# Han Suk-kyu

Han Suk-kyu (Korean: 한석규; born November 3, 1964) is a South Korean actor. One of the leading actors of Korean cinema, he rose to prominence in the 1990s with a string of critically acclaimed films, including Green Fish (1997), No. 3 (1997), The Contact (1997), Christmas in August (1998), and the action thriller Shiri (1999), which was a major box office success and marked a turning point for the Korean film industry. Following this successful period, Han took a hiatus from acting due to a herniated disc.
Upon his return, Han re-established himself as a versatile actor with roles in both film and television. His notable later works include the historical drama Deep Rooted Tree (2011), the espionage thriller The Berlin File (2013), and the crime drama The Prison (2017). He is also well known for his portrayal of Teacher Kim in the popular medical drama Dr. Romantic (2016–2023). In addition, he appeared in the thriller series Watcher (2019) and the psychological drama Doubt (2024).

## Career
### 1990–1994: Early work and breakthrough

While a student at the Theater and Film department of Dongguk University, he sang in an amateur folk rock band. He took a brief, year-long contract as voice actor at KBS, before moving on to TV and film acting.
After a debut in the 1990 MBC campus drama Our Paradise, Han rose to stardom as "Hong-shik" in The Moon of Seoul (1994), a charming gigolo from the slums determined to attain wealth at all cost in the big city. "Choon-seop", an old friend from hometown played by Choi Min-sik, struggles hopelessly to stop "Hong-shik" from his self-ruin. The partnership of Han and Choi as uneasy allies or foes, parlayed into two flagship films of the 1990s: No. 3 and Shiri. Both the series and "Hong-shik" character have since become beloved icons, as part of the Korean television's golden era before the advent of Korean Wave.

### 1995–1999: Prominence

Before the end of the 20th century, Han headlined films that were critically acclaimed (Green Fish, No. 3) and commercially successful (The Contact, Christmas in August, Shiri — the latter two making particular impact in Japan).
Han's experience in the early stages of Korean cinema renaissance in the 1990s, cemented his belief in a script-driven model for movie-making. Thus the founding of "Makdong Script Festival" (named after his role in Green Fish), with co-sponsor film magazine Cine 21. Winners may claim two cash prizes funded by Han, with the potential to launch directing careers based from their own scripts. The annual contest is now extant over 10 years, with two titles produced so far: the comedy 2424 (2002) and Private Eye (2009) starring Hwang Jung-min.

### 2000–2010: Hiatus and career fluctuations

Han went into an extended hiatus in 1999 declining several lucrative opportunities with name directors as he suffered disc problem.
Han returned in 2003 with espionage film Double Agent. The film, which netted one million admissions, was seen as a failure for a star labeled by the media as "box office guarantee." This was followed by a sizable backlash from netizens and the press, who rushed to bury the co-self-produced spy thriller as the public disgrace of a former golden boy.
His press and image took further beating in the next two, even more polarizing films: the unforeseen tragedy surrounding The Scarlet Letter, and the incendiary political content of The President's Last Bang. Nonetheless, these controversial works screened at Cannes, and were featured in a tribute to the actor at the Austrian FilmAsia festival.
Despite this rocky return to feature films, Han remains well regarded by such major directors as Park Chan-wook, Lee Joon-ik, Kang Woo-suk and Jang Jin. Compared to his peak popularity in the 90s, his work may seem an acquired taste for general audiences, although some cult following ensued for his ultra-sadistic turn in A Bloody Aria.
He remained self-managed until as late as 2006, before joining the KM Culture agency due to increased regimentation of the industry. Making 2006 a busy year, Han starred in period sex comedy Forbidden Quest, followed by black comedy film A Bloody Aria and melodrama film Solace. Stylish thrillers followed, where Han starred alongside Cha Seung-won in Eye for an Eye and Son Ye-jin in the adaptation of Keigo Higashino novel of White Night. Han then starred in Villain and Widow with Kim Hye-soo.

### 2011–2015: Resurgence and return to small screen

Han returned to the spotlight with his performance in historical drama Deep Rooted Tree, where his performance of King Sejong earned him the Grand Award at the 2011 SBS Drama Awards.
In 2013, Han starred in the action thriller film The Berlin File, playing a South Korean agent. He then starred in musical film My Paparotti, playing a music teacher who is stuck in a rut until he meets a delinquent teenager.
He returned to the small screen in the historical drama Secret Door, playing King Yeongjo. This was followed by period film The Royal Tailor, about a rivalry between two tailors at the Sanguiwon. However, both projects were less successful.

### 2016–present: Established actor

Han bounced back with the hit medical drama Dr. Romantic, written by acclaimed screenwriter Kang Eun-kyung. The drama garnered over 20% viewership ratings, and Han received positive reviews for his performance. He also won the Grand Prize (Daesang) Award at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards.
Han returned to the big screen in crime drama film The Prison. Han is slated to star in upcoming thrillers Idol and Father's War, and period drama film Astronomy.
In 2019, Han starred in OCN's thriller drama Watcher as a detective.
In 2020, Han reprised his role of Teacher Kim in Dr. Romantic 2.

## Image and influence

Known for his distinctive voice and diction, Han has been a long-time mentor to Kam Woo-sung, including coaching the latter's enunciation for his film debut in Marriage is a Crazy Thing. Actors of the younger generation also continue to cite him as an influence; among them: Hwang Jung-min, Ryoo Seung-bum, Kim Myung-min, Kim Joo-hyuk of Blue Swallow, Kim Ji-soo of This Charming Girl, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (who famously began a second career in Korea after seeing Han in Shiri), Rain, Lee Sung-jae of Barking Dogs Never Bite, TV heartthrob Lee Jin-wook, and the current darling of independent films, Im Ji-kyu. He also remains well respected among major peers for his distinctive style (a cerebral and intricate minimalism driven by semantics and implosive restraint): Kim Hye-soo, Song Kang-ho, Oh Dal-su (especially for their collaboration in Forbidden Quest and A Bloody Aria), Sul Kyung-gu, and Choi Min-sik.
For his part, Han has cited influences by legendary Korean actor Kim Seung-ho, Al Pacino, Ken Takakura, The Godfather trilogy, and Hayao Miyazaki.

## Personal life

On November 22, 1998, Han married KBS 21st voice actor Im Myung-ju, whom he dated from the days of the KBS Voice Actor Association. The couple have two sons and two daughters.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Mom, the Star, and the Sea Anemone | | Special appearance |
| 1995 | Doctor Bong | Bong Joon-soo | |
| 1996 | The Ginkgo Bed | Soo-hyeon/Jong-moon | |
| 1997 | Green Fish | Kim Mak-dong | |
| 1997 | No. 3 | Seo Tae-ju | |
| 1997 | The Contact | Kwon Dong-hyeon | |
| 1998 | Christmas in August | Jung-won | |
| 1999 | Shiri | Yoo Joong-won | |
| 1999 | Tell Me Something | Detective Jo | |
| 2003 | Double Agent | Rim Byeong-ho | |
| 2004 | The Scarlet Letter | Lee Ki-hoon | |
| 2005 | The President's Last Bang | KCIA Chief Agent Joo | |
| 2005 | Quiz King | Jo Jin-man | |
| 2006 | Forbidden Quest | Kim Yoon-seo | |
| 2006 | A Bloody Aria | Lee Moon-jae | |
| 2006 | Solace | Shim In-gu | |
| 2008 | Eye for an Eye | Baek Seong-chan | |
| 2009 | White Night | Han Dong-soo | |
| 2010 | Villain and Widow | Kang Chang-in | |
| 2013 | The Berlin File | Jeong Jin-soo | |
| 2013 | My Paparotti | Na Sang-jin | |
| 2014 | The Royal Tailor | Jo Dol-seok | |
| 2017 | The Prison | Jung Ik-ho | |
| 2019 | Idol | Goo Myeong-hoe | |
| 2019 | Forbidden Dream | King Sejong | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Our Paradise | Hyun Chul | |
| 1991 | Eyes of Dawn | Young Man from Seobuk | |
| 1992–1993 | Sons and Daughters | Suk Ho | |
| 1993 | Pilot | Park Sang-hyun | |
| 1994 | The Moon of Seoul | Hong Shik | |
| 1994 | Challenge | | |
| 1994 | Kareisky | | |
| 1995 | Hotel | Im Hyung-bin | |
| 2011 | Deep Rooted Tree | Lee Do / King Sejong | |
| 2014 | Secret Door | King Yeongjo | |
| 2016–2023 | Dr. Romantic | Teacher Kim / Boo Yong-joo | Season 1–3 |
| 2019 | Watcher | Do Chi-kwang | |
| 2022 | Recipe for Farewell | Kang Chang-wook | |
| 2024 | Doubt | Jang Tae-su | |
| TBA | When the Day Breaks | | |

## Accolades
### Awards and nominations

Year presented, name of the award ceremony, category, nominated work and the result of the nomination :
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1984 | MBC Gangbyeon Song Festival | Encouragement Award | — | Won |
| 1993 | MBC Drama Awards | Best New Actor | Pilot, Sons and Daughters | Won |
| 1994 | 30th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor (TV) | Sons and Daughters | Nominated |
| 1994 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | The Moon of Seoul | Won |
| 1994 | TV Journal Star of the Year | Excellence Award | The Moon of Seoul | Won |
| 1995 | 31st Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (TV) | The Moon of Seoul | Nominated |
| 1995 | 16th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actor | Doctor Bong | Nominated |
| 1995 | 6th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best New Actor | Doctor Bong | Won |
| 1996 | Cine 21 Awards | Best New Actor | Doctor Bong | Won |
| 1996 | 32nd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor (Film) | Doctor Bong | Won |
| 1996 | 32nd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (Film) | Doctor Bong | Nominated |
| 1996 | 34th Grand Bell Awards | Best New Actor | Doctor Bong | Nominated |
| 1996 | 34th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | The Ginkgo Bed | Nominated |
| 1996 | 17th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actor | The Ginkgo Bed | Nominated |
| 1997 | 18th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actor | Green Fish | Won |
| 1997 | 18th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Popular Star Award | Green Fish, The Contact, No. 3 | Won |
| 1997 | 35th Grand Bell Awards | Popularity Award | Green Fish, The Contact, No. 3 | Won |
| 1997 | 35th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | Green Fish | Won |
| 1997 | 17th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | Green Fish | Won |
| 1997 | 20th Golden Cinematography Awards | Most Popular Actor | Green Fish | Won |
| 1997 | 33rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (Film) | Green Fish | Won |
| 1998 | 1st Director's Cut Awards | Best Actor | Christmas in August | Won |
| 1998 | 3rd Women Viewers Film Awards [ko] | Best Actor | Christmas in August | Won |
| 1998 | 34th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (Film) | Christmas in August | Nominated |
| 1998 | 19th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actor | Christmas in August | Nominated |
| 1998 | 19th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Popular Star Awards | Christmas in August | Won |
| 1998 | Cine 21 Awards | Best Actor | Christmas in August | Won |
| 1999 | 7th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | Best Actor | Shiri, Tell Me Something | Won |
| 1999 | 20th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actor | Tell Me Something | Nominated |
| 1999 | 20th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Popular Star Awards | Shiri | Won |
| 1999 | 36th Grand Bell Awards | Popularity Award | Christmas in August | Won |
| 1999 | 36th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | Christmas in August | Nominated |
| 1999 | 1st Asian Film Critics Association Awardsr | Best Actor | Christmas in August | Nominated |
| 1999 | 35th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (Film) | Shiri | Nominated |
| 2000 | 37th Grand Bell Awards | Popularity Award | Tell Me Something | Won |
| 2004 | 25th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actor | The Scarlet Letter | Nominated |
| 2004 | 6th Asian Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actor | The Scarlet Letter | Nominated |
| 2005 | 41st Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (Film) | The President's Last Bang | Nominated |
| 2006 | 5th Korean Film Awards | Best Actor | Forbidden Quest | Nominated |
| 2008 | 17th Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | Eye for an Eye | Nominated |
| 2011 | SBS Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Deep Rooted Tree | Won |
| 2011 | SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special | Deep Rooted Tree | Nominated |
| 2011 | SBS Drama Awards | Top 10 Stars | Deep Rooted Tree | Won |
| 2012 | 48th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (TV) | Deep Rooted Tree | Nominated |
| 2012 | 5th Korea Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Deep Rooted Tree | Nominated |
| 2012 | 1st APAN Star Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Deep Rooted Tree | Nominated |
| 2014 | SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Secret Door | Nominated |
| 2016 | SBS Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Dr. Romantic | Won |
| 2016 | SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Genre & Fantasy Drama | Dr. Romantic | Nominated |
| 2016 | SBS Drama Awards | Top 10 Stars | Dr. Romantic | Won |
| 2017 | 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (TV) | Dr. Romantic | Nominated |
| 2017 | 10th Korea Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Dr. Romantic | Nominated |
| 2017 | 54th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | The Prison | Nominated |
| 2019 | 23rd Fantasia International Film Festival | Best Actor | Idol | Won |
| 2019 | 28th Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | Idol | Nominated |
| 2019 | 19th Director's Cut Awards | Best Actor | Idol | Nominated |
| 2020 | 56th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actor | Forbidden Dream | Nominated |
| 2020 | 25th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actor | Forbidden Dream | Nominated |
| 2020 | 56th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (Film) | Forbidden Dream | Nominated |
| 2020 | 29th Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | Forbidden Dream | Nominated |
| 2020 | SBS Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Dr. Romantic 2 | Nominated |
| 2020 | SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama | Dr. Romantic 2 | Nominated |
| 2023 | 21st Director's Cut Awards | Best Actor in Television | Recipe for Farewell | Nominated |
| 2023 | SBS Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Dr. Romantic 3 | Nominated |
| 2023 | SBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Seasonal Drama | Dr. Romantic 3 | Nominated |
| 2024 | 36th Grimae Awards | Best Actor | Doubt | Won |
| 2024 | Cine21 Awards | Actor of the Year (Series) | Doubt | Won |
| 2024 | MBC Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | Doubt | Won |
| 2024 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Doubt | Nominated |

### State honors

Name of country, year given, and name of honor :
| Country or organization | Year | Honor | Ref. |
| South Korea | 2012 | Presidential Commendation | |

### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement |
| Gallup Korea | 2004 | Gallup Korea's Film Actor of the Year | 5th |
| Gallup Korea | 2011 | Gallup Korea's Film Actor of the Year | 10th |
| Gallup Korea | 2013 | Gallup Korea's Film Actor of the Year | 17th |
| Gallup Korea | 2023 | Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year | 8th |
| The Screen | 2009 | 1984–2008 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies | 3rd |