Kang Tae-joo

Kang Tae-joo is a South Korean actor and model born on May 19, 1995. He gained wide recognition for his breakout performance in the film domain, playing a mixed Korean-Filipino boxer in director Park Hoon-jung's noir feature film The Childe (2023). Before transitioning into high-profile film and television projects, he pursued his education at Kwangwoon University, studying within the Department of Media and Visual Arts.

He entered the entertainment industry in 2018 as an advertising model before signing an exclusive management contract with UL Entertainment. Kang secured his first acting role in 2019 as the male lead, Yoo Eun-ho, in the web drama Today's Peaceful Secondhand Country. Although filmed earlier, the youth romance series was delayed and eventually premiered on Naver TV in 2021.

Kang made his official television debut in 2020 through the first season of OCN's drama Missing: The Other Side. He played Kang Dae-sung, a community center public service worker, idol trainee, and pawn shop employee. His portrayal of the witty character helped raise his public profile as a promising newcomer.

In 2021, Kang appeared in the comedy-mystery drama Hello, Me! as Min Kyung-sik, a dedicated talent manager handling an overbearing celebrity. His character's upbeat energy and comedic chemistry with co-stars earned positive responses from audiences. Following this role, he was selected for his major cinematic debut in The Childe after competing against nearly two thousand candidates across three audition rounds.

To prepare for his role as Marco, an illegal boxer in The Childe, Kang underwent physical conditioning alongside national-level athletes to build a lean physique and performed the majority of his own action sequences. The film, which co-starred Kim Seon-ho, Kim Kang-woo, and Go Ara, began filming in December 2021 and premiered in South Korean theaters in June 2023. His effort earned him the Best New Actor Award at the 2023 Golden Cinema Film Festival.

Following his feature film success, Kang expanded his career profile by joining the cast of the historical drama series Pachinko. In its second season, released in 2024, he played the role of Noa, the eldest son of the lead character Seon-ja.