Song Il-kook (Korean: 송일국; Hanja: 宋一國; born 1 October 1971[1]) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his role in the 2006 hit drama series Jumong as the titular character.
Song Il-kook | |
|---|---|
 Song Il-kook in May 2016 | |
| Born | 1 October 1971 Seoul, South Korea |
| Other names | Song Il-kook |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation(s) | Actor, television personality |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Agent | C-JeS Entertainment |
| Spouse | Jeong Seung-yeon (m. 2008) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives |
|
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 송일국 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Song Il-guk |
| McCune–Reischauer | Song Ilguk |
Early life and education
Song is the grandson of politician Kim Du-han, great grandson of Kim Jwa-jin, the famous anarchist and Korean independence movement general during the early 1900s. Song is the son of politician and former actress Kim Eul-dong.[2]
He graduated from Cheongju University, majoring in Performing Arts, and later obtained a master's degree from Chung-Ang University.
Career
Song is the vice-president of the Korean Triathlon Confederation[3][4] and participated in the 2008 Seoul International Triathlon Competition.[5] In April 2008, Song carried the Olympic torch through Seoul.[1][6]
According to Reuters the most popular episodes of Jumong attracted over 90% of Iranian audience (compared to 40% in South Korea), propelling Song Il-gook to superstar status in Iran.
Song is also an amateur sketch artist.[7] He has also modelled professionally, both on the runway and in print. In 2008, he was one of the subjects of the Kolon Christmas Photo Shoot.[8]
In 2009, the state of Hawaii designated March 21 as Song Il-kook day.[9] In April 2010, he was invited to the Blue House to dine with Heads of State, including the president of Kazakhstan, as Jumong garnered immense popularity in the central Asian country.[10]
In October 2015, Song signed an exclusive contract with management agency C-JeS Entertainment.[11]
Personal life
On 15 March 2008, Song was wed to High Court Judge Jung Seung-yeon in a private, traditional Korean wedding at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul.[12][13][14]
Song and Jung became parents to fraternal triplet sons at a hospital in Seoul on 16 March 2012.[15] Their sons are named Dae-han, Min-guk and Man-se which, when said together mean "Long live the Republic of Korea". Song and his sons starred in the variety show The Return of Superman from 6 July 2014 to 7 February 2016. The triplets also made a cameo appearance in Song's television series Jang Yeong-sil (2016).
Song adheres to a pescetarian diet for both health and ethical reasons.[16]
Filmography
TV series
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Did We Really Love? | |
| Goodbye My Love | ||
| Into the Sunlight | ||
| 2000 | All About Eve | |
| 2002 | Hard Love | Na Young-jae |
| Royal Story: Jang Hui-bin | Kim Chun-taek | |
| Album of Life | Shin Hyung-shik | |
| 2003 | A Dream of a Thousand Years | Tae-sang |
| Bodyguard | Han Sung-soo | |
| Desert Spring | Ki-hyun | |
| 2004 | People of the Water Flower Village | Kang Sung-woo |
| Terms of Endearment | Na Jang-soo | |
| Emperor of the Sea | Yeom Moon/Yeom Jang | |
| 2006 | Jumong | Jumong, later King Dongmyeong |
| 2007 | Lobbyist | Harry/Kim Joo-ho |
| 2008 | The Kingdom of the Winds | Prince Muhyul, later King Daemusin |
| 2010 | A Man Called God | Michael King/Choi Kang-ta/ Peter Pan |
| 2011 | Crime Squad | Park Sae-hyuk |
| Kimchi Family | Ki Ho-tae | |
| 2016 | Jang Yeong-sil | Jang Yeong-sil |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | ||
| 2005 | The Art of Seduction | 작업의 정석 | Seo Min-jun |
| Red Eye | 레드아이 | Chan-sik | |
| 2014 | Entangled | Hyun Ki-jeung | |
| Fly high | 플라이 하이 | Chang-beom | |
| Vertigo | 현기증 | Sang-ho | |
| 2015 | Tattoo | 타투 | Han Ji-soon |
Variety show
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Qualifications of Men | Triathlon Coach | Ep 173–174, 178–180 |
| 2014–2016 | The Return of Superman | Cast member | Ep 34–116, 156 |
Stage
Musical
| Year | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||||
| 2016 | Broadway 42nd Street | 브로드웨이 42번가 | Julian Marsh | CJ Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center | June 23, 2016 – August 28, 2016 | |
| Daegu Keimyung Arts Center | September 3, 2016 – September 4, 2016 | |||||
| Busan Citizens' Hall Grand Theater | October 7, 2016 – October 9, 2016 | |||||
| Gunsan Culture & Arts Center Grand Theater | October 14, 2016 – October 15, 2016 | |||||
| Icheon Art Hall Grand Theater | October 28, 2016 – October 29, 2016 | |||||
| 2020 | Broadway 42nd Street | 브로드웨이 42번가 | Julian Marsh | Charlotte Theater | June 20, 2020 – August 23, 2020 | |
| 2022-2023 | CJ Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center | November 5, 2022 – January 15, 2023 | [18][19] | |||
| 2023 | Busan Cultural Center Grand Theater | February 3, 2023 – February 5, 2023 | ||||
| Changwon Sungsan Art Hall Grand Theater | February 17, 2023 – February 19, 2023 | |||||
| Daegu Keimyung Arts Center | February 24, 2023 – February 26, 2023 | |||||
| Goyang Aram Nuri Aram Theater | February 10, 2023 – February 12, 2023 | |||||
| Cheonan Arts Center Grand Theater | March 3, 2023 – March 5, 2023 | |||||
| Gyeongnam Culture & Arts Center Grand Theater | March 10, 2023 – March 12, 2023 | |||||
| Gyeonggi Arts Center Grand Theater | March 17, 2023 – March 19, 2023 | |||||
| Hanok Culture Center Grand Hall | March 24, 2023 – March 26, 2023 | |||||
| 2023 | Mamma Mia! | 맘마미아 | Bill | Chungmu Art Center Grand Theater | March 24, 2023 – June 25, 2023 | |
| Broadway 42nd Street | 브로드웨이 42번가 | Julian Marsh | Seongnam Arts Center Opera House | March 31, 2023 – April 2, 2023 | ||
| GS Caltex Yeoulmaru Grand Theater, Yeosu | April 7, 2023 – April 9, 2023 | |||||
| Daejeon Arts Center Art Hall | April 14, 2023 – April 16, 2023 | |||||
| Mamma Mia! | 맘마미아 - 진주 | Bill | Daejeon Arts Center Art Hall | June 30, 2023 – July 2, 2023 | [17] | |
| Incheon Culture & Arts Center Grand Theater | July 7, 2023 – July 9, 2023 | |||||
| Yongin Poongun Art Hall | July 28, 2023 – July 30, 2023 | |||||
| Iksan Arts Center Grand Theater | August 4, 2023 – August 6, 2023 | |||||
| Cheongju Arts Center Grand Theater | August 11, 2023 – August 13, 2023 | |||||
| Changwon Sungsan Art Hall Grand Theater | August 18, 2023 – August 20, 2023 | |||||
| Gyeongnam Culture & Arts Center Grand Theater, Jinju | August 26, 2023 – August 27, 2023 | |||||
| Sejong Cultural Center | September 1, 2023 – September 3, 2023 | |||||
| Dangjin Culture & Arts Center Grand Theater | September 8, 2023 – September 10, 2023 | |||||
| Ansan Culture & Arts Center Sunrise Theater | September 15, 2023 – September 17, 2023 | |||||
| Gumi Cultural & Arts Center Grand Theater | September 23, 2023 – September 24, 2023 | |||||
| Gwangju Cultural Center Grand Theater | October 6, 2023 – October 8, 2023 | |||||
| Gyeonggi Arts Center Grand Theater | October 13, 2023 – October 15, 2023 | |||||
| Gimhae Cultural Center Maru Hall | October 20, 2023 – October 22, 2023 | |||||
| Seongnam Arts Center Opera House | November 3, 2023 – November 5, 2023 | |||||
| Cheonan Arts Center Grand Theater | November 10, 2023 – November 12, 2023 | |||||
| Mokpo Civic Culture & Sports Center Grand Theater | November 18, 2023 – November 19, 2023 | |||||
| Busan Dream Theater | December 1, 2023 – December 10, 2023 | |||||
| Andong Culture & Arts Center Woongbu Hall | December 30, 2023 – December 31, 2023 | |||||
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korea | |||||
| 2010 | I Am You | 나는 너다 | Ahn Jung-geun | National Theater Sky Theater | July 21, 2010 – August 22, 2010 | [20] |
| Jeju Arts Center | June 24, 2011 – June 25, 2011 | [17] | ||||
| CJ Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center | May 17, 2011 – June 6, 2011 | [21] | ||||
| Gwanglim Arts Center BBCH Hall | November 27, 2014 – January 31, 2015 | [22] | ||||
| 2017 | The God of Carnage | 대학살의 신 | Michelle | Free Theater, Seoul Arts Center | June 24, 2017 – July 23, 2017 | [23] |
| 2019 | Free Theater, Seoul Arts Center | February 16, 2019 – March 24, 2019 | [24] | |||
| 2024 | Macbeth | 맥베스 | Banquo | National Theater's Haeoreum Theater | July 13 – August 18, 2024 | [25] |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actor | Album of Life | Won |
| 2003 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor | Bodyguard | Nominated |
| 2004 | KBS Drama Awards | Terms of Endearment | Nominated | |
| Best Couple Award with Han Ga-in | Won | |||
| 2005 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor | Emperor of the Sea | Won |
| Popularity Award, Actor | Won | |||
| Best Couple Award with Soo Ae | Won | |||
| 2006 | MBC Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Jumong | Won |
| Top Excellence Award, Actor | Won | |||
| Grimae Awards | Best Actor | Won | ||
| 14th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | Won | |||
| 2007 | 19th Korea Producer's Awards | Won | ||
| 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (TV) | Nominated | ||
| 41st Taxpayer's Day | Commendation from the Prime Minister | — | Won | |
| SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Lobbyist | Nominated | |
| 2008 | KBS Drama Awards | The Kingdom of the Winds | Won | |
| Best Couple Award with Choi Jung-won | Won | |||
| 2009 | 45th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (TV) | Nominated | |
| Asia Model Awards | Asia Star Awards | — | Won | |
| 2011 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Crime Squad | Nominated |
| 2012 | Goodwill Cooperation Service (GCS) | Award for Service Towards World Peace, Celebrities Who Serve Category | — | Won |
| 2013 | 2nd Historical Drama Festival | Historical Drama Star Who's Brightened Korea | — | Won |
| 2014 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Producers' Special Award | The Return of Superman | Won |
| 2015 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Excellence Award, Male in Variety Show Category | Won | |
| 2016 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Jang Yeong-sil | Nominated |
| Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Won |
State honors
| Country | Ceremony | Year | Honor | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 41st Taxpayers' Day[note 1] | 2007 | Presidential Commendation as Exemplary Taxpayer | [27] |
| Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[note 2] | 2011 | Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation | [31] |
Notes
References
External links
- Song Il-kook on X
- Song Il-kook at HanCinema
- Song Il-guk at IMDb
- Song Il-kook at the Korean Movie Database
