Song Kang-ho (b. January 17, 1967) never professionally trained as an actor, beginning his career in social theatre groups after graduating from Kimhae High School. Later joining Kee Kuk-seo's influential theatre. Although regularly approached to act in films, he always turned down the opportunity until taking a role as an extra in Hong Sang-soo's
The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (1996).
The following year, after portraying a homeless man in Jang Sun-woo's docu-style
Bad Movie, he gained cult notoriety for his show-stealing performance in Song Neung-han's
No. 3 as a gangster training a group of young recruits, winning his first Best Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. Following his win he was cast in several supporting roles before his high-profile appearance as Han Suk-kyu's secret agent partner in Kang Jae-gyu's blockbuster thriller
Shiri.
In early 2000, Song became a star with his first leading role in the box office smash
The Foul King, for which he reputedly did most of his own stunts. But it was his award-winning role as a North Korean sergeant in
Joint Security Area that thrust Song into the forefront as one of Korea's leading actors. Song also starred in Park Chan-wook's acclaimed followup,
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, which centers around a father's pursuit of his daughter's kidnappers.
In 2002 Song starred in another major production by Myung Films,
YMCA Baseball Team, about Korea's first baseball team which formed in the early 20th century. The following year he played a leading role in yet another critically-acclaimed smash hit,
Memories of Murder from young director Bong Joon-ho.
In 2004 Song starred in a film by debut director Im Chan-sang that imagines the life of South Korean president Park Chung-hee's personal barber. The following year he also took the lead in
Antarctic Journal, a big-budget project by debut director Im Phil-sung, about an expedition in Antarctica that performed weakly at the box-office.
In 2006 Song was thrust back in the spotlight, however, with a leading role in Bong Joon-ho's record-breaking creature movie
The Host. The film helped to broaden international awareness of Song
's talent, and he beat out several of Asia's best known stars to be named Best Actor at the inaugural Asian Film Awards held in Hong Kong in March 2007.
2007 saw Song star in,
Secret Sunshine and
The Show Must Go O. He recently starred in another Park Chan-wook film,
Thirst. It recieved positive reviews and did well internationally and domestically at the box office. As well as Korean Western
The Good, the Bad, the Weird.
2010 has seen him star in
Secret Reunion which has become on of the highest grossing films this year in Korea.
