Song Seung-heon (; born October 5, 1976) is a South Korean model and actor. He has acted in various television dramas, notably Autumn in My Heart (2000), East of Eden (2008), My Princess (2011), Black (2017), Player (2018), The Great Show (2019), and Dinner Mate (2020).
Career 1995–2004: Beginnings and Pan-asia stardom Song Seung-heon began his career in 1995 as a model for the jeans brand 292513=STORM, and first became known to viewers in the popular sitcom Three Guys, Three Girls in 1996. The following year he debuted as an actor. His feature film debut came in 1999 in the film Calla co-starring Kim Hee-sun.
True stardom came to Song in late 2000, with the broadcast of the hugely popular TV drama Autumn in My Heart. The romantic melodrama series was a ratings success, pioneering a trend in Korean melodramatic series and launching a fever that is commonly referred to as the "Korean Wave" and leading to Song becoming a Hallyu star. Since then he has been actively recruited for film roles and advertisements in Japan, Hong Kong and other Asian countries.
In 2002, Song starred in the action comedy Make It Big by director Cho Ui-seok, and also in the Hong Kong film So Close with actresses Karen Mok, Shu Qi and Zhao Wei.
Song further solidified his status as a Hallyu (Korean Wave) star in 2003 with Summer Scent, co-starring Son Ye-jin. The series is the third "season-themed" Yoon Seok-ho TV drama after Autumn in My Heart and Winter Sonata, but did not become as popular as the ones that preceded it.
In 2004, Song appeared in two films, but neither was a success: Ice Rain, shot in the Canadian Rockies, failed to enthuse viewers with its mixture of mountaineering and melodrama, while He Was Cool, based on an internet novel by Guiyeoni, was unable to compete with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and other films from the 2004 summer season.
2005–2007: Enlistment and scandal Meanwhile, in late 2004, just as he was getting ready to start shooting another high-profile TV drama Sad Love Story, it was revealed that the actor had illegally avoided his compulsory military service by submitting tainted urine samples that suggested he was suffering from certain illnesses and was thus unfit for the army. Amidst the press coverage and scandal this aroused, Song agreed to immediately serve his two-year term in the military. Song was discharged on November 15, 2006, with the rank of corporal, to much fanfare and media attention. For a time he kept a low profile, trying to gauge public opinion on his return to the entertainment world.
2008–2013: Comeback For his comeback, Song took on a tough image, playing aggressive and masculine roles in the 2008 drama East of Eden, which he won the "Daesang" (Grand Prize) for at the MBC Drama Awards. He also starred in the action film Fate, and the 2010 remake A Better Tomorrow.
His popularity in Japan continued, and in 2010 he starred in Ghost remake Ghost: In Your Arms Again with Matsushima Nanako.
In 2011, Song starred in My Princess opposite Kim Tae-hee, his first romantic comedy. He considers the series a turning point in his career, saying, "Previously, I took on characters living a life full of ups and downs. For me, Hae-young was the first character that was so rich, bright and cheerful. I felt much lighter while acting the character."
His 30-minute short film Lucid Dreaming, helmed by director Chang of 2008 feature Death Bell, was shot particularly for his fans in China and Japan and released on DVD in early 2012.Ko, Kyoung-seok (5 October 2011). "Song Seung-heon to shoot short film for Asia fans" . 10Asia.
Based on the original comic by Motoka Murakami and previously dramatized in Japan, in 2012's Dr. Jin Song played the titular smart and cold-hearted surgeon who takes a journey back through time to the late 19th century Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). He then played a cold-hearted loan shark and gangster who morphs into a successful businessman for his love in 2013 melodrama When a Man Falls in Love.
2014–present: Mature roles In 2014, Song starred in Kim Dae-woo's erotic period film Obsessed. Set in 1969 at the end of the Vietnam War, he played a high-ranking officer suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who falls into an obsessive love affair with his subordinate's wife.
In 2015, he starred in the Chinese romantic melodrama The Third Way of Love, followed by family comedy Wonderful Nightmare. Song was next cast as a fighter pilot in his second Chinese project, World War II film Air Strike. He is also set to star in the film Man of Will, portraying a cruel and cold-hearted prison director.
Back on the Korean screen in 2017, Song starred opposite Lee Young-ae in period drama Saimdang, Memoir of Colors, about the Joseon artist and calligrapher Shin Saimdang; Song played a fictional character, an aristocrat and painter who has loved the heroine since childhood. The same year, he was cast in the fantasy thriller drama Black alongside Go Ara, playing the role of a grim reaper. Song reunited with Black director Ko Jae-hyun in another OCN drama Player in 2018, playing the role of a con-artist.
In 2019, Song starred in the political family comedy drama The Great Show. In April 2019, Song signed with new agency King Kong by Starship.
In 2020, Song starred in the romance drama Dinner Mate as a psychiatrist.
In 2021, Song took the role as the main lead in the fourth season of Voice.
Other activities In 2009, he founded his own management agency, Storm S Company (later renamed Better ENT, now majority-owned by KOSDAQ-listed Signal Entertainment Group). It currently manages actors Kim Min-jung, Chae Jung-an, and Goo Jae-yi. Song also owns the Sinsa-dong branch of Italian restaurant chain Blacksmith, launched by Caffe Bene.
In 2011, Song was named PR ambassador for cultural sharing by the Korea Foundation. His role was to promote Korean language, food and other cultural heritages overseas. In 2015, he was named as a promotional ambassador for the National Tax Service.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 Calla Kim Sun-woo 2002 Make It Big Seong-hwan So Close Yen Hong Kong film2004 Ice Rain Han Woo-sung He Was Cool Ji Eun-sung 2008Fate Kim Woo-min2010A Better Tomorrow Lee Young-choonGhost: In Your Arms Again Kim Jun-ho Japanese film 2012 Lucid Dreaming Short film 2014 Obsessed Kim Jin-pyeong2015 Wonderful Nightmare Sung-hwan The Third Way of Love Lin Qizheng Chinese film 2017Man of Will Kang Hyung-sik 2018 Air Strike An Ming Xun / An Ming He Chinese film 2024Hidden FaceSung-jin
Television Year Title Role Notes 1996–1999 Three Guys and Three Girls Song Seung-heon 1997 Beautiful Lady Lee Min-hyuk1997–1998 You and I Park Min-kyu 1998 WinnersJung Min-soo 1999 Happy Together Seo Ji-suk Love Story Joon-sungepisode 2: "Message"2000 Popcorn Lee Young-hoon Autumn in My Heart Yoon Joon-seo 2001 Law Firm Jung Young-woong 2003 Summer Scent Yoo Min-woo 2008 East of Eden Lee Dong-chul 2011 My Princess Park Hae-young 2012 Dr. Jin Jin Hyuk 2013 When a Man Falls in Love Han Tae-sang2017 Saimdang, Memoir of Colors Lee Gyeom Black Han Moo-gang (Detective) / Black (Grim Reaper #444) 2018–2024 Player Kang Ha-ri Season 1–2 2019 The Great Show Wi Dae-han 2020 Dinner Mate Kim Hae-kyeong 2021 Voice Derek JoSeason 4 2023 Black Knight Ryu Seok 2025My Troublesome StarDokgo Cheol
Web shows Year Title Role Notes 2022 Saturday Night Live Korea Host Episode 1 – Season 3
Music videos Year Song Title Artist 2001 "Once Upon a Day" Kim Bum-soo 2005 "Sad Love Story" Yoon Gun 2008 "I Miss You" SG Wannabe
Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details, and track listing Title Album details Track listing First AlbumReleased: December 7, 2004 Label: ESJ Entertainment
Singles Soundtrack appearances + List of singles, with year, and album Title Year Album "Even After Ten Years" () 2005 Sad Love Story OST "For You" () "As Time Goes By" () 2008 East of Eden OST "Last Love" () 2012 Dr. Jin OST
Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Andre Kim Best Star Awards 2009 Male Star Award Song Seung-heon Baeksang Arts Awards 1998 Most Popular Actor – Television You and I 2009 Best Actor – Television East of Eden Blue Dragon Film Awards 1999 Best New Actor Calla 2014 Popular Star Award Obsessed China Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards 2012 Asia's Most Charming Artist Song Seung-heon KBS Drama Awards 2000 Top Excellence Award, ActorAutumn in My Heart Popularity Award Photogenic Award 2003 Netizen Award, ActorSummer Scent Best Couple AwardSong Seung-heon with Son Ye-jinSummer Scent KCA Consumer Day Awards 2019 Best Drama Actor Player KMTV 1997 Best New Actor Song Seung-heon Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards 2009 Grand Prize (Daesang) in a TV Drama East of Eden MBC Drama Awards 2008 Grand Prize (Daesang) East of Eden Top Excellence Award, Actor Popularity Award, Actor Best Couple Award Song Seung-heon with Lee Yeon-hee East of Eden 2011 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries My Princess Popularity Award, Actor Best Couple Award Song Seung-heon with Kim Tae-hee My Princess 2012 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Dr. Jin Popularity Award, Actor 2013 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries When a Man Falls in Love Popularity Award, Actor Best Couple Award Song Seung-heon with Shin Se-kyung When a Man Falls in Love 2020 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Miniseries / Short Drama Dinner Mate Best Couple Award Song Seung-heon with Seo Ji-hye Dinner Mate Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Content Industry Awards 2010 Distinguished Hallyu Entertainer Award of Merit (co-winner with Girls' Generation) Song Seung-heon SBS Drama Awards 1998 Popularity Award, Actor Winners 1999 Netizen Popularity AwardHappy Together Top 10 Stars 2001 Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special Law Firm Top 10 Stars 2017 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama Saimdang, Memoir of Colors Seoul International Drama Awards 2011Outstanding Korean Actor My Princess 2021 Dinner Mate Style Icon Asia 2016 Top 10 Style Icons Song Seung-heon
State honors + Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given Organization Year Award Taxpayers' Day 2010 Exemplary Taxpayer Citation 2015 Presidential Commendation
References
External links 공식 홈페이지