Cho Seung-woo

Quick Facts: Who was Cho Seung-woo?

Subject:

Cho Seung-woo

Known for:

Highly acclaimed South Korean actor known for dramatic roles in film and musicals.

Born:

1980-03-28

Century / Era:

1980s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Cho Seung-woo (Korean: 조승우; born March 28, 1980) is a South Korean actor and singer. He is best known for his leading roles in the films The Classic (2003), Marathon (2005), Tazza: The High Rollers (2006), and Inside Men (2015), as well as in the stage musicals Jekyll & Hyde, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Man of La Mancha. He is also known for his leading roles in television dramas The King's Doctor (2012), God's Gift: 14 Days (2014), Stranger (2017–2020), Life (2018), Sisyphus: The Myth (2021), and Divorce Attorney Shin (2023). Cho Seung-woo grew up in a musical family: his father Cho Kyung-soo is a singer, and his older sister Cho Seo-yeon acts in musical theatre. Cho himself also dreamed of becoming a musical actor from an early age, however in 1999 while a student at Dankook University he was persuaded to join auditions for Im Kwon-taek's film Chunhyang, and he ended up winning the part from among a field of 1,000 actors.

Career & Major Achievements

Chunhyang would screen as the first Korean film in competition at Cannes, although domestically it failed to attract much of an audience. Cho did go on to appear in musicals after his film debut, acting in local productions Subway Line 1 and The Last Empress. Soon he was drawn back into the film industry, however, with a key supporting role in Wanee & Junah (2001), a villainous turn in H (2002), plus a leading role in Who Are U? In 2003, Cho acted in Kwak Jae-yong's romance The Classic opposite Son Ye-jin, receiving good reviews for his sincere acting. His popularity continued to grow, and in 2004 he appeared in Im Kwon-taek's 99th film Low Life.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Cho's breakthrough would come in early 2005 with the smash hit Marathon, where he played an autistic young man who only finds release in running. The film sold over 5 million tickets, and aged 26, Cho won several awards for his performance including Best Actor at the 2005 Grand Bell Awards, Best Actor at 2005 Baeksang Arts Awards in film category, as well as Best Actor in the foreign film category at China's Hundred Flowers Awards. Nonetheless, he continued to pursue his career in musicals, with critically acclaimed appearances in Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Jekyll and Hyde. His success at pursuing both film and musicals make him an unusual case among contemporary actors. Cho starred in Love Phobia (2006) opposite then-girlfriend Kang Hye-jung; both were praised for their acting, but the melodrama wasn't a commercial success.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1980 (1980-03-28): Birth of Cho Seung-woo — Highly acclaimed South Korean actor known for dramatic roles in film and musicals.
2. 1999: 1999 Milestone — Cho himself also dreamed of becoming a musical actor from an early age, however in 1999 while a student at Dankook University he was persuaded to join auditions for Im Kwon-taek's film Chunhyang, and he ended up winning the part from among a field of 1,000 actors.
3. 2001: 2001 Milestone — Soon he was drawn back into the film industry, however, with a key supporting role in Wanee & Junah (2001), a villainous turn in H (2002), plus a leading role in Who Are U?
4. 2003: 2003 Milestone — He is best known for his leading roles in the films The Classic (2003), Marathon (2005), Tazza: The High Rollers (2006), and Inside Men (2015), as well as in the stage musicals Jekyll & Hyde, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Man of La Mancha.
5. 2004: 2004 Milestone — His popularity continued to grow, and in 2004 he appeared in Im Kwon-taek's 99th film Low Life.
6. 2005: 2005 Milestone — Cho's breakthrough would come in early 2005 with the smash hit Marathon, where he played an autistic young man who only finds release in running.
7. 2006: 2006 Milestone — Cho starred in Love Phobia (2006) opposite then-girlfriend Kang Hye-jung; both were praised for their acting, but the melodrama wasn't a commercial success.
8. 2012: 2012 Milestone — He is also known for his leading roles in television dramas The King's Doctor (2012), God's Gift: 14 Days (2014), Stranger (2017–2020), Life (2018), Sisyphus: The Myth (2021), and Divorce Attorney Shin (2023).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Cho Seung-woo

True or False: “Cho Seung-woo's breakthrough role in the film Marathon was playing a character who found release through running.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): In the film Marathon (2005), he played an autistic young man whose primary source of release and focus was running.

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• 1980 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1980
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Frequently Asked Questions about Cho Seung-woo