This Korean “melodrama prince” spent his whole life trying to surpass himself, happily married after various adversities
This Korean actor earned the title of “melodrama prince”, but spent his whole life trying to get rid of such nickname
The “melodrama prince” of Korea
Born in 1976, Kwon Sang Woo boasts a stunning height and appearance, and so quickly attracted the eyes of numerous brands, leading to his model debut. After finishing his mandatory military service, Kwon Sang Woo started branching out into the acting scene, which soon proved to be a bright decision. In addition, his early enlistment also means that Sang Woo’s career is uninterrupted, unlike his fellow actors.
Kwon Sang Woo initially attracted attention via series like “Delicious Proposal” and “My Tutor Friend”, before exploding with popularity all across Asia via the mega hit “Stairway to Heaven”. At the time, he stood alongside superstands like Bae Jong Yoon and Jang Dong Gun, and was considered on the spearheaders for the Hallyu Wave.
His role in “Stairway to Heaven” earned Kwon Sang Woo the title of Korea’s “melodrama prince”, leading to him starring in various melodrama series in the early 2000s. However, the audience soon grew sick of Kwon Sang Woo’s repetitive image, and started to call him a one-trick pony. The actor later faced a huge decline as melodrama went out of fashion in Korea, with viewers flocking to brighter and funnier rom-coms.
Of course, Kwon Sang Woo did try to salvage himself and change his image by taking on roles in various different genres, but his prime was as good as over.
A turbulent love story with a happy ending
Kwon Sang Woo often acts in tragic love stories, and he ended up also suffering from love. In particular, when the actor revealed his relationship with Korean pageant queen Son Tae Young, everyone believed that Son Tae Young was trying to “gain clout” from her boyfriend, and so vehemently protested against this romance. They also accused Son Tae Young of having a “complicated history”, and attempted to cancel her for being “undeserving” of Kwon Sang Woo.
Despite the protests and “cancellation”, Kwon Sang Woo did not give up on his love. The actor announced his marriage with Son Tae Young at the age of 32 – right at the peak of his career. Hearing this, the public was displeased, and Kwon Sang Woo lost numerous commercial deals while his career suffered following his decision.
Still, the actor expressed that he had never regretted his marriage, and that he never cared about the past of his wife. He is now living happily with Son Tae Young, who gave birth to a son and daughter. Overtime, the couple managed to overcome public hatred and drew admiration for their stable relationship that stood through thick and thin.
