Kwon Sang-woo

Kwon Sang-woo (; born August 5, 1976) is a South Korean actor, famous for the melodrama series Stairway to Heaven. His other notable credits include the films Once Upon a Time in High School, 71: Into the Fire (2010), The Accidental Detective (2015) and its 2018 sequel, The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful (2019), and Hitman: Agent Jun (2020), as well as the television series Big Thing (2010), Medical Top Team (2013), and Queen of Mystery (2017).

He has garnered numerous accolades, including multiple SBS Drama Awards and nominations for the Baeksang Arts Awards. Kwon Sang-woo starred in the Chinese drama Poong Hwa Sul Wul.

Career 2001–2005: Early career and breakthrough Kwon Sang-woo, the most visible example of the so-called mom-zzang (slang for "great body") movement, started his career as a fashion model in the late 1990s. His first acting experience was in the TV drama Delicious Proposal, and for the first few years of his entertainment career, he received only minor roles on television, before making his big-screen debut in the martial arts film Volcano High (2001). The following year, he played his first lead role in the comedy Make It Big (2002) together with real-life best friend Song Seung-heon.

Kwon's breakthrough came in 2003 with the phenomenally successful romantic comedy My Tutor Friend, as a troublesome high school boy who is tutored by a college student of the same age (played by actress Kim Ha-neul). This was followed by appearances in My Good Partner, the world's first movie made for mobile phones, and the music video collection Project X.

However, Kwon's follow-up film Love, So Divine, about a priest in training who falls in love, earned poor reviews and did not get much attention from audiences. about a detective, a prosecutor, and a criminal who are all equally vicious. likewise failed to replicate the success of their previous film.

Thus began Kwon's career slump, as the films Fate and More Than Blue flopped in the box office, and his small-screen projects Sad Love Story, Cruel Love, and Cinderella Man received low ratings.

2010–2015: Comeback and overseas expansion Things took a turn for the better in 2010 with the box-office success of Korean War film 71: Into the Fire which Kwon reportedly did not hesitate to take on, though he again portrayed a high school student. His drama Big Thing about Korea's first female president (played by Go Hyun-jung) was also very popular during its run, staying atop TV charts for 11 weeks straight and ending with viewership ratings around 26%.

In the 2011 melodrama Pained, Kwon played a man with analgesia, the inability to sense physical pain, who then falls in love with a woman suffering from hemophilia. Based on an original story by webcomic artist Kang Full, Pained was directed by Kwak Kyung-taek in a departure from his previous macho movies. Kwak said, "The production company told me Kwon Sang-woo was contemplating the part, and I said I would do it only if Kwon does. There was nobody else."

Looking to expand his acting career to a wider audience in Asia, in 2012 Kwon starred in movies with Chinese superstars Cecilia Cheung (romantic comedy Shadows of Love, previously known as Repeat, I Love You) and Jackie Chan (action film CZ12 ). He also made his singing debut in a DVD released in Japan in 2010. Cast as the male lead in a Chinese TV series titled Feng Hua Xue Yue (Wind Flower Snow Moon), Kwon's role was an Asian-American Broadway producer who comes back to China to stage a musical production in Yunnan Province and falls in love with the leading lady of his stage musical.

He next starred opposite Soo Ae in King of Ambition, which was adapted from the third installment of manhwa artist Park In-kwon's 21-part saga Daemul (the 2010 SBS TV series of the same name that also starred Kwon was adapted from the comic's second book).

Kwon was cast in his first medical drama in 2013, Medical Top Team from the director of Moon Embracing the Sun and the writer of Brain. He played a straightforward yet warm-hearted genius surgeon. In 2014, he reunited with Stairway to Heaven costar Choi Ji-woo in Temptation, about a married, debt-ridden businessman who agrees to a deal with a female CEO in exchange for her "ownership" of his body.

He next played the owner of an internet startup company in Honey Enemy, a 2015 Chinese romance film opposite Zhang Yuqi that filmed in Jeju Island and Shanghai. Kwon then starred in comedy film The Accidental Detective which revolves around a misfit comic book rental shop owner who becomes involved in a murder case.

2015–present: Continued success In 2016, Kwon starred alongside Choi Kang-hee in the crime comedy drama, Queen of Mystery. Kwon reprised his role in the second season of the show, which aired in 2018.

In 2018, Kwon starred in crime comedy The Accidental Detective 2: In Action. He was also cast in the romantic comedy film Shall We Do It Again.

Kwon has said in an interview, "I hope I'm remembered as an actor whose work the audience looks forward to rather than an actor who acts well."

In 2025, Kwon Sang-woo stars as the main character in the movie Hitman 2.

Business interests In 2009 Kwon established the cosmetics firm Natural Tears, of which he is the owner and CEO, as well as the inaugural advertising model for the brand TEARS. It was named after his nickname "Mr. Tears", given to him by fans in recognition of his tear-jerking acting in Stairway to Heaven.

He also opened the cafe Tea'Us in Myeong-dong, and is the biggest shareholder of the resort Ocean Blue Hotel Bali. The property Kwon owns in Bundang District was appraised at an estimated worth of .

Personal life Unlike many Korean male stars who had to fulfill their mandatory military service at the height of their careers, Kwon completed his military service long before he became an actor.

Kwon's mother is a Roman Catholic, and he himself converted after filming Love, So Divine in which he played as a seminarian. His confirmation name is Francisco.

Kwon married actress and former Miss Korea Son Tae-young at the Shilla Hotel on September 28, 2008. On February 6, 2009, his wife gave birth to a baby boy, christened as Luke (nicknamed Rookie). Their second child, a daughter, was born on January 10, 2015.

Controversy In 2006 Kwon filed a complaint against Kim Tae-chon, the godfather of Beomseobangpa (one of Korea's three major criminal gangs), for threatening him when the actor failed to keep his promise to hold a fan meeting in Japan. Kwon and the defendant eventually came to a settlement, but prosecutors continued investigations into possible ties between kkangpae and the Japanese yakuza and Chinese crime syndicates that are looking to cash in on the Korean Wave entertainment business.

There was fan backlash to his 2008 marriage due to his wife's previous dating history. In an appearance on talk show Golden Fishery hosted by Kang Ho-dong in 2009, Kwon said, "After I got married, membership in my fan cafe dwindled from 240,000 to 135,000 - it was like a stock market crash." He also said that before he got married, he had an average of seven TV commercials per year, but by early 2009 that number had dwindled down to zero.

In the early hours of June 12, 2010, Kwon was involved in a car accident in Gangnam District. According to news reports, Kwon was driving on the wrong side of the road and hit a parked car. He then ran into the police car that had pursued him, continued driving and hit a tree before fleeing the scene on foot. Two days later, he turned himself in at Gangnam Police Station, claiming he had not been drunk. Kwon later made a public apology through a handwritten letter, and was fined by a Seoul district court.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2001 Volcano High Song Hak-rim 2002 Make It Big Lee Woo-seob 2003 My Tutor Friend Kim Ji-hoon 2004 Once Upon a Time in High School Kim Hyun-soo Love, So Divine Kim Kyu-shik 2006 Running Wild Jang Do-young Almost Love Lee Ji-hwan 2008 Fate Jo Cheol-joong 2009 More Than Blue Kang Chul-gyu ("K") 2010 71: Into the Fire Goo Kap-jo 2011 Pained Nam-soon 2012 Shadows of Love Kwon Jung-hoon Chinese film CZ12 Simon 2015 The Honey Enemy Zhou Yunfeng The Accidental Detective Kang Dae-man 2018 The Accidental Detective 2: In Action 2019 Love, Again Jo Hyun-woo The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful Gwi-soo 2020 Hitman: Agent Jun Jun 2021 A Year-End Medley HimselfSpecial appearance 2022 The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure Bu Heung-Soo 2023 Switch Park Kang 2025 Hitman 2 Jun 2026 Heartman: Rock and Love Choi Seung-min

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2001 Delicious Proposal Lee Choon-shik Legend Yang Dol-man 2002 We Are Dating Now Yoon Ho-jae 2003 Into the Sun Kang Seok-min Stairway to Heaven Cha Song-joo 2005 Sad Love Story Seo Joon-young/Choi Joon-kyu 2007 Cruel Love Kang Yong-ki 2009 Cinderella Man Oh Dae-san / Lee Joon-hee 2010 Big Thing Ha Do-ya 2011 Fuyu no Sakura Himself Cameo (Episode 8) 2013 King of Ambition Ha Ryu / Cha Jae-woong Medical Top Team Park Tae-shin 2014 Temptation Cha Seok-hoon 2017 Queen of Mystery Ha Wan-seung 2018 Queen of Mystery 2 2020–2021 Delayed Justice Park Tae-yong 2022 Why Her Jung Hyeon-soo Cameo (Episode 1) Desperate Mr. X Yoon Dae-wook Curtain Call Bae Dong-jae 2023Han River PoliceHan Doo-jin

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2021 House on Wheels: For Rent Cast member Spin-off of House on Wheels; With The Pirates 2 cast

Music videos Year Title Artist 2000 "Smile Smile" Papaya "It's All Right" Circle 2001 "I Wish You Happiness" (Joy Project - 1 Year of Love) Why "First Love" Ji Young-sun 2002 "I Can't Tell" Cha Eun-ju "Ace of Sorrow" Jo Sung-mo 2003 "Project X" 2005 "Sad Love Story" Yoon Gun "Anyclub" Eric Mun and Lee Hyori

Ambassadorship Seoul Public Relations Ambassador for 2023 S/S Seoul Fashion Week (2022)

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 Andre Kim Best Star Awards 2004 Male Star Award Kwon Sang-woo 2007 Star Award, Men's category Asia Model Awards 2011 Asia Star Award Kwon Sang-woo Baeksang Arts Awards 2003 Best New Actor – Film My Tutor Friend 2004 Most Popular Actor – Film Once Upon a Time in High School Best Actor – Film 2008 Most Popular Actor – Film Fate 2011 Best Actor – Television Big Thing Blue Dragon Film Awards 2002 Best New Actor Make It Big 2004 Popular Star Award Once Upon a Time in High School Grand Bell Awards 2003 Best New Actor My Tutor Friend 2004 Popularity Award Once Upon a Time in High School KBS Drama Awards 2007 Best Couple Award Kwon Sang-woo Cruel Love Popularity Award, Actor Cruel Love Top Excellence Award, Actor 2017 Best Couple Award Kwon Sang-woo Queen of Mystery Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Queen of Mystery Netizen Award, Actor Top Excellence Award, Actor 2018 Best Couple Award Kwon Sang-woo Queen of Mystery 2 Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Queen of Mystery 2 Netizen Award, Actor Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards 2003 Best Dressed, TV Actor Category Kwon Sang-woo Korea Drama Awards 2011 Best Actor Big Thing Korea-Japan Culture Awards 2007 Non-Governmental Diplomacy Award Kwon Sang-woo MBC Drama Awards 2005 Best Couple Award Kwon Sang-woo Sad Love Story Top Excellence Award, Actor Sad Love Story 2013 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Medical Top Team Mnet 20's Choice Awards 2007 Hot Body Kwon Sang-woo SBS Drama Awards 2002 New Star Award We Are Dating Now 2003 Netizen Popularity Award Stairway to Heaven / Into the Sun Top 10 Stars Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special Stairway to Heaven Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Into the Sun Top Excellence Award, Actor Stairway to Heaven / Into the Sun 2010 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special Big Thing Top 10 Stars Best Couple Award Kwon Sang-woo Big Thing Netizen Popularity Award, Actor Big Thing 2013 Best Couple Award Kwon Sang-woo King of Ambition Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special King of Ambition 2014 Best Couple Award Kwon Sang-woo Temptation Netizen Popularity Award Temptation Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special 2020 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-Length/Long Drama Delayed Justice Seoul International Drama Awards 2013 Outstanding Korean Drama Actor King of Ambition Style Icon Awards 2009 Style Icon, TV Actor Category Kwon Sang-woo The Motion Pictures Association of Korea's The Year in Film Awards 2005 Hallyu Star Award Kwon Sang-woo

Honors + Name of country or organization, year given, and name of honor or award Country or organization Year Honor / Award Savings Day 2005 Presidential Citation

Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200