With multiple hit movies and a remarkable career spanning over two decades, actor Kang Dong-won has been an integral part of the Korean entertainment industry. Here we look at some of the best titles from his portfolio.
Kang Dong-won initially started his career as a model but eventually transitioned into acting. After starring in the music video for singer Jo Sung-mo’s hit track, “I Swear”, Kang made his big screen debut with the 2004 romantic comedy Too Beautiful to Lie. The South Korean actor has been a part of an array of best, highest-grossing movies over the years. These include Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman (2023), Broker (2022), Peninsula (2020), Illang: The Wolf Brigade (2018), Golden Slumber (2018) and The Priests (2015).
His 2024 film The Plot, which marks his reunion with co-actor Lee Dong-hwi after Broker and Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman, was an instant box-office hit. An adaptation of the 2009 Hong Kong film Accident, The Plot grossed over USD 1.0 million with 171,117 tickets sold as of May 2024, as reported by The Korean Film Council.
Meanwhile, Broker was screened at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival where it took home the prestigious Ecumenical Jury Award. Directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu, it grossed over USD 18.9 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
Kang Dong-won plays skilled swordsman Cheon Yeong in his latest Netflix period drama Uprising. The movie enjoyed a special premiere at the 29th Busan International Film Festival on 2 October 2024. Uprising releases worldwide on Netflix on 11 October 2024.
Talking about his craft, Kang said in a 2024 interview with The Korea Herald, “I try to act with a lot of imagination. Some people approach acting in a realistic way, but I’m not one of them.”
These Kang Dong-won movies are a must-watch
Jump To / Table of Contents
- The Plot (2024)
- Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman (2023)
- Broker (2022)
- Peninsula (2020)
- Illang: The Wolf Brigade (2018)
- Golden Slumber (2018)
- The Priests (2015)
- Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2014)
1 /8
The Plot (2024)
Directed by: Lee Yo-sup
Other stars: Kim Hong-pa, Lee Moo-saeng, Lee Mi-sook
Approx duration: 1 hr. 39 min.
Synopsis: Yeong-il (Kang) is in the business of disguising contract killings as accidental deaths. Soon, he is assigned to manipulate the murder of Joo Seong-jik (Kim), a candidate for Prosecutor General in Seoul. With the media and the police paying close attention to the case, will Yeong-il succeed in his mission?
2 /8
Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman (2023)
Directed by: Kim Seong-sik
Other stars: Huh Joon-ho, Esom, Lee Dong-hwi
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 38 min.
Synopsis: Doctor Cheon (Kang), despite being the grandson of a famous shaman, doesn’t believe in the supernatural. However, to make ends meet, he runs a YouTube channel with his assistant In-Bae (Lee) where he performs fake exorcisms. What happens when a client, Yoo-Kyung (Esom) asks him to perform an exorcism on her possessed younger sibling?
About the movie: It is based on the popular webtoon Bingui, written by Huretsha and illustrated by Kim Hong-tae.
3 /8
Broker (2022)
Directed by: Kore-eda Hirokazu
Other stars: IU, Song Kang-ho
Approx. duration: 2 hr. 9 min.
Synopsis: Sang Hyun (Song) and Dong Soo (Kang) are two brokers who carry out illegal adoptions. When a mother, So-Young (IU), joins them on a journey to ensure that her daughter gets a safe new home, the duo learns the importance of family.
4 /8
Peninsula (2020)
Directed by: Yeon Sang-ho
Other stars: Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 56 min.
Synopsis: After a zombie outbreak destroys the Korean peninsula, survivor Jung Seok (Kang), who shifted to Hong Kong, is forced by Chinese mobsters to return to his homeland and rob a truck containing USD 20 million. When Jung Seok meets another survivor, Captain Seo (Koo) during the heist, his life changes forever.
About the movie: This action heist is a sequel to the 2016 hit Korean horror movie Train to Busan.
Directed by: Kim Jee-woon
Other stars: Han Hyo-joo, Jung Woo-sung, Kim Mu-yeol
Approx. duration: 2 hr. 38 min.
Synopsis: It’s 2029 and South and North Korea now maintain a unified government. However, when terror organisation Sect’s opposition to the unification becomes more fierce, a special police force led by Officer Lim Joong-kyung (Kang) is formed to tackle the situation.
About the movie: This sci-fi flick is a live-action adaptation of the 1999 hit anime Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade.
6 /8
Golden Slumber (2018)
Directed by: Noh Dong-seok
Other stars: Kim Eui-sung, Kim Sung-kyun, Kim Dae-myung, Han Hyo-joo
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 48 min.
Synopsis: Kim Gun-woo (Kang) leads a peaceful life as a hardworking package delivery worker. However, his life is altered forever when he is falsely accused of a terrorist attack that kills a presidential candidate.
About the movie: It is based on the 2007 Japanese novel of the same name by Kōtarō Isaka.
7 /8
The Priests (2015)
Directed by: Jang Jae-hyun
Other stars: Kim Yoon-seok, Park So-dam
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 48 min.
Synopsis: Priest Kim (Kim) and seminarian Choi (Kang) risk their lives to cure a comatose girl, Young-shin (Park) of mysterious symptoms they believe are caused by a powerful demon.
About the movie: This supernatural Korean thriller is based on director Jang’s award-winning short film 12th Assistant Deacon.
8 /8
Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2014)
Directed by: Yoon Jong-bin
Other stars: Ha Jung-woo, Nam Da-reum, Lee Geung-young
Approx. duration: 2 hr. 17 min.
Synopsis: Former butcher Dol Moo-chi (Ha) joins a band of outlaws known as Kundos to avenge the deaths of his family. Helping him in his task is Nobleman Jo Yoon (Kang).
(Hero and Featured image: Courtesy Netflix and Netflixkr)
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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