Kam Woo-sung

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Kam Woo-sung

Role / Field:

Acclaimed South Korean actor known for intense roles, notably in 'The King and the Clown'.

Born:

1970-10-01

Century / Era:

1970s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Kam Woo-sung (born October 1, 1970) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his portrayal of a court jester serving a despotic king in the hit period film The King and the Clown. Kam Woo-sung majored in Oriental painting at the Seoul National University, then made his acting debut in the 1991 television drama Our Paradise. Through his roles on TV in the following decade, Kam became known for playing gentle and intellectual upper-middle-class men, notably in Hyun-jung, I Love You. Then in 2002, he successfully subverted this image in his first film, the critically acclaimed Marriage Is a Crazy Thing, in which he played a commitment-phobic professor having a passionate affair.

Career & Major Achievements

More characters followed in a variety of genres: a man trapped in a confusing and haunting sequence of events in Song Il-gon's mystery film Spider Forest; the PTSD-afflicted leader of a South Korean squadron in Vietnam who looks into the mysterious disappearance of 18 soldiers in the horror thriller R-Point; and a son struggling to fake Korea's reunification to fulfill an ailing father's wish in the comedy A Bold Family. In late 2005, Kam reached a turning point in his 15-year career when he starred in The King and the Clown. Jang Hyuk was originally cast in the leading role of a court jester during the reign of Joseon dynasty tyrant King Yeonsan, but after Jang was implicated in a draft-dodging scandal, Kam was brought in to replace him. He trained extensively over two months in the art of Korean traditional performance, including street opera, and acrobatic, rope and mask dances. The low-budget film unexpectedly broke box office records to become (at the time) the highest grossing Korean film of all time.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Critics praised Kam's "powerful energy and wit," and his performance garnered acting recognition, including Best Actor at the 2006 Grand Bell Awards. He returned to television in Alone in Love (2006), which was lauded for its realistic portrayal of a divorced couple. Back on the big screen, Kam reunited with previous A Bold Family costar (and close friend in real life) Kim Soo-ro in Big Bang (2007), followed by the ensemble romantic comedy My Love and crime thriller The Outlaw (2010). Kam was listed as one of the highest paid entertainers on the KBS network in 2011, earning ₩440 million for playing Geunchogo of Baekje in the 60-episode series The King of Legend. Though appearing less frequently in projects, Kam has starred in melodramas My Spring Days (2014), Should We Kiss First?

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1970 (1970-10-01): Birth of Kam Woo-sung — Acclaimed South Korean actor known for intense roles, notably in 'The King and the Clown'.
2. 1991: 1991 Milestone — Kam Woo-sung majored in Oriental painting at the Seoul National University, then made his acting debut in the 1991 television drama Our Paradise.
3. 2002: 2002 Milestone — Then in 2002, he successfully subverted this image in his first film, the critically acclaimed Marriage Is a Crazy Thing, in which he played a commitment-phobic professor having a passionate affair.
4. 2005: 2005 Milestone — In late 2005, Kam reached a turning point in his 15-year career when he starred in The King and the Clown.
5. 2006: 2006 Milestone — Critics praised Kam's "powerful energy and wit," and his performance garnered acting recognition, including Best Actor at the 2006 Grand Bell Awards.
6. 2007: 2007 Milestone — Back on the big screen, Kam reunited with previous A Bold Family costar (and close friend in real life) Kim Soo-ro in Big Bang (2007), followed by the ensemble romantic comedy My Love and crime thriller The Outlaw (2010).
7. 2011: 2011 Milestone — Kam was listed as one of the highest paid entertainers on the KBS network in 2011, earning ₩440 million for playing Geunchogo of Baekje in the 60-episode series The King of Legend.
8. 2014: 2014 Milestone — Though appearing less frequently in projects, Kam has starred in melodramas My Spring Days (2014), Should We Kiss First?

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kam Woo-sung

True or False: “Kam Woo-sung's breakthrough role in 'The King and the Clown' was originally intended for Jang Hyuk.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Kam replaced Jang Hyuk due to a scandal, the text implies that his performance itself was what garnered the critical praise.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. H. M. Jones — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering British historian of classical antiquity, specializing in the later Roman Empire.
• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Alan Shearer — Contemporary (Born in 1970) (1970): English football legend, record goalscorer, and respected pundit.
• Abby Stein — Shared historical date (10-01 · Born) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr — Shared historical date (10-01 · Died) (692): Mecca-based leader of a caliphate opposing the Umayyads during the Second Fitna.
• Albert Ayler — Historical peer (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering avant-garde jazz saxophonist known for ecstatic, spiritual improvisation.
• Alexander Kerensky — Historical peer (Died in 1970) (1970): Russian revolutionary who led the Provisional Government during the tumultuous period of 1917.
• Ah Young — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): South Korean singer and actress known for her time in the girl group Dal Shabet.
• Ahn Eun-jin — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): South Korean actress known for roles in Hospital Playlist, The Good Bad Mother, and My Dearest.
• Abba Eban — Historical peer (Died in 2002) (2002): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• 1970 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1970
• October 1 (10-01) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 1

Frequently Asked Questions about Kam Woo-sung