Yang Kyung-won was born on April 1, 1981, in Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.[2][7] From a young age, he had a passion for interior design, architecture, dancing, and singing. When the time came to choose a college major at 19, he prioritized stability and opted for a field that offered more security.[8] He enrolled to Kookmin University's Department of Architecture.[9]
After completing his studies, he entered the workforce as an office worker in an architecture company. However, he soon realized that the job should be carried out by someone who could do it better and with more joy.[8]
Career
This realization led him to join a theater company, where he received training in dancing and singing, eventually making his debut in a musical. He debuted in the entertainment industry with the musical 42nd Street in 2010.[9]
Although he initially lacked a strong passion for acting, everything changed when he encountered his current theater company, Theater Ganda,[note 2] a performance delivery service, two years after his debut.[9][12][13][10] From that point on, he began to truly enjoy the idea of acting and found satisfaction in being surrounded by people who shared his enthusiasm for the craft.[14]
In 2019, a casting director who admired his current theater company, Theater Ganda,[note 2] invited Yang to audition. During the second meeting with director Lee Jeong-hyo, Yang read a section of the Pyo Chi-soo role. However, when he received the script, the role wasn't as significant as he had expected. Nevertheless, he found it more appealing and felt thankful for the opportunity. Despite feeling pressure, he embraced the character's comedic aspects, even though he didn't consider himself naturally funny.[8]
The role of North Korean soldier Pyo Chi-su in the drama Crash Landing on You became Yang's breakthrough role. He mentioned, "But the method was all in the script. The lines were written so attractively, and the situations themselves were written in an interesting way, so I thought I could execute it well without adding or subtracting. However, the atmosphere on set was so good, and everyone was working hard to film, support, and push me, so I forgot about it. That's it." Yang's wife also practiced the script with him and remarked, "Oppa, this character will be really attractive as long as you make the right choices." This made him nervous again. Everyone could feel it after reading the script. That's why, even if someone else played Pyo Chi-su, they would still have great material. "I guess they were loved because they were fresh and high-quality organic products. I was very lucky and took charge of them."[15]
Personal life
Yang Kyung-won married Cheon Eun-seong in 2018.[2] Cheon Eun-seong is a musical actress who also holds multiple certifications in Pilates and works as an instructor. During her involvement in a musical production, she took a temporary break from her role as a Pilates instructor.[16][17]
Social design brand INIF is working with Yang Kyung-won and his wife Cheon Eun-seong to help children and families in need through the 'Family Photo' campaign. INIF is a campaign brand that addresses social issues. In 2020, INIF is launching a 'Family Photo' campaign to help vulnerable children and families. To express the slogan of this campaign, 'We were all children,' the two actors' childhood photos and their current appearances were captured at one angle.[18]
^ abPerformance Delivery Service - Ganda (Korean: 공연 배달 서비스-간다)or "Gongyeon Baedal Service-Ganda) was established as Study Group by nine fellow students from Korea National University of Arts, often referred to as "Theater Ganda" (극단 간다). In September 2004, they officially registered "Theater Ganda" (극단 간다) as a theater group called "Pitdeongi" (핏덩이), with the average age of the members being 25 years old.[10]
Curent member including Kim Ji-hyun, Lee Hee-joon, Jin Seon-kyu, Kim Min-jae, Yang Kyung-won and Oh Eui-shik.[11]
^ abc"[인터뷰③]양경원, 건축학도→회사원→극단 입단 "롱런하는 배우 될 것"" [[인터뷰③] Yang Kyung-won, architecture student → office worker → joined the theatre company "I will be a long-run actor"]. 스타투데이 (in Korean). 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
^ abKang, Su-jin (2005-01-11). "[공연]튀는 극단 '간다'… 관객을 찾아 우리가 간다" [[Performance] The outstanding theater company ‘Ganda’… We go in search of an audience.]. n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-03-31.
^Lee, Jae-hoon. "[인터뷰]'맨오브라만차' 김지현 "난 둘시네아, 그 변화 같이 느껴요"" [[Interview] 'Man Of La Mancha' Kim Ji-hyun "I feel like a change in two-one"]. n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-01.
^"[뮤지컬]작지만 큰 창작뮤지컬 '오! 당신이 잠든 사이'" [[Musical] Small but big original musical ‘Oh! 'While you were sleeping']. n.news.naver.com (in Korean). 2005-12-21. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
^"[인터뷰①] '사랑의불시착' 양경원 "잘생긴 표치수? 배역처럼 보인다는 칭찬 아닐까요"" [[Interview①] 'Crash Landing of Love' Yang Kyung-won "A handsome expression? Wouldn't it be a compliment that it looks like a role?"]. 싱글리스트 (in Korean). 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
^Son Jin-ah (November 4, 2021). "김주헌·옥자연·양경원·곽동연, '빅마우스' 합류(공식)" [Kim Joo-heon, Ok Ja-yeon, Yang Kyung-won, and Kwak Dong-yeon join 'Big Mouse' (official)] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021 – via Naver.
^Choi Hee-jae (November 3, 2023). "양경원, 조정석·신세경과 대치…'세작'서 빌런 변신" [Yang Kyung-won confronts Jo Jung-seok and Shin Se-kyung... Transformation into villain in ‘Sejak’] (in Korean). Edaily. Retrieved November 3, 2023 – via Naver.
^ ab"공연의 모든 것 - 플레이DB - 양경원" [All About the Performance - PlayDB - Yang Kyung-won]. www.playdb.co.kr. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
^"고양문화재단 '거울공주 평강이야기'선보인다" [Goyang Cultural Foundation presents 'Mirror Princess Pyeonggang Story']. 수도일보 (in Korean). 2018-12-05. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
^"고양문화재단 '거울공주 평강이야기' 선보인다" [Goyang Cultural Foundation to introduce 'Mirror Princess Pyeonggang Story']. 불교공뉴스 (in Korean). 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
^"손석희 닮은 '신석기'가 사회자…연극 '신인류의 100분 토론'" ['Shin Seok-ki', who looks like Son Seok-hee, is the host... The play '100 Minutes Discussion of New Humanity']. 뉴스1 (in Korean). 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
^"연극 '신인류의 백분토론' 완성도 높은 무대로 보완해 오는 19일부터 공연 진행" [The performance will be held from the 19th, supplemented by the high-quality stage of the play 'New Man's Hundreds Debate'.]. 뉴스컬처 (NEWSCULTURE) (in Korean). 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
^"[이주의 공연] 생명창조와 진화론…뮤지컬 '프랑켄슈타인'·연극 '신인류의 백분토론'" [[Performance of the Week] Creation of Life and the Theory of Evolution...Musical 'Frankenstein' · Theatre 'New Humanity's White Debate']. NewsPim (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-08-11.
^Yeom, Jeong-ae (2017-12-14). "경기 고양문화재단, '공연배달서비스 간다'의 신작 뮤지컬" [Gyeonggi Goyang Cultural Foundation, a new musical from 'I'm going to the performance delivery service']. 중도일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-02-23.
^"'신인류의 백분토론' 7월 개막…김늘메·신의정·정선아 등 출연" ['A Hundred Minutes Debate of New Humanity' opens in July... Kim Neul-me, Shin Ui-jeong, Jeong Seon-ah, etc.]. www.xportsnews.com (in Korean). 2018-06-07. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
^"연극 `뜨거운 여름`, 4월에 고양아람누리서 선보여" [The play 'Hot Summer' will be presented at Goyang Aram Nuri in April.]. 100세시대의 동반자 브릿지경제 (in Korean). 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
^"기억하니? 청춘의 심장이 뛰던 뜨거운 여름을…" [Do you remember The hot summer when the heart of youth beats...]. 고양신문 (in Korean). 2019-03-28. Archived from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
^"연극 '우리 노래방 가서...얘기 좀 할까?', 색다른 공간에서 펼쳐진 소통의 한 판" [The play ‘Should we go to karaoke... and talk?’, an episode of communication unfolding in a unique space]. MediaUs (in Korean). 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
^Shin, Young-eun (2021-01-19). "양경원, 6년만에 돌아온 연극 `나와 할아버지` 캐스팅" [Yang Kyung-won, casting the play 'Grandpa and I' who came back after 6 years]. 스타투데이 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
^"'완벽한 타인' 연극으로 돌아왔다. 이시언-양경원-김설진-임철수 등 캐스팅" [Returned to the 'Perfect Other' play. Lee Si-aeon-Yang Kyung-won-Kim Seol-jin-Im Cheol-soo, etc. Casting]. iMBC (in Korean). April 15, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
^Lee, Ki-hong (2021-07-13). "고양아람누리 상주단체 ′공연배달서비스 간다′ 와 연극 선보여" [Goyang Aram Nuri resident group 'I'm going to the performance delivery service' and the play]. m.siminilbo.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
^"연극 여수MBC 행사" [Theatre Yeosu MBC Event]. ysmbc.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-02-23.
^"이시언·김설진→오의식·양경원, 연극 '그때도 오늘' 캐스팅 공개" [Lee Si-eon, Kim Seol-jin → Oh Yi-sik, Yang Kyung-won, the casting of the play 'Then Today' is released]. 문화뉴스 (in Korean). 2022-11-07. Archived from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
^Jang, Byung-ho (2023-06-02). "공연배달서비스 간다 연극 '그때도 오늘', 5개 도시 투어" [I'm going to the performance delivery service. Theatre 'Today', 5 cities tour]. edaily (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-01-27.
^Choi, Won-tae (2023-08-31). "극단 '공연배달서비스 간다' 연극 '그때도 오늘' 공연 개최" [Theater company ‘Ganda Performance Delivery Service’ holds performance of ‘Then and Today’]. www.gndomin.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-01-27.
^Kim, Yang-soo (2024-02-19). "이시언·김설진→오의식·양경원, 연극 '그때도 오늘' 캐스팅 공개" [Play 'Then and Today', Choi Young-jun, Oh Eui-sik → Yang Kyung-won join... Opening in March]. Joynews24 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-01-27.
^Moon Ji-yeon (July 6, 2022). "제1회 청룡시리즈어워즈 후보 공개..'오징어 게임'·'SNL코리아' 최다노미" [The 1st Blue Dragon Series Awards nominees revealed.. Most Nominees for 'Squid Game' and 'SNL Korea'] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Choi, Hee-jae (December 30, 2022). "최원영, 베스트 캐릭터상…"♥심이영·두 딸, 진심으로 사랑해" [MBC 연기대상]" [Choi Won-young, Best Character Award... "♥Shim Yi-young and my two daughters, I love you sincerely" [MBC Drama Awards]] (in Korean). X-poorts News. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Naver.