A still of Kwon Sang Woo from the 2018 Kdrama ‘Queen of Mystery 2’.
Riding the Hallyu wave
Best known across Asia for his lead role in the Kdrama âStairway to Heavenâ, South Korean actor Kwon Sang Woo first started out as a model in the â90s, before landing acting roles and finding success with his starring role in the romantic comedy âMy Tutor Friendâ in 2003.
He epitomized the âmom-zzangâ, i.e. âgreat physiqueâ trend which was popular at the time and enjoyed regional popularity following the success of âStairway to Heavenâ but suffered through a slump during the years after as his subsequent movies and dramas failed to win over audiences.
Mr. Tears comes full circle
Promotional poster featuring Kwon Sang Woo from his movie ‘The Accidental Detective’.
In 2010, the actor known as âMr. Tearsâ – a fan-given moniker due to his many crying scenes from âStairway to Heavenâ – finally regained box office success with the Korean War film â71: Into the Fireâ. The revival of his career was further cemented with the commercial success of his ensuing works such as Kdramas âDaemulâ, âQueen of Ambitionâ and âMedical Top Teamâ.
He also solidified his presence as a Hallyu star with his participation in cross-border productions such as the 2012 romantic comedy âShadows of Loveâ which co-starred Chinese superstar Cecilia Cheung and action film âCZ12â with mega star Jackie Chan.
The content family man
Photos of the actor with his wife and kids from a 2018 pictorial in Marie Claire magazine.
Last year, the 42-year old actor celebrated the tenth anniversary of his marriage with fellow actress Son Tae-young. The happy couple commemorated the milestone with a beautiful pictorial which included their two children, a son and a daughter, in Marie Claire magazine.
After weathering vicious comments and scandals over the years from when his marriage was first announced, the actor now seems contented and at peace, revelling in the joy of fatherhood and the stability of his acting career.
Add to that the financial security from his growing business interests – the actor has a cafe, a cosmetics firm and owns substantial properties – itâs no wonder that the actor has become more comfortable in his skin over the years, reflecting a hard-won maturity from his years in the entertainment industry.
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Current activities
A still of the actor with his co-star from âQueen of Mystery 2â in an interview on KBS World.
Kwon Sang Wooâs recent works have featured the actor reprising his comedic, crime-busting roles in the movie âThe Accidental Detective 2â and drama âQueen of Mystery 2â in 2018. Both works were spawned from the box office and tv ratings success of their first installments and were received well by audiences.
Fans will soon have the pleasure of watching him on the big screen as he is currently in the midst of filming the movie âHitmenâ. The action comedy tells the tale of a special agent, played by Kwon Sang Woo, taking on a vastly different career direction as a webtoon writer in the next stage of his life.
The movie boasts a stellar cast, which includes actors Lee Yi Kyung â known from his starring role in the drama âWelcome to Waikiki 1 & 2â and âSky Castleâ actor Jung Joon Ho, and is set to delight audiences with a blend of comedy and realism.
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—-Fie Fed
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