Oh Man-seok

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Oh Man-seok

Role / Field:

Acclaimed South Korean actor known for his transformative roles in theater and musicals.

Born:

1975-01-30

Century / Era:

1975s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Oh Man-seok (Korean: 오만석; born January 30, 1975) is a South Korean actor. Best known for playing the titular transgender singer in rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Oh's acting career spans theater, television, and film. After graduating from the Korea National University of Arts Theater Institute, he debuted in Daehakro in 1999. He played the role of gay clown Gong-gil in the play Lee, and won the 2000 Theater Association Rookie Actor Award. Oh Man-seok majored in Theater at Korea National University of Arts.

Career & Major Achievements

He enlisted and he was discharged from the military in 1997. Oh Man-seok graduated from the School of Drama at Korea National University of Arts with a BFA in Acting. He made his stage debut in Faust in 1999. One of his early notable roles was as the androgynous court jester Gong-gil who becomes the object of obsession of the tyrant King Yeonsan in Yi, which would later be adapted into the hit 2005 film King and the Clown. Highly acclaimed for his portrayal of Gong-gil, Oh was awarded Best New Actor by the National Theater Association of Korea for the play's first run in 2000, and he reprised the role four more times in 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2010.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

More roles followed in The Rocky Horror Show (2001), Return to the Forbidden Planet (2002), Grease (2003), Singin' in the Rain (2004), The Seagull (2004), Woyzeck (2004), and Assassins (2005). Oh became a bonafide musical theatre superstar in 2005, when he was cast as the titular East German transgender singer in the first Korean staging of the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. As the first "Korean Hedwig," Oh received sensational reviews for his performance and he won Best Actor at the Korea Musical Awards. After its run, a sold-out concert featured four of the actors alternating in the lead role, namely Oh, Cho Seung-woo, Kim Da-hyun and Song Yong-jin. In succeeding years, the rock musical's popularity remained enduring in Korea, attracting other actors to the role in later runs, such as Um Ki-joon, Jo Jung-suk, Song Chang-eui, Yoon Do-hyun, Kim Dong-wan and Park Gun-hyung.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1975 (1975-01-30): Birth of Oh Man-seok — Acclaimed South Korean actor known for his transformative roles in theater and musicals.
2. 1997: 1997 Milestone — He enlisted and he was discharged from the military in 1997.
3. 1999: 1999 Milestone — After graduating from the Korea National University of Arts Theater Institute, he debuted in Daehakro in 1999.
4. 2000: 2000 Milestone — He played the role of gay clown Gong-gil in the play Lee, and won the 2000 Theater Association Rookie Actor Award.
5. 2001: 2001 Milestone — More roles followed in The Rocky Horror Show (2001), Return to the Forbidden Planet (2002), Grease (2003), Singin' in the Rain (2004), The Seagull (2004), Woyzeck (2004), and Assassins (2005).
6. 2005: 2005 Milestone — One of his early notable roles was as the androgynous court jester Gong-gil who becomes the object of obsession of the tyrant King Yeonsan in Yi, which would later be adapted into the hit 2005 film King and the Clown.

Notable Quotes by Oh Man-seok

“This musical tells us that to love someone is to accept him exactly the way he is. It also tells us that everyone deserves to be loved, and every individual is meaningful and important.” (2012)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Oh Man-seok

True or False: “Oh Man-seok's breakthrough role in *Hedwig and the Angry Inch* was performed in a Korean staging that year?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He became famous for this role in 2005 during the first Korean staging of the rock musical.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1975 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1975
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Frequently Asked Questions about Oh Man-seok