Song Hye Kyo
Encyclopedia
Song Hye-kyo is a South Korea
n model
and actress. She gained popularity through television dramas
such as Autumn in My Heart (2000), All In (2003), Full House
(2004), and The World That They Live In
(2008).
.
Smart (a school uniform
company) when she was finishing her third year in junior high school. It was not long until she starred in her first drama
, Merry Morning. Since then, she would continue to star in a string of various dramas and sitcoms but it wasn't until the KBS drama Autumn in My Heart in 2000 with Song Seung-hun and Won Bin
that she rose to fame throughout Asia.
In 2003, her popularity continued to climb when she played a leading role alongside Lee Byung-hun
in the gambling drama All In. The following year, she co-starred with singer Rain in the hit romantic comedy series Full House
.
After the pan-Asian success of Full House
, she made her big-screen debut in My Girl and I
(a Korean adaptation of Crying Out Love in the Center of the World
She returned to acting in 2007, as the kisaeng
Hwang Jini in the film adaptation of wang Jin Yi "Hwangjini only held one man in her heart"] A year later, she made her American debut in the Hollywood indie Make Yourself at Home (formerly titled Fetish), a psychological thriller about a girl who was born to a shaman mother and tries to flee her fate by becoming an immigrant bride in the U.S.
She made her TV comeback in late 2008 with The World That They Live In
, a series set at a broadcast station in which Song and Hyun Bin
play drama PDs who work together and fall in love.
In 2010, she starred in Camellia, an omnibus pic made up of three feature films directed by three Asian directors. Each episode is set in the past, present and future of the city of Busan
, Korea. In the film's final segment Love for Sale, Song and Kang Dong-won
play former lovers who forget their memories about each other which later leads them to a fatal destiny.
Chinese director John Woo
announced Song's casting in his film 1949, but the project was cancelled. Wong Kar-wai
then cast her in a supporting role in his biopic about Bruce Lee
's kung fu master Ip Man. Titled The Grandmasters, Song learned Cantonese and martial arts for the film.
Considered one of Korea's most beautiful woman, in early 2011 Song released the photobook Song Hye-kyo's Moment which was shot by top photographers in Atlanta, New York, Buenos Aires, Patagonia, Paris, the Netherlands and Brazil. In 2010, she was ranked no. 18 among the most beautiful faces in the world by Independent Critics.
She plays a documentary producer who finds the strength to forgive the 17-year-old boy who killed her fiance but instead of redemption finds only greater tragedy in A Reason to Live
(Korean title: Today), which after several delays was released in October 2011. Song was a huge fan of the director and had actively sought her out, and though she had difficulty getting into character, Song said she fell in love with the script and felt her acting had matured. She considers the film "a turning point" in her life.
(Animal Crossing), Roem, McDonalds (Ice Cream), FHM and Vivien Bra.
Song has been in highly publicized relationships with two of her leading men. She started dating Lee Byung-hun
while filming All In
in 2003. Their relationship and subsequent break-up in 2004 generated much media attention and gossip. The experience taught her to draw a clear line between private and public life, saying in a 2008 Dong-A Ilbo
interview, "The viewers suddenly learned, while in the midst of watching a drama I was acting in, that I was somebody’s girlfriend. In the end, this was an obstacle and only served to create a sense of dislike among viewers." In another interview for Fuji TV
, Song was asked about her first love and fans speculated that she was obliquely referring to Lee.
Song kept in touch with Hyun Bin
after The World That They Live In
ended, but it was their separation while Hyun was filming Friend, Our Legend in Busan
that made them realize they were in love. They announced their dating status in June 2009. In March 2011 mere hours after Hyun's military enlistment, his and Song's agencies confirmed speculation that the couple had broken up. According to the joint press release, "Both have been very busy shooting films and dramas both in and out of Korea, which inevitably caused them to grow apart." With rumors of their separation circulating since late 2010, the agencies said the two split up in early 2011 but wanted to keep it secret for the time being "because neither of them wanted the public attention to be directed on their split instead of their professional work. Hyun also did not want a personal issue to interfere with his last days with his fans before starting his military service."
Asked about the aftereffects of her two romantic relationships that caught the public's attention, Song said in October 2011, "I think the time when I felt uncomfortable about living under a microscope has gone. I'm no longer afraid of such things. What I did was typical of any woman my age. In fact, I haven't had any time to feel lonely."
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
and actress. She gained popularity through television dramas
Korean drama
Korean drama refers to televised dramas, in a miniseries format, produced in the Korean language. Many of these dramas have become popular throughout Asia and have contributed to the general phenomenon of the Korean wave, known as "Hallyu", and also "Drama Fever" in some countries...
such as Autumn in My Heart (2000), All In (2003), Full House
Full House (Korean drama)
Full House is a 16-episode South Korean television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2004. It based on the manhwa of the same name by Woon Soo-yoon....
(2004), and The World That They Live In
The World That They Live In
The World That They Live In , is a 2008 Korean drama starring Song Hye-kyo and Hyun Bin; and directed by Pyo Min-soo. It was first broadcast on KBS2 from 27 October 2008 to 16 December 2008. This marked the return to the small screen in fours years for Song and two years for Hyun Bin, since The...
(2008).
.
Career
Song debuted in the entertainment industry in 1996 when she won the Grand Prize in SunKyungSK Group
SK Group is the third largest conglomerate in South Korea. The SK Group is composed of 92 subsidiary and affiliate companies that share the SK brand and culture....
Smart (a school uniform
School uniform
A school uniform is an outfit—a set of standardized clothes—worn primarily for an educational institution. They are common in primary and secondary schools in various countries . When used, they form the basis of a school's dress code.Traditionally school uniforms have been largely subdued and...
company) when she was finishing her third year in junior high school. It was not long until she starred in her first drama
Korean drama
Korean drama refers to televised dramas, in a miniseries format, produced in the Korean language. Many of these dramas have become popular throughout Asia and have contributed to the general phenomenon of the Korean wave, known as "Hallyu", and also "Drama Fever" in some countries...
, Merry Morning. Since then, she would continue to star in a string of various dramas and sitcoms but it wasn't until the KBS drama Autumn in My Heart in 2000 with Song Seung-hun and Won Bin
Won Bin
Won Bin is a top South Korean actor and model.- Early life and beginnings :Won was born and raised in a hamlet in the north of Jeongseon in Gangwon-do, South Korea. He is the fifth and youngest child, with one brother and three sisters. His father was formerly employed in a mine and his mother...
that she rose to fame throughout Asia.
In 2003, her popularity continued to climb when she played a leading role alongside Lee Byung-hun
Lee Byung-Hun
Lee Byung-hun is a South Korean actor, singer and model. He has starred in popular television dramas such as Iris , All In and Beautiful Days...
in the gambling drama All In. The following year, she co-starred with singer Rain in the hit romantic comedy series Full House
Full House (Korean drama)
Full House is a 16-episode South Korean television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2004. It based on the manhwa of the same name by Woon Soo-yoon....
.
After the pan-Asian success of Full House
Full House (Korean drama)
Full House is a 16-episode South Korean television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2004. It based on the manhwa of the same name by Woon Soo-yoon....
, she made her big-screen debut in My Girl and I
My Girl and I
My Girl and I is a 2005 South Korean film directed by Jeon Yun-su. It is a remake of the Japanese film Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World, which itself is based on the novel Socrates in Love by Kyoichi Katayama.-Plot:...
(a Korean adaptation of Crying Out Love in the Center of the World
She returned to acting in 2007, as the kisaeng
Kisaeng
Kisaeng , sometimes called ginyeo , were female Korean official prostitute or entertainers. Kisaeng are artists who work to entertain others, such as the yangbans and kings....
Hwang Jini in the film adaptation of wang Jin Yi "Hwangjini only held one man in her heart"] A year later, she made her American debut in the Hollywood indie Make Yourself at Home (formerly titled Fetish), a psychological thriller about a girl who was born to a shaman mother and tries to flee her fate by becoming an immigrant bride in the U.S.
She made her TV comeback in late 2008 with The World That They Live In
The World That They Live In
The World That They Live In , is a 2008 Korean drama starring Song Hye-kyo and Hyun Bin; and directed by Pyo Min-soo. It was first broadcast on KBS2 from 27 October 2008 to 16 December 2008. This marked the return to the small screen in fours years for Song and two years for Hyun Bin, since The...
, a series set at a broadcast station in which Song and Hyun Bin
Hyun Bin
Hyun Bin is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his lead roles in the dramas My Name is Kim Sam Soon in 2005, and Secret Garden in 2010.-Career:...
play drama PDs who work together and fall in love.
In 2010, she starred in Camellia, an omnibus pic made up of three feature films directed by three Asian directors. Each episode is set in the past, present and future of the city of Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
, Korea. In the film's final segment Love for Sale, Song and Kang Dong-won
Kang Dong-won
Kang Dong Won is a South Korean film and television actor.-Career:Born in Busan, Kang's family moved to Changwon when he was 7 years old. While studying Mechanical Engineering at Hanyang University, he was spotted on the streets by a modeling agent in 2000...
play former lovers who forget their memories about each other which later leads them to a fatal destiny.
Chinese director John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
announced Song's casting in his film 1949, but the project was cancelled. Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai BBS is a Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized, emotionally resonant work, including Days of Being Wild , Ashes of Time , Chungking Express , Fallen Angels , Happy Together and 2046...
then cast her in a supporting role in his biopic about Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
's kung fu master Ip Man. Titled The Grandmasters, Song learned Cantonese and martial arts for the film.
Considered one of Korea's most beautiful woman, in early 2011 Song released the photobook Song Hye-kyo's Moment which was shot by top photographers in Atlanta, New York, Buenos Aires, Patagonia, Paris, the Netherlands and Brazil. In 2010, she was ranked no. 18 among the most beautiful faces in the world by Independent Critics.
She plays a documentary producer who finds the strength to forgive the 17-year-old boy who killed her fiance but instead of redemption finds only greater tragedy in A Reason to Live
A Reason to Live (2011 film)
A Reason to Live is a 2011 South Korean film by Lee Jeong-Hyang. It stars Song Hye-kyo as Da-Hae, a director who forgives a teenage boy for killing her fiancé, and Song Chang-ui as Sang-Ho...
(Korean title: Today), which after several delays was released in October 2011. Song was a huge fan of the director and had actively sought her out, and though she had difficulty getting into character, Song said she fell in love with the script and felt her acting had matured. She considers the film "a turning point" in her life.
Endorsements
Song is one of the most in-demand product endorsers in Korea and has done many TV commercials and print ads over the years. She has been a spokesperson for popular brands such as Laneige, Levi's (Lady style), Etude, Whitea, Aritaum, Innisfree, Nintendo DSNintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
(Animal Crossing), Roem, McDonalds (Ice Cream), FHM and Vivien Bra.
Personal life
When Song was born, she was sick and her parents and doctor thought she would not survive. Miraculously she did and her parents only registered her birth on February 26, 1982 (instead of her actual birthdate). She has no siblings. Her hobbies are ice skating, swimming, and playing the piano.Song has been in highly publicized relationships with two of her leading men. She started dating Lee Byung-hun
Lee Byung-Hun
Lee Byung-hun is a South Korean actor, singer and model. He has starred in popular television dramas such as Iris , All In and Beautiful Days...
while filming All In
All In
All In is a South Korean television drama series broadcast by SBS in 2003, starring Lee Byung-hun and Song Hye-kyo. The fierce competition in the casino world is thoroughly seen through this drama, as the ambitions of two men clash with each other: for money, success, and love...
in 2003. Their relationship and subsequent break-up in 2004 generated much media attention and gossip. The experience taught her to draw a clear line between private and public life, saying in a 2008 Dong-A Ilbo
Dong-a Ilbo
The Dong-a Ilbo is one of three major South Korean newspapers with over 2 million daily circulation...
interview, "The viewers suddenly learned, while in the midst of watching a drama I was acting in, that I was somebody’s girlfriend. In the end, this was an obstacle and only served to create a sense of dislike among viewers." In another interview for Fuji TV
Fuji Television
is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
, Song was asked about her first love and fans speculated that she was obliquely referring to Lee.
Song kept in touch with Hyun Bin
Hyun Bin
Hyun Bin is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his lead roles in the dramas My Name is Kim Sam Soon in 2005, and Secret Garden in 2010.-Career:...
after The World That They Live In
The World That They Live In
The World That They Live In , is a 2008 Korean drama starring Song Hye-kyo and Hyun Bin; and directed by Pyo Min-soo. It was first broadcast on KBS2 from 27 October 2008 to 16 December 2008. This marked the return to the small screen in fours years for Song and two years for Hyun Bin, since The...
ended, but it was their separation while Hyun was filming Friend, Our Legend in Busan
Busan
Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...
that made them realize they were in love. They announced their dating status in June 2009. In March 2011 mere hours after Hyun's military enlistment, his and Song's agencies confirmed speculation that the couple had broken up. According to the joint press release, "Both have been very busy shooting films and dramas both in and out of Korea, which inevitably caused them to grow apart." With rumors of their separation circulating since late 2010, the agencies said the two split up in early 2011 but wanted to keep it secret for the time being "because neither of them wanted the public attention to be directed on their split instead of their professional work. Hyun also did not want a personal issue to interfere with his last days with his fans before starting his military service."
Asked about the aftereffects of her two romantic relationships that caught the public's attention, Song said in October 2011, "I think the time when I felt uncomfortable about living under a microscope has gone. I'm no longer afraid of such things. What I did was typical of any woman my age. In fact, I haven't had any time to feel lonely."
Drama
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Merry Morning (KBS) | |
| First Love First Love (drama) First Love is a 66-episode television drama produced and broadcast by KBS2 between September 1996 and January 1997 on Thursday nights. It stars popular actors Bae Yong Joon and Choi Su Jong.-Synopsis:... (KBS) |
Jung-ah | |
| 1998 | Six Siblings (MBC) | |
| One of a Pair (SBS) | ||
| Marching (SBS) | ||
| Deadly Eyes (SBS) | ||
| White Nights 3.98 (SBS) | ||
| How Am I? (SBS) | ||
| 1999 | Sweet Bride (SBS) | |
| Soonpoong Clinic (SBS) | Oh Hye-gyo | |
| 2000 | Autumn in My Heart (KBS) | Yoon/Choi Eun-seo |
| 2001 | Guardian Angel Guardian Angel (TV series) Guardian Angel is a South Korean drama series under the production and broadcast of SBS in 2001.-Story:A young lady named Da-so has a friend who was pregnant but hit by a vehicular accident. After her friend died from a vehicular accident and giving birth to her friend’s daughter, Dolly took her... (SBS) |
Jung Da-so |
| Hotelier (MBC) | Kim Yoon-hee | |
| 2003 | All In (SBS) | Min Su-yeon |
| Sunlight Pours Down Sunlight Pours Down -Details:*Title: 햇빛 쏟아지다 / Haetbit Ssodajida*Also Known As: Sunshine of Love / Sunlight Pours Down / Rays of Sunshine / Sunshine / Shining Days*Episodes: 16*Broadcasted by: SBS*Broadcast year: 2004... (SBS) |
Ji Yeon-woo | |
| 2004 | Full House Full House (Korean drama) Full House is a 16-episode South Korean television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2004. It based on the manhwa of the same name by Woon Soo-yoon.... (KBS) |
Han Ji-eun |
| 2008 | The World That They Live In The World That They Live In The World That They Live In , is a 2008 Korean drama starring Song Hye-kyo and Hyun Bin; and directed by Pyo Min-soo. It was first broadcast on KBS2 from 27 October 2008 to 16 December 2008. This marked the return to the small screen in fours years for Song and two years for Hyun Bin, since The... (KBS) |
Joo Joon-young |
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | My Girl and I My Girl and I My Girl and I is a 2005 South Korean film directed by Jeon Yun-su. It is a remake of the Japanese film Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World, which itself is based on the novel Socrates in Love by Kyoichi Katayama.-Plot:... |
Bae Su-eun |
| 2007 | Hwang Jin Yi Hwang Jin Yi (film) Hwang Jin Yi is a 2007 South Korean film based on the life of Joseon-era kisaeng Hwang Jin-i, starring Song Hye-kyo in the title role.- Plot summary :The story follows Hwang Jin Yi, a gisaeng who lived in 16th century Korea... |
Hwang Jini |
| 2008 | Make Yourself at Home | Sookhy |
| 2010 | Camellia - "Love for Sale" | Bo-ra |
| 2011 | A Reason to Live A Reason to Live (2011 film) A Reason to Live is a 2011 South Korean film by Lee Jeong-Hyang. It stars Song Hye-kyo as Da-Hae, a director who forgives a teenage boy for killing her fiancé, and Song Chang-ui as Sang-Ho... |
Da-hye |
| 2012 | The Grandmasters The Grandmasters The Grandmasters is an upcoming Hong Kong action drama film based on the life story of Wing Chun grandmaster Yip Man. The film is directed and written by Wong Kar-wai and stars Tony Leung as Yip Man.-Cast:* Tony Leung as Yip Man* Zhang Ziyi... |
|
Music Video
| Year | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "This Promise" | Kim Soo Keun |
| 2000 | "Curious Destiny" | Shin Sung Woo |
| 2001 | "Once Upon a Day" | Kim Bum Soo Kim Bum Soo Kim Bum Soo born January 26, 1979, is a South Korean R&B and soul singer famous for his smooth vocals and emotive ballads.... |
Variety Show MC
- M.net Music Video Festival (2001) (with Cha Tae Hyun)
- Music BankMusic Bank (TV series)Music Bank is a South Korean music television program broadcast by Korean Broadcasting System, KBS. It airs live every Friday at 6:10 PM KST. It is currently hosted by guest MCs...
(KBS, 2000) - Saturday (SBS, 1998) (with Park Soo Hong)
Awards
- 2007 Korean Film AwardsKorean Film AwardsThe Korean Film Award is a South Korean film awards ceremony hosted by the MBC.-Awards:The categories are*Best Film*Best Director*Best New Director*Best Leading Actor*Best Leading Actress*Best Supporting Actor*Best Supporting Actress...
: Best New Actress (Hwang Jin YiHwang Jin Yi (film)Hwang Jin Yi is a 2007 South Korean film based on the life of Joseon-era kisaeng Hwang Jin-i, starring Song Hye-kyo in the title role.- Plot summary :The story follows Hwang Jin Yi, a gisaeng who lived in 16th century Korea...
) - 2004 KBS Drama Awards: Best Actress, Top Excellence (Full HouseFull House (Korean drama)Full House is a 16-episode South Korean television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2004. It based on the manhwa of the same name by Woon Soo-yoon....
) - 2004 KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Full HouseFull House (Korean drama)Full House is a 16-episode South Korean television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2004. It based on the manhwa of the same name by Woon Soo-yoon....
) - 2004 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple with Rain (Full HouseFull House (Korean drama)Full House is a 16-episode South Korean television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2004. It based on the manhwa of the same name by Woon Soo-yoon....
) - 2003 SBS Drama Awards: Best Actress, Top Excellence (All In)
- 2003 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars (All In)
- 2002 China Entertainment TV Awards: Top 10 Asian Entertainers
- 2001 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars (Guardian AngelGuardian Angel (TV series)Guardian Angel is a South Korean drama series under the production and broadcast of SBS in 2001.-Story:A young lady named Da-so has a friend who was pregnant but hit by a vehicular accident. After her friend died from a vehicular accident and giving birth to her friend’s daughter, Dolly took her...
) - 2001 Paeksang Arts AwardsPaekSang Arts AwardsPaekSang Arts Awards, also known as BaekSang Arts Awards, is an awards ceremony held annually by IS PLUS Corp, since 1965. It is to honour outstanding achievements in the South Korean entertainment industry and to garner public attention upon the best in Korean films and dramas...
: Popularity Award (TV category) - 2001 Golden Disk AwardsGolden Disk AwardsThe Golden Disk Awards is an awards show founded in 1986 that is presented annually by the Music Industry Association of Korea for outstanding achievements in the music industry in South Korea...
: Popular Music Video Award (Kim Bum SooKim Bum SooKim Bum Soo born January 26, 1979, is a South Korean R&B and soul singer famous for his smooth vocals and emotive ballads....
's Once Upon a Day) - 2001 Gold Song Awards (Hong Kong): Top Korean Star
- 2000 KBS Drama Awards: Photogenic Award (Autumn in My Heart)
- 2000 KBS Drama Awards: Popularity Award (Autumn in My Heart)
- 1998 SBS Drama Awards: Best New Actor/Actress (Soonpoong Clinic)
- 1996 First Prize for SunKyung Smart Model Contest