Kim Mu-yeol, mostly known as Kim Moo-yul, is a South Korean actor whose name became popular because of his role in The Scam (2009) and War of the Arrows (2011). Kim landed his first major role in Jung Ji-woo’s critically acclaimed film A Muse (2012), followed by a leading role in the independent film All Bark No Bite.
But did you know that his first career was not in the TV and movie industry? Kim Mu-yeol debuted as a musical theater actor, and among the roles he’s played on stage are child murderers Richard/Nathan in Thrill Me and gambler Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls. He won Best Actor at the 2009 Korea Musical Awards for his portrayal of Melchior in Spring Awakening, a rock musical that dealt with such taboo subjects as teenage pregnancy, sexual and physical abuse, and homosexuality. He was getting noticed because of some roles in popular dramas and movies, such as The Scam, War of the Arrows, Northern Limit Line, but most of all his lead role in Bad Guys.
Are you curious about his profile and his dramas and movies? Don’t go anywhere, we will provide you with the full profile of Kim Mu-yeol as well as the latest news!
Kim Mu-yeol’s Full Profile
- Name: Kim Moo-Yul
- Hangul: 김무열
- Birthdate: May 22, 1982
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- University: Sungkyunkwan University (Art and Theater)
- Height: 183 cm
- Weight: 65 kg
- Agency: Prain TPC
- Family: Older brother and wife (Yoon Seung-ah; m. 2015)
- Twitter: @K_Moo
Filmography:
Films:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Saigon | ||
| 2004 | The Happy Family | ||
| 2005 | Today, It’s My Turn!! | ||
| 2009 | The Scam | Jo Min-hyeong | |
| 2009 | After the Banquet | Kim Hyun-joon | telecinema |
| 2010 | Finding Mr. Destiny | Airline employee (cameo) | |
| 2010 | Vertical Limit | Man | short film |
| 2011 | Romantic Heaven | Dong Chi-sung (cameo) | |
| 2011 | War of the Arrows | Seo-goon | |
| 2012 | Doomsday Book | Ji-ho | |
| 2012 | A Muse | Seo Ji-woo | |
| 2012 | All Bark No Bite[28] | Sang-keun | |
| 2012 | 정지우x김무열x조은지 Project | short film | |
| 2015 | Northern Limit Line | Yoon Young-ha | |
| 2017 | Warriors of the Dawn | Gok-soo | |
| 2017 | Forgotten | Yoo-seok | |
| 2018 | Snatch Up | Min-jae | |
| 2018 | Inrang | Han Sang-woo |
TV Shows:
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Drama City “신파를 위하여” | Hyun-wook | KBS2 |
| 2007 | Chosun Police: Season 1 | Oh-deok | MBC Dramanet |
| 2008 | Chosun Police: Season 2 | Oh-deok | MBC Dramanet |
| 2008 | Iljimae | Si-wan, Eun-chae’s older brother |
SBS |
| 2009 | Wife Returns[29] | Han Kang-soo | SBS |
| 2010 | John and Rugalda, Two Virgin Spouses | John/Yoo Jung-cheol | PBC |
| 2015 | My Beautiful Bride | Kim Do-hyung | OCN |
| 2017 | Bad Guys 2 | No Jin-pyeong | OCN |
Due to his outstanding acting, Kim also received many awards nominations, mostly from TV drama The Scam. Here is the full list of Kim Mu-yeol’s awards and nominations. Check it out!
Awards and Nominations:
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Dongrang Youth Arts Festival | Excellence Award, Actor | Won | |
| 2007 | 1st Daegu International Musical Festival | Best New Actor | Won | |
| 2007 | 1st The Musical Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Thrill Me | Nominated |
| 2009 | 15th Korea Musical Awards | Best Actor | Spring Awakening | Won |
| 2009 | 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actor | The Scam | Nominated |
| 2010 | 46th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor (Film) | The Scam | Nominated |
| 2010 | SBS Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Weekend/Daily Drama | Wife Returns | Nominated |
| 2012 | 21st Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | A Muse | Nominated |
Kim Mu-yeol’s Military Service Issues
As a man living from South Korean, Kim must serve his country and is treated as the same any Korean man, which means that he has to complete military service for approximately 2 years. In a report released by the Korean Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), Kim was deemed fit to serve in active duty as a level two recruit after a March 2001 physical examination. However, throughout 2007 to 2009, Kim was granted postponement on the grounds that he was taking civil service examinations or had been admitted to a work training facility, neither of which took place. During this time he reportedly earned approximately ₩300 million from films, musicals, and television work. In December 2009, he received his final notice for enlistment, having used up the 730 days allowed for postponement. He submitted a request to change his military status in January 2010 because of a knee injury, which was rejected. Finally, a valid exemption was granted on the grounds that he was a “low-income individual” and the sole provider for his family. BAI’s contention was that Kim’s income is substantially higher than the standard for disqualification due to poverty; thus, the Military Manpower Administration was negligent in their duties by granting the exemption.
Turned out, it was revealed that he was the only one who support his family’s finances. His agency, Prain TPC, defended him, stating that Kim had been supporting his family by working as a security guard, construction worker, and at a mobile phone factory since his late teens. When his father collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage and was diagnosed with cancer in 2008, the treatments incurred a lot of debt for the family. Their worsening financial condition caused them to become totally dependent on Kim, resulting in his said filing for an exemption in 2010. But because of this issue, he was asked by the production company which he work with for movie 11 A.M to leave the production (he was replaced by Choi Daniel).
On October 4, 2012, Kim released a statement that though there was no wrongdoing on his part, he had decided to voluntarily enter the army “to recover his honor damaged by the rumors”. During his military service, Kim was reported to play a military musical The Promise. It was co-produced by the Ministry of National Defense and Korea Musical Theater Association, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the armistice. It ran from January 9 to 20 at the National Theater of Korea, with a cast composed of actors Ji Hyun-woo and Jung Tae-woo, as well as singers Leeteuk of Super Junior, Yoon Hak of Supernova, and Lee Hyun of 8Eight. The musical centered around a group of soldiers who keep a promise made to each other during the 6.25 war. When the “entertainment soldiers” unit was disbanded in August 2013, Kim was reassigned to a front line combat unit of the 12th Infantry Division headquartered in Inje County, Gangwon Province.
In February 2014, Kim underwent surgery to treat a cartilage injury in his left knee, and afterwards received rehabilitation treatment for nearly two months at a military hospital near Seoul. Criticism was raised regarding his lengthy sick leave, but the defense ministry refused to provide detailed information regarding Kim’s health condition, arguing that it was an infringement on his privacy. Finally, on July 8, 2014 Kim was discharged and finished his military service.
