Go Kyung-pyo
Go Kyung-pyo (born June 11, 1990) is a South Korean actor and comedian, best known for his versatile performances in television dramas such as Reply 1988 (2015) and Chicago Typewriter (2017), as well as the critically acclaimed film Decision to Leave (2022).[1][2][3] Born in Incheon, South Korea, Go graduated from Konkuk University before making his acting debut in 2010 with a supporting role in the drama Jungle Fish 2.[2] He initially gained attention as a cast member on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live Korea for its first three seasons, showcasing his comedic timing and earning early recognition in the entertainment industry.[4] Under the management of CL & Company, Go transitioned to more dramatic roles, with his breakthrough coming in 2015 as Sung Sun-woo in the hit series Reply 1988, where he portrayed an ideal student and class president, earning widespread acclaim for his charismatic and versatile performance.[2][5][6] Go's career expanded into leading roles, including the action-comedy Strongest Deliveryman (2017), for which he received praise as a determined young entrepreneur, and the romantic comedy Jealousy Incarnate (2016), earning him the New Star Award at the SBS Drama Awards.[2] In film, he earned international notice for his supporting role as a detective in Park Chan-wook's Decision to Leave, a neo-noir thriller that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and highlighted his ability to blend intensity with subtlety.[3][7] Following mandatory military service from 2018 to 2020, Go returned with projects like Private Lives (2020) and D.P. (2021–2023), the latter a military thriller series that explored themes of desertion and earned him further acclaim for his role as Corporal Park Sung-woo.[2][1][8] In recent years, Go has continued to diversify his portfolio with the romantic comedy Frankly Speaking (2024), where he starred as a news anchor grappling with involuntary honesty, and appeared in the variety show The Great Escape: The Story (2025).[9][10] He is set to lead in the upcoming office comedy Undercover Miss Hong alongside Park Shin-hye, announced in mid-2025 (title updated October 2025), signaling his ongoing prominence in South Korean television.[11][12] Beyond acting, Go has ventured into music, releasing a remake of the track "...Because We Loved" in November 2024, drawing on his vocal talents previously showcased in drama OSTs.[13]Early life and education
Early life
Go Kyung-pyo was born on June 11, 1990, in Incheon, South Korea.[14] He grew up in a family consisting of his parents and an older sister. His parents operate a makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant in Incheon, which has occasionally drawn attention due to their decision not to display their son's photographs despite his rising fame.[15] Go stands at 188 cm tall and has blood type O.[16] From a young age, Go developed an interest in art, particularly drawing, influenced by his mother who majored in art.[17] This hobby provided him with a creative outlet and a sense of accomplishment, shaping his early creative inclinations that later contributed to his pursuit of an entertainment career.[17]Education
Go Kyung-pyo completed his secondary education at a high school in Incheon, graduating in 2008. From his second year of high school, he shifted his focus away from academics to immerse himself in acting pursuits.[18] Following high school, he enrolled in the Department of Film at Konkuk University in 2009. During his time there, he admitted with an average score and engaged in campus activities, including orientation trips (OT), membership training (MT), and freshman welcome events, but received academic warnings twice for prioritizing personal interests over coursework. He did not graduate from the program, and as of April 2025, his highest level of formal education remains high school; in a personal interview, he reflected that he had underestimated university demands, leading to insufficient study effort over 16 years and preventing degree completion.[18][19]Career
2010–2014: Beginnings and SNL Korea
Go Kyung-pyo entered the entertainment industry as an acting trainee at YG Entertainment around 2008, training for approximately two years while pursuing studies in the Film Department at Konkuk University, which helped facilitate his early opportunities.[20] He made his official acting debut in 2010 with a supporting role as Bong Il-tae in the KBS2 youth drama Jungle Fish 2, marking his first on-screen appearance in a scripted series.[21][22] In 2011, Go joined the cast of the newly launched sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live Korea on tvN as one of its original featured players for Season 1, which premiered on October 22.[23] He continued as a regular through Seasons 2 and 3 in 2012, contributing to over 40 episodes by performing a variety of comedic sketches, including satirical parodies and character impressions that showcased his versatility in live television.[22] His work on the show, such as impersonating K-pop idol Choi Si-won of Super Junior in a guest-hosted episode, helped build his comedic profile and provided a breakthrough platform before transitioning to more dramatic roles.[24] This period on SNL Korea established his presence in variety entertainment, drawing attention for his tall stature and expressive timing in ensemble sketches.[23]2015–2018: Rising popularity and leading roles
In 2015, Go Kyung-pyo achieved a major breakthrough with his portrayal of Sung Sun-woo, the earnest and reliable neighborhood boy in the tvN period drama Reply 1988, which chronicled the lives of five friends in 1980s Seoul.[25] His performance as the studious aspiring police officer, who harbors a quiet crush on the female lead, resonated with audiences for its sincerity and depth, contributing to the series' status as one of the highest-rated cable dramas in Korean history at the time.[26] This role marked his transition from supporting comedic parts to more emotionally layered characters, earning him praise for capturing the nostalgia and warmth of everyday family dynamics.[27] Building on this momentum, Go took on a prominent supporting role as Ko Jeong-won, the gentle and devoted second male lead in the 2016 SBS romantic comedy Don't Dare to Dream (also known as Jealousy Incarnate), where he formed part of a love triangle amid the competitive world of broadcasting.[28] His character, a kind-hearted news anchor who supports the protagonist's ambitions while navigating unrequited feelings, showcased his versatility in blending humor with heartfelt vulnerability, opposite leads Jo Jung-suk and Gong Hyo-jin.[29] For this performance, Go received the New Star Award at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards, highlighting his rapid ascent in the industry.[30] By 2017, Go continued his rise with roles in fantasy and youth dramas, including Yoo Jin-oh, a mysterious ghostwriter entangled in reincarnation themes, in the tvN series Chicago Typewriter, which earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 2017 The Seoul Awards.[31] That year, he also secured his first leading role as Choi Kang-soo, a determined delivery worker aspiring to start his own business, in the KBS2 coming-of-age drama Strongest Deliveryman, further solidifying his appeal in motivational narratives.[22] These projects, combined with nominations for Netizen Popularity at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards, amplified media coverage of his growing stardom, positioning him as a go-to actor for both romantic and period genres.[32]2020–present: Post-military roles and recent projects
Following his discharge from mandatory military service on January 15, 2020, Go Kyung-pyo resumed his acting career with the JTBC drama Private Lives, which premiered in October 2020. In the series, he portrayed Lee Jung-hwan, a skilled imposter navigating a world of con artists and hackers. The project marked his first leading role after the service hiatus, allowing him to reflect on past performances and refine his approach to character depth.[33][17][34] In 2021, Go made selective cameo appearances to rebuild momentum, including a guest role in the tvN romantic fantasy My Roommate Is a Gumiho, where he reunited with Reply 1988 co-star Hyeri in a lighthearted segment. He also appeared briefly in the Netflix military thriller D.P. as the spoiled Park Sung-woo, a bully whose encounter highlights themes of privilege and evasion in the series' desertion investigations. These short but memorable parts showcased his ability to inject humor and tension into ensemble narratives.[35][36][37] Go's 2022 output demonstrated versatility across genres and platforms. In cinema, he earned acclaim for his supporting turn as the earnest detective Soo-wan in Park Chan-wook's noir mystery Decision to Leave, which garnered him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 43rd Blue Dragon Film Awards. He followed with comedic roles in the DMZ-set lottery caper 6/45 as the quick-witted sergeant Bak Cheon-u and in the Netflix action-comedy Seoul Vibe as the reliable team member Woo-sam during the 1988 Olympics backdrop. On television, he led the tvN rom-com Love in Contract as the reserved Jung Ji-ho and starred as the antagonist Oh Jin-seob in the Disney+ sci-fi horror Connect, blending psychological depth with thriller elements in both. This busy slate highlighted his maturation into multifaceted performer post-hiatus.[38][39][40][41]) By 2024, Go took the lead in the JTBC rom-com Frankly Speaking, airing from May to June, where he played Song Ki-baek, a straitlaced news anchor afflicted by a condition that forces brutal honesty after a lightning strike. The series emphasized his comedic timing and emotional range in a modern workplace romance. Venturing further, he debuted in variety programming with The Backpacker Chef Season 2 on tvN, joining from May to November 2024 to cook improvised meals in remote locations alongside Baek Jong-won and Ahn Bo-hyun, revealing a more approachable, hands-on side.[42][43] Into 2025, Go continued in variety with tvN's Sixth Sense: City Tour, appearing in all eight episodes of season 1 (premiering February 13) and as a regular in season 2 (premiering October 30, ongoing as of November 2025), where the cast toured viral urban spots to detect fabricated trends using intuition. He also appeared in the variety show The Great Escape: The Story. As of November 2025, he is confirmed for the lead in tvN's upcoming office comedy Undercover Miss Hong (title changed from Miss Undercover Boss in October 2025) alongside Park Shin-hye as the pragmatic CEO Shin Jung-woo opposite her undercover regulator; the series is scheduled for early 2026 release. Under CL & Company since 2018, Go has embraced this phase of diverse projects, evolving his public image toward greater accessibility and mental openness, as he discussed in interviews about balancing acting demands with personal growth and variety experimentation.[44][11][2][45][9][46][47][48]Personal life
Family background
Go Kyung-pyo's parents operated a makguksu (buckwheat noodle) restaurant in Incheon following their retirement, with his father, who had long aspired to become a chef, taking the lead in establishing the business.[49] The family emphasized self-reliance and quality, declaring they would succeed through the food's taste rather than relying on their son's celebrity status; initially, they refused to display Go Kyung-pyo's photograph in the establishment to avoid leveraging his fame.[49] This stance shifted after actor Park Bo-gum visited the restaurant, prompting the parents to hang his photo, which led to customers mistakenly assuming they were Park Bo-gum's parents; to clarify the mix-up, they eventually added Go Kyung-pyo's picture as well.[50] As of 2025, the restaurant continues to operate as a family legacy, though Go Kyung-pyo's mother passed away in September 2020, leaving a profound impact on him, whom he described as "my everything."[51][52] Go Kyung-pyo has an older sister, though he maintains a low profile regarding their relationship, with no widely reported public interactions between them. He has consistently prioritized privacy in his personal life, including family matters beyond the restaurant business. In terms of romantic relationships, as of February 2025, rumors surfaced that he had been dating a non-celebrity woman for three years, but his agency, CL&COMPANY, responded that "it is difficult to confirm," neither verifying nor denying the claims.[53] Go Kyung-pyo remains unmarried and has not publicly disclosed any ongoing partnerships, aligning with his approach to shielding personal details from media scrutiny.Military service
Go Kyung-pyo enlisted for mandatory military service on May 21, 2018, as an active-duty soldier in the Republic of Korea Army.[54][55] Following basic military training, he was assigned to the 23rd Infantry Division in Gangwon Province, where he served for approximately 21 months.[55][56] During his training period, Go received a commendation from his superiors for outstanding performance, including high marks in physical fitness and discipline.[55] No public exemptions or special activities, such as fan engagements, were reported during his service. He was honorably discharged on January 15, 2020, at a private ceremony in Gangwon Province, marking the end of his military obligations.[33][57] His enlistment resulted in a temporary hiatus from acting, with professional activities resuming later that year.[33]Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Admiral: Roaring Currents | Oh Duk-yi | Supporting role in historical action-war film.[58] |
| 2015 | The Treacherous | Grand Prince Jinseong | Supporting role in historical thriller about political intrigue in the Joseon Dynasty. |
| 2015 | Casa Amor: Exclusive for Ladies | Pyo Kyeong-soo | Cameo appearance in romantic comedy about adult toy shop owners.[59] |
| 2015 | Coin Locker Girl | Chi-do | Supporting role as a loyal henchman in action crime thriller. |
| 2018 | Seven Years of Night | Choi Seo-won | Supporting role in fantasy drama involving revenge and supernatural elements. |
| 2022 | Back to the Hong Kong | Yeo-myoung | Lead role in romantic drama exploring past connections. |
| 2022 | Seoul Vibe | Woo-sam | Supporting role as a team member in 1988 Seoul Olympics-themed action comedy.[60] |
| 2022 | 6/45 | Bak Cheon-u | Lead role as a soldier in mystery thriller centered on a lottery murder case. |
| 2022 | Decision to Leave | Soo-wan | Supporting role as a detective in neo-noir romantic thriller. |
| 2024 | Amazon Bullseye | Director Choi | Supporting role in adventure comedy about archery training in the Amazon.[61] |
Television series
Go Kyung-pyo made his acting debut as Bong Il-tae in the 2010 drama Jungle Fish 2. He appeared in supporting roles in dramas including My Love, My Family (2011), Standby (2012), My Cute Guys (2013), Potato Star 2013QR3 (2013), and Naeil's Cantabile (2014).[4] Go Kyung-pyo gained prominence through a series of television roles in romantic comedies, slice-of-life dramas, and thrillers, often portraying earnest, multifaceted characters on major Korean broadcast networks. His television work highlights his versatility, from neighborhood friends in nostalgic settings to professionals navigating personal and ethical dilemmas. In the tvN slice-of-life family drama Reply 1988, which aired from November 6, 2015, to January 16, 2016, over 20 episodes, Go Kyung-pyo played Sun-woo, the kind-hearted aspiring doctor and childhood friend of the protagonists living in 1980s Seoul.[62] He followed with a supporting lead role as Go Jung-won, the charming chaebol heir entangled in a love triangle, in the SBS romantic comedy Don't Dare to Dream (also known as Jealousy Incarnate), which ran from September 24 to November 13, 2016, for 24 episodes, focusing on the competitive world of broadcasting.[28] In 2017, Go starred as Yoo Jin-oh/Shin Yool in the fantasy drama Chicago Typewriter on tvN, portraying a writer entangled in reincarnation themes, across 16 episodes from April 20 to June 25. He led as Choi Kang-soo, a deliveryman with ambitions, in the KBS2 action-comedy Strongest Deliveryman, which aired 16 episodes from August 3 to October 22.[63] In 2018, he played Kang In-kyu, a genius surgeon, in the tvN medical thriller Cross, which ran for 16 episodes from January 29 to March 27, exploring organ transplant conspiracies.[63] After his military service, Go Kyung-pyo starred as Lee Jung-hwan, a enigmatic corporate team leader with a hidden agenda in the con-artist thriller Private Lives on JTBC, airing from October 20 to November 23, 2020, across 16 episodes, exploring themes of identity theft and privacy in the digital age. He made a guest appearance as the Mountain Spirit in the 2021 tvN fantasy romance My Roommate Is a Gumiho.[64][65][66] In 2022, he took on the leading role of Jung Ji-ho, a reserved judge with a secret comic book obsession, in the tvN romantic comedy Love in Contract, which broadcast from September 21 to November 10, 2022, for 16 episodes, centering on a professional fake spouse's romantic entanglements.[41][67] Go Kyung-pyo led as Song Ki-baek, a polished radio announcer who suddenly develops a condition preventing him from lying, in the JTBC romantic comedy Frankly Speaking, airing from April 17 to May 7, 2024, over 12 episodes, blending humor with explorations of authenticity and media ethics.[68] Upcoming, Go Kyung-pyo is set to portray Shin Jung-woo, the ambitious new CEO of a securities firm, in the tvN office comedy Miss Undercover Boss, slated for 2026 broadcast with no confirmed episode count yet, depicting corporate intrigue in late 1990s Korea through the lens of an undercover executive.[11]Web series
Go Kyung-pyo has appeared in several web-exclusive streaming series, primarily on major platforms like Netflix and Disney+. In the Netflix original series D.P. (2021), he made a special appearance as Corporal Park Sung-woo, a character involved in military desertion investigations, in the first season that premiered on August 27, 2021. He reprised the role in a special appearance in the second season, which was released on August 30, 2023. His leading role in a web series came with Connect (2022), a Disney+ original thriller where he portrayed Oh Jin-seob, a serial killer whose vision is linked to the protagonist's through an organ transplant; all six episodes were released simultaneously on December 7, 2022.[69]| Year | Title | Role | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | D.P. (Season 1) | Park Sung-woo | Netflix | Special appearance |
| 2023 | D.P. (Season 2) | Park Sung-woo | Netflix | Special appearance |
| 2022 | Connect | Oh Jin-seob | Disney+ | Main role[69] |
Television shows
Go Kyung-pyo debuted in variety television as a regular cast member on the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live Korea, serving from 2012 to 2014 across its first three seasons, where he performed in live sketches and impersonations alongside other comedians.[70] After establishing himself in acting, he made select guest appearances on talk and game shows, including Amazing Saturday in August 2022, where he joined hosts and fellow guest Eum Moon-suk for food-themed challenges and banter. In June 2024, he guested on The Seasons Season 5: Zico's Artist, performing songs like "We Were In Love" and engaging in musical discussions with host Zico.[71] In 2024, Go returned to regular variety as the youngest member of The Backpacker Chef Season 2 on tvN, traveling to remote locations in South Korea and abroad to prepare meals for locals alongside Baek Jong-won, Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Soo-geun, and Heo Kyung-hwan, showcasing his cooking skills and humorous interactions.[72] The following year, he joined Sixth Sense: City Tour as a core member, appearing in episodes 1 through 8, where the team toured urban hotspots to detect fakes among viral trends and SNS-famous spots with hosts Yoo Jae-suk, Song Eun-i, and OH MY GIRL's Mimi. In 2025, he was a regular member in the adventure variety The Great Escape: The Story on TVING, solving escape room challenges in 10 episodes from July to August.[73][9]| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012–2014 | Saturday Night Live Korea | Cast member | tvN | Seasons 1–3; live sketches and comedy segments.[70] |
| 2022 | Amazing Saturday | Guest (Ep. 225) | tvN | Food market games with Taeyeon and Eum Moon-suk. |
| 2024 | The Seasons Season 5: Zico's Artist | Guest (Ep. 8) | KBS2 | Performed OSTs and dueted with Zico.[71] |
| 2024 | The Backpacker Chef Season 2 | Regular cast | tvN | Cooking adventures in unexpected locations.[72] |
| 2025 | Sixth Sense: City Tour | Regular member (Eps. 1–8) | tvN | Urban fake-detection tours.[73] |
| 2025 | The Great Escape: The Story | Regular member | TVING | Adventure escape room challenges, 10 episodes.[9] |
Music video appearances
Go Kyung-pyo has made several notable appearances in music videos, often portraying romantic or everyday leads that complement the songs' themes. His roles in these short-form visuals have provided early exposure and collaborations with prominent K-pop and ballad artists.| Year | Song | Artist | Role/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | "Byulgeo Eopdeon Geu Haruro" (Nothing Special with the Day) | Im Chang-jung | Portrayed a painter creating a portrait for his love interest, alongside Ha Ji-won and Hwang Jung-min; appeared without compensation to support the ballad's nostalgic narrative.[74] |
| 2023 | "NOT OK" (feat. Minnie of (G)I-DLE) | Loco | Featured in a storyline depicting a challenging day in urban life, alongside Loco and Minnie, highlighting struggles in making a living.[75] |
| 2024 | "1,2,3,4" (feat. Moon Sujin) | Jooeun (former DIA member) | Starred as the male lead in a lighthearted romance, meeting Jooeun at a restaurant and developing a sweet relationship.[76][77] |
Discography
Soundtrack appearances
Go Kyung-pyo has made notable vocal contributions to drama original soundtracks (OSTs), beginning with a duet in his early acting career and later releasing his first solo OST track.| Year | Title | Drama | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "You Wake Me Up" (너 땜에 잠이 깨) (feat. Kim Seul-gi) | Flower Boys Next Door | Duet track released as part of the OST Special on February 26, 2013; Go Kyung-pyo portrayed the character Oh Dong-hoon in the series. |
| 2017 | "La La La" (랄랄라) | Strongest Deliveryman | Solo track released on August 9, 2017, as Part 2 of the OST; marked Go Kyung-pyo's debut as a solo OST singer while starring as Choi Kang-soo in the drama.[78] |
Singles
Go Kyung-pyo made his foray into standalone music releases in late 2024, showcasing his vocal talents through solo projects independent of his acting career. His debut single, a remake titled ...Because We Loved...(2024) (original by the band Cool), was released on November 13, 2024, and includes an instrumental version. The emotive ballad surprised fans with his smooth, heartfelt delivery and quickly gained attention on digital platforms.[13] Following this, Go released the four-track EP UP SIDE DOWN on November 29, 2024, under Brotherhood Entertainment and CL & Company. The project features two original songs—"MISSING YOU" (그리움에게…) as the lead single and "RIGHT AWAY"—along with their instrumental counterparts, blending ballad and upbeat elements to explore themes of longing and introspection.[79]| Title | Year | Album/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ...Because We Loved...(2024) | 2024 | Non-album single; remake of Cool's 1998 hit. Includes instrumental version.[80] |
| MISSING YOU (그리움에게…) | 2024 | Lead single from UP SIDE DOWN EP.[79] |
| RIGHT AWAY | 2024 | Track from UP SIDE DOWN EP.[79] |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actor | Horror Stories 2 | Nominated[81] |
| 2016 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor – Film | Coin Locker Girl | Nominated[82] |
| 2016 | SBS Drama Awards | New Star Award | Jealousy Incarnate | Won[29] |
| 2016 | SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Romantic-Comedy Drama | Jealousy Incarnate | Nominated[83] |
| 2016 | tvN10 Awards | Two Star Award | Reply 1988 and Saturday Night Live Korea | Nominated[83] |
| 2017 | The Seoul Awards | Best Supporting Actor (Drama) | Chicago Typewriter | Nominated[38] |
| 2017 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Strongest Deliveryman | Nominated[83] |
| 2022 | Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Decision to Leave | Nominated[38] |
| 2022 | Blue Dragon Film Awards | Popular Star Award | Decision to Leave | Won[84] |