Ko Chang-seok

In this Korean name, the family name is Ko.

Ko Chang-seok (born October 13, 1970) is a South Korean actor known primarily for his supporting roles in film and television, notably, Rough Cut (2008), Secret Reunion (2010), Encounter (2018–19), and Melo Movie (2025).

Ko Chang-seok
Ko in 2016
Born	(1970-10-13) October 13, 1970 (age 55) Yongdang-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, South Korea[1]
Other names	Go Chang-suk
Education	Seoul Institute of the Arts – Theater
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2001–present
Agent	J-Flex Entertainment[2]
Spouse	Lee Jung-eun
Korean name
Hangul	고창석
Hanja	高昌錫
RR	Go Changseok
MR	Ko Ch'angsŏk

Career

Ko began his career on stage, performing in plays and musicals for many years before moving on to bit parts in films. He once earned his living by working on farms and in iron foundries,^[3] then acquired fame through his scene-stealing roles in Jang Hoon's films, notably as the movie director in Rough Cut (2008),^[4] and the Vietnamese gang boss in Secret Reunion (2010).^[5] He has since become one of the busiest supporting actors in Korean cinema.^[6][7]

Ko's real-life wife and daughter played his character's family in the period film The Showdown (2011).^[8]

Filmography

Film

Year	English title	Korean title	Role
2001	Superman in Early Summer (short film)	이른 여름, 슈퍼맨	Superman
2004	The Last Wolf	마지막 늑대	Narrow Eyes
2005	Sympathy for Lady Vengeance	친절한 금자씨	Woo So-young's husband
2006	Running Wild	야수	Gang member
	The Host	괴물	Orderly 1 in isolation ward
	Ice Bar	아이스케키	Cop 1
	No Mercy for the Rude	예의없는 것들	Piano
2007	Soo	수	Yakuza 1
	Going by the Book	바르게 살자	Woo Jong-dae
2008	Rough Cut	영화는 영화다	Director Bong
	Outing	소풍	Go Pil-joong
	Antique	서양골동양과자점 앤티크	Gay club master
2009	Insadong Scandal	인사동 스캔들	Hojinsa, forgery factory president
	The Case of Itaewon Homicide	이태원 살인사건	Alex's father
	City of Fathers	부산 – 父.山	Kim Kang-soo
2010	Secret Reunion	의형제	Vietnamese gang boss
	A Barefoot Dream	맨발의 꿈	Park In-gi
	Second Half	맛있는 인생	Sushi restaurant owner Mr. Ko – cameo
	Hello Ghost	헬로우 고스트	Chain-smoking ghost
2011	The Showdown	혈투	Du-soo
	My Black Mini Dress	마이 블랙 미니드레스	Director – cameo
	The Front Line	고지전	Yang Hyo-sam
	Quick	퀵	Detective Seo
	Mr. Idol	Mr. 아이돌	Han Jong-tak
2012	Over My Dead Body	시체가 돌아왔다	Hwang Sung-koo
	Miss Conspirator	미스 고	Detective So
	The Suck Up Project: Mr. XXX-Kisser	아부의 왕	Sung-cheol
	Dangerously Excited	나는 공무원이다	Music judge – cameo
	The Grand Heist	바람과 함께 사라지다	Hong Seok-chang
	Almost Che	강철대오: 구국의 철가방	Police officer Kim
2013	Secretly, Greatly	은밀하게 위대하게	Seo Sang-gu
	The Spy: Undercover Operation	스파이	Department head Jin
	The Face Reader	관상	His Excellency Choi – cameo
2014	The Huntresses	조선미녀 삼총사	Mu-myeong ("No Name")
	Tabloid Truth	찌라시: 위험한 소문	Baek Moon
	Slow Video	슬로우 비디오	Doctor Seok
	The Con Artists	기술자들	Goo-in
2016	Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River	봉이 김선달	Bo-won
2017	A Taxi Driver	택시운전사	Sang-goo's father - special appearance
2018	Be with You	지금 만나러 갑니다	Hong-goo
2019	Jesters: The Game Changers[9]
	Race to Freedom: Um Bok Dong	자전차왕 엄복동
2020	Innocence	결백	Seedsman
2021	Sinkhole	싱크홀	Rescue caption[10]
	Miracle: Letters to the President	기적	Father of Ra-hee (Special appearance)[11]
2022	I Want to Know Your Parents	니 부모 얼굴이 보고 싶다	Jung[12][13]
	Project Wolf Hunting	늑대사냥	Go Kun-bae[14]
	Broker	브로커	Go Gwang-soo
	Life Is Beautiful	인생은 아름다워	[15]
2023	Count	권혁재	Principal[16]
	Dream	드림	Jeon Hyo-bong[17]
2025	Boss	보스	[18]

Television series

Year	English title	Korean title	Role
2009	Dream	드림	Straw
2013	Ad Genius Lee Tae-baek	광고천재 이태백	Ma Jin-ga
	Monstar	몬스타	Judo master – cameo, ep. 5
	Good Doctor	굿 닥터	Jo Jung-mi
2014	Diary of a Night Watchman	야경꾼일지	Minister Ddoong
2015	Kill Me, Heal Me	킬미,힐미	Seok Ho-pil
	Reply 1988	응답하라	Mi-ok's father
2017	Hit the Top	최고의 한방	Photographer – cameo, ep. 1
2018	The Miracle We Met	우리가 만난 기적	Song Hyun-chul (B)
	Encounter[19]	남자친구	Nam Myeong-sik
2020	Memorist	메모리스트	Gu Kyung-tan
2022	Today's Webtoon	오늘의 웹툰	On Gi-bong[20]
	The Good Detective 2	모범형사 2	Cha Moon-ho – Cameo ep 11[21]
	Glitch	글리치	Kim Chan-woo[22]
2024	The Impossible Heir	로얄로더	Chae Dong-Uk
	Chicken Nugget	닭강정	Ko Baek-Joong's dad
2025	Melo Movie	멜로무비	Ma Sang-woo
	My Dearest Nemesis	그놈은 흑염룡	Baek Won-seop
	Way Back Love	내가 죽기 일주일 전	Jeong Il-beom[23]

Television shows

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2022	Take Care of Me This Week	Main Cast	[24]

Theater

Year	English title	Korean title	Role	Reprised
2003	Tale of Ungnyeo	웅녀 이야기
2006	Sachoom	사랑하면 춤을 춰라
2012	The Cherry Orchard	벚꽃동상
	The Human Comedy	휴먼코미디
	Woyzeck	보이첵		2013
	Sachoom	사랑한다면 춤을 춰라
	A Midsummer Night's Dream	여름밤의 꿈
	Godspell	가스펠
	Dulpul	들풀
	Jang Bogo, the Sea God	해상왕 장보고
	Le Passe-Muraille	벽을 뚫는 남자	Prosecutor	2013, 2015–2016
2014	Kinky Boots	킹키부츠	Don	2022[25]
2023	Dream High	드림하이	Principal	[26]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
2008	KMDb초 이워스 Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Rough Cut	Won
	29th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor		Nominated
	7th Korean Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor		Nominated
2010	18th Chunsa Film Art Awards	Best Supporting Actor	A Barefoot Dream	Won
	47th Grand Bell Awards	Best Supporting Actor		Nominated
	31st Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Secret Reunion	Nominated
2011	20th Buil Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor	The Front Line	Won
	48th Grand Bell Awards	Best Supporting Actor	The Showdown	Nominated
	32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor	The Front Line	Nominated
2013	7th The Musical Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Le Passe-Muraille	Nominated
	KBS Drama Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Good Doctor, Ad Genius Lee Tae-baek	Nominated