Kim Kang-woo (Korean: 김강우; born July 11, 1978) is a South Korean actor. He is best known from his roles in The Taste of Money and The Missing.
Career
Kim Kang-woo majored in Theater and Film at Chung-Ang University.[1] In early, Kim work as singer in 1998. In 2001, Kim made his acting debut in SBS TV Movie's and MBC Serie's Wuri's Family 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 seriesBreathless and Three Leafed Clover earned Kim the nickname "Mr. Right" as he became known for his portrayal of honest and diligent characters.[2] His first leading film role was in Jeong Jae-eun's 2005 sophomore feature The Aggressives, for which he and co-star Chun Jung-myung were the co-recipients of the "Best New Actor" award at the 6th Busan Film Critics Awards.[3]
In 2007, Kim starred in Park Heung-sik's The Railroad, 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. 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.[4][5] 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. 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.[4][6] He also admitted to being anxious because of the increased expectations people would have over his future performances.[2]
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.[4][7] Based on a popular manhwa, the film focused on the conflict between two rival chefs, played by Kim and Im Won-hee. 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, receiving a big shock as he knew nothing about the slaughtering process.[8][9] 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".[5] He next starred in the crime thriller Rainbow Eyes the same year, portraying a tough detective who is also a homosexual.[2]
In 2008, Kim took on the lead role in Marine Boy, portraying a former professional swimmer who falls into a debt trap.[10] The same year, he starred in the short film I'm Right Here as part of the omnibus Five Senses of Eros.[11]
Kim returned to the small screen in 2009, playing a psychopath in the action thriller The Slingshot.[12]
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.[18]
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.[19][20][21]
Kim then starred in thriller Tabloid Truth as a talent manager, a film focusing on the tabloid culture of South Korea.[22] He next featured in the ensemble drama Cart, a film depict a story about contract workers in a large discount store who are faced with wrongful dismissals.[23] Meanwhile, on the small screen, Kim took on the lead role in the revenge thriller Golden Cross.[24][25]
In 2015, Kim starred in the period film The Treacherous, playing a tyrant king who exploits the populace for his own carnal pleasures.[27][28] He then starred in his first cable television series; mystery thriller The Missing;[29][30] followed by another thriller Goodbye Mr. Black, taking on a villainous role.[31]
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).[32][33] It was directed by Kim Dong-yeon and was released to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's Death.[34] It was based on the university performance Hamlet - The Story of a Sad Clown, which adapted and directed by Kim Dong-yeon 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 alongside Yeo Jin-goo.[35][36]
In June 2017, Kim's contract with C-JeS Entertainment expired and he decided to sign with new management agency King Entertainment.[37]
^Jang Ah-reum (March 7, 2019). "김강우X서예지, 감성스릴러 '내일의 기억' 캐스팅…전격 크랭크인(공식)" [[Exclusive] Kim Kang-woo x Seo Ye-ji appeared in the movie'Tomorrow's Memory'… Couple breathing]. News 1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
^"RECALLED". finecut.co.kr. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^"김강우X서예지, 감성스릴러 '내일의 기억' 캐스팅…전격 크랭크인(공식)" ["Kim Kang-woo x Seo Ye-ji, sentiment thriller'memory of tomorrow' cast...]. Pop.Heraldcorp (in Korean). May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
^Kim Ji-eun (June 17, 2021). "김강우·김소혜 공포 영화 '귀문' 8월, 전 세계 동시 개봉" [Kim Kang-woo and Kim So-hye's horror movie 'The Gates' to be released simultaneously worldwide in August] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2021 – via Naver.
^Bae Hyo-joo (June 17, 2021). "김강우X김소혜 '귀문' 8월 개봉‥韓최초 2D·ScreenX·4DX 동시 제작[공식]" [Gwimoon' released in August... Korea's first simultaneous production of 2D, ScreenX, and 4DX [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee Seung-mi (July 5, 2021). "디테일이 살아있는 배우"…'귀문' 김강우, 데뷔 20년만 첫 호러 영화 도전" [Actor who is alive with details"...'Gwimoon' Kim Kang-woo, first horror film challenge in 20 years of debut]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kang Min-kyung (April 28, 2022). "[공식] 곽경택 감독 오디오 무비 '극동', 김강우X유재명X곽동연 캐스팅" [[Official] Kwak Kyung-taek's audio movie 'Far East' casts Kim Kang-woo X Yoo Jae-myung X Kwak Dong-yeon] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jung Yu-jin (January 6, 2022). "김대건 신부 생애 그린 '탄생', 윤시윤·안성기 첫 스틸 공개 [N컷]" ['Birth' drawn from the life of bride Kim Dae-geon, first stills released by Yoon Si-yoon and Ahn Seong-ki [N cut]] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022 – via Naver.
Kang Min-kyung (October 5, 2022). "[공식] "韓 최초 김대건 신부 극영화" 윤시윤→안성기 '탄생', 11월 30일 개봉 확정" [[Official] "Korea's first drama film by Kim Dae-geon" Yoon Si-yoon → Ahn Seong-ki 'Birth' confirmed for release on November 30th] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeon Hyung-hwa (November 19, 2021). "[단독]김선호·강태주·김강우·고아라, '슬픈열대' 확정..12월10일 크랭크인 [종합]" [[Exclusive] Kim Seon-ho, Kang Tae-joo, Kim Kang-woo, Go Ara, 'Sad Tropical' confirmed.. December 10 crank-in [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee Yeju (April 17, 2023). "김선호, 영화 '귀공자'로 6월 스크린 데뷔[공식]" [Kim Seon-ho, screen debut in June with the movie 'The Childe' [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023 – via Naver.
^Won, Min-seon (September 27, 2018). "[종합] "따뜻+유쾌"...'옥란면옥' 실향민과 탈북민 아픔 그려냈다" [[Comprehensive] Warm+Unpleasant"...'Okranmyeonok' depicts the suffering of displaced people and North Koreans] (in Korean). X-ports News. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee Min-ji (March 29, 2021). "'공작도시' 수애→김강우, 첫촬영 완료 "현장 열기 뜨거워"" ['Duke City' Soo-ae → Kim Kang-woo, first filming completed "The field is hot"]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
^Kim, Yu-jin (June 2, 2023). "김강우, '원더풀월드' 출연 확정…김남주와 부부 호흡 [공식입장]" [Kim Kang-woo confirmed to appear in 'Wonderful World'... Kim Nam-joo and married couple breathing [Official position]] (in Korean). Xports News. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023 – via Naver.
^Moon Ji-yeon (October 19, 2022). "[단독] 김선호, 복귀 차근차근 준비 중..'폭군' 촬영→'해시의 신루' 합류" [[Exclusive] Kim Seon-ho, preparing for his comeback, step by step... Filming 'Tyrant' → Joining 'The New Row of Hashes] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022 – via Naver.
^"차승원X김선호 '폭군', 극장 아닌 디즈니+ 行.."4부작 시리즈 변경"[공식]" [Cha Seung-won X Kim Seon-ho 'Tyrant', not the theatre, but Disney+ 行.." Four-part series changes"[Official]]. 스타뉴스 (in Korean). 2024-02-19. Archived from the original on 2024-02-19. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
^Kim Bo-young (June 6, 2022). "김현주·김강우, '부산콘텐츠마켓 2022' 홍보대사 선정 [공식]" [Kim Hyun-joo and Kim Kang-woo selected as ambassadors for 'Busan Contents Market 2022' [Official]] (in Korean). E-daily. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jung, Yu-jin (December 31, 2018). 소지섭 ‘데뷔 23년 만에 첫 대상’(mbc연기대상)[포토엔HD] [So Ji-sub Soo'First Debut in 23 Years' (mbc Drama Awards)[Photo and HD]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2020 – via Naver.
^Jo, Yoo-kyung (December 31, 2018). "[2018 KBS 연기대상] 장동윤·윤박·이일화·이설 연작 단막극상 수상" [[2018 KBS Acting Awards] Jang Dong-yoon, Yoon Park, Lee Il-hwa, Lee Seol Won the Best Single Act Drama] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2022 – via Naver.
^Nam, Yoo-jung; Lee, Woo-young (2023-08-27). "누가 받아도 될 정도로 훌륭한 후보들, 그중 최고는 누구?" [Great candidates to anyone can accept, who is the best of them?]. Naver News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.