Kim Sung-kyu (Korean: 김성규; born January 6, 1986) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in crime thriller The Outlaws (2017) and in the Netflix series Kingdom (2019).[1] He won the Best New Actor award at the Golden Cinematography Awards for his performance in the film The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019).

Career

Kim began his acting career in a theater company at the age of twenty-seven, spanning approximately five years. During this period, he focused on original plays and adaptations of classics rather than commercial productions with mass appeal. He frequently portrayed complex, often heavy characters who navigated significant hardships, personal awakenings, or confronting death. To support himself, Kim held various part-time jobs, including working at a lunchbox shop and a supermarket, moving furniture for commercial buildings such as courthouses, and assisting with stage setup.[2]

Kim's career breakthrough occurred with his role as the antagonist Yang-tae in the 2017 film The Outlaws. His portrayal was noted for his intense physical and psychological commitment to the role. Kim underwent a significant physical transformation, including shaving his eyebrows and losing over 5 kilograms. He aimed for a gaunt, perpetually "hungry" appearance, achieved by walking extensively and frequenting saunas. This dedication was recognized by the film's production and makeup teams, who commended his collaborative approach to character design. Contrasting this with his earlier film works, Kim noted that he found the complexity of Yang-tae's character to be particularly compelling.[3]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 Nineteen Ninety Nine Lee Sang-man Short film
2012 family is… brother
Beloved Unknown
2014 The Con Artists Detective team 2 member
2016 Tunnel Civic group member 3
2017 The Outlaws Yang-tae [4]
2018 The Accidental Detective 2: In Action Lee Dae-hyun
2019 The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil Kang Kyung-ho [5]
2022 Hansan: Rising Dragon Junsa [6]
2023 Noryang: Deadly Sea [7]

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2019–2020 Kingdom Yeong-shin Season 1–2 [8][9]
2020 A Piece of Your Mind Kang In-wook [10]
2021 One Ordinary Day Do Ji-tae [11]
2022 The King of Pigs Jung Jong-seok [12]
2023 Revenant Lee Ok-gyu Cameo (Episode 1) [13]
2024 Pachinko Kim Chang-ho Season 2 [14]
2026 Agent Kim Reactivated Kang Seong [15]

Theater

Theater play performances of Kim[16]
Year Title Role Venue[A] Date Ref.
English Korean
2011 12 Men 12인 Jury No.8 Miarigogae Art Theater September 6–10, 2011 [17]
2013 Ctrl A (28) 컨트롤A씨28세 A [18]
2015–2016 Ancient Futures 오래된 미래 Second Child
2016 Planaria 플라나리아 Man Daehakro Hyewadang Small Theater October 13–19, 2016 [19]
2017 2017 Miryang Summer Performing Arts Festival - Planaria 2017 밀양여름공연예술축제 - 플라나리아 Man Miryang Marina Studio Theater 2 July 30–31, 2017 [20]
2026 Secret Passage: Interval 비밀통로 : Interval Dong-jae NOL Theater, Middle Theater February 13 – May 3, 2026 [21]

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Baeksang Arts Awards 2018 Best New Actor – Film The Outlaws Nominated [22][23]
Grand Bell Awards 2020 Best Supporting Actor The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil Nominated [24]
Golden Cinematography Awards 2021 Best New Actor Won [25]
The Seoul Awards 2018 Best New Actor (film) The Outlaws Nominated [26]

Listicles

Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200[B] Included [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ All venues are in Seoul unless stated otherwise
  2. ↑ The list introduces the 200 actors that best represent the present and future of Korean cinema to the people in the film industry all over the world.

References

  1. ↑ "Kim Sung-gyu Amazes in Roles for "Kingdom" and "The Outlaws"". HanCinema. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  2. ↑ Kwon, Eun-kyung, ed. (2020-03-23). 킹덤 시즌 2의 김성규 화보 & 인터뷰 [The Face Of Kim Sung-kyu]. W Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-29.
  3. ↑ [엑's 인터뷰] "내 누군지 아니?"…김성규, '범죄도시'가 발견한 원석. Xport News (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-29 – via naver.
  4. ↑ "[Interview] Kim Sungkyu "I Want to Do Everyday Works Like Melodrama"". The Asia Business Daily. 2022-07-29. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  5. ↑ '악인전' 김성규, 칸 영화제 인증샷 공개. sports.khan.co.kr (in Korean). 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2019-06-23.
  6. ↑ Jo Ji-young (April 18, 2022). "[공식] '명량' 이후 8년 만의 신작 '한산: 용의 출현', 7월말 개봉 확정" [[Official] 'Hansan: Appearance of the Dragon', the first new work in 8 years since 'Myeongryang', to be released at the end of July] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved April 18, 2022 – via Naver.
  7. ↑ Kim, Bo-young (September 19, 2023). "이순신 최후의 전투…김윤석 '노량: 죽음의 바다' 12월 개봉" [Lee Soon-sin's last battle...Kim Yoon-seok's 'Noryang: Sea of Death' opens in December] (in Korean). E-Daily. Retrieved September 19, 2023 – via Naver.
  8. ↑ 민경원 (2019-02-02). "이 사람 누구야? '킹덤' 본 사람들이 찾는 이 남자". 중앙일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  9. ↑ MacDonald, Joan. "Netflix Zombie Hit 'Kingdom' Begins Filming Second Season". Forbes. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  10. ↑ Kim, Jin-suk (October 11, 2019). [단독]정해인·채수빈·김성규·이하나, '반의 반' 주인공(종합). Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  11. ↑ Jeong Tae-gun (May 26, 2021). "김성규, '어느 날' 합류…김수현X차승원과 호흡 [공식]" [Kim Seong-gyu joins 'One Day'... Breathing with Kim Soo-hyun X Cha Seung-won [Official]]. TenAsia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  12. ↑ Bae Hyo-joo (August 16, 2021). "연상호 원작 '돼지의 왕' 김동욱X김성규X채정안 캐스팅 확정[공식]" [Casting confirmed for Kim Dong-wook X Kim Seong-gyu X Chae Jung-an in 'The King of Pigs' by Yeon Sang-ho [official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  13. ↑ Choi, Na-young (June 24, 2023). "빌드업 마친 '악귀' 이제 시작.."악귀가 김태리의 어떤 욕망 들어줄지가 관전 포인트" ["After the Build-Up, 'Demon' Now Starts..."What Desires Will the Demon Grant Kim Tae Ri?] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved June 24, 2023 – via Naver.
  14. ↑ Jang, Ah-reum (February 22, 2023). "[단독] 김성규 '파친코' 시즌2 합류…대세 행보" [[Exclusive] Kim Seong-gyu joins 'Pachinko' Season 2... popular move] (in Korean). News1via=Naver. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ Lee, Mi-ji (October 15, 2025). [단독]김성규, '김부장' 캐스팅..소지섭과 호흡 맞춘다 [[Exclusive] Kim Sung-kyu Cast in Agent Kim Reactivated..To Work Alongside So Ji-sub]. Herald Muse (in Korean). Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  16. ↑ "공연의 모든 것 - 플레이DB". www.playdb.co.kr. Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  17. ↑ 12인 [12 Men]. Interpark (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  18. ↑ 정다훈 (2017-11-03). "'범죄도시' 김성규 "미남이시네요?...배고픈 아이다"". 서울경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  19. ↑ Yang, Hyeong-mo (2016-10-11). [아이러브스테이지] 연극 플라나리아 "사랑하지 않는 자, 유죄" [[I Love Stage] Play Planaria "He Who Does Not Love Is Guilty"]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-28 – via Naver News.
  20. ↑ 2017년 밀양여름공연예술축제 - 플라나리아 [2017 Miryang Summer Performing Arts Festival - Planaria]. Interpark (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-28.
  21. ↑ Kim, Yang-su (November 11, 2025). 김선호x양경원x김성규 연극 '비밀통로', 2월13일 대학로 개막 [Kim Seon-ho, Yang Kyung-won, and Kim Sung-kyu's play "Secret Passage" opens in Daehangno on February 13th]. Joy News24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 30, 2026. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  22. ↑ 제54회 백상예술대상, TV·영화 각 부문별 수상 후보자 공개. JTBC (in Korean). April 6, 2018.
  23. ↑ "[2018 백상예술대상 종합] tvN '비밀의 숲'·영화 '1987' 대상 영예+3·4관왕". OSEN (in Korean). May 4, 2018.
  24. ↑ [공식] '제56회 대종상 영화제' 오는 2월 25일 개최, 최종 노미네이트 작품 발표. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). 17 January 2020. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  25. ↑ Park, Soo-in (2021-03-12). 김성규, 황금촬영상 남우신인상 "첫 수상 '악인전' 함께한 분들께 감사" [Kim Sung-kyu, Golden Cinematography Awards Best New Actor: "First win, thanks to everyone I worked with for 'The Villain'"]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved 2026-06-28 – via Naver.
  26. ↑ 김태리·우도환·김다미·김성규…제2회 더 서울어워즈, 신인상 후보 공개. Busan Ilbo (in Korean). 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2026-06-29.
  27. ↑ "Korean Actors 200". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Sung-kyu_(actor,_born_1986)