Um Tae-goo

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Um Tae-goo

Role / Field:

Acclaimed South Korean actor known for supporting roles in critically acclaimed cinema.

Born:

1983-11-09

Century / Era:

1983s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Um Tae-goo (Korean: 엄태구; born November 9, 1983) is a South Korean actor known for his supporting roles in critically acclaimed films such as Coin Locker Girl (2015) and The Age of Shadows (2016). He rose to prominence for his roles in the film Night in Paradise (2020) and the romantic comedy drama My Sweet Mobster (2024). Um has frequently collaborated with his older brother, film director Um Tae-hwa. He made appearances as an actor on several of his brother's films, including Heart Vibrator, The Forest, Sookja, Ingtoogi: The Battle Internet Trolls, Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned, and Concrete Utopia. Um Tae-goo was born on November 9, 1983.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He attended Jinju Air Force Aviation Science High School but left during his second year after realizing he could not fulfill the seven years of mandatory military service required post-graduation. He started acting at the recommendation of a friend from church. His parents supported his decision to pursue acting and helped him find an academy. Despite initial doubts about his potential success as actor, he worked hard and eventually gained admission to Konkuk University's film department after three attempts. As first-year student in the Department of Film at Konkuk University, starred in and directed two short films during his college years.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Among them, To Father, a story about a visually impaired person, won an award at the Cyworld Film Festival. He learned a lot through directing, but after realizing that acting was his calling, he decided to focus on acting. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Film Arts. Um Tae-goo's career began with the public release of his first short film, Season's End (2003). His early minor roles in Lady Vengeance (2005) and Epitaph (2007) came in projects where his older brother, film director Um Tae-hwa, served as an assistant director and encouraged him to audition.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1983 (1983-11-09): Birth of Um Tae-goo — Acclaimed South Korean actor known for supporting roles in critically acclaimed cinema.
2. 2003: 2003 Milestone — Um Tae-goo's career began with the public release of his first short film, Season's End (2003).
3. 2005: 2005 Milestone — His early minor roles in Lady Vengeance (2005) and Epitaph (2007) came in projects where his older brother, film director Um Tae-hwa, served as an assistant director and encouraged him to audition.
4. 2020: 2020 Milestone — He rose to prominence for his roles in the film Night in Paradise (2020) and the romantic comedy drama My Sweet Mobster (2024).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Um Tae-goo

True or False: “Um Tae-goo's first major film role was in the 2015 Cannes Film Festival selection, Coin Locker Girl.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His official acting debut occurred earlier in the film Epitaph (2007), though Coin Locker Girl was a significant early supporting role.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Rushdi — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): A legendary Pakistani playback singer, known as the 'Magician of Voice'.
• Alan Moorehead — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): Australian war correspondent and author of popular histories, famed for Nile explorations.
• Alfred Tarski — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): Pioneering logician known for model theory and the formal concept of truth.
• A. P. Hill — Shared historical date (11-09 · Born) (1825): Confederate general who distinguished himself in the American Civil War.
• Ahn Chang Ho — Shared historical date (11-09 · Born) (1878): Pioneering Korean independence activist and leader of the Korean-American community.
• Amy Winehouse — Historical peer (Born in 1983) (1983): Iconic British soul artist blending jazz, R&B, and retro sounds.
• Anastasia Davydova — Historical peer (Born in 1983) (1983): Five-time Olympic gold medalist and celebrated coach in Russian synchronized swimming.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Abdullah of Saudi Arabia — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): King of Saudi Arabia, known for his role in modernizing the kingdom's governance.
• Abbas Kiarostami — Historical peer (Died in 2016) (2016): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• 1983 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1983
• November 9 (11-09) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 9

Frequently Asked Questions about Um Tae-goo