Child actor Ko Dong-ha has been cast as the lead in the film Sugar (directed by Choi Shin-choon), heralding the emergence of a new talented actor on the big screen.
Sugar is a human drama based on a true story about a mother named Mira, who overcomes legal and regulatory barriers to create a medical device for her son diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, reflecting her intense love and personal growth.
Child actor Ko Dong-ha plays her son Dong-myung, opposite Choi Ji-woo as the mother, in a story set to touch audiences’ hearts in early 2026.
Ko Dong-ha portrays 12-year-old Dong-myung, who, while receiving his mother’s devoted care, must also bear the burden of a lifelong illness.
Having become recognized through notable dramas such as The Last Empress, Missing: They Were, Bossam: Steal the Fate, and Queen of Tears, Ko Dong-ha has captivated audiences with his commanding presence and mature emotional expressiveness beyond his years.
Building his filmography steadily through various roles, he now takes on his first lead role in a feature film with Sugar, aiming to deliver deep acting that transcends typical child actor limits.
According to the production team, Ko Dong-ha demonstrated emotional depth and focus comparable to adult actors from his audition, receiving unanimous praise from judges.
In particular, the role of Dong-myung requires Ko to express not only a battle with illness but also the complex inner world and physical pain of an adolescent boy, making it a challenging performance.
Ko Dong-ha meticulously researched and practiced to realistically portray hypoglycemic shock symptoms faced by actual Type 1 diabetes patients—cold sweats, hand tremors, blurred vision—and earned standing ovations from the crew for his method acting on set.
Additionally, to portray his character as a baseball pitcher and batter, Ko underwent intense baseball training for several months. His dynamic pitching on the mound and emotionally powerful hospital scenes are expected to enhance the film’s immersion.
A production company representative praised, “Ko Dong-ha is not just a talented child actor; he commands the emotional tone of the entire film. His energy exchange with Choi Ji-woo was remarkable. Audiences will discover an extraordinary actor in Ko Dong-ha through this film.”
Starring Choi Ji-woo, Min Jin-woong, and Ko Dong-ha, Sugar is scheduled for release in January 2026.
Image source: Studio Target Co., Ltd., SamBaek SangHoe Co., Ltd., Xportsnews
