Kwak Dong-yeon

Kwak Dong-yeon (; born 19 March 1997) is a South Korean actor. He first gained wide recognition in 2016 for starring in the period drama Love in the Moonlight, and is also known for his roles in Gangnam Beauty, Never Twice (2019), Vincenzo (2021), Big Mouth (2022), and Queen of Tears (2024).

Early life and education Kwak was born on 19 March 1997 in Daejeon, South Korea, He is the youngest and has a sister who is two years older than him

At 13, he permanently moved to Seoul by himself to pursue his dream to be an artist. He has been studying music at FNC Academy since 2010, and also took acting lessons. In February 2013, he graduated from Munrae Junior High School and graduated from School of Performing Arts Seoul in February 2016.

Career 2012–2015: Beginnings Kwak was originally a lead guitarist and vocalist of Kokoma Band (literally, "Little Kids' Band"), a trainee band managed by FNC Entertainment, along with N.Flying's Seo Dongsung, KNK's Oh Heejun and Omega X's Lee Hwichan.

He made his acting debut in 2012, appearing in the KBS television series My Husband Got a Family. thereby earning the "national drama" status. The series ranked number one overall on the 2012 yearly TV ratings chart. For his performance, Kwak won the Best Young Actor Award at the 2012 Korea Drama Awards.

In 2013, he featured as young Prince Dong-pyung in the SBS historical drama Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love. The same year, Kwak featured in the KBS period drama Inspiring Generation playing the younger version of Kim Hyun-joong's character. His portrayal of a boy who struggled as the head of the family from an early age to fill the father's vacancy, garnered him a nomination at the 16th Seoul International Youth Film Festival for the Best Young Actor Award.

In March 2014, he took on the lead role in KBS Drama Special Middle School Girl A where he portrayed a smart transfer student who got bullied in his new school. He then starred in SBS weekend drama Modern Farmer, playing a drummer of a rock band who later moved to a village to be a farmer. In December 2014, Kwak's performances in the drama Inspiring Generation and the drama special Middle School Student A won him the Best Young Actor Award in the 2014 KBS Drama Awards.

In 2015, Kwak starred alongside Sistar's Bora in the web series The Flatterer, based on a webtoon of the same name. He portrayed Park Gun, an underdog high school student struggling to survive among the strong in a realistic and comical way. He also starred in a KBS2 Drama Special Avici, playing the role of a model student from an elite high school, but lacks the ability to empathize with others' pain, who tried his best to cover up his mom's murder.

2016–present: Rising popularity

In 2016, he gained more recognition after co-starring in the hit KBS2 historical series Love in the Moonlight as a skilled swordsman known as Kim Byung-yeon. The role earned him a nomination for the Best New Actor at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards, and the 10th Korea Drama Awards. In 2017, Kwak made a guest appearance in drama Fight for My Way, as Kim Ji-won's ex-boyfriend, and played a supporting role in SBS fantasy romance drama Reunited Worlds.

In July 2017, Kwak was cast as Michael, the main protagonist in the Korean adaptation of The Elephant Song play, which ran from 6 September to 26 November at the former Suhyeonjae Theater in Seoul.

In 2017, Kwak starred as the main protagonist in a KBS2 drama special Slow. His portrayal of a frustrated baseball player "who fell into a slump, and was anxious about an uncertain future", garnered him a nomination for the Best Actor in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama Award at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards. On 27 November 2017, Kwak carried the Olympics flame for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in Gokseong, South Jeolla province as part of the torch relay.

In 2018, he joined the cast of KBS romance drama Radio Romance, playing the role of a psychiatrist who is Ji Soo-ho (Yoon Doo-joon)'s high school classmate and personal doctor. He also starred in JTBC's romantic comedy series Gangnam Beauty, He then starred in SBS's romantic comedy drama My Strange Hero, which is Kwak's first villain role following his debut. The role earned him a nomination for the Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries at the 2019 SBS Drama Awards.

In December 2018, he won the Actor Award at the 2019 Korea First Brand Awards. In 2019, Kwak made a special appearance in SBS drama Doctor Detective, portraying Jung Ha-rang, a screen door service engineer from a vocational high school, who was destroyed by an industrial accident. Later in the same year, Kwak starred in the family drama Never Twice. He acted as the lead male role there with actress Park Se-wan. He played the role of Na Hae-jun, the heir of a five-star hotel. The performance earned him a nomination for the Excellence Award, Actor in a Weekend Drama at the 2019 MBC Drama Awards, and for the Excellent Award, Actor in Serial Drama at the 7th APAN Star Awards.

In October 2019, Kwak reprised his role in The Elephant Song, from 22 November 2019 to 16 February 2020. In 2020, he appeared in sports film Baseball Girl. He also made a special appearance in the tvN drama It's Okay to Not Be Okay. Kwak takes on the role of a manic patient with exhibitionism in the drama. In June 2020, it was announced that Kwak would be a part of the cast in the Korean adaptation of the musical comedy Something Rotten!. He played the role of Nigel Bottom, a genius playwright who is also pure and passionate. The performance earned him a nomination for the Rookie of the Year Award, Male category at the 5th Korea Musical Awards. The play ran from 7 August to 18 October at the Chungmu Art Center Grand Theater. In August 2020, Kwak signed with new agency H& Entertainment after leaving FNC Entertainment.

In February 2021, Kwak starred in tvN television series Vincenzo. He played the role of Jang Han-seo, the half-brother of Jang Jun-woo portrayed by Taecyeon, who publicly acts as chairman in his brother's place. In May 2021, Kwak joined SBS variety show Delicious Rendezvous along with Choi Won-young and Choi Ye-bin. In 2022, Kwak appeared in the movie 6/45 as an observer in the South Korean front force and in the MBC drama Big Mouth as a convicted scammer called Jerry.

In 2024, Kwak appeared in the Queen of Tears as a third-generation chaebol of Queens Group. From December 6, 2024, to February 7, 2025, he starred in tvN's travel show Rented in Finland.

In 2026, Kwak starred in tvN's television show The Village Barber. In April, Kwak signed an exclusive contract with The Black Label.

Personal life On 26 February 2014, not long after Kwak finished his Inspiring Generation drama promotion, his mother died of an illness.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2016 Misbehavior Yoo Jong-ki 2017 Man of Will Choi Yoon-suk 2018 Heung-boo: The Revolutionist Sheddong 2019 Baseball Girl Lee Jung-ho Far East Kang Young-sik Sound film 2024 Love in the Big City Jun soo

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2012 My Husband Got a Family Bang Jang-goon 2013 Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love young Prince Dong-pyeong Cameo Puberty Medley Choi Jeong-woo 2014 Inspiring Generation young Shin Jung-tae Cameo (Episode 1–4) 2015 Avici Ji Sun-woo Drama special 2016 Come Back Mister young Han Gi-tak Cameo Puck! Hwang Gyung-pil Pied Piper Jung In Cameo (Episode 4) The Master of Revenge Lee Yong-joo Cameo (Episode 5–7) Love in the Moonlight Kim Byung-yeon Reunited Worlds Sung Hae-cheol 2018 Radio Romance Jason 2018–2019 My Strange Hero Oh Se-ho 2019–2020 Never Twice Na Hae-jun Attention Hog Kang Tae-soo Drama Stage Our Beloved Summer Artist Nu-ah Cameo (Episode 4,6,15) 2022 Big Mouth Jerry / Oh Jin-chul Gaus Electronics Lee Sang-sik 2024 Queen of Tears Hong Soo-cheol

Web series Year Title Role 2015 The Flatterer Park Ge-on 2022 Monstrous Kwak Yong-ju 2026 The East Palace Crown Prince

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2013 Cheongdam-dong 111 Cast member 2015 Animals 2017 Our School of Life 2019 Everyone's Kitchen 2021 Delicious Rendezvous with Baek Jong-won, Yang Se-hyung, Choi Won-young and Choi Ye-bin 2024–2025 Rented in Finland 2026The Village Barber

Web shows Year Title Role Notes 2019 Let's go! Real trip: Three Delicious Man Cast member 2022 Young Actors' Retreat

Music video appearances Year Song title Artist Notes 2012 "Ce Song" Yoo Jun-sang ft. Kwak Dong-yeon, Kim Sang-ho My Husband Got a Family OST 2013 "Stargirl 2013" Bulldog Mansion Puberty Medley OST "Be Forgotten" Kwak Dong-yeon 2017 "Excuse Me" AOA 2019 "Spring Memories" N.Flying With Jin Ye-ju

Radio Year Title Role Notes 2022 This is Ahn Young-mi, the date muse at two o'clock Special DJ 12–17 October

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2017 The Elephant Song Michael Theatre 2019 2020 Something Rotten! Nigel Bottom Musical 2022–2023 Old Wicked Songs Stephen Hoffman 2024 The Elephant Song Michael Theatre Waiting for Godot Ester

Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result APAN Star Awards 2021 Excellence Award, Actor in Serial Drama Never Twice KBS Drama Awards 2012 Best Young Actor My Husband Got a Family 2014 Inspiring GenerationMiddle School Student A 2016 Best New Actor Love in the Moonlight 2017 Best Actor in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama Slow Korea Drama Awards 2012 Best Young Actor My Husband Got a Family Korea First Brand Awards 2019 Actor Kwak Dong-yeon Korea Musical Awards 2020 Rookie of the Year Award (Male) Something Rotten! Seoul International Youth Film Festival 2014 Best Young Actor Inspiring Generation