter of a mob boss. Plot Newly w ...
''. The same year, Kim published a travel book titled ''Two Men's Unstoppable Thailand Trip'', which recorded his Thailand experience with his close friend and filmmaker, Lee Jung-sub. Making 2013 a busy year; Kim starred in three films: fantasy thriller ''The Gifted Hands'', romantic comedy film '' Marriage Blue'' and 3D sports comedy film '' Mr. Go''. Kim then starred in thriller ''
Tabloid Truth ''Tabloid Truth'' (; lit. "Leaflet: Dangerous Rumors") is a 2014 South Korean thriller film directed by Kim Kwang-sik, and starring Kim Kang-woo, Jung Jin-young, Ko Chang-seok and Park Sung-woong. In a story about a talent manager seeking the ...
'' as a talent manager, a film focusing on the tabloid culture of South Korea. He next featured in the ensemble drama ''
Cart A cart or dray (Australia and New Zealand) is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by one or a pair of draught animals. A handcart is pulled or pushed by one or more people. It is different from the flatbed ...
'', a film depict a story about contract workers in a large discount store who are faced with wrongful dismissals. Meanwhile, on the small screen, Kim took on the lead role in the revenge thriller '' Golden Cross''. In August 2014, Kim left his previous management agency Namoo Actors, and signed with C-JeS Entertainment. In 2015, Kim starred in the period film ''
The Treacherous ''The Treacherous'' (; lit. "Treacherous Subject" or "Treacherous Retainer") is a 2015 South Korean period drama film directed by Min Kyu-dong. Plot The story of Joseon's tyrant king Yeonsan who exploits the populace for his own carnal pleasures, ...
'', playing a tyrant king who exploits the populace for his own carnal pleasures. He then starred in his first cable television series; mystery thriller '' The Missing''; followed by another thriller '' Goodbye Mr. Black'', taking on a villainous role. In 2016, Kim and Kim Dong-won's were double cast as Hamlet in 6th Best Theater Festival with a rewrite of Shakespeare's classic ''Hamlet-The Play'' (2016). It was directed by
Kim Dong-yeon Kim Dong-yeon (; born 28 January 1957) is a South Korean politician serving as 36th governor of Gyeonggi Province since 1 July 2022. He previously served as the 4th Ministry of Economy and Finance (South Korea), Minister of Economy and Finance and ...
and was released to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's Death. It was based on the university performance ''Hamlet - The Story of a Sad Clown'', which adapted and directed by
Kim Dong-yeon Kim Dong-yeon (; born 28 January 1957) is a South Korean politician serving as 36th governor of Gyeonggi Province since 1 July 2022. He previously served as the 4th Ministry of Economy and Finance (South Korea), Minister of Economy and Finance and ...
in 2001. Writer Ji Seon joined the project and created the play anew after 15 years. In 2017, Kim starred in the science fiction drama ''
Circle A circle is a shape consisting of all points in a plane that are at a given distance from a given point, the centre. Equivalently, it is the curve traced out by a point that moves in a plane so that its distance from a given point is cons ...
'' alongside Yeo Jin-goo. In June 2017, Kim's contract with C-JeS Entertainment expired and he decided to sign with new management agency King Entertainment. In 2018, Kim starred in the psychological thriller '' The Vanished'', a remake of the 2012 film ''The Body''. The same year, he starred in the weekend drama ''
My Contracted Husband, Mr. Oh ''My Contracted Husband, Mr. Oh'' () is a 2018 South Korean television series starring Kim Kang-woo, Uee, Jung Sang-hoon, and Han Sun-hwa. It aired every Saturday from March 3, 2018 on MBC TV from 8:45 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. ( KST), 2 episod ...
'' together with
Uee Kim Yu-jin (born April 9, 1988), better known by her stage name Uee (sometimes romanized as U-), is a South Korean singer and actress. She is best known for being a former member of South Korean girl group After School from 2009 to 2017, and ...
. In 2019, Kim starred in the fantasy drama ''
Item Item may refer to: Organizations * ''Instituto del Tercer Mundo'' (ITeM), the Third World Institute * ITEM club, an economic forecasting group based in the United Kingdom Newspapers * ''The Item'', an American independent, morning newspaper ...
'' as the antagonist. and as an ex-detective in '' Woman of 9.9 Billion''. In 2021, he starred in a mystery-thriller film '' Recalled'', directed by Seo Yoo-min alongside
Seo Yea-ji Seo Ye-ji () is a South Korean actress. She began her acting career in the sitcom ''Potato Star 2013QR3'' (2013–2014). This was followed by major roles in period drama ''Diary of a Night Watchman'' (2014), thriller ''Last'' (2015), and fantas ...
.


Personal life

On June 18, 2010, Kim married his longtime girlfriend Han Mu-young, the elder sister of actress Han Hye-jin. Their son was born in 2011.


Filmography


Film


Television series


TV Movie


Television show


Discography


Ambassadorship

*Ambassador for Busan Contents Market (2022)


Awards and nominations


References


External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kim, Kang-woo 21st-century South Korean male actors South Korean male television actors South Korean male film actors Male actors from Seoul Chung-Ang University alumni 1978 births Living people