Koo Kyo-hwan

Koo Kyo-hwan (Korean: 구교환; born December 14, 1982) is a South Korean actor and film director known for his role in the films Jane (2016), Peninsula (2020), and Escape from Mogadishu (2021). He also attracted recognition for his performance in Netflix original D.P. (2021–2023).

Source: Wikipedia

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Koo Kyo-hwan

Early life and education

Koo Kyo-hwan

Koo Kyo-hwan was born on December 14, 1982. During his school years, Koo's student records noted his aptitude for entertainment. While he initially considered a career as a comedian, his interests expanded to include acting and general entertainment.

Koo enrolled at the Seoul Institute of the Arts intending to major in acting. However, he mistakenly applied to the film department rather than the theater department. This led to training in various filmmaking disciplines, including directing, cinematography, producing, and editing, which fostered a secondary interest in film direction.

Career

Koo Kyo-hwan

Koo made his acting debut in the 2009 film Children, directed by his classmate Yoon Sung-hyun. In the film, he portrayed a high school student with a specialized interest in kite-making. That same year, he appeared in a minor role as a utility worker in Castaway on the Moon.

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 kg and developed a specific high-pitched vocal delivery. For his performance, he was named Actor of the Year at the Busan International Film Festival.

Koo's first major role in a commercial production was Captain Seo in Yeon Sang-ho's 2020 film Peninsula. Director Yeon initially questioned Koo's suitability for commercial cinema but cast him after a personal meeting, later noting that Koo's interpretation added complexity to a character that might otherwise have been a conventional villain.

Personal life

Koo Kyo-hwan

Koo has been in a relationship with director Lee Ok-seop since 2013.

Filmography

Film

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2009</td><td>Castaway on the Moon</td><td>Utilities man 1</td><td>Bit part</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>A Werewolf Boy</td><td>Plastered man</td><td>Bit part</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Romance in Seoul</td><td>Gi-cheol / Gyo-hwan</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>Now Playing</td><td>Goo Gyo-hwan</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2016</td><td>Beaten Black and Blue</td><td>Gyo-hwan</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Jane</td><td>Jane</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Maggie</td><td>Lee Sung-won</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Peninsula</td><td>Captain Seo</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Escape from Mogadishu</td><td>Tae Joon-gi</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>A Glimpse at Lee Hyo-ri</td><td>eldest brother</td><td>Short film</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Kill Boksoon</td><td>Han Hee-seong</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Escape</td><td>Ri Hyeon-sang</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Once We Were Us</td><td>Lee Eun-ho</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Colony</td><td>Seo Young-cheol</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>TBA</td><td>Seeking the King</td><td>Kim Do-jin</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>New Humanity War: Resurrection Man</td><td>Seok-hwan</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Television series

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Role</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2016</td><td>Dance From Afar</td><td>Sin Pa-rang</td><td>Drama Special</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Kingdom: Ashin of the North</td><td>Ai Da Gan</td><td>Special episode</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021–2023</td><td>D.P.</td><td>Han Ho-yul</td><td>Season 1–2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Monstrous</td><td>Jeong Ki-hoon</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Extraordinary Attorney Woo</td><td>Bang Gu-ppong</td><td>Cameo (episode 9)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>One Day Off</td><td>Lee Chang-jin</td><td>Cameo (episode 3)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Parasyte: The Grey</td><td>Seol Kang-woo</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>We Are All Trying Here</td><td>Hwang Dong-man</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

As filmmaker

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Title</th><th>Notes</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2011</td><td>Turtles</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>Where is My DVD?</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Welcome to My Home</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>Love Docu</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>After School</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fly to the Sky</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Now Playing</td><td>Also credited as screenwriter, producer, film editor, script editor</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2017</td><td>Girls on Top</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Maggie</td><td>As film editor</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Awards and nominations

Koo Kyo-hwan

<table><thead><tr><th>Award ceremony</th><th>Year</th><th>Category</th><th>Nominee / Work</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>APAN Star Awards</td><td>2022</td><td>Excellence Award, Actor in an OTT Drama</td><td>D.P.</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Baeksang Arts Awards</td><td>2018</td><td>Best New Actor – Film</td><td>Jane</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Best Supporting Actor – Film</td><td>Peninsula</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Escape from Mogadishu</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best New Actor – Television</td><td>D.P.</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>Best Supporting Actor – Film</td><td>Escape</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Blue Dragon Film Awards</td><td>2017</td><td>Best New Actor</td><td>Jane</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Escape from Mogadishu</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Popular Star Award</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Blue Dragon Series Awards</td><td>2022</td><td>Best New Actor</td><td>D.P.</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Buil Film Awards</td><td>2017</td><td>Best New Actor</td><td>Jane</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Peninsula</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Escape from Mogadishu</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Busan International Film Festival</td><td>2016</td><td>Actor of the Year</td><td>Beaten Black and Blue</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Busan Film Critics Awards</td><td>2017</td><td>Best New Actor</td><td>Jane</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Chunsa Film Art Awards</td><td>2017</td><td>Best New Actor</td><td>Beaten Black and Blue</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2018</td><td>Best Supporting Actor</td><td>Jane</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Peninsula</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Escape from Mogadishu</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cine21 Film Awards</td><td>2016</td><td>New Actor of the Year</td><td>Beaten Black and Blue</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Series actor of the Year</td><td>D.P. Kingdom: Ashin of the North</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Director's Cut Awards</td><td>2019</td><td>Best New Actor</td><td>Maggie</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>Best Actor in series</td><td>D.P.</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Best New Actor in series</td><td>Nominated</td></tr><tr><td>Best New Actor in film</td><td>Peninsula</td><td>Won</td></tr><tr><td>Kino Lights Awards</td><td>2021</td><td>Actor of The Year (Domestic)</td><td>Escape from Mogadishu Kingdom: Ashin of the North</td><td>1st place</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Wildflower Film Awards</td><td>2017</td><td>Best New Actor</td><td>Beaten Black and Blue</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Listicles

<table><thead><tr><th>Publisher</th><th>Year</th><th>Listicle</th><th>Placement</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Cine21</td><td>2020</td><td>Actors to watch out for in 2021</td><td>6th</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>Actors to watch out for in 2022</td><td>1st</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>Actors to watch out for in 2023</td><td>3rd</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Actors to watch out for in 2024</td><td>2nd</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2024</td><td>Next Korean Movie Actor</td><td>Included</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>Actors to watch out for in 2026</td><td>1st</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Joy News 24</td><td>2021</td><td>Best Actor of the Year</td><td>3rd</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Korean Film Council</td><td>2021</td><td>Korean Actors 200</td><td>Included</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>