Seo Kang-joon
South Korean actor (born 1993)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lee Seung-hwan (Korean: 이승환; born October 12, 1993), known professionally as Seo Kang-joon (서강준), is a South Korean actor and former singer, who was a member of the group 5urprise. He gained recognition with his role in the television series Cheese in the Trap (2016) and has since starred in Are You Human? (2018), Watcher (2019), When The Weather Is Fine (2020), Grid (2022), and Undercover High School (2025).
October 12, 1993
(Performing Arts)
- Actor
- singer
Seo Kang-joon | |
|---|---|
Seo in May 2025 | |
| Born | Lee Seung-hwan October 12, 1993 Gunpo, South Korea |
| Education | Dong Seoul University (Performing Arts) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Agent | Man of Creation |
| Musical career | |
| Instrument | Piano |
| Label | Fantagio |
| Formerly of | 5urprise |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이승환 |
| Hanja | 李承桓 |
| RR | I Seunghwan |
| MR | I Sŭnghwan |
| Stage name | |
| Hangul | 서강준 |
| RR | Seo Gangjun |
| MR | Sŏ Kangjun |
| Signature | |
 | |
Early life and education
Seo Kang-joon was born Lee Seung-hwan in Gunpo, South Korea.[1] In the second year of secondary school, Seo went to study abroad in Malaysia for one year and seven months and returned to Korea in the first year of high school. After his debut, he enrolled at the Faculty of Performing Arts of Dong Seoul College.[2] Seo worked part-time as a model before his debut. After passing the audition for Actor's League, a program with the aim of searching for new actors organized by Fantagio, Seo underwent training before debuting in the group 5urprise.[3]
Career
2012–2016: Beginnings and rising popularity
_-마리토닥토닥_배우_서강준편.jpg)
Seo took on bit parts in various television series, before making his acting debut as with a supporting role in SBS' drama The Suspicious Housekeeper.[4]
His first major role was in the 2014 romantic comedy series Cunning Single Lady,[5] for which he won the Best New Actor award at the 7th Korea Drama Awards.[6]
He has then appeared in television dramas What Happens to My Family? (2014–2015),[7][8] Splendid Politics (2015),[9] and To Be Continued (2015),[10] as well as films My Love, My Bride (2014) and Summer Snow (2015).[11][12]
In 2014, Seo joined the SBS variety show Roommate as a cast member.[13][14] He also appeared on Law of the Jungle as a guest.[15]
Seo's breakout role came in 2016 as a talented pianist in the college romance drama Cheese in the Trap.[16][17][18] The same year, he starred in his first leading role in tvN drama Entourage, the Korean remake of the American television series of the same name.[19][20]
2018–present: Leading roles
In 2018, Seo starred in KBS's science fiction drama Are You Human? where he played double roles as a wealthy heir and robot.[21][22] The same year, he starred in romance comedy drama The Third Charm.[23]
In 2019, Seo starred in OCN's thriller drama Watcher as a policeman.[24] He was cast in the JTBC romance drama When the Weather Is Fine, which aired in the first half of 2020.[25]
In 2022, Seo starred in Disney+ (Star) thriller drama Grid as an employee of the Grid Bureau.[26]
In 2024, Seo was cast in the MBC action comedy Undercover High School,[27] which aired in the first half of 2025.
Personal life
Military service
On November 8, 2021, it was reported that Seo would enlist in the military on November 23, 2021.[28] Later the same day, Seo's agency confirmed that he would enlist in the military on November 23, without revealing his location.[29] Seo received the division commander's commendation for excellent performance in basic military training.[30] Seo was discharged from military service on May 22, 2023 after serving as an active duty soldier for 18 months.[31]
Filmography
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | My Love, My Bride | Joon-soo | [11] | |
| 2015 | The Beauty Inside | Kim Woo-jin | Cameo | [32] |
| Summer Snow | Han Sang-gyu | [12] | ||
| 2021 | A Year-End Medley | Lee Kang | [33] |
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | To the Beautiful You | Student | Bit part (ep. 3, 7) | |
| 2013 | Good Doctor | Disorderly student | Bit part (ep. 12) | |
| The Suspicious Housekeeper | Choi Soo-hyuk | [4] | ||
| Haneuljae's Murder | Yoon-ha | KBS Drama Special | [34] | |
| 2014 | Cunning Single Lady | Gook Seung-hyun | Main role | [5] |
| What Happens to My Family? | Yoon Eun-ho | [7] | ||
| 2015 | Splendid Politics | Hong Joo-won | [9] | |
| 2016 | Cheese in the Trap | Baek In-ho | [16] | |
| Entertainer | Lee Sang-won | Cameo (ep. 7–8) | [35] | |
| Entourage | Cha Young-bin | [19] | ||
| 2018 | Are You Human? | Nam Shin / Nam Shin III | [22] | |
| The Third Charm | Oh Joon-young | [23] | ||
| 2019 | Watcher | Kim Young-goon | [24] | |
| 2020 | When the Weather Is Fine | Im Eun-seob | [25] | |
| 2022 | Grid | Kim Sae-ha / Kwon Sae-ha / young Kwon Soo-geun | [26] | |
| 2025 | Undercover High School | Jeong Hae-seong / Jeong Si-hyun | [36] | |
| 2026 | Boyfriend on Demand | Seo Eun-ho | Cameo | [37] |
| A Love Other Than Yours † | Namgoong Ho | [38] |
Web series
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–2015 | Roommate | Cast member | Seasons 1–2 | [13] |
| 2016 | Law of the Jungle in Tonga | [15] |
Discography
| Year | Song title | Album | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | "You Are My Love" | Are You Human? OST | [43] |
Accolades
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Work(s) / Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Artist Awards | 2016 | Best Entertainer Award, Actor | Seo Kang-joon | Won | [44] |
| 2017 | Best Icon Award, Actor | Won | [45] | ||
| Korea Drama Awards | 2014 | Best New Actor | Cunning Single Lady | Won | [6] |
| 2015 | Excellence Award, Actor | Splendid Politics | Nominated | ||
| Hot Star Award | Won | [46] | |||
| 2018 | Excellence Award, Actor | Are You Human? | Nominated | [47] | |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2014 | Best New Actor | What Happens to My Family? | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Are You Human? | Won | [48] | |
| Best Couple | Seo Kang-joon (with Gong Seung-yeon) Are You Human? |
Won | |||
| MBC Drama Awards | 2014 | Best New Actor | Cunning Single Lady | Nominated | |
| 2025 | Grand Prize (Daesang)[a] | Undercover High School | Won | [49] | |
| SBS Entertainment Awards | 2014 | Best Male Newcomer | Roommate | Nominated | |
| Seoul International Youth Film Festival | 2014 | Best New Actor | Cunning Single Lady | Nominated | |
| tvN10 Awards | 2016 | Made in tvN, Actor in Drama | Cheese in the Trap | Nominated |
Listicles
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Film Council | 2021 | Korean Actors 200[b] | Included | [50][51] |
