Kim Woo Seok

1 Kim Woo Seok originally dreamed of pursuing music rather than acting. He studied practical music and became interested in musical theater after watching a production of Les Misérables.

2 His acting career began unexpectedly when he accepted a small web drama role as a part-time job. A writer working on Love Playlist noticed him and encouraged him to audition, leading to his official debut in 2017.

3 He grew up in a musically inclined family. His aunt studied classical vocal music, and both of his parents enjoyed singing, which helped nurture his early interest in performing.

4 He and his older brother, MeloMance vocalist Kim Min Seok, frequently sang together while growing up. Both eventually entered the entertainment industry, although they pursued different career paths.

5 In a February 2023 interview, he revealed that he and his brother were living together. He described their relationship as supportive, with a little friendly competition.

6 His brother sometimes watches his dramas and gives him constructive criticism about his acting. In return, Kim Woo Seok shares his opinions on his brother's music.

7 He has performed in several musical theater productions, including Red Book (2017), Thrill Me (2019 and 2021), and Time Between Dog and Cat (2020).

8 He considers acclaimed actor Jo Seung Woo a role model because of his ability to move successfully between television, film, and musical theater.

9 His character Jin Seo Yool in the crime thriller Voice became one of his longest-running television roles. He appeared in the second and third seasons before returning for a cameo in the fourth.

10 In Military Prosecutor Doberman (2022), he portrayed No Tae Nam, a privileged young businessman whose actions create serious problems for the people around him.

11 His transformation from the villainous No Tae Nam in Military Prosecutor Doberman to the devoted Lee Shin Won in The Forbidden Marriage surprised viewers because of how different the characters were.

12 The Forbidden Marriage marked his first major leading role in a terrestrial television drama and his first historical drama, making it an important turning point in his career.

13 He was particularly interested in portraying Lee Shin Won because he personally enjoys romantic stories featuring devoted second male leads who love someone they cannot have.

14 In a January 2023 interview, he admitted that he tends to give everything to someone he loves, explaining why he could relate to Lee Shin Won's unwavering devotion.

15 To prepare for The Forbidden Marriage, he practiced horseback riding and action sequences. He nearly fell from a horse during training, leaving him nervous about riding.

16 Despite finding horseback riding frightening, he enjoyed the action scenes in The Forbidden Marriage and expressed interest in taking on more physically demanding roles.

17 He has described himself as naturally athletic and particularly confident in basketball and other ball sports.

18 Filming The Forbidden Marriage helped him become more confident about communicating with production staff and sharing his ideas on set, something he had previously been hesitant to do.

19 He described The Forbidden Marriage as a project that helped him recognize his potential as an actor after years of questioning whether he was good enough.

20 He developed a close relationship with actress Oh Yeon Soo while filming Military Prosecutor Doberman. She portrayed his character's mother and continued affectionately calling him her son after the drama ended.

21 He is friends with actor Kim Dong Hwi, whom he knew from school. The two have discussed acting and encouraged each other to improve their performances.

22 In January 2023, Kim Woo Seok and his brother participated in a charitable donation campaign through the Community Chest of Korea. Kim Woo Seok contributed 35 million won, and the brothers were recognized for their philanthropic efforts.

23 Before enlisting in the military, he admitted feeling anxious about temporarily leaving acting just as his career was gaining momentum. However, he hoped military service would help him mature and expand the types of characters he could portray.

24 He enlisted in the South Korean Army as an active-duty soldier on April 4, 2023. Before leaving, he expressed a desire to return with a more mature image and greater confidence as an actor.

25 In Doctor X: Mafia in White (2026), he was cast as Park Tae Gyeong, a medical intern who becomes involved with the brilliant surgeon Gye Su Jeong, played by Kim Ji Won, at Guseo University Hospital.