Song Il-kook

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	(1971-10-01) 1 October 1971 (age 53) Seoul, South Korea
Other names	Song Il-kook
Alma mater	Chung-Ang University (Master of Fine Arts) Cheongju University (Bachelor of Fine Arts)[1]
Occupation(s)	Actor, television personality
Years active	1998–present
Agent	C-JeS Entertainment
Spouse	Jeong Seung-yeon ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	3
Parents	Kim Eul-dong (mother) Song Jeong-woong (father)
Relatives	Kim Du-han (grandfather) Kim Chwa-chin (great grandfather)
Korean name
Hangul	송일국
Hanja	宋一國
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]

In Iran, August 2009

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

Musical play performances^[17]

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

Stage play performances^[17]

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

Name of country, year given, and name of honor

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

1. Honors are given at the Taxpayers' Day (납세자의 날), organized by National Tax Service, Taxpayers' Day in Korea is March 3. An award ceremony is held annually, during which individuals and corporations receive commendation for being model taxpayers.^[26]
2. Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.^[28][29] They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.^[30]

References

1. "송일국" [Song Il-kook]. Naver People (in Korean). Retrieved 2011-08-06.
2. "Jumong's Song Il-gook As Most Impressive Second-Generation Celebrity". HanCinema. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
3. "Drama star becomes honorary citizen of Tongyeong". HanCinema. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
4. " Welcome to Triathlon Korea Website ". Archived from the original on 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
5. "Song Il-gook 'From Jumong to iron man, triple attempt'". HanCinema. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
6. "South Korea Olympic Torch Relay". HanCinema.
7. "[ChanMi's drama news] Song Il-gook's profile picture of Choi Jeong-won drawn personally!". HanCinema. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
8. Kolon Christmas Photo Shoot on YouTube
9. "March 21 is Song Il-gook Day in Hawaii". HanCinema. 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
10. "Song Il-gook to meet Kazakhstan president today". HanCinema. 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
11. Jo, Yeon-ju (2015-10-26). "[단독] 송일국, 씨제스行 초읽기… 최민식과 한솥밥 먹나?". Korea Sports. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
12. Actor Song Il-guk Marries Judge
13. "A-listers at Song Il-gook's wedding « POPSEOUL!". Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
14. "Song Il-gook Weds Traditional Style". HanCinema. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
15. Hyeoun, Hwa Yeong (2012-03-17). "송일국 "세 쌍둥이 아빠 됐다"".
16. Lee, Seo-hyun, '송일국-이하늬-윤진서-김효진-배종옥' 공통점은! [Song Il-kook, Lee Ha-nui, Yun Jin-seo, Kim Hyo-jin and Bae Jong-ok have something in common] (2012-01-04) (in Korean), Shinmoongo, Retrieved 2012-05-11, Archive (2012-05-11), Archive2 (2012-05-11)
17. "공연의 모든 것 - 플레이DB - 송일국" [Everything in the show - PlayDB - Song Il-gook]. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
18. Kang Jin-ah (2022-09-14). "뮤지컬 '브로드웨이 42번가', 26주년 귀환…송일국·이종혁 출연" [Musical 'Broadway 42nd Street' returns to its 26th anniversary... Starring Song Il-gook and Lee Jong-hyuk] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-14 – via Naver.
19. Kang Jin-ah (2022-09-14). "뮤지컬 '브로드웨이 42번가', 26주년 귀환…송일국·이종혁 출연" [Musical 'Broadway 42nd Street' returns to its 26th anniversary... Starring Song Il-gook and Lee Jong-hyuk] (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved 2022-09-14 – via Naver.
20. "[NTN포토] 연극 '나는 너다' 제작발표회 열려" [[NTNPhoto] Drama ‘I am you’ The production presentation will be held.]. 나우뉴스 (in Korean). 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
21. "[연극 리뷰] '나는 너다'…인간 안중근 아픔을 응시하다" [[Theatre Review] 'I'm You'... Staring at the pain of human Ahn Jung-geun]. 매일경제 (in Korean). 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
22. "연극 '나는 너다' 배해선, 송일국과 호흡 "더욱 존경하고 섬기게 됐다"" [The play 'I'm you' Bae Hae-sun, Song Il-guk and breathing "I'm more respected and served"]. NewsPim (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-09-01.
23. Jo, Yu-kyung (2017-04-10). "남경주·최정원·이지하·송일국, 연극 '대학살의 신' 합류 [공식]" [Nam Kyung-joo, Choi Jung-won, Ji-ha, Song Il-guk, join the play 'God of Massacre' [Official]]. m.entertain.naver.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
24. Yoo, Byung-cheol (2019-03-25). "송일국, 연극 '대학살의 신' 마지막 공연 성료…더 깊어진 연기로 완벽한 무대 복귀" [Song Il-guk, the final performance of the play 'God of Carnage' is completed... Perfect return to the stage with deeper acting]. m.entertain.naver.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
25. Kim, So-yeon (2024-05-13). "전두광보다 더 '쎈캐'로 돌아온 황정민… "꼭 하고 싶었던 욕망 교과서 '맥베스'"". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-05-13.
26. Sullivan, Martin (2020-07-08). "K-Pop Stars Promote South Korean Tax Compliance". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
27. "[한국세정신문] [납세자의날]'주몽'도 성실한 납세자 -국무총리표창 수상 연예인 송일국 씨". www.taxtimes.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-10-29.
28. Hicap, Jonathan (2018-10-18). "BTS, Red Velvet win at Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
29. Yeo, Yer-im (2018-10-25). "BTS gets award upon their return home". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2021-05-31 – via Korea JoongAng Daily.
30. Lee, Sang-won (2016-10-25). "Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards announces winners". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 2018-09-29. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
31. 대중문화예술상 2011년 [2011 Popular Culture and Arts Awards]. Korea Creative Content Agency (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2020-07-12. Retrieved 2021-05-31.

External links

• Song Il-kook on Twitter
• Song Il-kook at HanCinema
• Song Il-guk at IMDb
• Song Il-kook at the Korean Movie Database