Hwang Jung-min

Hwang Jung-min (born September 1, 1970) is a South Korean actor. He is one of the highest-grossing actors in South Korea, and has starred in several box office hits such as Ode to My Father (2014), Veteran (2015), The Himalayas (2015), A Violent Prosecutor (2015) and The Wailing (2016).[1][2] Hwang is the third actor in South Korea to be part of the "100 Million Viewer Club" in Chungmuro.[3]

In this Korean name, the family name is Hwang.
Hwang Jung-min
Born (1970-09-01) September 1, 1970
Masan, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
EducationKaywon High School of Arts
Seoul Institute of the Arts - Theater
Years active1994–present
AgentSEM Company
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Spouse(s)
Kim Mi-hye
​
(m. 2004)​
Children1
FamilyHwang Sang-jun (brother)
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHwang Jeong-min
McCune–ReischauerHwang Ch'ŏng-min

Career

1995–2004: Beginnings and Transition to films

Hwang Jung-min began his career in musical theatre, making his acting debut in Line 1 in 1995.[4][5][6] He then starred in various musicals and plays in Daehangno such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats.

Despite a career on stage, Hwang had difficulty transitioning to film. He went through a long struggle for recognition, with people saying he "didn't have the right face for film." He even considered giving up his dream, but stuck to his conviction about walking the path of acting. Hwang said, "After becoming interested about the stage and how it feels to be that person on stage, I've never thought of anything else. That I never swayed -- that is one thing I can say with confidence."[7]

His big break came when he was cast in Waikiki Brothers, a 2001 film that was a sleeper hit in Korea. In his role as a hopeless drummer, Hwang left a strong impression and earned favorable reviews, with director Yim Soon-rye calling him "an uncut gemstone". Hwang went on to have prominent roles in Road Movie, A Good Lawyer's Wife, Heaven's Soldiers and A Bittersweet Life.[8]

2005–2007: Mainstream breakthrough

But it was in 2005 that Hwang became a household name, portraying a naive farmer in love with an AIDS-stricken prostitute in the hit melodrama You Are My Sunshine. Hwang explains that he was "moved by the tale of the genuine love between two people. I agreed with the director's idea of showing it as pure love, like an uncut gem, without sloppily adding to it or embellishing it."[9]

When he accepted the best actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for his performance in You Are My Sunshine, many were moved by his now-famous speech: "All I did was add a spoon to a dinner table that had already been prepared by others."[10][11]

He received further acclaim for his roles as an insurance investigator in Black House,[12] a troubled club CEO who falls in love with a woman with a terminal illness in Happiness,[13] a superhero in A Man Who Was Superman[14][15] and a private detective in Private Eye.[16]

Hwang has said that when choosing scripts, he looks at the overall storyline rather than the character itself.[17] He then exerts effort to continuously bring out the character's inner workings. Hwang said, "It is very important that you don't get too absorbed in yourself. You must always remember that there is another person watching the scene. Maintaining objectivity is important." Hwang emphasizes sincerity and empathy in his acting.[11] "The camera doesn't lie. You can never fool the viewer. You have to act with your heart, not your head." It is because of this commitment to emotional truth that Hwang can confidently tell interviewers that he is 100 percent satisfied with his work. During a crisis on set, or when he is either feeling too satisfied or caught up in mannerisms, he takes out notes he made when he first read the screenplay. He said, "I look at the screenplay again and again. That's where all the answers are."[9]

2008–2012: Return to theater, Television series and Directorial debut

He made a triumphant return to the stage in the 2008 production of Nine.[18][19] The theater producer said that it took three years to cast the leading role because in Hwang he had found the right actor to rival Antonio Banderas' Broadway performance.[20][21] He has since starred in University of Laughs,[22] The Wedding Singer[23] and Man of La Mancha.[24] Hwang says, "A movie is the art of a director but the play is the art of an actor."[22]

2009's The Accidental Couple was particularly special to Hwang, as it was his first time starring in a television drama in his 14-year acting career.[25][26]

For his role as a blind swordsman in the 2010 period film Blades of Blood, Hwang went to schools for the blind to observe their movements.[27][28] He then starred in The Unjust, a highly acclaimed noir about corruption in the South Korean justice system;[29][30] followed by conspiracy film Moby Dick as a reporter.[31][32]

Hwang then reunited with actress Uhm Jung-hwa (whom he previously starred with in 2005 ensemble romantic comedy All for Love) in the 2012 box office hit Dancing Queen.[33] He returned to TV in the 2012 cable drama Korean Peninsula,[34] but it was less successful.[35]

In late 2012, Hwang made his debut as a theatre director in Stephen Sondheim's musical Assassins, which he also starred in.[36]

2013–present: Acclaim

Hwang returned his focus to films, starring in noir film New World (2013), where his performance was singled out by The New York Times.[37] He once again worked with Uhm Jung-hwa in the queer film In My End Is My Beginning (which was expanded from a short film in 2009's Five Senses of Eros). Hwang then played a middle-aged fighter in the sports film Fists of Legend, performing all the stunts himself.[38]

In 2014, Hwang starred in romance drama Man in Love. He said that he chose to star in the film to support diversity in the Korean film industry, and because he wanted to show the human side of his character, a terminally ill gangster who falls in love for the first time.[39]

Then later in the year, Hwang headlined Ode to My Father, embodying the Korean everyman against the backdrop of modern history from the 1950s to the present day; the film depicted the Hungnam evacuation during the Korean War, coalmining gastarbeiters in Germany in the 1960s, and the Vietnam War. Ode to My Father became the second highest-grossing film in the history of Korean cinema, with 14.2 million tickets sold.[8][40][41]

He reunited with The Unjust director Ryoo Seung-wan in 2015 for Veteran, playing a hot-tempered police detective tracking an arrogant and heartless chaebol heir.[42] The film was another smash hit, and is currently the 3rd all-time highest-grossing film in Korean cinema history.[43] Hwang then starred in the budget mountaineering film The Himalayas, where he plays renowned Korean mountaineer Um Hong-gil, who became the first person to reach the 16 highest mountain peaks on Earth.[44]

In 2016, he starred alongside Kang Dong-won in the crime comedy A Violent Prosecutor, which became the second highest-grossing film of 2016.[45] This was followed by Na Hong-jin's critically acclaimed horror The Wailing,[46] and noir film Asura: The City of Madness, which premiered at the 41st Toronto Film Festival.[47] Hwang was crowned "Actor of the Year" for 2016 in the Gallup Korea poll for his acclaimed roles in diverse genres.[48]

Hwang then starred in the war film The Battleship Island alongside So Ji-sub and Song Joong-ki.[49] The film marks his second collaboration with director Ryoo Seung-wan following Veteran.[50]

In 2018, he starred in The Spy Gone North, a spy film directed by Yoon Jong-bin.[51][52] He was also cast in the science fiction film Return.[53]

Personal life

Hwang married musical theatre actress Kim Mi-hye on September 6, 2004.[54][55] They have a son named Hwang Sae-hyun.

His younger brother is music director/composer Hwang Sang-jun.

On average, Hwang stars in three to four films a year. To critics who say that he does too many, Hwang responded, "I believe it is the responsibility of actors to try their best at acting when they come across screenplays that suit them.[39] I breathe only when I act."[11]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role
1990 The General's Son
1999 Shiri
2001 The She
Waikiki Brothers Kang-soo
2002 Road Movie Dae-shik
YMCA Baseball Team Ryu Kwang-tae
2003 A Good Lawyer's Wife Ju Yeong-jak
The End of a Wicked Woman (short film)
2004 The Wolf Returns
Twentidentity "Under a Big Tree" (short film)
2005 This Charming Girl Writer
A Bittersweet Life Baek Dae-sik
Heaven's Soldiers Park Jung-woo
You Are My Sunshine Seok-joong
All for Love Na Do-chul
2006 Over the Hedge (Voice dubbed)
Bloody Tie Do Jin-kwang
2007 Black House Jeon Joon-oh
Happiness Young-su
Eleventh Mom Baek-jung
2008 A Man Who Was Superman Lee Hyuk-suk
2009 Private Eye Hong Jin-ho
Five Senses of Eros: "In My End Is My Beginning" Min Jae-in
2010 The Most Beautiful (short film)
Blades of Blood Hwang Jeong-hak
The Unjust Choi Cheol-gi
2011 Battlefield Heroes Kim Beob-min
Moby Dick Lee Bang-woo
2012 Dancing Queen Himself
2013 New World Jung Chung
In My End Is My Beginning Min Jae-in
Fists of Legend Im Deok-kyu
2014 Man in Love Han Tae-il
Ode to My Father Yoon Deok-soo
2015 Veteran Seo Do-cheol
The Himalayas Um Hong-gil
2016 A Violent Prosecutor Byun Jae-wook
The Wailing Il-gwang
Asura: The City of Madness Park Sung-bae
2017 The Battleship Island Lee Kang-ok
2018 The Spy Gone North Park Seok-young
2019 Return
2020 Deliver Us From Evil Kim In Nam[56]
2021 The Point Men Diplomat[57]

Television series
Year Title Network Role
2009The Accidental CoupleKBS2Gu Dong-baek
2012Korean PeninsulaTV ChosunSeo Myung-joon
2020HushJTBCHan Joon Hyuk

Theater

Discography

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
200239th Grand Bell AwardsBest New ActorWaikiki BrothersNominated
1st Korean Film AwardsBest Supporting ActorWon
3rd Busan Film Critics AwardsBest New ActorRoad MovieWon
23rd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest New ActorWon
22nd Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest New ActorWon
5th Director's Cut AwardsBest New ActorWon
200340th Grand Bell AwardsBest ActorNominated
2nd Korean Film AwardsBest New ActorNominated
Best ActorNominated
200542nd Grand Bell AwardsBest Supporting ActorA Bittersweet LifeWon
4th Korean Film AwardsBest Supporting Actor[58]Won
Best Actor[58]You Are My SunshineWon
26th Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Couple Award (with Jeon Do-yeon)Won
Best Supporting ActorA Bittersweet LifeNominated
Best Actor[59]You Are My SunshineWon
13th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest ActorNominated
20063rd Max Movie AwardsBest ActorWon
29th Golden Cinematography AwardsBest ActorWon
42nd Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (Film)Nominated
43rd Grand Bell AwardsBest ActorNominated
7th Busan Film Critics AwardsBest ActorBloody TieWon
5th Korean Film AwardsBest ActorNominated
200728th Blue Dragon Film AwardsPopular Star Award[60] HappinessWon
Best ActorNominated
200845th Grand Bell AwardsBest ActorNominated
2nd The Musical AwardsBest ActorNineNominated
20094th Golden Ticket AwardsKorea's Top Film StarWon
17th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest ActorPrivate EyeNominated
KBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a MiniseriesThe Accidental CoupleNominated
Top Excellence Award, ActorNominated
201145th Taxpayers' DayPresidential Commendation[61]Won
15th Fantasia FestivalBest Actor (shared with Ryoo Seung-bum)[62]The UnjustWon
201249th Grand Bell AwardsBest ActorDancing QueenNominated
16th Korea Musical AwardsBest ActorMan of La ManchaNominated
2013Korea Film Actor's Association AwardsTop Star Award[63]New WorldWon
49th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (Film)Nominated
50th Grand Bell AwardsBest ActorNominated
Fists of LegendNominated
34th Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Actor[64]New WorldWon
22nd Buil Film AwardsBest Actor[65]Won
33rd Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest ActorNominated
20149th Max Movie AwardsBest ActorNominated
19th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest ActorNominated
201510th Max Movie AwardsBest ActorOde to My FatherNominated
20th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest ActorNominated
Jecheon International Music & Film FestivalBest Actor[66]Won
52nd Grand Bell AwardsBest Actor[67]Won
8th Seoul Senior Citizen Movie AwardsMovie in couple Award (with Yunjin Kim)Won
35th Golden Cinema FestivalGrand Prize (Daesang)[68]Won
15th Director's Cut AwardsBest Actor[69]Won
2nd Korean Film Producers Association AwardsBest Actor[70]Won
36th Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest ActorVeteranNominated
201611th Max Movie AwardsBest ActorThe HimalayasNominated
52nd Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (Film)VeteranNominated
Grand Prize (Film) Veteran, The Himalayas, A Violent ProsecutorNominated
25th Buil Film AwardsBest ActorVeteranNominated
Best Supporting ActorThe WailingNominated
53rd Grand Bell AwardsBest Supporting ActorNominated
201722nd Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest Supporting ActorNominated
1st The Seoul AwardsBest Actor (Film)The Battleship IslandNominated
201827th Buil Film Awards[71]Best ActorThe Spy Gone NorthNominated
55th Grand Bell Awards[72]Won
202141st Blue Dragon Film Awards[73][74][75]Best ActorDeliver Us from EvilPending

References
  1. "Prolific Actor Hwang Jung-min Proves Box-Office Draw". The Chosun Ilbo. 16 January 2016.
  2. "Hwang Jung-min Continues String of Box-Office Successes". The Chosun Ilbo. 30 May 2016.
  3. "HWANG Jung-min Joins 100 Million Viewer Club". Korean Film Biz Zone. 10 August 2017.
  4. Jung, Jae-wal (30 November 2001). "See Him, Hear Him Sing 6 Solos". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  5. Choi, Min-woo (2 April 2006). "Line 1 still running smooth at 3,000 shows" Archived 2012-07-15 at Archive.today. Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  6. Park, Min-young (14 March 2011). "Icon of Korean theater celebrates 20th anniversary". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  7. Choi, Ji-eun (31 December 2009). "Focus: The 16 Stars of 2009 - Part 1". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  8. Kim, Heung-suk (29 January 2015). "People: The Face of the Father in Today's Society". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  9. "Hwang Jeong-min - Acting from the Heart". The Chosun Ilbo. 2 October 2005. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  10. Kang, Myoung-seok (10 November 2010). "Hwang Jung-min's Music Picks". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-04-28.
  11. "Actor can't hide his truthful eyes" Archived 2013-01-26 at Archive.today. Korea JoongAng Daily. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  12. "Black Is Gore With Suspense". The Korea Times. 21 June 2007.
  13. "Happiness Measures Cost of Love". The Korea Times. 27 September 2007.
  14. "Jun, Hwang Become Super Heroes". The Korea Times. 8 January 2008.
  15. "`Superman, the Good Samaritan". The Korea Times. 24 January 2008.
  16. "(Movie Review) Epic film noir rich in period detail". Yonhap News Agency. 24 March 2009.
  17. "Actor Hwang Jung-min: Moviegoers most important in choosing script". Yonhap News Agency. 24 July 2015.
  18. Chung, Ah-young (16 October 2007). "Actor Hwang Jung-min Returns to Stage". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  19. "Hwang Reaffirms His Musical Talent". The Korea Times. 23 January 2008.
  20. Chung, Ah-young (1 January 2008). "Actor Hwang Grows Into Mature Role in Musical". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  21. Lee, Ho-jeong (17 January 2008). "Tough life for lothario with too many lovers" Archived 2012-07-09 at Archive.today. Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  22. Chung, Ah-young (21 October 2008). "Actor Hwang to Star in New Play". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  23. Chung, Ah-young (22 September 2009). "Musical 'Wedding Singer' to Premiere in Seoul". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  24. Kwon, Mee-yoo (15 April 2012). "Hwang Jung-min to play Don Quixote in musical". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
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  26. "Hwang Jung-min Gears Up for Late TV Soap Debut". The Chosun Ilbo. 28 April 2009.
  27. Sung, So-young (29 April 2010). "Film giants shift gears with new release" Archived 2012-07-09 at Archive.today. Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  28. Lee, Ji-hye (20 April 2010). "Traces of Lee Jun-ik's work in Blades of Blood". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  29. Han, Sun-hee (10 August 2010). "THE UNJUST, Food chains of beasts with clashes of desire". Korean Cinema Today. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  30. Song, Woong-ki (5 October 2010). "Ryoo's new film tells tale of corruption". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  31. Lee, Hyo-won (5 May 2011). "Hwang Jung-min returns as reporter". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  32. "'Moby Dick' a well-made conspiracy flick". The Korea Herald. 6 June 2011.
  33. "Film's Mr. Serious turns to comedy". The Korea Herald. 11 January 2012.
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  35. ""Hanbando - Drama" ends without going over 1%". Hancinema. 3 April 2012.
  36. Lee, Claire (10 December 2012). "Big-name musicals in for the holiday season". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  37. Catsoulis, Jeannette (21 March 2013). "In South Korea, Gangsters in Good Suits". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
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  41. Lee, Ji-hye (29 January 2015). "ODE TO MY FATHER HWANG Jung-min: "I wanted to revive the lives of all fathers through my performance"". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
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  49. "Main roles cast for 'Gunhamdo' film". Korea JoongAng Daily. 16 January 2016.
  50. "RYOO Seung-wan and HWANG Jung-min Team Up Again for BATTLESHIP ISLAND". Korean Film Biz Zone. 20 January 2016.
  51. "Spy film 'Gongjak' reveals star-studded cast". Korea JoongAng Daily. 6 January 2017.
  52. "HWANG Jung-min Infiltrates YOON Jong-bin's DUKE". Korean Film Biz Zone. 6 January 2017.
  53. "HWANG Jung-min and KIM Hye-soo Suit Up for RETURN". Korean Film Biz Zone. 26 July 2018.
  54. "영화배우 황정민 15년지기 김미혜와 화촉" (in Korean). Star News. 6 September 2004. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  55. "황정민 아내 뮤지컬배우 김미혜씨, 미모가 대단해요!" Archived 2012-03-20 at the Wayback Machine (in Korean). Daum. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  56. "HWANG Jung-min and LEE Jung-jae to DELIVER US FROM EVIL". Korean Film Biz Zone. October 3, 2019.
  57. GRACE TABANERA, LILY (2020-07-14). "New Action Film "Bargaining" To Star Hyun Bin And Hwang Jung Min". One Music. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
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  61. "National Tax Service Ambassador Appointment Ceremony". KBS World. 22 April 2011.
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  66. "Hwang Jung-min and Jeon Do-yeon, the best actress and actor of the year". Hancinema. Osen. 17 August 2015.
  67. Kil, Sonia (20 November 2015). "Ode to My Father Takes Ten Trophies at Grand Bell Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2015-11-21.
  68. "'Veteran Hwang Jung-min selected best actor by directors". Osen.
  69. "Results of 2015 Major Korean Film Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. 21 December 2015.
  70. "ASSASSINATION Tops 2nd Korean Film Producers Association Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. 16 December 2015.
  71. "[23회 부산국제영화제] 부일영화상". Busan.com (in Korean). 20 September 2018.
  72. "'Burning' wins best picture at Daejong Film Awards". Yonhap News. 22 October 2018.
  73. "청룡영화상, '남산 부장'과 '다만 악에서' 혈투". news.naver (in Korean). 11 November 2020.
  74. Delayed Until 2021 Due To COVID-19
  75. An, Jin-young (December 8, 2020). "청룡영화상, 코로나19 확산에 연기 결정". naver (in Korean). munhwa. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
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