Kim Eui-sung

Kim Eui-sung (; born December 17, 1965) is a South Korean actor. He is a first-generation film actor who started as a stage actor in the 1980s and 1990s. He is known for his roles in the films The Day a Pig Fell into the Well, Office (2015), The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo (2015), and Train to Busan (2016), as well as the television dramas W (2016) and Taxi Driver (2021–2026).

Early life and education Kim Eui-sung is a graduate of Seoul National University's Department of Business Administration, Class of 1984. He is a first-generation movie star from the 1980s and 1990s. Kim began acting in college by joining the drama club in his sophomore year. His inspiration came from watching a school play and attending an after-party. He performed two-person plays with his senior, Jung Jin-young, traveling across the country. From 1987, he was active in various theater companies such as Cheonjeyeon, Han River, Hanyang Repertory, Yeonwoo Stage, and Hakchon.

Career Early career Kim made his screen debut in 1988. In 1994, he played the role of photographer Jang Ik-gu in Kim Soo-hyun's work, "Farewell". He began to gain attention after appearing in director Hong Sang-soo's 1996 film The Day a Pig Fell into the Well. He also appeared in various films and dramas, including Go Alone Like a Rhinoceros, Deep Water Soup, Barricade, and Ju No Myeong Bakery.

Acting hiatus and production work He paused his acting career for more than a decade to work as a producer, and the CEO for Vietnam at FnC Media in 2001 and CJ Media in 2006. He stepped away from acting due to dissatisfaction with his performances. While in Vietnam, he produced a successful local drama, but his tendency of prioritizing the work over profit led to financial struggles and long efforts to save money.

Return to acting In 2010, he met director Hong Sang-soo again and returned to acting, appearing in The Day He Arrives the following year.

Since his comeback, he has also appeared in various films such as Bukchon Direction, Architecture 101, Namyeong-dong 1985, 26 Years, Nobody's Daughter Haewon, Twenty, Minority Opinion, Assassination, and Office. Kim gained recognition for his villain role in Train to Busan, and has also been part of projects like The Priests, Inside Men, Yourself and Yours, The King, Steel Rain, 1987, Golden Slumber, Rampant, Extreme Job, and Intimate Strangers. He was nominated for the Best Couple Award with Lee Si-eon, although the award went to Lee Jong-suk and Han Hyo-joo. In 2017, Kim signed an exclusive contract with Artist Company. He showcased a possessed level of acting, while speaking Korean (with a Hamgyeong-do dialect), Japanese and English. His Japanese speaking was particularly noted for its high-level pronunciation and praised by native speakers.

In Memories of the Alhambra, he played as Cha Byung-jun, a selfish and greedy university professor in Seoul. He is Cha Hyung-seok's (Park Hoon) father and meets his demise when NPCs, created by a bug, inadvertently cause his death while trying to manipulate Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin).

Recent works In 2020, Kim left Artist Company and joined KeyEast.

Starting from October 15, 2022, he appeared as Chief State Councillor Hwang Won-hyeong in the fusion historical drama Under the Queen's Umbrella. He delivered another strong performance as a ruthless and ambitious villain, engaging in intense charisma battles with Kim Hye-soo, who played as the Queen, and Kim Hae-sook, who played as the Queen Dowager. The series was a commercial hit and one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history.

In 2023, Kim portrayed as Minister of National Defense Oh Guk-sang in the film 12.12: The Day, directed by Kim Sung-su, and starring Hwang Jung-min, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Sung-min, Park Hae-joon and Kim Sung-kyun. Set against the backdrop of the December 12, 1979 military coup from the late 1970s to early 1980s, it was released in theaters on November 22, 2023. The film grossed over US$97 million worldwide against a budget of approximately $17 million, making it highest-grossing Korean film of 2023. As of June 2024, 12.12: The Day ranks as the fourth highest-grossing film and the sixth most-viewed film in South Korean film history. Later on, Kim has established his own agency Ahn Company.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1995 Mom Has a Lover 1996 The Day a Pig Fell into the Well Hyo-seop 1997 3pm Paradise Barricade 2011 The Day He Arrives Joong-won 2012 26 Years Chief Choi National Security Kang Su-hyeon Architecture 101 Professor Kang 2013 The Face Reader Han Myung-hoi Running Man Director Kim Nobody's Daughter Haewon Joong-won The Suspect Deputy department head Shin 2014 Big Match Detective Do Hill of Freedom Sang-won Tabloid Truth Park Young-jin 2015 Assassination Butler of Kang family Minority Opinion Prosecutor The Priests Dean of clergy Office Kim Sang-gyu The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo Director Moon Twenty Chi-ho's father The Deal Son Myung-soo Love Guide for Dumpees Doctor Inside Men Editor-in-chief 2016 Train to Busan Yon-suk The Truth Beneath No Jae-soon Special appearance A Quiet Dream President Special appearance Yourself and Yours Kim Joong-haeng A Star of Greed Narrator Documentary 2017 The King Kim Eung-soo The Reservoir Game Voice Documentary Steel Rain Lee Ee-seong 1987: When the Day Comes Special appearance 2018 Golden Slumber Mr. Min Rampant King Lee Jo The Man Only I Can See Special appearance 2019 Extreme Job Police superintendent Trade Your Love Captain Chae 2021 The Book of Fish Official Jang Cameo 2022 Special Delivery Baek Kang-cheol My Candle Director Documentary film Alienoid Ja-jang 2023 12.12: The Day Oh Guk-sang 2024 Alienoid: Return to the Future Ja-jang 2025 Lobby Choi Woo-hyun

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2015 Six Flying Dragons Jeong Mong-ju 2016 W Oh Sung-moo / Han Sang-hoon 2018 Mr. Sunshine Lee Wan-ik 2019 Arthdal Chronicles Sang-ung 2021–present Taxi Driver Jang Sung-chul Seasons 1–3 2022 WeCrashed Masayoshi Son Under the Queen's Umbrella Hwang Won-hyeong 2023 Black Knight Grandpa 2024 Flex X Cop himself Cameo (ep. 1) 2025 The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call Choi Jo-eun The Recruit NIS Director Choi Low Life Professor Kim Cashero Jo Won-do Bae Pil-gu

Web series Year Title Role 2016 Be Positive Hwan-dong's father

Theater + Theater play performances of Kim Year Title Role Venue Date English Korean 2011 Kang Full's Pure Love Comic 순정만화 Yeon-woo Daehakro Gum Art Hall April 26 2012 Into the Charm of Boeing Boeing! GO! GO! 연극 만원(滿員) 네 번째 보잉보잉의 매력 속으로 GO! GO! Seong-gi Seongnam Arts Center Ensemble Theater November 9 to 11 2013 Woman in Black 우먼인블랙 Dongsung Art Centre Small Theatre June 26 to September 22

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2014 50th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Supporting Actor (film) The Face Reader 2016 2016 MBC Drama Awards Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Miniseries W 5th APAN Star Awards Acting Award, Actor 25th Buil Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Train to Busan 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards 2017 22nd Chunsa Film Art Awards 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards Best Supporting Actor (film) 2021 2021 SBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Mini-series Genre/Fantasy Drama Taxi Driver 2025 2025 SBS Drama Awards Best Performance Taxi Driver 3