Kim Mu-yeol (Korean: 김무열; born May 22, 1982) is a South Korean actor. Following a successful career in musical theatre, Kim was first cast in minor parts on film and television. After gaining recognition for his performance in War of the Arrows (2011), Kim landed his first major role in Jung Ji-woo's critically acclaimed film A Muse (2012). Kim went on to star in notable films Northern Limit Line (2015), Forgotten (2017), The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019), Honest Candidate (2020), and The Roundup: Punishment (2024).

Kim Mu-yeol, born on May 22, 1982, given the name 'Mu-yeol-wang' by his grandfather with the hope that he would contribute to the reunification of North and South Korea. He had a humble upbringing, due to In 1997, during his middle school years, his family faced financial difficulties due to the IMF crisis, and his father's health declined. As a result, Kim became the main provider for his family, putting his dreams of becoming a theater actor on hold. To make ends meet, he took on various part-time jobs and had to take multiple breaks from school.

Despite the strong opposition of his father, a civil servant, Kim Moo-yeol attended acting school since middle school and dreamed of becoming an actor. He went one step closer to his dream by attending Anyang Arts High School. While attending Anyang Arts High School, Kim participated in a performance called "Sins of this World," where he portrayed the role of an old man. Balancing his studies with part-time work became a necessity for him. He took on a range of jobs, including construction work, building security, distributing flyers, event assistance, safety guard, working in a cellphone factory, and part-time positions at a department store. In his pursuit of earning more money, he even ventured into nightclubs, but this period of his life was marked by desperation and uncertainty. He resorted to drinking and neglected his well-being, resulting in a weight gain from 70 kg to 100 kg. One day, after a night of drinking, he had a moment of realization and decided to change his lifestyle. He started exercising, quit drinking and smoking, and regained his determination. Despite his challenging circumstances, Kim performed exceptionally well on the college entrance exam, despite his poor high school grades, and was admitted to the Acting Department of Sungkyunkwan University.

Throughout his journey, Kim Mu-yeol never abandoned his passion for acting. He continued to navigate the delicate balance between making a living and pursuing his dreams. His father died in 2010.

He made his debut in 2002 with the musical "Jjangtta" and dedicated four years to honing his skills as part of the ensemble. In 2005, he gained recognition by successfully auditioning for the play "Subway Line 1" by Hakjeon Theater Company, catching the attention of Shin Chun-soo, the representative of O-Dream Music Company. This led to his lead roles in productions such as "Assassin" and "Grease."

In 2006, Kim participated in the musical Altar Boyz, which took place at the Chungmu Art Hall Grand Theater in Seoul from May 12 to May 21. Altar Boyz presents a narrative centered around a five-member Christian boy band, self-proclaimed pop evangelists with a mission to rescue troubled souls. Kim Tae-woo, played the role of Matthew, the lead character, with musical actor Song Yong-jin, who shared the role as well.

Kim's career flourished, and he on various roles in popular works including Singin' in the Rain, Thrill Me and Finding Mr. Destiny.

In 2007, Kim joined the domestic premiere of the musical Thrill Me, and made a lasting impression with his portrayal of child murderers Richard/Nathan.