Hong Kwang-ho is a South Korean actor mainly known for his works in musical theater. Hong is best known worldwide for his portrayal of Thuy in the 2014 West End revival of the musical Miss Saigon.
Life and career Hong was born in Seoul on April 6, 1982. He was first introduced to musical theatre through his sister who was planning to be an actor, and with this in mind he entered Kaywon School of Art and Design after her. Later he graduated from Chung-Ang University with Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. He made a debut on stage as an ensemble member of the musical The Last Empress. After travelling to London for the West End run of the show he was motivated to be a leading actor, but was unable to land a role for years after returning from the military service.
In 2006 Hong appeared on the Korean production of Miss Saigon as an understudy for Chris. With this experience he landed a role a year later as Haesoo, main character of the musical Cheotsarang (First Love), starring alongside Jo Jung-suk. In the same year he also starred in a Korean production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street as Tobias.
Hong became the center of attention in 2009 for his portrayal of the title characters in the musical Jekyll & Hyde, one of the best-selling shows in Korean theatre. He was especially noted for being the youngest actor to portray the main character. After his run on Jekyll & Hyde, he starred in a new musical Bballae (The wash) as Solongo, the Mongolian immigrant worker.
The same year Hong appeared in The Phantom of the Opera as Viscount Raoul de Chagny. A year after he was chosen to portray the title character of the show, making him one of the youngest actors in the world to portray The Phantom. In 2012, Hong portrayed Yuri Zhivago in the Korean production of the show Doctor Zhivago after reprising his role as Doctor Jekyll. After Zhivago he played the main character (Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote) on The Man of La Mancha, and the male lead Bae Bijang on the show Saljjaki Opseoye (Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily). A year after he also starred in Notre-Dame de Paris as Quasimodo.
In 2014, it was revealed that Cameron Mackintosh had chosen Hong to portray Thuy in the new West End revival of Miss Saigon. During his year-long run as Thuy, he was critically acclaimed and lauded by audiences and critics alike, and was awarded WhatsOnStage award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. After Miss Saigon and his return to Korea, Hong starred as Light Yagami in the 2015 musical adaptation of Death Note along with Kim Junsu as L.
In 2016, he took part in the musical Bballae again. And after Bballae, he starred as Quasimodo in Notre-Dame de Paris.
In 2017, he took part in the musical Mr. Mouse as Inhoo. Afterwards he took part in the musical Cyrano de Bergerac The Musical as Cyrano de Bergerac, and he was awarded with the Best Actor award at the Korea Musical Awards. Afterwards he took part in the musical Hamlet: Alive as Hamlet.
In 2022, he reprised his role from 2015 as Light Yagami in Death Note: The Musical. It ran from April 1 to June 26 at the Chungmu Art Center.
Theatre credits Year English title Role 2002The Last Empress ensemble 2006Miss Saigon ensemble,1st cover of Chris&Thuy 2007First Love HaesooSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Tobias Ragg 2008See what I wanna see robber, newsman 2009Jekyll & Hyde Jekyll, HydeThe wash SolongoThe Phantom of the Opera Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny 2010 Phantom 2011Jekyll & Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll, Mr. Edward Hyde 2012Doctor Zhivago Yuri ZhivagoThe Man of La Mancha Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote 2013Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily Bae BijangNotre-Dame de Paris Quasimodo 2014Miss Saigon 25th Anniversary West End 2014 revival Thuy 2015Death Note Light Yagami 2016The wash SolongoNotre-Dame de Paris Quasimodo 2017Mr. Mouse InhooCyrano de Bergerac The Musical Cyrano de BergeracHamlet: Alive Hamlet 2018The Man of La Mancha Miguel de Cervantes / Don Quixote 2019Jekyll & Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde 2019–2020Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Sweeney Todd 2021The Man of La Mancha Miguel de Cervantes / Don QuixoteNatasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Pierre Bezukhov 2021–2022Jekyll & Hyde Jekyll/Hyde 2022 Death Note Light Yagami 2023
Filmography
2008 Gogo70 - Junyeop 2016 Miss Saigon : 25th Anniversary Performance - Thuy
References