Kim Sung-kyu (Korean: 김성규; born January 6, 1986) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in crime thriller The Outlaws (2017) and in the Netflix series Kingdom (2019). He won the Best New Actor award at the Golden Cinematography Awards for his performance in the film The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019).
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Career
Kim began his acting career in a theater company at the age of twenty-seven, spanning approximately five years. During this period, he focused on original plays and adaptations of classics rather than commercial productions with mass appeal. He frequently portrayed complex, often heavy characters who navigated significant hardships, personal awakenings, or confronting death. To support himself, Kim held various part-time jobs, including working at a lunchbox shop and a supermarket, moving furniture for commercial buildings such as courthouses, and assisting with stage setup.
Kim's career breakthrough occurred with his role as the antagonist Yang-tae in the 2017 film The Outlaws. His portrayal was noted for his intense physical and psychological commitment to the role. Kim underwent a significant physical transformation, including shaving his eyebrows and losing over 5 kilograms. He aimed for a gaunt, perpetually "hungry" appearance, achieved by walking extensively and frequenting saunas. This dedication was recognized by the film's production and makeup teams, who commended his collaborative approach to character design. Contrasting this with his earlier film works, Kim noted that he found the complexity of Yang-tae's character to be particularly compelling.
