Seo Sang-won (, November 11, 1967) is a South Korean actor.서상원-다음인물정보 He has appeared in supporting roles in various films and television dramas, but is better known for his work as a stage actor. His most known works in television series are Record of Youth (2020), Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) and Queen of Tears (2024).
Education In 1986, Seo enrolled in the Department of Tourism Management at Catholic Kwandong University. During his studies, he was an active member of the university theater club, "Gil Donga People." Seo's interest in a performing arts career developed during a period of travel in Europe, where he observed the professional pride and public reception of street performers. This experience led him to re-evaluate his career goals; although he initially sought corporate employment for financial stability, he chose to pursue theater professionally in 1992.
Career
Beginning In 1992, Seo briefly worked in the sales department of Hyundai Motor Company before joining the Theatre Company Michu. During his five-year tenure with the company, he gained experience in translation, creative writing, and performance. His credits with the troupe include General Oh's Claw by Park Jo-yeol, Namsadang Sky, and several MBC Madangnori productions.
Following his departure from the company in 1995, Seo began working as a freelance actor. In 1997, he was appointed as a lecturer in the Department of Acting at the Sungkyunkwan University Social Education Center. During this period, director Lee Gwang-mo cast Seo in his film debut, Spring in My Hometown (also known as Beautiful Days), after viewing a recording of one of Seo's stage performances. Seo has attributed his career longevity to the establishment of consistent professional values and a focused approach to his creative goals.
Career as member of National Theater Company of Korea In 2001, Seo became member of National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK). That same year, he appeared in a production of Shakespeare's Hamlet, performing the roles of a nobleman, a Norwegian soldier, and Guildenstern.
In 2007, after six years with the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK), Seo was cast in the title role of Terrorist Hamlet. The production was a collaboration between the NTCK and German director Jens-Daniel Herzog, the former Artistic Director of the Mannheim National Theater. The script was adapted by Kim Min-hye and Johannes Kirsten as part of the NTCK's "World Masterpiece Stage" series. The production featured a contemporary reimagining of the classic play; Seo's Hamlet was depicted wearing modern clothing and carrying a pistol, while Claudius was portrayed as a democratic leader. For his performance, Seo received the Best Actor award at the 2008 Korea Drama Awards and a 2008 Commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
In 2008, the NTCK and director Jens-Daniel Herzog collaborated again for a second run of Terrorist Hamlet, staged as the 210th "World Masterpiece Stage" regular performance. Seo reprised his role as Hamlet. In 2010, Seo was awarded a Commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. He did not attend the official ceremony.
Career as freelance actor In 2011, Seo performed alongside Kim Young-pil, Kim Joo-wan, and Jeon Mi-do in the play The Author by British playwright Tim Crouch. Directed by Kim Dong-hyeon, the production served as the inaugural entry in the Doosan Art Center's "Borderline" series. The play is characterized by its experimental structure, which blurs the distinction between the performers and the audience while examining the psychological impact of violent theatrical content on both creators and viewers.
Seo made his television debut in 2017 with a minor role as a pastor in the series Prison Playbook. Following this debut, he continued to take primarily minor and supporting roles in television and film while maintaining his focus on theater. In 2019, he made a cameo appearance in the independent film Lucky Chan-sil.
Filmography Film +List of Film(s) Year Title Role English Original1993Three Cups of Coffee커피석잔Tae-shik1998Beautiful Times아름다운 시절Seong-hwanLee Jae-soo's Rebellion이재수의 난Musician 22003I live in the train station역전에 산다Reporter2005Typhoon Taeyang태풍태양CF cameramanBlood Silkworm혈의 누Villager 32009Marine Boy마린보이VIP Member 22015The Black Priests검은 사제들Professor2016Detective Hong Gil-dong: The Lost Village탐정 홍길동: 사라진 마을TV Debate Professor2017The Mayor특별시민Park Won 2019 Lucky Chan-sil Director Ji CameoRuby루비Director
Television +List of television series Year Title Role Note English Original 2017 Prison Playbook 슬기로운 감빵생활 Pastor's prison guard tvN 2018 KBS Drama Special:"Review Notebook of My Embarrassing Days" Professor Bong KBS My Mister 나의 아저씨 Go Jin-beomtvN Mr. Sunshine 미스터 션샤인 Go Sa-Hong's relative ep.10 2019 Her Private Life 그녀의 사생활 Noh Seok Photographer Be Melodramatic 멜로가 체질 Jin-joo's father JTBC Vagabond 배가본드 Choi Jeong-woon – Airplane captain SBS TV 2020 My Unfamiliar Family아는 건 별로 없지만 Yoo Seon-il tvN Melting Me Softly날 녹여주오 Doctor Yoon Record of Youth청춘기록 Won Tae-kyeongMore Than Friends경우의 수 Kyung Man-ho JTBC True Beauty여신강림 Kang Joon-hyuk tvN Sell Your Haunted House Yang Woo-Jin's father KBS2 Ep. 1 2021 Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha 갯마을 차차차 Yoon Tae-ha tvN2023My Demon마이 데몬PriesttvN2024Queen of Tears눈물의 여왕Dr. Park Jin-kooktvN
Stage Theater +All works as Member of Theater Company Michu (1992 to 1997) Year Title RoleTheatreDate English Korean199216th Seoul Theatre Festival: Strangers(제16회) 서울연극제 : 이방인들Lee Ju-seokLiterary Centre Big TheatreSeptember 2 to 71993Namsadang's Sky남사당의 하늘BeonasoNational Theatre of Korea Grand TheatreJune 18 to 24Incense Day제향날soldier, commander, friend, primitive personCultural Center Small TheaterNovember 26 to 291994Macbeth맥베드MacbethArts and Culture Center Grand TheaterMay 24–30 Namsadang's Sky Beonaso National Theatre of Korea Grand Theatre June 18 to 26 General Oh's Claw Sergeant, DriverSeoul Arts Center Towol TheaterNovember 22 to 25 1995 General Oh's Claw Sergeant, DriverNational Theatre of Korea Small TheatreJune 5 to 17From heaven to earth – Gyunwoo and Jiknyeo하늘에서 땅에서 – 견우와 직녀Elders of HeavenNational Theatre of Korea Grand TheatreNovember 25 to 29 The Good Person of Szechwan 사천사는 착한사람 Jeonbuk Cultural Center December 16 to 17, 1995 1996 In the mountains when spring comes Tom Tom Nangrang Tom, Love Story of Hodong and NangrangDwarfSeoul Art Center CJ Towol TheaterJuly 12–24
Theater performances started from 2001 +Theater Performances started from 2001 Year Title Role Theater Date English Korean 1998Flower Swing꽃그네Geo Seung-paeNational Theatre of Korea Small TheatreMarch 13 to 22 199923rd Seoul Theater Festival: White Circle(제23회) 서울연극제 : 하얀 동그라미Hakjeon Blue Small TheaterSeptember 4 to October 17 2001 The Wedding Day Close Relative National Theatre Daloreum Theatre January 21 to 28 Secret History of King Gongmin, Pamonggi People National Theatre Haeoreum Theatre March 23 to April 1 When I Turned Nine Close up philosopher, Geum Boklee's father National Theatre Daloreum Theatre May 3 to 25 Hamlet nobleman, norwegian soldier, guildenstern National Theatre Haeoreum Theatre September 7 to 16 2002 Presto Korea Fantasy Secretary of the Embassy,Don Carlos Secundo National Theatre Daloreum Theatre February 8 to 17 Ki-saeng-bi-saeng ChunhyangJeon Corpse's brother National Theatre Daloreum Theatre April 9 to 21Korean Wooturi우리나라 우투리 Donkey,Wooturi SoldierSeoul Arts Center Jayu Small TheaterAugust 23 – September 1 Three Loves about Family – Home Brother in law National Theatre Daloreum Theatre September 4 to 10 Julius Caesar Citizen, Athedorus, Klitters National Theatre Daloreum Theatre November 29 to December 8 2003 Three Loves about Family – Home Brother in law National Theatre Daloreum Theatre February 14 to 23 Titus Andronicus Saturninus National Theatre Daloreum Theatre April 18 to 25 Problematic Human Yeoun-san Instead of young 2 National Theatre Daloreum Theatre September 11 to 21 2004 Thunderstorm Jo Woo-ping National Theatre Daloreum Theatre April 1 to 7 The Bourgeois Gentleman Swordsman Teacher,Mufti National Theatre Daloreum Theatre September 11 to 24 2005 The Robbers Spiegelberg National Theatre Haeoreum Theatre April 29 to May 28 Splash Yong-man National Theatre Daloreum Theatre June 9 to 19 The Wedding Day Close Relative National Theatre Daloreum Theatre November 9 to 13 Story of a Stairway Urbano National Theatre Daloreum Theatre April 1 to 12 2006 The Bourgeois Gentleman Swordsman Teacher, Mufti National Theatre Daloreum Theatre June 3 to 11 Our Town Choir Sosi National Theatre Daloreum Theatre July 21 to August 6 Life Cord Dan-jong National Theatre Daloreum Theatre November 10 to 19 2007 The Yellow Inn Lawyer National Theater Byuloreum Theater March 22 to April 8 Wildfire Won-tae National Theatre Daloreum Theatre June 22 to 29 Life Cord Dan-jong National Theatre Daloreum Theatre September 11, 2007 – September 23, 2007 Terrorist Hamlet Hamlet National Theatre Daloreum Theatre November 6, 2007 – November 24, 2007 2007–2008 Winter Sunflower Tsuyuko National Theater Byuloreum Theater December 27, 2007 to January 6, 2008 2008 Terrorist Hamlet Hamlet National Theater Daloreum Theater March 14 to 23 The Centennial Promise 백년언약 man, rooster National Theater Haeoreum Theater May 28, 2008 – June 1, 2008 Terrorist Hamlet Hamlet National Theater Daloreum Theater September 18 to 26 2009 Three Sisters Staff Captain Vassily Vasilyevich Solyony Myeongdong Arts Theater, Seoul September 4 to 13 New Birds PersuasionNational Theater of Korea Haneul Theater April 4 to 10 Tom Tom Nangrang Tom, Love Story of Hodong and Nangrang Uncle, Lion December 22 to 27 2010 January 6 to 15 2010Macbeth Below the Equator 적도아래의 맥베스 Kim Choon-gilMyeongdong Arts Theater October 2, 2010 – October 14, 2010 2011The Author 디 오써 Writer Doosan Art Center Space111 April 26, 2011 – May 28, 2011Woyzeck 보이체크Franz WoyzeckDaehakro Arts Theater Grand Theater August 21, 2011 – September 10, 2011 2012 The Song of Spring Flows to the Sea 봄의 노래는 바다에 흐르고Lieutenant General Shinoda Namsan Arts Center Drama Center June 12, 2012 – July 1, 2012 Long Day's Journey into Night 밤으로의 긴 여로 Edmund Myeongdong Arts Theater October 19, 2012 – November 11, 2012 2013 The Story of Blue Boat 푸른배 이야기 National Theater of Korea Small Theater March 8, 2013 – March 24, 2013 Hot Spring in Asia 아시아 온천 — CJ Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center June 10, 2013 – June 16, 2013 The Story of Blue Boat (Yeong-yang) Nutrition Culture and Sports Centre July 11 2014 Whale 고래 Jo-jang Sogang University Mary Hall April 17, 2014 – May 4, 2014 The Shadow Boy 그림자 아이 Kwon National Theater Baekseonghui Changminho Theater October 24, 2014 – November 2, 2014 2015 Three Sisters Staff Captain Vassily Vasilyevich Solyony Sogang University Mary Hall Grand Theater in Sinsu-dong, Seoul October 30 to November 8 2015 Chimerica Joe Schofield Doosan Art Center Space111 April 14, 2015 – May 16, 2015 2016 Copenhagen 코펜하겐 Werner Heisenberg Dongsoong Art Center Studio Theater July 14, 2016 – July 31, 2016 2017 Wonmu Intel 원무인텔 Kang Jung-hwan Jin Theatre(formerly Algwahaek Small Theater) May 4, 2017 – May 14, 2017 Delinquent Youth 불량청년 — 30 Studio May 25, 2017 – June 11, 2017 Naru Art Center Main Theater June 17, 2017 – June 25, 2017 2018 Lonely person, difficult person, sad person Aleksandr Vladimirovich Serebryakov Doosan Art Center Space111 October 5, 2018 – October 27, 2018 2022 Merry Christmas, Mom 메리크리스마스, 엄마 Son JTN Art Hall 1 February 24, 2022 – February 27, 2022 Two Popes Pope Benedict XVI KEPCO Art Center August 30, 2022 – October 30, 2022
Accolades Award +List of Award(s)AwardYearCategoryWorksResult Korean Drama Award 2008 Best Actor Terrorist Hamlet
State honors