Cho Seung-woo (์กฐ์Šน์šฐ; born March 28, 1980) is a South Korean actor widely regarded for his versatility across film, television, and musical theatre. He made his screen debut in Chunhyang (2000), where he was selected from hundreds of candidates, marking the beginning of a career defined by careful role selection and consistent critical acclaim. In cinema, he established himself through performances in works such as Marathon (2005), Tazza: The High Rollers (2006), and Inside Men (2015), demonstrating a wide acting range that moves between restrained realism and intense character-driven roles. His filmography reflects a preference for complex narratives and morally layered characters. On television, he gained broader recognition through his role as Hwang Si-mok in Stranger (2017โ€“2020), a performance noted for its controlled emotional expression and precision. The role further reinforced his reputation as an actor capable of conveying depth through subtlety. In addition to his screen work, Cho Seung-woo is one of the most prominent figures in Korean musical theatre. He has led major productions including Jekyll & Hyde and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, earning acclaim for his vocal ability and stage presence, and contributing significantly to the popularity of musicals in South Korea. Across mediums, he is recognized for his disciplined approach to acting and his ability to fully inhabit diverse roles, maintaining a career that balances critical recognition with enduring public respect.

Cho Seung-woo

Cho Seung-woo

Acting Born March 28, 1980 Seoul, South Korea

Cho Seung-woo (์กฐ์Šน์šฐ; born March 28, 1980) is a South Korean actor widely regarded for his versatility across film, television, and musical theatre. He made his screen debut in Chunhyang (2000), where he was selected from hundreds of candidates, marking the beginning of a career defined by careful role selection and consistent critical acclaim.

In cinema, he established himself through performances in works such as Marathon (2005), Tazza: The High Rollers (2006), and Inside Men (2015), demonstrating a wide acting range that moves between restrained realism and intense character-driven roles. His filmography reflects a preference for complex narratives and morally layered characters.

On television, he gained broader recognition through his role as Hwang Si-mok in Stranger (2017โ€“2020), a performance noted for its controlled emotional expression and precision. The role further reinforced his reputation as an actor capable of conveying depth through subtlety.

In addition to his screen work, Cho Seung-woo is one of the most prominent figures in Korean musical theatre. He has led major productions including Jekyll & Hyde and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, earning acclaim for his vocal ability and stage presence, and contributing significantly to the popularity of musicals in South Korea.

Across mediums, he is recognized for his disciplined approach to acting and his ability to fully inhabit diverse roles, maintaining a career that balances critical recognition with enduring public respect.

Known For

You Quiz on the Block poster

You Quiz on the Block

Self
Stranger poster

Stranger

Hwang Si-mok
The East Palace poster

The East Palace

King
Sisyphus poster

Sisyphus

Han Tae-sul
Baeksang Arts Awards poster

Baeksang Arts Awards

Self
The King's Doctor poster

The King's Doctor

Baek Kwang-hyun
Life poster

Life

Koo Seung-Hyo
Divorce Attorney Shin poster

Divorce Attorney Shin

Shin Sung-han
God's Gift - 14 Days poster

God's Gift - 14 Days

Ki Dong-chan
Tazza: The High Rollers poster

Tazza: The High Rollers

Go-ni
Assassination poster

Assassination

Kim Won-bong
The Classic poster

The Classic

Joon-ha