Kwak Dong-yeon

2012–2015: Beginnings

Kwak was originally a lead guitarist and vocalist of Kokoma Band (literally, "Little Kids' Band"), a trainee band managed by FNC Entertainment, along with N.Flying's Seo Dongsung, KNK's Oh Heejun and Omega X's Lee Hwichan.^[4][5]

He made his acting debut in 2012, appearing in the KBS television series My Husband Got a Family.^[6] The drama reached a peak audience rating of 49.6%,^[7] thereby earning the "national drama" status.^[8] The series ranked number one overall on the 2012 yearly TV ratings chart.^[9] For his performance, Kwak won the Best Young Actor Award at the 2012 Korea Drama Awards.^[10]

In 2013, he featured as young Prince Dong-pyung in the SBS historical drama Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love.^[11] He then starred in the KBS Drama Special Puberty Medley, a coming-of-age drama based on the webtoon of the same name.^{[12][13][14][15]} The same year, Kwak featured in the KBS period drama Inspiring Generation playing the younger version of Kim Hyun-joong's character.^[16] His portrayal of a boy who struggled as the head of the family from an early age to fill the father's vacancy, garnered him a nomination at the 16th Seoul International Youth Film Festival for the Best Young Actor Award.^[17][18]

In March 2014, he took on the lead role in KBS Drama Special Middle School Girl A where he portrayed a smart transfer student who got bullied in his new school.^[19][20][21] He then starred in SBS weekend drama Modern Farmer, playing a drummer of a rock band who later moved to a village to be a farmer.^[22][23] In December 2014, Kwak's performances in the drama Inspiring Generation and the drama special Middle School Student A won him the Best Young Actor Award in the 2014 KBS Drama Awards.^[24]

In 2015, Kwak starred alongside Sistar's Bora in the web series The Flatterer, based on a webtoon of the same name. He portrayed Park Gun, an underdog high school student struggling to survive among the strong in a realistic and comical way.^[25] He also starred in a KBS2 Drama Special Avici, playing the role of a model student from an elite high school, but lacks the ability to empathize with others' pain, who tried his best to cover up his mom's murder.^[26]

2016–present: Rising popularity

In 2016, he gained more recognition after co-starring in the hit KBS2 historical series Love in the Moonlight as a skilled swordsman known as Kim Byung-yeon.^[27][28] The role earned him a nomination for the Best New Actor at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards, and the 10th Korea Drama Awards.^[29] In 2017, Kwak made a guest appearance in drama Fight for My Way, as Kim Ji-won's ex-boyfriend,^[30] and played a supporting role in SBS fantasy romance drama Reunited Worlds.^[31][32][33]

In July 2017, Kwak was cast as Michael, the main protagonist in the Korean adaptation of The Elephant Song play, which ran from 6 September to 26 November at the former Suhyeonjae Theater in Seoul.^[34][35]

In 2017, Kwak starred as the main protagonist in a KBS2 drama special Slow. His portrayal of a frustrated baseball player "who fell into a slump, and was anxious about an uncertain future", garnered him a nomination for the Best Actor in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama Award at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards.^[36][37] On 27 November 2017, Kwak carried the Olympics flame for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in Gokseong, South Jeolla province as part of the torch relay.^[38][39]

In 2018, he joined the cast of KBS romance drama Radio Romance, playing the role of a psychiatrist who is Ji Soo-ho (Yoon Doo-joon)'s high school classmate and personal doctor.^[40][41][42] He also starred in JTBC's romantic comedy series Gangnam Beauty,^[43] which was a hit and gained renewed recognition for Kwak.^[44] He then starred in SBS's romantic comedy drama My Strange Hero, which is Kwak's first villain role following his debut.^[45][46] The role earned him a nomination for the Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries at the 2019 SBS Drama Awards.^[45][46][47]

In December 2018, he won the Actor Award at the 2019 Korea First Brand Awards.^[48] In 2019, Kwak made a special appearance in SBS drama Doctor Detective, portraying Jung Ha-rang, a screen door service engineer from a vocational high school, who was destroyed by an industrial accident.^[49][50] Later in the same year, Kwak starred in the family drama Never Twice.^[51] He acted as the lead male role there with actress Park Se-wan. He played the role of Na Hae-jun, the heir of a five-star hotel. The performance earned him a nomination for the Excellence Award, Actor in a Weekend Drama at the 2019 MBC Drama Awards, and for the Excellent Award, Actor in Serial Drama at the 7th APAN Star Awards.^[52][53][54]

In October 2019, Kwak reprised his role in The Elephant Song, from 22 November 2019 to 16 February 2020.^[55][56] In 2020, he appeared in sports film Baseball Girl.^[57] He also made a special appearance in the tvN drama It's Okay to Not Be Okay. Kwak takes on the role of a manic patient with exhibitionism in the drama.^[58][59] In June 2020, it was announced that Kwak would be a part of the cast in the Korean adaptation of the musical comedy Something Rotten!. He played the role of Nigel Bottom, a genius playwright who is also pure and passionate. The performance earned him a nomination for the Rookie of the Year Award, Male category at the 5th Korea Musical Awards. The play ran from 7 August to 18 October at the Chungmu Art Center Grand Theater.^[60][61][62] In August 2020, Kwak signed with new agency H& Entertainment after leaving FNC Entertainment.^[63]

In February 2021, Kwak starred in tvN television series Vincenzo. He played the role of Jang Han-seo, the half-brother of Jang Jun-woo portrayed by Taecyeon, who publicly acts as chairman in his brother's place.^[64][65] In May 2021, Kwak joined SBS variety show Delicious Rendezvous along with Choi Won-young and Choi Ye-bin.^[66] In 2022, Kwak appeared in the movie 6/45 as an observer in the South Korean front force^[67] and in the MBC drama Big Mouth as a convicted scammer called Jerry.^[68]

In 2024, Kwak appeared in the Queen of Tears as a third-generation chaebol of Queens Group. From December 6, 2024, to February 7, 2025, he starred in tvN's travel show Rented in Finland.^[69]

In 2026, Kwak starred in tvN's television show The Village Barber.^[70] In April, Kwak signed an exclusive contract with The Black Label.^[71]

Film

Television series

Web series

Television shows

Web shows

Music video appearances

Radio