Koo Kyo-hwan is back in a role that he excels in, in Tving original series “Monstrous.”

Koo is playing the strange but brilliant archeologist Jeong Ki-hoon who chases after supernatural phenomenon.

Ki-hoon also runs a supernatural magazine titled “Monthly Ghost Stories” and a YouTube channel with the same name.

Ki-hoon always seems to have a response no matter what kind of predicament he’s in, but his past has scarred him. After losing his young daughter in an accident, he separates from his wife, Soo-jin, who decides to lives alone in Jinyang County, South Gyeongsang. The couple each suffer from the loss of their daughter alone.

Nothing seems to faze Ki-hoon anymore until he encounters a cursed Buddha statue discovered deep in a forest in Jinyang County. After the governor decides to publicly showcase the Buddha statue in the hopes of attracting tourists, horrifying events begin to take place.

The series is part of director Yeon Sang-ho’s paranormal universe. Yeon is best known for kick-starting the global K-zombie craze with his film “Train to Busan” (2016). Recently, the director has turned his attention to occult horrors such as tvN drama series “The Cursed” (2020) and its spin-off film “The Cursed: Dead Man’s Prey” (2021). For all of these works, Yeon gave up his director's seat in favor of screenwriting.

During a recent online press interview, Koo said that he received the script for "Monstrous" soon after filming for Netflix original series “D.P.” (2021) ended. Regardless of the genre, the actor says he choses roles based on what peaks his curiosity.

“I just grew curious about Ki-hoon [after reading about him] in the script,” Koo said. “Although it may sound simple, that’s just my way of getting close to the character and the plot.

“When I first read the script, I thought the supernatural genre was merely an aspect of this series. What was more at the center was the relationship between Ki-hoon and Soo-jin.”

In “Monstrous,” anyone who locks eyes with the statue suffers their own personal “hell.” Each person’s worst fears and nightmares are replayed eternally in their minds, driving them to insanity.

“My darkest hell, I believe, is related to inanimate beings,” Koo said. “I think such figures will suffocate me. I had a dream about it once, which was extremely painful. Objects in the shape of insects came raining down on me.”

The actor debuted in the 2008 short film “Boys” and became widely known to the public in “Peninsula” (2020), a sequel to “Train to Busan” where Korea becomes a desolate peninsula filled with blood-crazed zombies after the initial zombie outbreak. Koo portrays the character of Captain Seo, who loses his humanity after spending four years on a zombie-crazed peninsula.

With his smallish figure and strange but soothing voice, Koo managed to portray a different side of a typical villain.

After “Peninsula,” Koo began to frequently appear in highly-anticipated content such as director Ryoo Seung-wan’s “Escape from Mogadishu” (2021) and Netflix series “D.P.,” both of which he received praise for from both critics and moviegoers. The actor is set to appear in films “Escape” with actor Lee Je-hoon, a webtoon-based film tentatively titled “The New Humanity: Resurrected Man” and “Kill Boksoon" with Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu and Lee Seom.

Before "Peninsula” the actor had done well in independent films, such as “Jane” (2017), in which he portrays a transgender woman named Jane who takes care of unwanted teenagers. In “Maggie” (2019), Koo acts, produces, edits and screen writes with director Yi Ok-seop.

Koo also runs a YouTube channel titled “2x9HD” with director Yi, whom he has been romantically involved with for the last nine years. They upload short films which Yi often directs and Koo stars in.


Koo Kyo-hwan


Date of birth: Dec. 14, 1982
Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Seongbuk District, central Seoul
Debut: 2008 through short film “Boys”
Agency: Namooactors


Koo Kyo-hwan debuted on screen in the 2008 short film “Boys” and has been active in independent films such as “Jane” (2017) and “Maggie” (2019). He rose to prominence through director Yeon Sang-ho’s “Train to Busan” (2016) and the sequel “Peninsula” (2020), in which he portrays the main human antagonist who is even more fearsome than the blood-crazed zombies. Since then, the actor has starred in director Ryoo Seung-wan’s “Escape from Mogadishu," Netflix series “D.P.” (both 2021) and most recently in Tving original series “Monstrous” (2022).

This information was confirmed by Namooactors on May 9.


BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]