Official Name: Song IL Gook 송일국
Date of Birth: 01-Oct-1971
Height: 6.06' / 185 cm
Family: Married, Mother/Actress Kim Eul Dong, Sister Song Song Yi
Talent Agency: Haneol Entertainment
SONG IL GOOK is noted not only for his good looks and acting abilities in the Korean drama scene, but he also brings a distinguished family history. He is the grandson of Kim Du-han, a well-known right wing politician, and the great grandson of General Kim Jwa-jin, a famous Korean Independence Movement leader. His mother Kim Eul Dong is a talented actress, recently rejuvenating her career with Mapado (2005) and Golden Era of Daughter-in-Law (KBS, 2007).
Song Il Gook graduated from the Cheongju University, majoring in Performing Arts, although he admits that he was more interested in art and design at the time. His started acting in Korean dramas in 1998 at the age of 27, and was considered a “late bloomer.” He played many small roles, populating daily and morning dramas, New Year's specials through the early 2000s. His first significant role was in the action drama Bodyguard (KBS, 2003), playing a slightly off-kilter villain. Song's breakthrough, however, came from two roles in particular: Jang Soo in the weekend drama Terms of Endearment (KBS, 2004), and his impressive turn as Yeom Jang in Emperor of the Sea (KBS, 2005). In those two dramas, Song showed both sides of the acting spectrum: the charming everyday man and the most charismatic villain in the last few years.
Song attained mega star status when he was cast in Jumong (MBC, 2006), which brought him the prestigious Daesang Award in 2006. Jumong is one of the most successful Korean TV dramas of all time, capturing an average of 40% viewership, and staying on the number one chart for 40 consecutive weeks. Jumong continues to this day to be popular all over the world, in countries like the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Iran, Turkey, and Iraq. Jumong’s legacy was extended to the 2009 drama Kingdom of the Wind, where Song played Muhyul, grandson of Jumong. Kingdom of the Wind was entered as a foreign in the 2009 International Film Festival. He also won the KBS Best Actor 2009 award for this role.
Song typically takes on physically challenging roles that display his outstanding skills in sword-fighting, archery, martial arts and horsemanship. Additionally, his talent as a sketch artist was captured in his roles as Yeom Jang (Emperor of the Sea) and Muhyul (Kingdom of the Winds). He is a vice-president of the Korean Triathlon Confederation and participated in the 2008 Seoul International Triathlon, 2009 and 2010. In April 2008, Song carried the Olympic torch through Seoul.
Besides acting, Song has modeled professionally, both on the runway and in print, and won the 2009 Asian Model Award.
On March 15, 2008, Song married a Busan High Court Judge (identified only by her family name "Jung") in a private traditional Korean wedding away from the media spotlight at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul. Because of her sensitive position as a legal counsel, she remains out of the media spotlight.
In 2009, the State of Hawaii honored him by designating March 21 as Song Il Kook day when he headlined a fan meeting in Honolulu. An exclusive hibiscus flower, created by a fan, was named, GeNtLe Song , in his honor.
As a result of his strong fan support in Hawaii, he insisted that the first episode of his 2010 drama, A Man Called God, be filmed in Hawaii. Dramatic action scenes shot against the island’s natural beauty had never before been seen in Korean dramas. In addition, Song prepared for his role as Michael King in this drama for 8 months by physically working out and losing over 30 lbs. His new look was a stunning change from Jumong and Muhyul.
He is currently playing the dual lead roles in a stage play “I am You” in Seoul from July 27 – August 22, 2010. It is the first stage play he has ever done, and it was especially challenging because he plays the role of a historic hero, Ahn Joong Geun, and his son, Ahn Joong Saeng, whose life is miserable for being kept in the shadow of his heroic father. His dedication and hard work is being rewarded with numerous positive reviews, sold-out shows, and standing ovations. Song Il Gook has said his ambition is to expand his experiences in theater by taking on a variety of roles, the more difficult the better. He especially values working and learning from other experiences thespians. In his personal life, he has said he wants to be a good father, good husband, and strive to be a man true to his words.
THEATER
I Am You 나는 너다 / Ahn Jung-Geun
July 27 to August 22, 2010
National Theater of Korea, Seoul
Second Season of I Am You with Song Il-Gook
May 17 to June 06, 2011
Seoul Art Center, Towol Theater
About "I Am You": Marking the centenary of the heroic death of Ahn Jung-Geun, the drama centers on the contrast between An as a man (before he became a hero) and his son Ahn Jung-Saeng who became a traitor through his father. Through the anguish of Ahn Jung-Saeng, who is remembered only as the vile son of a noble father, it takes a new look at the story of Ahn Jung-Geun’s heroism.
DRAMAS
2011 Fermented Family 발효가족 - jTBC MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/2989/fermentation-family
2011 Crime Squad / Detectives in Trouble - KBS MDL:http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/286/crime-squad
2010 A Man Called God / The Divine Hero - MBC MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/129/a-man-called-god
2008 Kingdom of the Winds - KBS MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/213/the-kingdom-of-the-winds
2007 Lobbyist- SBS MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/1151/lobbyist
2006 Jumong / Book of Three Hans 추몽 - MBC MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/661/jumong
2005 Emperor of the Sea / Haesin 해신 (海神) - KBS MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/1073/sea-god
2004 Terms of Endearment - KBS MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/917/terms-of-endearment
2004 The Water Flower Village - MBC MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-movie/2756/people-of-the-water-flower-village
2003 Desert Spring / Oasis 사막의 샘 - MBC
2003 Bodyguard / 보디가드 - KBS MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/1110/bodyguard
2003 Royal Story / 장희빈 - KBS SIK appears from epi 46
2002 People in the Alley - KBS
2002 Album of Life / 인생화보 - KBS
2002 Hard Love/Unreserved Love / 거침없는 사랑 - KBS
2001 Thousand Year's Dream - KBS
2001 I Only Know Love - KBS
1999 Into the SuN - MBC MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-drama/1110/bodyguard
1999 The Boss - MBC
1998 Advocate - MBC
MOVIES
2005 Art of Seduction MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-movie/752/the-art-of-seduction
2004 Red Eye MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-movie/3288/redeye
2012 Goblin (Dokkaebi) - Begin shooting March 2012 MDL: http://mydramalist.com/korean-movie/3462/goblin
MUSIC VIDEO
2005 Sad Love Story with Han Go Eun By Jo Eun
AWARDS
2011 Cultural Minister Award
2009 Asia Model Festival Award: Asia Star Award for Korea
2008 KBS Drama Award: Best Couple Award with Choi Jung Won for Kingdom of The Winds
2008 KBS Drama Award: Top Excellence Actor for Kingdom of The Winds
2006 Korean Broadcasting Producers Award: Best TV Actor of the Year for Jumong
2006 MBC Golden Actor Award for Jumong
2006 MBC Drama Award: Daesang Award for Jumong
2006 MBC Drama Award: Top Excellence Award for Jumong
2005 KBS Drama Award: Best Couple with Soo Ae for Emperor of the Sea
2005 KBS Drama Award: Most Popular Actor for Emperor of the Sea
2005 KBS Drama Award: Best Actor for Emperor of the Sea
2004 KBS Drama Award: Best Couple with Han Ga In for Terms of Endearment
2002 KBS Drama Award: Best New Actor for Album of Life
PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS
Giorgio Armanie Skin Minerals 2010 - CF Ads - Interview with E-Subs 27-Aug-10
LG Iran 2009 - CF Ads - Interview
Lottepentheirm 2008
Manstar
Maxim Coffee with Soo Ae
Nong Shim Shin Ramyun
LG Dishwasher STOMM
Sunkist NFC
Lotte Centum
Lotte Invens
Korea Land Corporation Manstar , CF Ads, More Ads
Shinhan Bank
GM Daewoo Winstorm
"The Country I love: A Big Tree (website)"
by Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (2008)
MDL page : http://mydramalist.com/actor/562/song-il-gook
