Ko Chang-seok
South Korean actor (born 1970)
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Ko Chang-seok (born October 13, 1970) is a South Korean actor known primarily for his supporting roles in film and television, notably, Rough Cut (2008), Secret Reunion (2010), Encounter (2018–19), and Melo Movie (2025).
BornOctober 13, 1970
OthernamesGo Chang-suk
EducationSeoul Institute of the Arts – Theater
OccupationActor
Career
Ko began his career on stage, performing in plays and musicals for many years before moving on to bit parts in films. He once earned his living by working on farms and in iron foundries,[2] then acquired fame through his scene-stealing roles in Jang Hoon's films, notably as the movie director in Rough Cut (2008),[3] and the Vietnamese gang boss in Secret Reunion (2010).[4] He has since become one of the busiest supporting actors in Korean cinema.[5][6]
Ko's real-life wife and daughter played his character's family in the period film The Showdown (2011).[7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | English title | Korean title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Superman in Early Summer (short film) |
이른 여름, 슈퍼맨 | Superman |
| 2004 | The Last Wolf | 마지막 늑대 | Narrow Eyes |
| 2005 | Sympathy for Lady Vengeance | 친절한 금자씨 | Woo So-young's husband |
| 2006 | Running Wild | 야수 | Gang member |
| The Host | 괴물 | Orderly 1 in isolation ward | |
| Ice Bar | 아이스케키 | Cop 1 | |
| No Mercy for the Rude | 예의없는 것들 | Piano | |
| 2007 | Soo | 수 | Yakuza 1 |
| Going by the Book | 바르게 살자 | Woo Jong-dae | |
| 2008 | Rough Cut | 영화는 영화다 | Director Bong |
| Outing | 소풍 | Go Pil-joong | |
| Antique | 서양골동양과자점 앤티크 | Gay club master | |
| 2009 | Insadong Scandal | 인사동 스캔들 | Hojinsa, forgery factory president |
| The Case of Itaewon Homicide | 이태원 살인사건 | Alex's father | |
| City of Fathers | 부산 – 父.山 | Kim Kang-soo | |
| 2010 | Secret Reunion | 의형제 | Vietnamese gang boss |
| A Barefoot Dream | 맨발의 꿈 | Park In-gi | |
| Second Half | 맛있는 인생 | Sushi restaurant owner Mr. Ko – cameo | |
| Hello Ghost | 헬로우 고스트 | Chain-smoking ghost | |
| 2011 | The Showdown | 혈투 | Du-soo |
| My Black Mini Dress | 마이 블랙 미니드레스 | Director – cameo | |
| The Front Line | 고지전 | Yang Hyo-sam | |
| Quick | 퀵 | Detective Seo | |
| Mr. Idol | Mr. 아이돌 | Han Jong-tak | |
| 2012 | Over My Dead Body | 시체가 돌아왔다 | Hwang Sung-koo |
| Miss Conspirator | 미스 고 | Detective So | |
| The Suck Up Project: Mr. XXX-Kisser | 아부의 왕 | Sung-cheol | |
| Dangerously Excited | 나는 공무원이다 | Music judge – cameo | |
| The Grand Heist | 바람과 함께 사라지다 | Hong Seok-chang | |
| Almost Che | 강철대오: 구국의 철가방 | Police officer Kim | |
| 2013 | Secretly, Greatly | 은밀하게 위대하게 | Seo Sang-gu |
| The Spy: Undercover Operation | 스파이 | Department head Jin | |
| The Face Reader | 관상 | His Excellency Choi – cameo | |
| 2014 | The Huntresses | 조선미녀 삼총사 | Mu-myeong ("No Name") |
| Tabloid Truth | 찌라시: 위험한 소문 | Baek Moon | |
| Slow Video | 슬로우 비디오 | Doctor Seok | |
| The Con Artists | 기술자들 | Goo-in | |
| 2016 | Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River | 봉이 김선달 | Bo-won |
| 2017 | A Taxi Driver | 택시운전사 | Sang-goo's father - special appearance |
| 2018 | Be with You | 지금 만나러 갑니다 | Hong-goo |
| 2019 | Jesters: The Game Changers[8] | ||
| Race to Freedom: Um Bok Dong | 자전차왕 엄복동 | ||
| 2020 | Innocence | 결백 | Seedsman |
| 2021 | Sinkhole | 싱크홀 | Rescue caption[9] |
| Miracle: Letters to the President | 기적 | Father of Ra-hee (Special appearance)[10] | |
| 2022 | I Want to Know Your Parents | 니 부모 얼굴이 보고 싶다 | Jung[11][12] |
| Project Wolf Hunting | 늑대사냥 | Go Kun-bae[13] | |
| Broker | 브로커 | Go Gwang-soo | |
| Life Is Beautiful | 인생은 아름다워 | [14] | |
| 2023 | Count | 권혁재 | Principal[15] |
| Dream | 드림 | Jeon Hyo-bong[16] | |
| 2025 | Boss | 보스 | [17] |
Television series
| Year | English title | Korean title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Dream | 드림 | Straw |
| 2013 | Ad Genius Lee Tae-baek | 광고천재 이태백 | Ma Jin-ga |
| Monstar | 몬스타 | Judo master – cameo, ep. 5 | |
| Good Doctor | 굿 닥터 | Jo Jung-mi | |
| 2014 | Diary of a Night Watchman | 야경꾼일지 | Minister Ddoong |
| 2015 | Kill Me, Heal Me | 킬미,힐미 | Seok Ho-pil |
| Reply 1988 | 응답하라 | Mi-ok's father | |
| 2017 | Hit the Top | 최고의 한방 | Photographer – cameo, ep. 1 |
| 2018 | The Miracle We Met | 우리가 만난 기적 | Song Hyun-chul (B) |
| Encounter[18] | 남자친구 | Nam Myeong-sik | |
| 2020 | Memorist | 메모리스트 | Gu Kyung-tan |
| 2022 | Today's Webtoon | 오늘의 웹툰 | On Gi-bong[19] |
| The Good Detective 2 | 모범형사 2 | Cha Moon-ho – Cameo ep 11[20] | |
| Glitch | 글리치 | Kim Chan-woo[21] | |
| 2024 | The Impossible Heir | 로얄로더 | Chae Dong-Uk |
| Chicken Nugget | 닭강정 | Ko Baek-Joong's dad | |
| 2025 | Melo Movie | 멜로무비 | Ma Sang-woo |
| My Dearest Nemesis | 그놈은 흑염룡 | Baek Won-seop | |
| Way Back Love | 내가 죽기 일주일 전 | Jeong Il-beom[22] |
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Take Care of Me This Week | Main Cast | [23] |
Theater
| Year | English title | Korean title | Role | Reprised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Tale of Ungnyeo | 웅녀 이야기 | ||
| 2006 | Sachoom | 사랑하면 춤을 춰라 | ||
| 2012 | The Cherry Orchard | 벚꽃동상 | ||
| The Human Comedy | 휴먼코미디 | |||
| Woyzeck | 보이첵 | 2013 | ||
| Sachoom | 사랑한다면 춤을 춰라 | |||
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | 여름밤의 꿈 | |||
| Godspell | 가스펠 | |||
| Dulpul | 들풀 | |||
| Jang Bogo, the Sea God | 해상왕 장보고 | |||
| Le Passe-Muraille | 벽을 뚫는 남자 | Prosecutor | 2013, 2015–2016 | |
| 2014 | Kinky Boots | 킹키부츠 | Don | 2022[24] |
| 2023 | Dream High | 드림하이 | Principal | [25] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | KMDb초 이워스 Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Rough Cut | Won |
| 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| 7th Korean Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | 18th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Barefoot Dream | Won |
| 47th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| 31st Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Secret Reunion | Nominated | |
| 2011 | 20th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Front Line | Won |
| 48th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Showdown | Nominated | |
| 32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Front Line | Nominated | |
| 2013 | 7th The Musical Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Le Passe-Muraille | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Good Doctor, Ad Genius Lee Tae-baek | Nominated | |
Listicles
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Film Council | 2021 | Korean Actors 200[a] | Included | [26][27] |
Notes
- Introduces 200 actors that best represent the present and future of Korean cinema to the people in the film industry all over the world.
