Celebrity

This Korean actor became a star after “Extraordinary Attorney Woo”: 14 years of no recognition 

The second male lead of “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” only started to shine after his collaboration with Park Eun Bin. 

Extraordinary Attorney Woo” (also known as “Extraordinary Attorney Woo Young Woo”), is taking the K-drama world by storm. Alongside the main couple, played by Park Eun Bin and Kang Tae Oh, actor Kang Ki Young, who plays the team leader Jung Myung Seok, also contributes to the series’ massive success. Initially, Jung Myung Seok was shown to be prejudiced towards female lead Woo Young Woo due to her autism, but he later advocates and shows support for her. In fact, this character has developed so much, he acts like a brother towards Woo Young Woo, and even defends her when people trash talk about her autistic nature. 

As Jung Myung Seok, Kang Ki Young earns a lot of love from TV viewers, who praise him for his visuals and brilliant acting. In “Extraordinary Attorney Woo”, the actor also manages to show a different side of himself, a complete contrast to his previous comic relief roles. For example, in “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim”, “W: Two Worlds”, or “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”, Kang Ki Young mostly landed best friend roles with funny personalities, and thus wasn’t able to showcase his full acting abilities. 

Kang Ki Young made his acting debut in 2008, and so has had 14 years of experience in the industry. However, despite his visuals and talents, the actor’s career was mostly unremarkable, consisting of mostly minor roles who are mostly there for the gags. It was not until “Extraordinary Attorney Woo”, where he finally played a serious and caring character, that this started to change, and according to Korean media, Kang Ki Young has finally “became a star” after years of effort. 

Below are some comments from netizens: 

  • I like Kang Ki Young, he’s just this kind of actor that can make you feel better?? Laughed my ass off watching him in “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim” and “Secret Romance”
  • I’m so glad he finally got a suitable role after ages of doing comic relief.. He’s such a great actor, and he just has just natural sense of humor 
  • Kang Ki Young is basically born to play Myung Seok, though I think Nam Goong Min would also fit the role 
  • I have never thought of Kang Ki Young as handsome due to his previous works, but “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” has truly changed my mind! Glad he got a breakthrough!
Back to top button