Gang Dong-won
Gang in February 2016
Born (1981-01-18) January 18, 1981
Busan, South Korea
Other namesKang Dong-won
Alma materHanyang University (mechanical engineering)
OccupationActor
Years active2000–present
Agent(s)AA Group (South Korea)
Creative Artists Agency (USA)[1]
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGang Dong-won
McCune–ReischauerKang Tongwŏn

Gang Dong-won (Korean: 강동원; born January 18, 1981) is a South Korean actor.

Early life

Gang Dong-won was born January 18, 1981, in Busan, and grew up in Changwon of Gyeongsangnam-do. His father, Gang Cheol-woo, was an engineer and later vice president of SPP Heavy Industries.[2] Gang's family suffered economic hardship at times and Gang had to work part-time in college to pay for his tuition.[3][4] Academically gifted with an IQ of 137, Gang graduated from Hanyang University at Ansan with a degree in mechanical engineering.[5]

Career

2000–2004: Beginnings

In 2000, when Gang was a first year university student, he was spotted on the street by a modeling agent. Thus began his modeling career, and he appeared on the catwalk for prêt-à-porter collections in Paris such as DKNY, Gucci and Hugo Boss, as well as for the local Seoul Fashion Artists Association (SFAA).[6]

After being cast in the music video for Jo Sung-mo's "I Swear," Gang began taking acting classes, leading to a change in career.[7] He made his acting debut on television in 2003, playing a doctor with a regional dialect in Country Princess (also known as Funny Wild Girl), and a chaebol's son in Something About 1%.[6][8] In 2004 he shot his first movie, the romantic comedy Too Beautiful to Lie, which was moderately successful.

2005–2010: Career breakthrough and mainstream success

Gang's first real breakthrough was in Temptation of Wolves, the film adaptation of Guiyeoni's teen internet novel.[9] Gang's popularity subsequently rose, extending to other Asian countries, especially Japan. He then briefly returned to television as an antihero in Magic, though it received low ratings.[6][8]

Gang's next roles were an inmate on death row in Maundy Thursday,[10] and the antagonist in Voice of a Murderer.[11] His two collaborations with auteur Lee Myung-se in Duelist and M further cemented Gang's status as one of the top young actors in Korean cinema,[7][12][13] earning him critical recognition for his stylish flair and diverse choice of roles.[6]

Gang said that he decided to play the mischievous titular character in the action fantasy Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard because "he wanted to work on a fun movie, as he was emotionally drained while formerly having worked on several serious films.[14] The Choi Dong-hoon film turned into a holiday blockbuster, selling over 6 million tickets over the winter season despite opening in theaters only a week after the release of Avatar in Korea.[15][16] In 2010, he was cast opposite veteran actor Song Kang-ho in Jang Hoon's spy film Secret Reunion.[17] It became one of the biggest Korean box office hits of 2010, with over 5 million tickets sold. He then joined the Busan-centered omnibus Camellia, starring in Jang Joon-hwan's short film Love For Sale.[18] Gang's last project before enlistment was the psychic thriller Haunters.[19][20]

2010–2012: Military service

Gang enlisted for his mandatory military service on November 18, 2010, for four weeks of basic training at the Nonsan military camp in South Chungcheong Province.[21] This was followed by non-active duty as a public service worker at Seoul City Research Institute of Public Health and Environment. He was discharged on November 12, 2012.[22] On the day of his release, his agency uploaded a three minutes YouTube clip of him in various locations throughout the city, titled "Gang Dong-won in a Day."[23]

2013–present: Return to acting

In 2013, Gang appeared in The X, a 30-minute spy thriller directed by Kim Jee-woon.[24]

In 2014, Gang returned to the big screen in Yoon Jong-bin's period action film Kundo: Age of the Rampant, playing an illegitimate nobleman's son who attempts to destroy a group of Robin Hood-like outlaws in 19th century Joseon Dynasty.[25][26] He next starred in My Brilliant Life, E J-yong's film adaptation of Kim Aeran's bestselling novel My Palpitating Life about a couple who must watch their son suffering from progeria grow prematurely old.[27][28][29]

In 2015, Gang reunited with Jeon Woo-chi co-star Kim Yoon-seok in Jang Jae-hyun's mystery thriller The Priests.[30]

In 2016, Gang played a young con artist in the crime film A Violent Prosecutor directed by Lee Il-hyung,[31] which became the second highest grossing Korean film of 2016.[32] He also starred in Um Tae-hwa's fantasy film Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned[33] and Cho Ui-seok's financial thriller film Master together with Lee Byung-hun and Kim Woo-bin.[34] After ending the contract with United Artist Agency,[35] Gang signed with a new agency, YG Entertainment in January 2016.[36]

In 2017, Gang made a special appearance as Lee Han-yeol in Jang Joon-hwan's historical film 1987: When the Day Comes.[37]

In 2018, Gang played a delivery man framed for the assassination of a politician in Noh Dong-seok's thriller Golden Slumber, based on Isaka Kotaro's novel of the same name.[38][39] His next project was Kim Jee-woon's science fiction action thriller Illang: The Wolf Brigade, which is a film adaption based on Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, a Japanese animated thriller.[40][41][42]

In 2020, Gang starred in the Yeon Sang-ho's horror-action-thriller Peninsula, a standalone sequel to 2016 hit Train to Busan.[43] He then starred in the Hirokazu Kore-eda's film Broker where he played the role of Dong-soo–a man who was abandoned by parents, and now sells abandoned babies with his friend played by Song Kang-ho.[44] The film competed for Palme d'Or at 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

In December 2022, Gang ended his contract with YG Entertainment after about 7 years.[45]

Controversy

In March 2017, a user of movie website Max Movie uploaded a list of currently active movie actors who are descendants of pro-Japanese collaborators, and listed Gang. His maternal great-grandfather Lee Jong-man (1885–1977) is listed in the pro-Japanese biographical dictionary, having been involved in mining business during the Japanese colonial rule and donating to the Japanese army.[46] Because of the revelation, Gang issued a public apology, and cancelled his scheduled recording for Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned commentary.[47][48]

Endorsements

In May 2022, Gang was selected as House ambassador for French luxury brand Louis Vuitton.[49][50][51]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2004Too Beautiful to LieChoi Hee-cheol
Temptation of WolvesJeong Tae-seong
2005DuelistSad Eyes
2006Maundy ThursdayJeong Yun-soo
2007Voice of a MurdererKidnapperVoice
MHan Min-woo
2009Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist WizardJeon Woo-chi
2010Secret ReunionSong Jee-won
HauntersCho-in
2011CamelliaJaySegment: "Love for Sale"
2013The XXShort film
2014Kundo: Age of the RampantJo Yoon
My Brilliant LifeDae-su
2015The PriestsDeacon Choi
2016A Violent ProsecutorHan Chi-won
Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returnedadult Sung-min
MasterKim Jae-myung
2017 1987: When the Day ComesLee Han-yeolSpecial appearance
2018 Golden Slumber Kim Gun-woo
Illang: The Wolf Brigade Im Joong-kyung
2020 PeninsulaJeong-seok
2022 BrokerDong-soo[52]
2023 Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman Dr. Cheon [53]
TBA The Accident Brain [54]
War and Revolt Cheonyeong [55]

Television series

Year Title Role
2003Country PrincessMin Ji-hoon
Something About 1%Lee Jae-in
2004MagicCha Gang-jae

Music video appearances

Year Song title Artist
2000"I Swear" (Korean: 다짐; RR: Dajim)Jo Sung-mo
2001"Light" (Korean: 빛; RR: Bit)J
2004"It Rains" (Korean: 비가와; RR: Bigawa)Jung Chul
2010"Let's Break Up" (Korean: 헤어지자고)Joo Hyung-jin
2016"Telling A Secret" (Korean: 비밀을 말하다)
2022 "I'll Hear" (Korean: 들을게) [56]

Discography

Year Song title Notes
2005 "Shadow" and "Love Song" Featured in closing credits of Duelist (duet with Ha Ji-won)
2015 "Victimae paschali laudes" (Deacon Choi version) The Priests (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2017 "A Hidden Path (Korean: 가리워진 길)" 1987: When the Day Comes (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (duet with Kim Tae-ri)
2018 "Cheer Up (Korean: 힘을 내)" (Friends with Shin Hae Chul version) Golden Slumber (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (with Kim Sung-kyun, Kim Dae-myung, and Shin Hae Chul)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2003 22nd MBC Drama Awards Best New Actor Something About 1% Won
2004 40th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor Too Beautiful to Lie Nominated
Most Popular Actor Won
41st Grand Bell Awards Best New Actor Nominated
7th Director's Cut Awards Won
3rd Korean Film Awards Won
Temptation of Wolves Won
25th Blue Dragon Film Awards Nominated
Popular Star Award Won
24th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best New Actor Won
2005 3rd CGV Audience Choice of the Year Awards Won
28th Golden Cinematography Awards Won
41st Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actor Won
26th Blue Dragon Film Awards Popular Star Award Duelist Won [57]
2007 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor Maundy Thursday Nominated
2010 46th Baeksang Arts Awards Secret Reunion Nominated
31st Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actor Nominated
19th Buil Film Awards Best Actor Nominated
30th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Won [58]
47th Grand Bell Awards Nominated
2014 51st Grand Bell Awards Kundo: Age of the Rampant Nominated
2016 InStyle Star Icon The Priests Won
2017 16th New York Asian Film Festival Star Asia Award Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned Won [59]
2018 27th Buil Film Awards Popular Star Award Illang: The Wolf Brigade Nominated
2020 29th Buil Film Awards Peninsula Won [60]

Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Forbes 2011 Korea Power Celebrity 21st [61]

References

  1. ↑ Lee Yu-na (March 24, 2022). "강동원, 美 CAA와 계약 체결...할리우드 접수할까 (공식)" [Kang Dong-won signs a contract with CAA in the US... Will it take over Hollywood (official)] (in Korean). YTN. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022 – via Naver.
  2. ↑ 강동원 "아버지 재벌설? 월급 부사장인데.."(인터뷰) [Gang Dong-won "My father is a chaebol? He is just a hired vice president]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  3. ↑ [인터뷰] <의형제> 강동원 "오직 다음만을 생각한다". Maxmovie (in Korean). January 27, 2010. Archived from the original on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  4. ↑ 강동원 "곱게 자란 이미지? 논두렁 다니며 컸다"(인터뷰). XPORT Media (in Korean). July 19, 2014. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  5. ↑ 강동원, 아이큐 137...명문 사립고+한양대 출신 '엄친아'. news.donga.com (in Korean). August 19, 2015. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Kang, Myoung-seok (April 9, 2010). "10LINE: Actor Gang Dong-won". 10Asia. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  7. 1 2 Yang, Sung-hee (November 7, 2007). "More than just a pretty face". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  8. 1 2 "All That Star: The Handsome and Talented Actor with Superior Genes, Gang Dong-won, who gradually rose to stardom!". Arirang News. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Gang Dong-won Selected As Top Dream Date". KBS Global. March 24, 2005. Archived from the original on May 27, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Happy Hours and Two Complex Stars". The Chosun Ilbo. September 6, 2009. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  11. ↑ Lee, Min-a (January 8, 2007). "Time for boy's killer to repent". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  12. ↑ Min, Dong-yong (June 2, 2005). ""I Have Chi Coming Out of My Fingertips Now"". The Dong-a Ilbo. Archived from the original on July 23, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  13. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (October 7, 2007). "M Sets Busan Film Festival on Fire". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  14. ↑ Kang, Myoung-seok (December 17, 2009). "Gang Dong-won says he may write Woochi sequel". 10Asia. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  15. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (December 17, 2009). "Woochi Marks Birth of Korean Superhero". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Korean box office sets all-time high during first half of 2010". HanCinema. July 7, 2010. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  17. ↑ Park, Sun-young (January 21, 2010). "Bonds of brotherhood, on and off screen". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  18. ↑ Kim, Lynn (January 20, 2010). "Gang Dong-won, Song Hye-kyo start filming Love". 10Asia. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  19. ↑ Hong, Lucia (October 18, 2010). "Gang Dong-won says "wants the power to teleport"". 10Asia. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  20. ↑ Sung, So-young; Lee, Jung-hee. "Pretty-boy actor takes his turn as a villain". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  21. ↑ Lee, Eun-ji (November 18, 2010). "Gang Dong-won to enter military today". 10Asia. Archived from the original on June 2, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  22. ↑ Lee, Tae-ho (November 12, 2012). "Actors Gang Dong-won, Ko Joo-won Discharged from Military Today". 10Asia. Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  23. ↑ Sunwoo, Carla (December 14, 2012). "Military releases Gang Dong-won". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  24. ↑ Lee, Maggie (October 28, 2013). "Film Review: The X". Variety. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  25. ↑ Sunwoo, Carla (June 13, 2014). "Chemistry for Ha, Gang in Kundo". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  26. ↑ Lee, Seung-mi (July 21, 2014). "Gang back in bitter bad boy role". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  27. ↑ "Gang, Song Hye-kyo to star in new film". The Korea Times. December 4, 2013. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  28. ↑ Song, Soon-jin (December 5, 2013). "GANG Dong-won and SONG Hye-kyo to Collaborate on Human Drama". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  29. ↑ Sunwoo, Carla (August 8, 2014). "A-listers bring to life sad story of a fast-aging boy". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  30. ↑ Kim, June (December 9, 2014). "Rendezvous for KIM Yun-seok and GANG Dong-won". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  31. ↑ Conran, Pierce (May 12, 2015). "GANG Dong-won and HWANG Jung-min Confirmed for A VIOLENT PROSECUTOR". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  32. ↑ "South Korea Yearly Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Kang Dong-won to appear on big screen". The Korea Times. October 15, 2015. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  34. ↑ "Top actors to light up action film "Master"". The Korea Times. December 17, 2015. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  35. ↑ "Gang Dong-won closes contract with UAA". The Korea Times. April 23, 2013. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  36. ↑ Son, Ji-hyoung (January 18, 2016). "YG clinches contract with Gang Dong-won". K-pop Herald. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  37. ↑ "'1987,' film on historic democratic movement boasts star-studded cast". The Korea Herald. April 3, 2017. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  38. ↑ "GANG Dong-won & HAN Hyo-joo Headline Thriller GOLDEN SLUMBER". Korean Film Biz Zone. December 27, 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Korean wrong-man thriller 'Golden Slumber' has the right stuff". Los Angeles Times. February 25, 2018. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Kim Jee-woon's upcoming sci-fi flick boasts stellar cast". The Korea Herald. July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  41. ↑ Noh, Jean (July 17, 2017). "'The Good, The Bad, The Weird' director Kim Jee-woon sets cast, shoot date for new sci-fi". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on July 21, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  42. ↑ "KIM Jee-woon's Sci-fi Action INRANG Starts Shooting in August". Korean Film Biz Zone. July 28, 2017. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  43. ↑ Choi Ji-won (June 16, 2020). "'Peninsula' takes post-zombie apocalypse to another level". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022 – via Naver.
  44. ↑ Lee Gyu-lee (June 8, 2022). "[INTERVIEW] Gang Dong-won focuses on portraying feelings of orphan in 'Broker'". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  45. ↑ Song, Min-joo (December 30, 2022). "강동원, 아이콘도 YG엔터 떠난다...'탈 YG' 열풍? [공식]" [Kang Dong-won and iKON are also leaving YG Entertainment... 'Leave YG' craze? [Formula]] (in Korean). TV Report. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022 – via Naver.
  46. ↑ [K스타] 강동원 외증조부 '이종만' 게시글에 대한 오해와 진실 [Misunderstanding and Truth About the Post on Gang Dong-won's Maternal Great-grandfather Rhee Jong-man]. KBS News (in Korean). March 6, 2017. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  47. ↑ "A-list actor mired in controversy". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 8, 2017. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  48. ↑ "Kang Dong-won apologizes for pro-Japanese controversy". Kpop Herald. Herald Corporation. March 6, 2017. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  49. ↑ "브로커 강동원, 루이비통 새 앰버서더 발탁". Herald Corp. Herald Corporation. May 31, 2022. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  50. ↑ "🧐칸의 레드 카펫에서 💫루이 비통의 턱시도를 차려입은 게 힌트였네요. 루이 비통이 배우 강동원을 하우스의 새로운 앰배서더로 발표했습니다". ELLE Korea on Instagram. June 1, 2022. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  51. ↑ "#FASHION #STARS #NEWS 루이 비통(@louisvuitton)이 배우 강동원을 하우스의 새로운 앰버서더로 발탁했습니다". Y Magazine on Instagram. May 31, 2022. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  52. ↑ Jeon Hyung-Hwa (February 1, 2021). "[단독]아이유, 송강호·강동원·배두나와 '브로커' 호흡..고레에다 히로카즈 감독 내한 [종합]" [Solo IU, Song Kang-ho, Kang Dong-won and Bae Doona, 'broker' director Hirokazu Koreeda. Respiration cold [General]]. star.mt (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021 – via Naver.
  53. ↑ Kang Hyo-jin (September 19, 2022). "빙의' 강동원·허준호·이솜·이동휘, 캐스팅 완료 '14일 크랭크인" [Possession' Kang Dong-won, Heo Jun-ho, Esom, and Lee Dong-hwi, casting completed 'Crank-in on the 14th'] (in Korean). spoTV News. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2022 – via Naver.
  54. ↑ Yoo Ji-hye (August 26, 2021). "[단독] 강동원, 영화 '엑시던트' 리메이크작 주연" [[Exclusive] Dongwon Kang, starring in the remake of the movie 'The Incident']. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021 – via Naver.
  55. ↑ Cho Ji-young (June 7, 2023). "[공식] 강동원X박정민, 박찬욱 제작 넷플릭스 영화 '전,란' 캐스팅 확정" [[Official] Kang Dong-Won X Park Jung-Min, Park Chan-Wook Produced Netflix Movie 'Jeon, Ran' Casting Confirmed] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023 – via Naver.
  56. ↑ Ko Seung-ah (May 11, 2022). "강동원, 흑백에도 훈훈 비주얼…주형진 '들을게' 뮤비 등장" [Kang Dong-won, a heartwarming visual in black and white… Joo Hyung-jin's 'I'll Hear' MV Appears] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022 – via Naver.
  57. ↑ "'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance' wins Best Picture Award". KBS World. November 30, 2005. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  58. ↑ "'Poetry' Wins Korean Critics' Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. October 23, 2010. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  59. ↑ "GANG Dong-won Receives the Star Asia Award at NYAFF". Korean Film Biz Zone. June 20, 2017. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  60. ↑ Ji, Min-kyung (October 22, 2020). '2020 부일영화상' 강동원X서예지, 남녀인기스타상 수상.."팬들 감사해" ['2020 Buil Film Awards' Kang Dong-won x Seo Ye-ji, won the Men's and Women's Popular Star Award.. "Thank you fans"]. Naver (in Korean). OSEN. Archived from the original on October 27, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  61. ↑ "Celebrity list 40". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). February 24, 2011. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021 – via Joins.
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