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Koo Kyo-hwan

Koo Kyo-hwan

Actor, editor, writer and producer · Born December 14, 1982 (43) · Seoul, South Korea

Koo Kyo-hwan (born December 14, 1982) is a South Korean actor, film director and screenwriter. He is known for his role in the films Jane (2016), Peninsula (2020), and Escape from Mogadishu (2021). He also attracted recognition for his performance in Netflix original D.P. (2021–2023).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 14, 1982 (43)
From
Seoul, South Korea
Works as
Actor, editor, writer and producer
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 57 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 19% in 30 days

What are Koo Kyo-hwan's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Genres

Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
31%
Self
24%
Morality
13%
Bonds
10%
Society
10%
Power
10%
Ideas
1%
Survival6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 0 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 1 · Charged 3 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 2 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 13 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 13
Ally
2 of 13
Herald
2 of 13
Shadow
2 of 13
Shapeshifter
1 of 13
Mentor
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Dread
5
Melancholic
7
Thrilling
5
Contemplative
4
Other
11

How their films linger

Bittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Koo Kyo-hwan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Koo Kyo-hwan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

57 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Paradise Lost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Reawaken Man: The Red(2026)

    as Seok Hwan / Red

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Colony(2026)

    as Seo Young-cheol

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • We Are All Trying Here(2026)

    Show 12 episodes · as Hwang Dong-man

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Once We Were Us(2025)

    as Eun-ho

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Mantis(2025)

    as Han Hee-sung (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Jinx Montage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director · Editor · as Man

  • Escape(2024)

    as Lee Hyun-sang

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Parasyte: The Grey(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · as Seol Kang-woo

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Nattering with Nah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • One Day Off(2023)

    Show 8 episodes · as Lee Chang-jin

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Kill Boksoon(2023)

    as Han Hee-sung

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Super Star Lee Hyori (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director · Editor · as Kyo-hwan

  • Extraordinary Attorney Woo(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Bang Gu-ppong

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Monstrous(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · as Jung Ki-hoon

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Love Villain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Producer · as Kyo-hwan

  • Replacement Driver VLOG (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Kyo-hwan

  • D.P.(2021)

    Show 12 episodes · as Han Ho-yeol

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Escape from Mogadishu(2021)

    as Inspector General Tae Joon-gi

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Kingdom: Ashin of the North(2021)

    as Aidagan

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Leave the Door Open (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Producer · as Scallop (voice)

  • Peninsula(2020)

    as Captain Seo

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Maggie(2018)

    Editor · Producer · Screenplay · as Sung-won

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • ROMEO (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Editor · Producer · as Romeo

  • Leave a message after beep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Editor · Producer · Writer · as Animal Communicator

  • Jane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Jane

  • Girls on Top (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Director · Costume Design · Editor · Writer

  • Beaten Black And Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Writer · as Gyohwan

  • Dance From Afar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Shin Pa-rang

  • Signal(2016)

    Show Actor

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Fly To The Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · CG Artist · Editor · Writer · as Kyo-hwan

  • Love Docu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Writer · as Kyo-hwan

  • Now Playing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer · as Kyo-hwan (segment "Love Docu")

  • After School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Adaptation · Editor

  • Dempseyroll: confessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Kyo-hwan

  • Romance in Seoul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Ki-chul (segment "Seoul Life") · as Kyo-hwan (segment "Dempseyroll: confessions")

  • Seoul Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Ki-cheol

  • A Dangerous Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Editor · as Duk-woo

  • Where is my DVD? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · Costume Design · Editor · Producer · Production Design · Writer · as Ko Gi-hwan

  • WELCOME TO MY HOME (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director · as Kyo-hwan

  • A Werewolf Boy(2012)

    as Drunk Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Winter sleep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Goo-byeong

  • turtles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director · Editor · Writer · as Kyo-hwan

  • Midnight Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as a young man

  • Just Before They Died (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Do-young

  • Castaway on the Moon(2009)

    as Public Service Employee

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Don't Step Out of the House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Raoh

  • Money Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Gi-chul

  • Nice Shorts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Rao

  • Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Jin-uk

  • Cartel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Gardeners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Kim Mun-ho

  • Seeking the King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Kim Do-jin

  • Smart Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Typhoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • White Blast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Your Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Kyo-hwan

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles, 50 of them dated from 2008 to 2026; peak year 2020.

Biggest box office

Colony (2026)

$53M worldwide

Highest rated

Castaway on the Moon (2009)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Colony (2026)

Film career

20082026

Peak 2020 · at the high point of their film career. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting55 of 57: 38 only acting, 17 with another role · typical Midcredits score81stDirecting12 of 57: 0 only directing, 12 with another roleWriting12 of 57: 0 only writing, 12 with another roleProducing8 of 57: 0 only producing, 8 with another roleEditing13 of 57: 0 only editing, 13 with another roleOther crew3 of 57: 0 only other crew, 3 with another role

57 titles, 19 with more than one role — acting and editing overlap on 11 of them.

By decade

2000s6 · acting2010s22 · 20 acting · 13 crew2020s22 · 22 acting · 5 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 10% of 10 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Koo Kyo-hwan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of all 12; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 77th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

93rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 19 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

Reawaken Man: The Red (2026)

53rd percentile spread · 15% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Castaway on the Moon (2009)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Koo Kyo-hwan's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and sex & nudity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles78–92 · median 84 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles4–39 · median 17 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles23–74 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles11–51 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles65–90 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Koo Kyo-hwan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Koo Kyo-hwan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Yeon Sang-ho shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Producers