From debuting as a theatre actor to becoming a South Korean star and owning a massive net worth, Koo Kyo-hwan has come a long way. If you’ve been glued to his performance on Netflix’s latest hit series Parasyte: The Grey, you’re not alone. The Korean heartthrob has proven time and again that he’s one of Korean’s biggest stars, with a growing number of movies and TV shows under his belt. Today, we take a close look at the actor’s rising fortune and his life beyond K-dramas.
Koo, who is currently grabbing headlines for the 2024 Netflix drama Parasyte: The Grey, has multiple other award-winning movies and TV shows to his credit. Standouts from his portfolio include A Werewolf Boy (2012), Beaten Black and Blue(2016), Peninsula (2020), Escape from Mogadishu (2021), D.P. (2021), Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) and Kill Boksoon (2023).
Talking about his craft, Koo Kyo-hwan said in an interview with TheKoreaTimes, “I want to be an actor who quickly familiarizes himself with the circ*mstances surrounding each scene and act naturally like he existed there before the camera rolls.”
All details about Koo Kyo-hwan: Net worth, filmography and other earnings
Koo Kyo-hwan’s net worth
Koo Kyo-hwan is the owner of an ever-growing fortune and according to multiple media sources, he has a net worth of around USD 1-5 million, as of 2023.
While it is difficult to quote an exact figure in 2024, it goes without saying that a huge chunk of the Korean star’s income comes from his acting and directing projects, commercials and brand endorsem*nts.
Career and filmography
Koo Kyo-hwan made his acting debut as a theatre actor in 2006 and later went on to star in the short film Children in 2008. Koo made his big screen debut as a supporting actor in Lee Hae-jun’s 2009 romantic comedy Castaway on the Moon. Following this, he landed several minor roles in hit titles like the fantasy romance A Werewolf Boy (2012) and the short film Romance in Seoul (2014). While Castaway on the Moon amassed over USD 3,725,352, according to Box Office Mojo, the Song Joong-ki starrer Werewolf Boy collected around USD 46.3 million worldwide.
In 2016, Koo portrayed the role of Gyohwan in the black comedy Beaten Black and Blue, which focuses on the aberrant political realities of South Korea. The impressive performance earned him Actor of the Year at the Busan International Film Festival, the same year.
Koo’s big break came with the 2017 South Korean independent drama film Jane. A Cho Hyun-hoon directorial, the film enjoyed a special premiere at the 2016 Busan International Film Festival. The critically acclaimed film earned Koo widespread fame for his impressive portrayal of the transgender woman Jane. He also earned a nomination for Best New Actor at the 2017 Blue Dragon Film Awards and won in the same category at the 2017 Buil Film Awards and 2018 Baeksang Arts Awards. Meanwhile, Jane went on to garner over USD 191,649 at the box office, according to the Korean Film Council.
Over the years, Koo Kyo-hwan has been a part of multiple successful stories. These include Maggie (2018), Peninsula (2020), Escape from Mogadishu (2021), D.P. (2021), Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) and A Glimpse at Lee Hyo-ri (2022).
The South Korean actor’s portrayal of Captain Seo in Peninsula — a sequel to the Gong Yoo starrer 2016 hit Train to Busan — earned him the title of “King of Versatility”. A Yeon Sang-ho directorial, this Korean post-apocalyptic horror action film was shown at the 25th Busan International Film Festival. It amassed over USD 42.7 million worldwide, against a production budget of USD 16 million, according to Box Office Mojo.
Here’s our list of the Korean horror movies to watch
Koo Kyo-hwan’s popularity further soared with Ryoo Seung-wan’s 2021 political action thriller Escape from Mogadishu. The K-drama star, who portrayed North Korean MSS operative and embassy counsellor Tae Joon-ki, won the Chung Jung-won Popular Star Award at the 30th Buil Film Awards. Additionally, Escape from Mogadishu was selected as the South Korean entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. With over USD 29 million, it also became the highest-grossing Korean film of 2021.
The Maggie actor enjoyed the international limelight with his performance as professional killer Han Hee-seong in the 2023 Netflix hit Kill Boksoon. The film also premiered at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in the Berlinale Special section, the same year. One of the most-watched Netflix films, Kill Boksoon amassed over 19.61 million views in just three days after its release on the OTT platform. The same year, Koo also reprised his role as Han Ho-yul in season 2 of the military Korean drama D.P.
The Korean sensation portrays Seol Kang-woo in the 2024 Netflix drama Parasyte: The Grey. Helmed by Train to Busan fame director Yeon Sang-ho, the show is a Korean live-action adaptation of the manga series Kiseijuu by Iwaaki Hitoshi. He will further play the role of Doctor Kim Do-jin in Seeking the King. A Won Shin-yun directorial, the sci-fi film is all set to release in 2024.
Brand deals and commercials
Besides acting projects, brand endorsem*nts and commercials make for key revenue streams that bolster the net worth of Koo Kyo-hwan.
According to his management agency Namoo Actors, Koo has been featured in an array of advertisem*nts for brands, including Doctor for Hair, Kangol, Harimcham, Talk to Me, Lapurge Store, SSG.COM, Ridi, Primera, Metro City, Labtrition, Musinsa, Lacoste and Samsung Electronics bespoke.
Additionally, the actor’s pictorials include prestigious magazines like Esquire, Marie Claire Korea, Cosmopolitan, W Korea, Vogue Korea, GQ, Allure and Harper’s Bazaar Korea.
Koo also co-owns a YouTube channel — 2x9HD, with Korean director Lee Ok-seop. The channel is a collection of their co-created works, where 2 stands for Lee Ok-seop and 9 stands for Koo Kyo-hwan. According to K-media sources, Koo and Lee co-own a production company under the same name. The actor-producer reportedly earns around USD 2,400-4,000 monthly from the social media platform.
Personal life
Born on 14 December 1982 in Seoul, South Korea, Koo Kyo-hwan dreamed of being in the entertainment field since childhood. He completed his graduation from Seoul Institute of the Arts and eventually went on to pursue his career in acting.
As for his relationship, Koo Kyo-hwan is dating Korean director Lee Ok-seop. The duo are a well-known celebrity couple in the Korean entertainment industry and have been dating each other for 11 years.
(Hero and featured image credit: @namooactors/Instagram and Namoo Actors/X)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– How much is Koo Kyo-hwan’s net worth in 2024?
According to multiple media sources, Koo Kyo-hwan has a net worth of around USD 1-5 million, as of 2023. While it is challenging to quote an exact figure in 2024, it goes without saying that a huge chunk of the Korean star’s income comes from his acting and directing projects, commercials and brand endorsem*nts.
