Actor You Need to Know: Kang Tae-oh

Given Kang Tae-oh’s recent surge in popularity following his stellar performance in the acclaimed courtroom drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022), it is certain that the actor—a late bloomer, though—has finally had good fortune turn in his favor. Kang portrays Lee Jun-ho, a legal assistant at the prestigious Seoul legal firm Hanbada, in the story, who grows fond of and falls for the titular autistic lawyer, Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), her idiosyncrasies, inventiveness, and intelligence.

In relation to this part, Kang admitted to The Korea Times that the character initially posed some challenges for him. Compared to other actors, he had fewer lines, yet he still had to convey Lee’s feelings. Lee, though, had a distinct purpose and appeal. Kang thereby tried to blend in rather than stand out. That perhaps stuck out. By portraying a mature, empathetic, and considerate person flawlessly, he most effectively created an image of a man any woman would crave to have in life. With the role, Kang instantly secured his place in the hearts of millions around the world and solidified his ascent to stardom as a Korean actor.

Born Kim Yoon-hwan in 1994, the 28-year-old made his acting debut in the online series After School: Lucky or Not alongside 5urprise—South Korea’s first actor collective—created in 2013 by the talent agency Fantagio—including himself, Yoo Il, Seo Kang-joon, Gong Myung, and Lee Tae-hwan. Later the same year, Kang starred in the weekend drama Flower of Queen and rose to prominence in Vietnam as the lead in the Korean-Vietnamese co-production drama Forever Young.

Despite being the formative years of his career, that period accomplished little to further his development as a professional. Still, it was his apparent spark—aside from his good looks—that helped him land the role in the historical drama The Tale of Nokdu in 2019, earning him accolades from all quarters along with additional offers the same year. He made an appearance in the series My First First Love after having a special cameo in the drama Love with Flaws, clearly utilizing his portrayals to refine his skill as an actor, leaving his stamp on each of his creations, ignoring the fact that he didn’t have a ton of prominent roles at the time.

Kang’s acting credits from 2020 to 2022 comprise popular dramas including Run On (2020), Doom at Your Service (2021), the one-act drama Drama Special: The Effect of One Night on Farewell, and a cameo in Thirty-Nine (2022). Before the commencement of his conscription in September 2022, Kang joined the ensemble of Extraordinary Attorney Woo, carving out a niche for himself. His endearing on-screen relationship with Park Eun-bin, his pleasant disposition, excellent acting, and above all, his proven ability to elicit empathy from the minute you start watching him, I deduce, define Kang Tae-oh’s talent.