Ji Sung

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

This is a Korean name; the family name is Kwak.
Ji Sung
(간신) 레드카펫&VIP시사회 영상 (지성).jpg
Born Kwak Tae-geun
(1977-02-27) February 27, 1977 (age 47)
Seoul, South Korea
Education Hanyang University - Theater and Film
Years active 1999–present
Agent Namoo Actors
Spouse(s) Lee Bo-young (m. 2013)
Korean name
Hangul 지성
Hanja 池晟
Revised Romanization Ji Seong
McCune–Reischauer Chi Sǒng
Birth name
Hangul 곽태근
Hanja 郭太根
Revised Romanization Gwak Tae-geun
McCune–Reischauer Kwak T’aegŭn

Ji Sung (born Kwak Tae-geun on February 27, 1977) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the television dramas All In (2003), Save the Last Dance for Me (2004), New Heart (2007), Protect the Boss (2011), Secret Love (2013) and Kill Me, Heal Me (2015).

Early life

Kwak Tae-geun's parents were both educators, and they expected him to also enter the teaching profession. But in his sophomore year in high school, his father bought him a VCR and the first movie he rented was Rain Man. Dustin Hoffman's acting left such an impression on him that he decided to become an actor, despite his father's objections.[1][2] He later studied Theater and Film at Hanyang University.

Career

Kwak first auditioned for the 1999 campus drama KAIST, where he met screenwriter Song Ji-na. Song took an interest in the young upstart and wrote a new character for him, leading to his acting debut.[1] Upon the suggestion of his then-manager, he began using the stage name Chae Ji-sung, then decided to drop the surname "Chae," and became known simply as "Ji Sung."[1] After several minor roles, he began playing bigger parts, notably in the television dramas Wonderful Days (also known as Splendid Days, 2001) and Sunshine Hunting (also known as Days in the Sun, 2002), as well as the North-South romantic comedy film Whistling Princess (also known as The Hidden Princess, 2002).

Producers of the 2003 gambling drama All In were having difficulty casting the second male lead because most actors were afraid to be compared to lead actor Lee Byung-hun. Ji Sung approached director Yoo Chul-yong, saying he wanted the role; Yoo looked hard at him, then to the production crew's surprise, said, "Okay, it's yours."[1] All In was a big hit, and Ji Sung's popularity rose, not only in Korea but in other Asian countries.[3] Wanting to challenge himself, he next appeared in his first period drama The King's Woman, which reunited him with Wonderful Days costar Park Sun-young. Ji Sung played Gwanghaegun of Joseon.

In Save the Last Dance for Me (2004), he played a rich amnesiac businessman who falls in love with a girl running a bed and breakfast who nurses him back to health (played by Eugene). He then made a guest appearance playing Bae Jong-ok's college boyfriend in "Outing," a two-episode arc written by Lee Kyung-hee for the omnibus drama Beating Heart (2005), followed by a supporting role in Kim Dae-seung's period thriller Blood Rain (2005).[4]

Ji Sung enlisted on June 7, 2005 for his mandatory military service. Though he initially enlisted as an ordinary soldier,[5] the Military Manpower Administration transferred him to the military promotion ("entertainers") unit in February 2006, for which he served as "public ambassador of military affairs."[6] He was discharged on June 6, 2007.[7]

He made his comeback in the medical drama New Heart (2007), playing a cardiothoracic surgery resident who came from a lesser-known rural university, whose compassion and impulsiveness clashes with his more ambitious colleague (played by Kim Min-jung).[8] During a scene where his character cries after failing to save the life of a former comfort woman, Ji Sung said he thought of his maternal grandmother who'd recently died, remembering that she'd told him her only pleasure was watching him in reruns of All In. Contrary to his cheeky, playful character, Ji Sung said that he's taciturn and shy in real life, but that the drama made him find a different side of himself.[9]

Action noir Fate (2008) explored the darker side of friendship, when four close friends (played by Song Seung-heon, Kwon Sang-woo, Kim In-kwon and Ji Sung) scheme to steal casino money so they can leave their gang, but it leads to betrayal. Ji Sung appeared in an extended cameo as the sophisticated right-hand man of the mob boss.[10]

Swallow the Sun (2009) was his second collaboration with All In creators, writer Choi Wan-kyu and director Yoo Chul-yong. The revenge drama was adapted from the novel by Kang Chul-hwa, and shot on location in Jeju Island, Las Vegas and South Africa. Ji Sung trained hard to play the tough, strong-willed protagonist who goes to prison for his boss and later becomes involved in the city development of Jeju.[11][12]

In February 2010, he signed with a new management agency, Namoo Actors.[13] Several months later, he played another historical character in Kim Su-ro, The Iron King (2010), as the titular founder of Geumgwan Gaya.[14][15][16]

In 2011, Ji Sung and Yum Jung-ah starred in Royal Family, about the power plays within a chaebol family.[17] Later that year, he was cast in the workplace romantic comedy Protect the Boss.[18] In a departure from his usual serious roles, Ji Sung played a dorky man-child with a panic disorder, who matures and learns to run his father's business after meeting a feisty secretary (played by Choi Kang-hee).[19][20][21]

From 2012 to 2013, Ji Sung played a gifted seer/geomancer in The Great Seer. His fictional character becomes a "kingmaker" to Yi Seong-gye (played by Ji Jin-hee), the general who leads the overthrow of Goryeo and establishes the Joseon Dynasty, becoming its first king Taejo.[22]

In late 2012, he starred in adult romantic comedy My PS Partner (also known as Whatcha Wearin'?), playing an aspiring singer-songwriter trying to get over a breakup, who becomes the wrong recipient of a phone sex call from a woman (played by Kim Ah-joong) trying to seduce her boyfriend into proposing.[23] Ji Sung said he found the script intriguing, despite the discomfort of appearing in bed scenes. And after he saw Love & Other Drugs, he wanted to be in a movie that portrayed a romantic relationship in a realistic manner.[24]

Ji Sung said he chose to star in 2013 melodrama Secret Love (also known as Secret) because he found the script "fresh, honest, and sophisticated."[25] He played a chaebol "bad boy" whose girlfriend is killed, then falls for the woman who went to prison for the crime.[26]

Ji Sung next appeared in Confession, a 2014 neo-noir film that brutally explores the aftermath of three men's friendship after the death of one's mother.[2][27] In 2015, he reunited with Secret Love costar Hwang Jung-eum in Kill Me, Heal Me, in which he played a chaebol millionaire with dissociative identity disorder who has seven different identities.[28][29][30][31]

Personal life

Ji Sung previously dated All In co-star Park Sol-mi from 2003 to 2006.[5][32][33]

He met actress Lee Bo-young on the set of 2004 TV series Save Last Dance for Me, and they confirmed their relationship in 2007.[34][35][36][37] On August 2, 2013, the couple announced their engagement by uploading handwritten letters on their respective official fan sites.[38][39][40][41][42] They married at Aston House, W Seoul Walkerhill Hotel on September 27, 2013.[43][44][45] Their first child, daughter Kwak Ji Yoo was born on June 12, 2015.[46]

Filmography

Television drama

Year Title Role Network Notes
1999 KAIST Kang Dae-wook SBS
March SBS Guest
2000 Popcorn SBS
I Want to Keep Seeing You Lee Ji-soo SBS
2001 Delicious Proposal Oh Joon-soo MBC
Open Drama Man & Woman Lee Soo-hyun SBS episode: "A Couple of Hours
Before Breaking Up with Her"
The Rules of Marriage Hwang Won-soo MBC
Wonderful Days Jang Seok-jin SBS
2002 Let's Go SBS Guest, episode: "Monkey"
Sunshine Hunting Lee Seung-joon KBS2
2003 All In Choi Jung-won SBS
The King's Woman Prince Gwanghae SBS
2004 Terms of Endearment Noh Yoon-taek KBS1
Save the Last Dance for Me Kang Hyun-woo SBS
2005 Beating Heart Kim Woo-jin/Kim Seok-jin MBC Guest, episodes 9-10: "Outing"
2007 New Heart Lee Eun-sung MBC
2009 Swallow the Sun Kim Jung-woo SBS
2010 Kim Su-ro, The Iron King Kim Su-ro MBC
2011 Royal Family Han Ji-hoon MBC
Protect the Boss Cha Ji-heon SBS
2012 The Great Seer Mok Ji-sang SBS
2013 Secret Love Jo Min-hyuk KBS2
2015 Kill Me, Heal Me Cha Do-hyun /
Shin Se-gi / Perry Park /
Ahn Yo-na / Ahn Yo-seob /
Nana / Mr. X		 MBC

Film

Year Title Role
2002 Whistling Princess Joon-ho
2004 Phantom Master: Dark Hero from the Ruined Empire (animated) Ending narration
2005 Blood Rain Du-ho
2008 Fate Park Yeong-hwan
2012 My PS Partner Lee Hyun-seung
2014 Confession Im Hyun-tae
2015 The Vampire Lives Next Door (short film)

Variety show

Year Title Network Notes
2002-2002 Live Music Camp MBC Host
2003 Hey Hey Hey SBS Guest
2004 Music Bank KBS2 Host
2005 Ya Shim Man Man: Ten Thousand People Have Been Asked SBS Guest, episode 107
Shin Dong-yup and Kim Yong-man's Favorites SBS Guest, episode 51
2008 STAR N the CITY: Ji Sung in Dubai XTM
2011 Running Man SBS Guest, episode 54
Taxi tvN Guest, episode 223
Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy SBS Guest, episode 3
2011 SBS Drama Awards SBS Host
2012 Running Man SBS Guest, episodes 116-117
Strong Heart SBS Guest, episodes 151-152
Happy Together KBS2 Guest, episode 276
2013 Happy Together KBS2 Guest, episode 317
2014 Taxi tvN Guest, episode 336
Running Man SBS Guest, episodes 202-203
2015 Three Meals a Day - Season 2 tvN Guest, episodes 4-5

Music video

Year Song title Artist
2000 "Leave Me Alone" Lee Kang-shin
2002 "Cold" Lee Ki-chan
2004 "Black and White Photos" KCM
2008 "The Practical Usage of Sadness" Kim Bum-soo
2009 "Trickling" Wheesung

Discography

Year Title Notes
2004 "Confession" Track from Terms of Endearment OST
2012 "Sexy Jingle Bells" Tracks from My PS Partner OST
"Show Me Your Panty"
2013 "Wuthering Heights"[47] Track from Secret Love OST
2015 "Violet" Track from Kill Me, Heal Me OST

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2001 MBC Drama Awards Best New Actor The Rules of Marriage Won
SBS Drama Awards New Star Award Wonderful Days Won
2003 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special All In Won
2004 SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Save the Last Dance for Me Nominated
Top 10 Stars Won
2008 Han Il Culture Awards 민간외교부분 수상 N/A Won
MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor New Heart Nominated
Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Miniseries Won
2009 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special Swallow the Sun Nominated
2010 5th Asia Model Festival Awards[48] BBF Popular Star Award N/A Won
26th Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards Best Dressed, Movie Actor category N/A Won
2011 4th Style Icon Awards[49] Style Icon Actor (Bonsang) N/A Won
MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Royal Family Nominated
SBS Drama Awards[50] Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special Protect the Boss Won
Top 10 Stars Won
Best Couple Award with Choi Kang-hee Won
2012 SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special The Great Seer Nominated
2013 KBS Drama Awards[51] Top Excellence Award, Actor Secret Love Won
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Nominated
Popularity Award, Actor Won
Best Couple Award with Hwang Jung-eum Won
2014 3rd APAN Star Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Nominated
2015 51st Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (TV) Kill Me, Heal Me Nominated
10th Seoul International Drama Awards Best Actor Nominated
8th Korea Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Nominated
4th APAN Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Nominated
MBC Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Won
Top Excellence Actor, Actor in a Miniseries Won
Best Couple with Park Seo-joon Won
Best Couple with Hwang Jung-eum Nominated
Top 10 Stars Won

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Ji_Sung&oldid=2328483"