# Song Seung-heon

Song Seung-heon (Korean: 송승헌; 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). His latest on-screen appearance was in the fourth season of Voice (2021).

## 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.
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 | |
| 2002 | So Close | Yen | Hong Kong film |
| 2004 | Ice Rain | Han Woo-sung | |
| 2004 | He Was Cool | Ji Eun-sung | |
| 2008 | Fate | Kim Woo-min | |
| 2010 | A Better Tomorrow | Lee Young-choon | |
| 2010 | Ghost: In Your Arms Again | Kim Jun-ho | Japanese film |
| 2012 | Lucid Dreaming | — | Short film |
| 2014 | Obsessed | Kim Jin-pyeong | |
| 2015 | Wonderful Nightmare | Sung-hwan | |
| 2015 | The Third Way of Love | Lin Qizheng | Chinese film |
| 2017 | Man of Will | Kang Hyung-sik | |
| 2018 | Air Strike | An Ming Xun / An Ming He | Chinese film |
| 2024 | Hidden Face | Sung-jin | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996–99 | Three Guys and Three Girls | Song Seung-heon | |
| 1997 | Beautiful Lady | Lee Min-hyuk | |
| 1997–98 | You and I | Park Min-kyu | |
| 1998 | Winners | Jung Min-soo | |
| 1999 | Happy Together | Seo Ji-suk | |
| 1999 | Love Story | Joon-sung | episode 2: "Message" |
| 2000 | Popcorn | Lee Young-hoon | |
| 2000 | 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-sang | |
| 2017 | Saimdang, Memoir of Colors | Lee Gyeom | |
| 2017 | Black | Han Moo-gang (Detective) / Black (Grim Reaper #444) | |
| 2018–24 | Player | Kang Ha-ri | Season 1 and 2 |
| 2019 | The Great Show | Wi Dae-han | |
| 2020 | Dinner Mate | Kim Hae-kyeong | |
| 2021 | Voice | Derek Jo | Season 4 |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
| 2023 | Black Knight | Ryu Seok | |

### Web shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2022 | Saturday Night Live Korea | Host | Episode 1 – Season 3 | |

### Music video appearances

| 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 Album | Released: December 7, 2004 Label: ESJ Entertainment | Track listing I love you 널 지울때까지 그 모든 눈물(Take 1) Miss Flower 혼 그 모든 눈물(Take 2) 그래요, 그렇다고, 그렇게 외사랑 Playin' Playin' I love you (instrumental) 그 모든 눈물 (instrumental) |

### Singles
#### Soundtrack appearances

List of singles, with year, and album :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Even After Ten Years" (십년이 지나도) | 2005 | Sad Love Story OST |
| "For You" (그대를) | 2005 | Sad Love Story OST |
| "As Time Goes By" (세월이 가면) | 2008 | East of Eden OST |
| "Last Love" (마지막 사랑) | 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 | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 1998 | Most Popular Actor – Television | You and I | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2009 | Best Actor – Television | East of Eden | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 1999 | Best New Actor | Calla | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2014 | Popular Star Award | Obsessed | Won |
| China Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards | 2012 | Asia's Most Charming Artist | Song Seung-heon | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2000 | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Autumn in My Heart | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2000 | Popularity Award | Autumn in My Heart | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2000 | Photogenic Award | Autumn in My Heart | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2003 | Netizen Award, Actor | Summer Scent | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2003 | Best Couple Award | Song Seung-heon with Son Ye-jin Summer Scent | Nominated |
| KCA Consumer Day Awards | 2019 | Best Drama Actor | Player | Won |
| KMTV | 1997 | Best New Actor | Song Seung-heon | Won |
| Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | 2009 | Grand Prize (Daesang) in a TV Drama | East of Eden | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2008 | Grand Prize (Daesang) | East of Eden | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2008 | Top Excellence Award, Actor | East of Eden | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2008 | Popularity Award, Actor | East of Eden | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2008 | Best Couple Award | Song Seung-heon with Lee Yeon-hee East of Eden | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2011 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | My Princess | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2011 | Popularity Award, Actor | My Princess | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2011 | Best Couple Award | Song Seung-heon with Kim Tae-hee My Princess | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2012 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Dr. Jin | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2012 | Popularity Award, Actor | Dr. Jin | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2013 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | When a Man Falls in Love | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2013 | Popularity Award, Actor | When a Man Falls in Love | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2013 | Best Couple Award | Song Seung-heon with Shin Se-kyung When a Man Falls in Love | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2020 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Miniseries / Short Drama | Dinner Mate | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2020 | Best Couple Award | Song Seung-heon with Seo Ji-hye Dinner Mate | Nominated |
| Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Content Industry Awards | 2010 | Distinguished Hallyu Entertainer Award of Merit (co-winner with Girls' Generation) | Song Seung-heon | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 1998 | Popularity Award, Actor | Winners | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 1999 | Netizen Popularity Award | Happy Together | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 1999 | Top 10 Stars | Happy Together | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2001 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special | Law Firm | Nominated |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2001 | Top 10 Stars | Law Firm | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2017 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama | Saimdang, Memoir of Colors | Nominated |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2011 | Outstanding Korean Actor | My Princess | Nominated |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Korean Actor | Dinner Mate | Nominated |
| Style Icon Asia | 2016 | Top 10 Style Icons | Song Seung-heon | Won |

### State honors

Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given :
| Organization | Year | Award | Ref. |
| Taxpayers' Day | 2010 | Exemplary Taxpayer Citation | |
| Taxpayers' Day | 2015 | Presidential Commendation | |