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.
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
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
Stage
Musical
Theater
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
Notes
References
^ abc"송일국" [Song Il-kook]. Naver People (in Korean). Retrieved 2011-08-06.
^"Jumong's Song Il-gook As Most Impressive Second-Generation Celebrity". HanCinema. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
^"Drama star becomes honorary citizen of Tongyeong". HanCinema. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
^" Welcome to Triathlon Korea Website ". Archived from the original on 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
^"Song Il-gook 'From Jumong to iron man, triple attempt'". HanCinema. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
^"South Korea Olympic Torch Relay". HanCinema.
^"[ChanMi's drama news] Song Il-gook's profile picture of Choi Jeong-won drawn personally!". HanCinema. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
^Kolon Christmas Photo Shoot on YouTube
^"March 21 is Song Il-gook Day in Hawaii". HanCinema. 2009-03-17. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
^"Song Il-gook to meet Kazakhstan president today". HanCinema. 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
^"A-listers at Song Il-gook's wedding « POPSEOUL!". Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
^"Song Il-gook Weds Traditional Style". HanCinema. 2008-03-14. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
^Hyeoun, Hwa Yeong (2012-03-17). "송일국 "세 쌍둥이 아빠 됐다"".
^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)
^ abcd"공연의 모든 것 - 플레이DB - 송일국" [Everything in the show - PlayDB - Song Il-gook]. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
^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. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-14 – via Naver.
^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.
^"[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.
^"[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.
^"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.
^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.
^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.
^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.
^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.
^"[한국세정신문] [납세자의날]'주몽'도 성실한 납세자 -국무총리표창 수상 연예인 송일국 씨". www.taxtimes.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-10-29.
^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.
^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.
^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.
^ [2011 Popular Culture and Arts Awards]. Korea Creative Content Agency (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2020-07-12. Retrieved 2021-05-31.