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Kang Woo-suk

Kang Woo-suk

Producer, director and writer · Born November 10, 1960 (65) · South Korea

Korean director best known for Silmido (2003), the Public Enemy trilogy (2002-2008), Moss (2010), and Two Cops (1993).

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 10, 1960 (65)
From
South Korea
Works as
Producer, director and writer
Titles
16 on MovieCove · 53 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 10% in 30 days

What are Kang Woo-suk's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
35%
Bonds
21%
Survival
13%
Self
12%
Ideas
11%
Power
4%
Society
4%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 2 · Serious 2 · Dark 10

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 8 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 1 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 3

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 1 · Affecting 5 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
10
Melancholic
8
Dread
4
Romantic
3
Contemplative
2
Other
11

How their films linger

Bittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kang Woo-suk's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 16 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kang Woo-suk's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

53 credits, 16 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Map Against the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director

  • Fists of Legend(2013)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Five(2013)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Romantic Heaven(2011)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Glove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • The Quiz Show Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Executive Producer

  • Moss(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Attack the Gas Station 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Executive Producer

  • No Mercy(2010)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • White Night(2009)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Castaway on the Moon(2009)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Modern Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Producer

  • The Divine Weapon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Executive Producer

  • Public Enemy Returns(2008)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Hellcats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Producer

  • Venus and Mars(2007)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Shadows in the Palace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Executive Producer

  • My Son(2007)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Righteous Ties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Executive Producer

  • Hanbando (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Blossom Again(2005)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Another Public Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Ghost House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Executive Producer

  • Dance with the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Executive Producer

  • Low Life(2004)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Silmido(2003)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Spring Breeze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Producer

  • The Legend of Evil Lake(2003)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Fun Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Producer

  • Public Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • Painted Fire(2002)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Guns & Talks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Producer

  • Kick the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Writer

  • Volcano High(2001)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Paradise Lost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Producer

  • Bedroom And Courtroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Two Cops 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Executive Producer

  • Holiday in Seoul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Producer · Writer

  • Two Cops 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Executive Producer

  • 7 Reasons Why Beer Is Better Than a Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director

  • Mom Has a New Boyfriend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Producer

  • How to Top My Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director · Producer

  • Two Cops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director · Producer

  • Mister Mama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Producer

  • I Want to Live Just Until I'm 20 Years Old (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Teenage Love Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • Who Saw The Dragon's Claws? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director

  • I Stand Up Every Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • Happiness Does Not Come in Grades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • Sand Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Screenplay

  • Sweet Brides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • Lee Su-il Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Adaptation

  • Woman Who Grabbed the Rod (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Assistant Director

Career shape

A full career of 48 titles from 1984 to 2016.

Biggest box office

Public Enemy Returns (2008)

$27M worldwide

Highest rated

Castaway on the Moon (2009)

Midcredits 98th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing22 of 48: 14 only directing, 8 with another roleWriting5 of 48: 3 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing29 of 48: 21 only producing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score70thOther crew1 of 48: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

48 titles, 9 with more than one role — producing and directing overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1980s5 · crew1990s14 · crew2000s21 · crew2010s8 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Kang Woo-suk's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 16; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 16 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th5

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 16 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · producer

Romantic Heaven (2011)

85th percentile spread · 20% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · producer

Castaway on the Moon (2009)

Midcredits 98th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 74/100 and the pacing 46/100 in their films, across 10 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Kang Woo-suk work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kang Woo-suk's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Cho Young-wuk shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers