Kang Tae-joo (Korean: 강태주, born on May 19, 1995) is a South Korean actor and model. Starting as an advertising model, Kang is known for supporting role television drama series Missing: The Other Side (2020) and Hello, Me! (2021). Kang auditioned for role Kopino Boxer in noir film The Childe (2022), directed by Park Hoon-jung which ultimately led to him receiving Best New Actor Award from Golden Cinema Film Festival [ko].
Career
Kang studied in Department of Media and Visual Arts of Kwangwoon University. He debuted as an advertising model in 2018, and in 2019, he made his acting debut in the lead role in the web drama Today's Peaceful Secondhand Country. Around the same time, Kang signed an exclusive contract with his agency, UL Entertainment.[2][3] However, the drama was not released immediately and was instead released in 2021 as a Naver TV web drama.[4][5]Today's Peaceful Secondhand Country is a realistic youth romance set on a second-hand trading site, written by screenwriter Choi Soo-young and directed by Kim Jae-hong. Kang played the role of Yoo Eun-ho.[2][3]
So, in the public eye, Kang's debut was in 2020 when he made his television debut in season one of the OCN drama series Missing: The Other Side.[6][7] Kang played the role of Kang Dae-sung, a public service worker at the community center where Jong-ah (Ahn So-hee) was working. However, he was also an idol trainee and a part-timer at Jong-ah's pawn shop. His performance as a curious and witty personality sparked growing curiosity about the rookie actor Kang.[8][9]
In 2021, Kang played Min Kyung-sik in comedy-mystery Hello, Me! Min Kyung-sik serves as the sole manager for Anthony (Eum Moon-seok). Kang's performance has been received positively by viewers due to his excellent rapport with Park Jung-man (Choi Dae-cheol), the agency CEO. Despite Anthony's tyrannical behavior, Min consistently exuded a positive energy and brought levity with his comedic performances.[10][11]
In the same year, Kang was selected for the main role of Marco in Park Hoon-jung's film The Childe, after facing tough competition with a rate of 1:1980. Kang went through three rounds of auditions and was ultimately chosen due to his impressive performances. He worked tirelessly to perfect his English lines. Despite having a slim physique, Marco is a boxer in illegal boxing matches. Kang underwent intense training with national-level athletes to prepare for the role, focusing on developing lean muscles and undergoing a physical transformation. The process helped create a convincing portrayal of Marco as a boxer.[12] He even performed most of the action scenes himself, without stunt doubles.[13][14]
^ ab"신예 강태주, UL엔터테인먼트 전속계약…웹드라마 캐스팅 '겹경사'" [Newcomer Kang Tae-ju, exclusive contract with UL Entertainment... Web drama casting 'Double Sleungsa']. mydaily.co.kr. November 21, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^ abJo, Sung-kyung (November 21, 2019). "신예 강태주, 웹드 "오늘도 평화로운 중고'나라'" 주인공 캐스팅" [Newcomer Kang Tae-ju, Webd "Today's Peaceful Second-hand 'Country'" Main Character Casting]. 스포츠서울 (in Korean). Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^"웹드 '오늘도 평화로운 중고나라', 중고거래 청춘 로맨스...티저 영상 공개" [Webd 'Peaceful Second-hand Country Today', Second-hand Trading Youth Romance... Teaser video released]. 싱글리스트 (in Korean). January 7, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^Kim, Min-ji. "하나X강태주 '중고나라', 로맨틱 티저 공개…21일 첫방" [Hana X Kang Tae-joo's 'Jiddle and Middle Country', romantic teaser released... The first episode on the 21st]. entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^"송중기·김선호의 남자, 누구냐 넌?" [Song Joong-ki and Kim Seon-ho's man, who are you?]. 아이즈(ize) (in Korean). May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^"강태주, OCN '미씽: 그들이 있었다' 출연… 데뷔작으로 장르물 도전" [Kang Tae-joo, OCN's 'Missing: They Were There' appearance... Challenge the genre with his debut film]. 이데일리 (in Korean). July 3, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^"'미씽' 강태주, 신선하고 통통 튀는 신예→행보 주목" ['Missing' Kang Tae-ju, fresh and bouncing newcomer → Attention to the progress]. 스포츠동아 (in Korean). September 28, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^"'안녕? 나야!' 강태주 "따뜻한 현장, 큰 행운" 종영소감" ['Hello? It's me!' Kang Tae-joo's "Warm Scene, Great Luck" Ending]. 이데일리 (in Korean). April 9, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^"'안녕? 나야!' 강태주, 슈퍼 루키 등극 "따뜻한 현장, 행운이었다"" ['Hello? It's me!' Kang Tae-joo, super rookie "Warm scene, lucky"]. 스포츠한국 (in Korean). April 10, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^Noh, Yi-sul (August 7, 2023). "[인터뷰] 스물 아홉 강태주, 절박할 때 만난 박훈정·′귀공자′라는 기회" [[Interview] Twenty-nine Kang Tae-joo, the opportunity of Park Hoon-jung and 'Gwi Gong-ja' that I met when I was desperate]. m.sportsw.kr (in Korean). Retrieved August 31, 2023.
^Park, Jin-young (May 16, 2023). "김선호, 표정부터 美쳤다 '귀공자', 6월 21일 개봉 확정" [Kim Seon-ho, the expression on his face, 'Gwi Gong-ja' is confirmed to be released on June 21st.]. 아이뉴스24 (in Korean). Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^ abYang, So-young (October 20, 2023). "류준열 김서형 황금촬영상 주연상...'올빼미' 6관왕" [Ryu Jun-yeol Kim Seo-hyung Golden Cinematography Award for Leading Actor...'Owl' wins 6 awards]. Star Today (in Korean). Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Naver.
^Choi, Yi-jeong (September 24, 2024). "김선호에게 쫓기던 강태주, 김민하 아들로 글로벌 눈도장 ('파친코')" [Kang Tae-joo, who was chased by Kim Seon-ho, becomes a global star as Kim Min-ha's son ('Pachinko')]. Chosun Biz (in Korean). Retrieved September 24, 2024.
^Jeon Hyung-hwa (November 1, 2021). "[단독]김선호, 영화 '슬픈열대'로 복귀..CF재개·연기활동 시작 [종합]" [[Exclusive] Kim Seon-ho returns to the movie 'Sad Tropical'..CF resumes and acting activities begin [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021 – via Naver.
^"강태주, '안녕 나야' 출연 확정…음문석 매니저 役" ['Hello, it's me' is confirmed... Manager Eum Moon-seok]. 스타투데이 (in Korean). December 16, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^"'오늘도 평화로운 중고나라' 하나X강태주X이가은, 본격 청춘 로맨스 21일 첫 공개" ['Today is also a peaceful second-hand country' Hana X Kang Tae-ju X Iga-eun, full-fledged youth romance first released on the 21st]. 톱데일리 (in Korean). Retrieved May 17, 2023.
^"[단독] '귀공자' 강태주, '파친코2' 합류…글로벌 기대주 행보" [[Exclusive] 'Gwi Gongja' Kang Tae-joo joins 'Pachinko 2'... Global expectant behaviour]. 뉴스1 (in Korean). May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
^Kim, Eun-ok (November 6, 2023). "'제44회 청룡영화상' 최종 후보작 및 후보자 발표…'밀수', '콘크리트 유토피아' 최다 노미네이트 - 한국사진방송 대한민국예술-" ['44th Blue Dragon Film Award' finalist and candidate announcement... 'Smilk', 'Concrete Utopia' most nominations - Korea Photo Broadcasting Korea Arts-]. koreaarttv.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
^Nam, Yoo-jung; Lee, Woo-young (August 27, 2023). "누가 받아도 될 정도로 훌륭한 후보들, 그중 최고는 누구?" [Great candidates to anyone can accept, who is the best of them?]. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved August 27, 2023.
^Park, Jin-young (October 8, 2023). "[창간19년] 고민시, 올해 라이징스타 1위…김시은·고규필 빛났다" [[19th year of publication] Ko Min-si, 1st rising star this year... Kim Si-eun and Ko Gyu-pil shined]. 조이뉴스24 (in Korean). Retrieved November 8, 2023.