Koo Kyo-hwan
South Korean filmmaker and actor (born 1982)
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Koo Kyo-hwan (Korean: 구교환; born December 14, 1982) is a South Korean actor and filmmaker. He first gained recognition for his performances in the films Jane (2016) and Maggie (2018), before achieving wider recognition with Peninsula (2020), Escape from Mogadishu (2021), and the Netflix original D.P. (2021–2023).[2]
- Actor
- film director
Koo Kyo-hwan | |
|---|---|
Koo in 2026 | |
| Born | December 14, 1982 Seoul, South Korea |
| Education | Seoul Institute of the Arts |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Agent | Namoo Actors[1] |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 구교환 |
| Hanja | 具敎煥 |
| RR | Gu Gyohwan |
| MR | Ku Kyohwan |
| Website | namooactors.com |
Koo subsequently starred in the films Kill Boksoon (2023), Escape (2024), and Once We Were Us (2025), as well as the Netflix series Parasyte: The Grey (2024). In 2026, he appeared in the film Colony and starred in the television series We Are All Trying Here.
Early life and education
Koo Kyo-hwan was born on December 14, 1982, and raised in Isu, Dongjak-gu, Seoul.[3] His father is a photographer who operated a photo studio in Bangbae-dong for three decades. In his school records, Koo was noted for a talent for comedy, which led to early ambitions to become a comedian. He later expanded his interests to acting and broadcasting, eventually pursuing careers as an actor, comedian, and television personality.[4]
While Koo originally planned to major in acting at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, he applied to the film department because he was unaware of the theater department. His training in directing, cinematography, producing, and editing subsequently increased his interest in filmmaking, which became a stronger focus than acting.[4]
Career
Career beginnings (2008–2015)
Koo made his acting debut in the 2008 short film Boys, directed by his Seoul Institute of the Arts peer Yoon Sung-hyun. In the film, he portrayed a high school student with a specialized interest in kite-making.[4] That same year, he appeared in a minor role as a utility worker in Castaway on the Moon.[5]
He began to garner attention for both his acting and directing after winning the Ting-Geurang Coin Award at the Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival for his 2011 film Turtles, which he also directed. In 2014, he served as the director, screenwriter, producer, editor, and lead actor for the segment "Dating Documentary" within omnibus film Now Playing, the opening feature of the Seoul Independent Film Festival.[6]
Critical recognition in independent films (2016–2019)
In 2016, Koo starred alongside Lee Min-ji in Cho Hyun-hoon's independent film Jane. He portrayed the title character, a transgender woman. To prepare for the role, Koo lost 10 kilograms and developed a distinctive high-pitched vocal delivery. His performance earned him Actor of the Year at the Busan International Film Festival[7][8] and the Best New Actor Award at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards. That same year, he won the Grand Prize in the Domestic Competition at the Asiana International Short Film Festival for Fly to the Sky, a project he co-directed and starred in.
Koo continued to establish a unique presence in the industry through his collaborations with director Lee Ok-seop. For the 2018 film Maggie, he served as the producer, screenwriter, editor, and lead actor. The film received significant acclaim, winning the Audience Award at the 44th Seoul Independent Film Festival, the CGV Art House Award at the Busan International Film Festival, and the KBS Independent Film Award.[6]
In the summer of 2019, while planning to attend the Taiwan Film Festival, Koo and director Lee Ok-seop discussed the trip at Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Yeonnam-dong. The experience of falling asleep in the park and waking up at sunset reportedly served as the inspiration for the film Romeo: The Sin of Having Eyes.[9]
Transition to commercial film (2020–Present)
Koo's first major role in a commercial production was Captain Seo in Yeon Sang-ho's 2020 film Peninsula. The director initially doubted Koo's suitability for commercial cinema but cast him after a personal meeting. Yeon later noted that Koo's interpretation added complexity to a character that might otherwise have been a conventional villain. His performance in the blockbuster garnered significant public and critical attention.[10]
Personal life
Koo has been in a long-term relationship with director Lee Ok-seop since 2013. The two are fellow alums of the Seoul Institute of the Arts and began dating after Koo appeared in one of Lee's film projects. The pair co-manages 2x9HD, their YouTube channel, on which they showcase their creative collaborations. The channel features co-directed short films, experimental works, and vlogs documenting unique or overlooked aspects of daily life.[4]
Filmography
As actor
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Boys | Gyo-hwan | Short film | [11] |
| 2009 | Just Before They Died | Do-young | Short film | [12] |
| Castaway on the Moon | Utilities man 1 | Bit part | [4] | |
| Don't Step Out Of The House | Ra-oh | Short film | [13] | |
| 2012 | Winter Sleep | Gu-byeong | Short film | [14] |
| A Werewolf Boy | Drunk man | Bit part | [4] | |
| 2013 | Where is My DVD? | Gi-hwan | Short film | [15] |
| Welcome to My Home | Gyo-hwan | Short film | [16] | |
| 2014 | A Dangerous Woman | Duk-woo | Short film (First collaboration with Lee Ok-seop) | [15] |
| Dempsey Roll: A Confession | Gyo-hwan | Short film | [17] | |
| We Called Him Heeya | Gi-tae | Short film | [16] | |
| 2015 | Now Playing Episode 3: Love Docu |
Goo Gyo-hwan | Omnibus Film | [18] |
| Robot Revival | Jong-pil | Short film | [19] | |
| Romance in Seoul Episode 3. Fly to the Sky |
Gi-cheol / Gyo-hwan | Omnibus Film | [20][21] | |
| 2016 | Dishonor | Jeong-hoon | Short film | [22] |
| Beaten Black and Blue | Gyo-hwan | [23] | ||
| 2017 | Jane | Jane | [24] | |
| 2018 | Leave a Message After Beep | Animal Communicator | Short film | [25] |
| Maggie | Lee Sung-won | [26] | ||
| 2019 | Romeo: The Sin of Having Eyes | Romeo | Short film | [9] |
| 2020 | Peninsula | Captain Seo | [27] | |
| 2021 | Escape from Mogadishu | Tae Joon-gi | [28] | |
| 2022 | Super Star Lee Hyo-ri | eldest brother | Short film | [29] |
| Love Villain | Gyo-hwan | Short film | [30] | |
| 2023 | Kill Boksoon | Han Hee-seong | [31] | |
| 2024 | Escape | Ri Hyeon-sang | [32][33] | |
| 2025 | Once We Were Us | Lee Eun-ho | [34] | |
| 2026 | Colony | Seo Young-cheol | [35] | |
| Reawaken Man: The Red | Seok Hwan | [36] | ||
| TBA | Seeking the King | Kim Do-jin | [37] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Dance From Afar | Sin Pa-rang | Drama Special | [38] |
| 2021 | Kingdom: Ashin of the North | Ai Da Gan | Special episode | [39] |
| 2021–2023 | D.P. | Han Ho-yul | Season 1–2 | [40][41] |
| 2022 | Monstrous | Jeong Ki-hoon | [42] | |
| Extraordinary Attorney Woo | Bang Gu-ppong | Cameo (episode 9) | [43] | |
| 2023 | One Day Off | Lee Chang-jin | Cameo (episode 3) | [44][45] |
| 2024 | Parasyte: The Grey | Seol Kang-woo | [46] | |
| 2026 | We Are All Trying Here | Hwang Dong-man | [47] |
As filmmaker
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | Ref. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Editor | Producer | ||||
| 2011 | Turtles | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Short film; Acting | [48] |
| 2013 | Play Tag | Yes[A] | Yes[A] | No | No | Short film | [49] |
| Welcome to My Home | Yes | No | No | No | Acting | [50] | |
| 2014 | Where is My DVD? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Costumes, Art Direction, Acting | [51][52] |
| A Dangerous Woman | No | No | Yes | No | Acting | [15] | |
| We Called Him Heeya | No | No | Yes | No | Acting | ||
| 2014 | Now Playing Ep. 3. Love Docu | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cinematography, Acting | [53] |
| 2015 | Romance in Seoul Ep. Fly to the Sky |
Yes[B] | Yes[B] | Yes[B] | Yes[B] | Omnibus film; also credited as director of the trailer, CG, and acting | [54][21][55] |
| After School | Yes[B] | Yes[B] | Yes | Yes | N/a | [56] | |
| 2016 | Beaten Black and Blue (Great Patrioteers) | No | No | No | No | Acting | [57] |
| 2017 | Girls on Top | Yes[B] | Yes | Yes | No | Costumes | [58] |
| 2018 | Leave a Message After Beep (Three) | No | Yes[B] | Yes[B] | Yes | Acting | [59] |
| 2019 | Maggie | No | Yes[B] | Yes | Yes | Acting | [60] |
| Romeo: The Sin of Having Eyes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Short film, Acting | [9] | |
| 2021 | Film Director Koo Kyo-hwan's Vlog | Yes[B] | No | Yes[B] | Yes[C] | Short film, Acting | [61] |
| 2022 | Replacement Driver Vlog | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Acting | [62] |
| Super Star Lee Hyo-ri | Yes[B] | Adaptation[B] | Yes | Yes[B] | Acting | [63] | |
| 2024 | Jinx Montage | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 50th Seoul Independent Film Festival opening video; acting | [64] |
| TBA | Your Country | Yes[B] | Yes[B] | Yes[B] | Yes[B] | Acting | [65] |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "UP!" | Balming Tiger | [66] |
| 2025 | "Rich Man" | Aespa | [67] |
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||||
| 2018 | Doosan Humanities Theater 2018 Altruism - Nassim | 두산인문극장 2018 이타주의자 - 낫심 | Actor | Doosan Art Center Space111 | April 10–29 | [68] |
Accolades
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APAN Star Awards | 2022 | Excellence Award, Actor in an OTT Drama | D.P. | Nominated | [69] |
| Asiana International Short Film Festival | 2016 | Grand Prize (Domestic competition) | Fly to the Sky | Won | [70] |
| Annual Plus | 2021 | Annual Awards Stars Who Shined in 2021 — Trending Actor Chungmuro | Koo Kyo-hwan | Won | [71] |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2018 | Best New Actor – Film | Jane | Won | [72] |
| 2021 | Best Supporting Actor – Film | Peninsula | Nominated | [73] | |
| 2022 | Escape from Mogadishu | Nominated | [74] | ||
| Best New Actor – Television | D.P. | Won | [75] | ||
| 2025 | Best Supporting Actor – Film | Escape | Nominated | [76] | |
| 2026 | Best Actor – Film | Once We Were Us | Nominated | [77] | |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2017 | Best New Actor | Jane | Nominated | [78] |
| 2021 | Best Supporting Actor | Escape from Mogadishu | Nominated | [79] | |
| Popular Star Award | Won | [80] | |||
| 2024 | Escape | Won | [81] | ||
| Blue Dragon Series Awards | 2022 | Best New Actor | D.P. | Won | [82] |
| Brands of the Year[D] | 2024 | Male actor (OTT) | D.P. | Won | [83] |
| Buil Film Awards | 2017 | Best New Actor | Jane | Won | [78] |
| 2020 | Best Supporting Actor | Peninsula | Nominated | [84] | |
| 2021 | Escape from Mogadishu | Nominated | [85] | ||
| Busan Film Critics Awards | 2017 | Best New Actor | Jane | Won | [78] |
| Busan International Film Festival | 2016 | Actor of the Year | Won | [86] | |
| Busan International Short Film Festival | 2014 | Busan Cinephile Awards | Where is My DVD? | Won | [87] |
| Chunsa Film Art Awards | 2017 | Best New Actor | Beaten Black and Blue | Won | [88] |
| 2018 | Best Supporting Actor | Jane | Nominated | [89] | |
| 2021 | Peninsula | Nominated | [90] | ||
| 2022 | Escape from Mogadishu | Nominated | [91] | ||
| Cine21 Film Awards | 2016 | New Actor of the Year | Beaten Black and Blue | Won | [92] |
| 2021 | Series actor of the Year | D.P. Kingdom: Ashin of the North | Won | [93] | |
| Director's Cut Awards | 2019 | Best New Actor | Maggie | Nominated | [94] |
| 2022 | Best Actor in series | D.P. | Won | [95][96] | |
| Best New Actor in series | Nominated | ||||
| Best New Actor in film | Peninsula | Won | |||
| Dong-A.com's Pick[E] | 2017 | Acknowledged? Yeah, Acknowledged! | Jane | Won | [97] |
| Great Short Film Festival | 2015 | Great Audience Award - Best Poster | After School Tea Time Returns | Won | [98] |
| Kino Lights Awards | 2021 | Actor of The Year (Domestic) | Escape from Mogadishu Kingdom: Ashin of the North | 1st place | [99] |
| Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival | 2011 | Ding-Dong Coin Award | Turtle | Won | [100] |
| Korea First Brand Awards[F] | 2025 | Male actor (film) | Escape | Won | [101] |
| Mise-en-scène Film Festival | 2014 | Best Work Award in the King of Comedy (Comedy) category | Where is My DVD? | Won | [102] |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2026 | Best Actor | We Are All Trying Here | Pending | [103] |
| Wildflower Film Awards | 2017 | Best New Actor | Beaten Black and Blue | Nominated | [78] |
Listicles
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cine21 | 2010 | Chungmuro Palpal Generation 50 | Included | [3] |
| 2020 | Actors to watch out for in 2021 | 6th[G] | [104] | |
| 2021 | Actors to watch out for in 2022 | 1st | [105] | |
| 2023 | Actors to watch out for in 2023 | 3rd | [106] | |
| 2024 | Actors to watch out for in 2024 | 2nd[H] | [107] | |
| 2024 | Next Korean Movie Actor | Included | [108] | |
| 2026 | Actors to watch out for in 2026 | 1st | [109] | |
| Joy News 24 | 2021 | Best Actor of the Year | 3rd | [110] |
| Korean Film Council | 2021 | Korean Actors 200[I] | Included | [111][112] |
| Sisa Journal[J] | 2021 | Next Generation Leaders - Culture & Arts | Included | [113] |
Notes
- Teamed with Ji Yeon-tae and Kim Young-kwan
- Teamed with Lee Ok-sup
- Teamed with Lee Jun-seok and Ok-seop
- Hosted by the Korea Consumer Brand Committee and the Korea Consumer Forum, the Korea First Brand Awards selected its winners based on a nationwide South Korean survey. Annually, every September, the awards ceremony recognizes outstanding brands across various industries.
- Award winners are selected by Dong-a Ilbo entertainment reporters.
- Hosted by the Korea Consumer Brand Committee and the Korea Consumer Forum, the Korea First Brand Awards based its winners on a nationwide South Korean survey.
- Koo Kyo-hwan mentioned together with, Kang Dong-won, Kang Ha-neul, Gong Yoo, Yim Si-wan, Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Woo-bin, Ryu Seung-ryong, Park Jeong-min, Byun Yo-han, Song Kang, Song Kang-ho, Teo Yoo, Lee Je-hoon, Jung Sung-hwa, Jung Woo-sung, Son Suk-ku, Hyun Bin
- Tied with Hwang Jung-min
- Introduces 200 actors that best represent the present and future of Korean cinema to the people in the film industry all over the world.
- Sisa Journal Next Generation Leader-Society was founded by Sisa Journal in 2008.
