Song Kang-ho is a South Korean actor considered one of the most prolific South Korean actors. He is world famous for his performance in South Korean films like Snowpiercer (2013) and Parasite (2019). He is often called Kang-ho Song.
Wiki/Biography
Song Kang-ho was born on Tuesday, January 17, 1967 (aged 55; one son in 2022) in Gimhae City, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. Her zodiac sign is Capricorn. Since his college, he dreamed of becoming an actor. After graduating from Gimhae High School, he joined a social theater troupe in his locality. At the time he joined the theaters, there were only five theaters in the country. He majored in broadcasting and entertainment at National Gyeongsang University, Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province.
Childhood image of Song Kang-ho
Physical appearance
- Height: 5’11”
- Hair color: Black
- Eye colour: Black
Family, Ethnicity and Wife
Song Kang-ho follows Christianity. His father’s name is Song In-Dae (died in 2018). He married Hwang Jangsuk in 1995. The couple have a daughter and a son. His son, Song Jun-Pyoung (b. 1996) is a football player for Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Her daughter’s name is Song Ju-Yean.
Song Kang-ho with his son
Career
Agency
Hodu&U Entertainment
As a theater artist
In 1990, he joined a theater troupe in a company in Busan called “Yeonwoo Mudae”. With his theater troupe, he performed in such memorable plays as ‘Dongseung’, ‘Pak Cheom-Ji’, Gukmul Issajiman, ‘Yo-jong Ban-ran and ‘Bionso; the first being “Chui Sonsaeng”. He worked in theater for almost a decade. He also worked in the theater groups ‘Saebyeog’ and ‘Chaimu’.
As a movie star
He was asked several times for the cinema but he always refused the roles; until he took on the role of “Dong-suk” in the 1996 film “The Day a Pig Fell Down the Well.” He was 30 when he made his film debut.
Song Kang-ho in a scene The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (1996)
Director Lee Chang-dong, who spotted him during the play “Bionso”, cast Kang ho in his film “Green Fish” (1997) as “Pan-Su”.
Song Kang-ho in a scene from Green Fish (1997)
He then played key roles in films like No. 3 (1997), Bad Movie (1997), The Quiet Family (1998) and Shiri (1999). His first role as a lead actor came with the 2000 film “The Foul King”, where he played the role of “Dae-ho”.
Song Kang-ho in “The Foul King” (2000) as “Dae-ho”
He is famous for starring in important movies like Joint Security Area (2000), Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Memories of Murder (2003), The President’s Barber (2004), The Host (2006), The Show Must Go On (2007), Secret Sunshine (2007), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), Thirst (2009), Secret Reunion (2010), Snowpiercer (2013), The Throne (2015), A Taxi Driver (2017), The Drug King (2018) and Parasite (2019).
Awards and nominations
- Order of Cultural Merit of Okgwan (the fourth highest class of national cultural medals) by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (South Korea) in 2019
Song-Kang ho receives Okgwan’s Order of Cultural Merit
- Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards for the movie “Parasite” in 2019
The cast of Parasite (2019) with Guild Awards
- Excellence Award at the 72nd Locarno International Film Festival for the film “Parasite” in 2019
Song-Kang ho with his Excellence Award at the 72nd Locarno International Film Festival
- 2016 Shin Young-Kyun Arts and Culture Foundation Best Culture Award
- Busan International Film Festival Asia Casting Market Curtain Call Award in 2015
- Fantasia Film Festival – Awarded for the film “The Show Must Go On” in 2007
- Golden Cinematography Awards (presented by the Association of Korean Film Producers) – won Daesang as an actor for the film “The Host” in 2006
- Asian Film Awards for the film “The Host” in 2006
- 2004 Taxpayers Day Presidential Commendation
- Deauville Asian Film Festival – Awarded for the film “Joint Security Area” in 2000
Big Bell Award
- Best New Actor for the movie “No.23” in 1997
- Best Actor for the movie “Joint Security Area” in 2000
- Best actor for the movie “Memories of Murder” in 2003
- Netizens Popularity Award for the film “Memories of Murder” in 2003
- Best Actor for the movie “The Face Reader” in 2013
Blue Dragon Movie Awards
- Best Supporting Actor for the movie “No.23” in 1997
Song-Kang ho with his Blue Dragon Film Award
- Best Actor for the movie “The Show Must Go On” in 2007
- Best actor for the film “The Attorney” in 2013
- Best actor for the film “A taxi driver” in 2017
Korea Film Critics Association Award
- Best Actor for the movie “The Quiet Family” in 1998
- Best actor for the movie “Memories of Murder” in 2003
- Best Actor for the movie “The Show Must Go On” in 2007
- Best Actor for the movie “The Face Reader” in 2013
Build Film Awards
- Best actor for the film “The Attorney” in 2013
- Best actor for the film “A taxi driver” in 2017
Signature
Autograph of Song Kong-ho
Favorites
Movies: “Son of Saul” by László Nemes (2015), “Parasite” by Bong Joon-ho (2019), “Secret Sunshine” by Lee Chang-dong (2010), “Oldboy” by Park Chan-wook (2003), Franklin J. Schaffner “Butterfly” (1973)
controversies
In 2005, police discovered Song was driving while drunk. The test gave a blood alcohol level of 0.095%. His license was suspended for 100 days.
Net value
He has an estimated net worth of Rs. 537 crores (as of 2020)
Facts / Anecdotes
- In his spare time, he enjoys rock climbing near his home, watching movies or watching sports matches.
- Song received a new nickname for “Awards Fairy” after her film “Parasite” won the Cannes Film Festival.
- In 2021, he was selected as one of nine judges for the competition section of the 74th Cannes Film Festival to be held July 6-17.
- On March 6, 2022, Song donated 100 million won to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help with the damage caused by the huge forest fire that started in Uljin, Gyeongbuk and spread to Samcheok, Gangwon. .
- He wanted to be an actor since eighth grade.
- Song Kang-ho’s blood type is A.
- He never had a professional acting education and has been working in theater since graduating from Gimhae High School. In an interview, he confessed to attending acting school for a short time.
- In an interview, Kang-ho confessed that he used to do manual labor on construction sites when he was young. He worked on building sites because his daily salary was very high.
- He gained international fame for his performance in the film Parasite (2019). He played the role of ‘Kim Kitaek’ in the film. The film won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Oscar for best film in 2019.
Song-Kang ho and Bong Joon ho with Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival
- His film “Parasite” (2019) also became the first Korean film to receive a Golden Globe Award in 2020.
Song-Kang ho, Lee Jeong and Bong Joon ho with the Golden Globe Award trophy
- The director, Bong Joon-ho and Kang-ho are very good friends. When Bong Joon-ho was deemed an incompetent director, Kang-ho agreed to make a movie with him. They both first met when Kang-ho was a struggling actor in the industry and he was giving auditions for a movie where Joon-ho was an assistant director. Kang-ho failed the auditions, but he received a message from Joon-ho saying:
I would like to work on a film with you one day.
- As a result, when Joon-ho offered him a movie, Kang-ho accepted his offer and they both worked in “Memories of Murder” for the first time. Since then, they have worked together on many projects.
Song Kang-ho with Bong Joon-ho
- In 2020, he joined the top 30 brand reputation rankings for movie actors by the Korean Business Research Institute.
- Asked about the good advice he follows as an actor, he replied that there was a senior actor he worked with on stage, “Don’t become a technical actor. Don’t act typical and predictable.
- Apparently, Kang-ho’s son, Joon Pyung, taught him how to dribble a ball for a scene in the movie A Taxi Driver (2017).
Kang-ho in Taxi Driver (2017)
