Koo plays a North Korean diplomat in ‘Escape From Mogadishu.’
Escape From Mogadishu was South Korea’s highest-grossing film in 2021 and is the nation’s bid for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards. The film owes its box office success to a neatly constructed story, riveting action scenes and complex characters, such as Tae Joon-ki, the North Korean embassy official played by Koo Kyo-hwan.
The film is based on true events that took place in Mogadishu during the Somali Civil War. At the time North and South Korean embassies both sought favor with the Somali government, seeking to gain support for their admission to the UN. Once the rebels reached the city, those who associated with the government faced a death sentence and the North Koreans had to rely on their enemies to escape. Koo plays a political hardliner willing to risk death rather than ask the South Korean embassy for favors. The actor worked hard to understand his character’s motivations.
“I feel that it is most important to cultivate a real curiosity about the character,” said Koo. “Because the character Tae Joon-ki was facing both physical and mental hurdles and was quite tenacious, I was curious to find out what motivates him to move and take action. After that, I created questions I would ask of the character to learn more, almost as if I were interviewing him.”
To prepare for his role, Koo also studied martial arts.
Koo’s character in ‘Escape From Mogadishu’ would rather risk death than rely on his enemies.
“The focus was to portray my character’s allegiance and uncompromising loyalty to the country through grit and toughness in the action,” said Koo. “That is why whenever we worked with the martial arts director, we tried to adhere to the concept of being able to subdue any enemy—even when physically outmatched in size—which meant we often used props.”
MORE FOR YOU
The film offers both a detailed glimpse into the ugly chaos of war and hopeful moments of human connection, but Koo is reluctant to sum up the film’s appeal.
“The moment the movie hits theaters, I believe the story belongs to the audience,” said Koo. “From that point on, it is up to the audience to decide what kind of message they choose to receive and how they feel about it. If there is something I could hope for viewers to get out of the film, it would be that the two hours spent watching the movie will be considered worth their time.”
If Koo looks familiar to Korean media fans, it might have to do with the number of dramas and films he recently appeared in. In the 2021 Netflix
“Despite the multiple back-to-back releases, my schedule was surprisingly not very busy,” said Koo. “These are all projects I’ve been steadily working on—just step by step—for the past three years, so my time was actually spent very comfortably and peacefully. In between projects, I was directing a short film.”
Koo played a corporal seeking military deserters in ‘D.P.’
Koo works on both sides of the camera. He directed a series of short films between 2011 and 2017, before working as the screenwriter and film editor for the 2018 feature film Maggie, starring Lee Joo-young. His acting role in Maggie earned him a Best New Actor nomination at the Director’s Cut Awards. His role in Peninsula won him nominations for a Best Supporting Actor Award at the Baeksang Arts Awards and at the Buil Film Awards.
“Because of my experience as an actor, when directing a movie I now think about how hard it is for the actors, and due to my experience as a director, when I am acting I now think about how hard it is for the director,” he said. “Other than that, I don’t have a specific perspective as a result except that I want to enjoy both roles.”
Koo had his first film role in his late 20s and did not appear in a TV drama until several years later. He ultimately chose to be an actor because of the ways it allows him to express himself.
“When I am acting, it is difficult for me to think of anything else,” said Koo. “Acting creates situations where you can fully face yourself, and I do not want to hide who I am. This is why I love acting and decided to become an actor.”
The actor is currently working on the supernatural thriller Ghost, directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who directed the hit zombie film Train to Busan. In Ghost Koo plays an eccentric archeologist studying a paranormal curse.
“I also am working on the concept for a six-episode series that I hope to finish and be able to direct as well.
Escape From Mogadishu, directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, won six awards at at the 30th Buil Film Awards including Best Film. The film, which stars Kim Yoon-seok and Zo In-sung, played in select US theaters and is currently streaming VOD at Viki.com.
