Kim Kap-soo (Kim Gap-soo), born on April 7, 1957, is a South Korean actor. Active since 1977, he has had a particularly long career spanning theater, film, and television series. He also runs his own acting training studio and teaches drama.
He began his career in 1977 as part of the first generation of the Hyundai Theater. He notably made a name for himself on stage in 1984 with the play The Silence of the Master, a play about the life of the poet and independence activist monk Han Yong-un, which he performed for three months. His theatrical experience remains an important part of his career: he also directs the Actors’ World theater company and participates in charity performances.
In film, he gained significant recognition with The Taebaek Mountains (1994), in which he played Yeom Sang-gu. He went on to appear in numerous films, including Bungee Jumping on Their Own (2001), KT (2002), A Tale of Two Sisters (2003), Mutt Boy (2003), She's on Duty (2005), Typhoon (2005), The Last Blossom (2011), Blood and Ties (2013) and Steel Rain (2017). In 2022, he played Son Young-gam in Hot Blooded.
On television, his filmography—which began in the late 1980s—is particularly extensive. Following historical dramas such as The King and the Queen (1998) and Taejo Wang Geon (2000), he notably plays Choe Chung-heon in Age of Warriors (2003), Jo Joon-gu in Toji, the Land (2004), Lee Tae-joon in Resurrection (2005) and Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty in Yeon Gaesomun (2006).
During the 2000s and 2010s, Kim Kap-soo became a regular face in South Korean dramas, often playing the roles of a father, a leader, or a character with strong authority. He appeared notably in Time Between Dog and Wolf (2007), The Great King, Sejong (2008), Tazza (2008), Iris (2009), The Slave Hunters (2010), Cinderella's Sister (2010) and Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010). He then went on to play roles in IRIS 2 and You're the Best! (2013), Marriage, Not Dating and Blade Man (2014), then Blood and All About My Mom (2015).
In 2016, he played the politician Park Kwan-soo in The K2. He continues with Whisper and The Man Who Sets the Table in 2017, and then played the role of Hwang Eun-san in Mr. Sunshine (2018). In 2019, he played King Sukjong in Haechi, President Yang Jin-man in Designated Survivor: 60 Days and especially the powerful politician Song Hee-seop in both seasons of Chief of Staff.
In 2020, he appeared in several notable productions. In Hospital Playlist then Hospital Playlist 2 (2021), he plays Joo Jong-soo. He also plays Kim Hyung-chun in Delayed Justice. That same year, he played Ahn Gil-seop, one of the survivors of the Green Home building, in the fantasy series Sweet Home.
He continued his career with Jirisan in 2021, then I Haven't Done My Best Yet and Today's Webtoon in 2022. In 2024, he played Hong Man-dae, head of the Hong family and chairman of the Queens Group, in Queen of Tears. That same year, he played Yun Jae-ho, the heroine's grandfather, in Love Your Enemy. In 2025, he appears in Pro Bono in the role of Oh Gyu-jang. He is also set to appear in The Congressman Extends My Condolences, scheduled for 2027.
With a career that began in the 1970s and spanned several decades, Kim Kap-soo has specialized in historical dramas as well as thrillers, melodramas, political series, and fantasy productions, alternating between leading roles, major supporting roles, and cameo appearances.
