Han Suk-kyu

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Han Suk-kyu
Hangul 한석규
Hanja 韓石圭
Revised Romanization Han Seok-gyu
McCune-Reischauer Han Sŏkkyu
This is a Korean name; the family name is Han.

Han Suk-kyu (born November 3, 1964 in Seoul) is a South Korean actor. After a dalliance with folk/pop singing while enrolled in the Film and Theater department of Dongguk University, he began his career as a KBS voice actor, before moving on to television and eventually film.

1990 marked his debut in the MBC campus drama Our Paradise. He then rose to stardom in The Moon of Seoul (1994), as a charming gigolo from the slums, on the road to self-ruin in the big city. The character and series have become legendary[1] [2], as a part of the golden era of Korean television before the advent of Korean wave. The cast also features veterans who are now luminaries in Korean cinema: Na Mun-hee (The Quiet Family), Choi Min-sik (Oldboy) and Baek Yun-shik (Save the Green Planet!).

Until the end of the 20th century, Han headlined films that were hits with both critics (Green Fish, No. 3) and audiences (The Contact, Christmas in August, Shiri -- the latter two making particular impact in Japan, a significant market for Korea.) During this peak of popularity, he received all the best scripts in Chungmuro, the Korean equivalent of Hollywood, and came to recognize the need for good scripts. This led to the founding of Makdong Script Festival, so named after his breakthrough role in Green Fish. Now extant over 10 years, the annual event is co-sponsored by film magazine Cine 21 with two cash prizes funded by Han.

He then took an extended hiatus at the turn of the century, choosing to decline several lucrative opportunities with name directors. Among them: Peppermint Candy, Joint Security Area, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (as the father), Oldboy (as the antagonist[3]), and Fulltime Killer (as Andy Lau's friend/foe.)

The break coincided with a surge in new talent and scale of production within the Korean film industry. These and other factors (such as his distant relationship with the press [4][5], his over-exposure in commercials[6], and changing audience preference for a less measured, more explosive acting style) have been offered as explanation for the lukewarm reception to his comeback. Double Agent had netted one million admission, considered inadequate for someone 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 [7][8].

His press and image took further beating in the next two, even more polarizing films, due to the unforeseen tragedy surrounding The Scarlet Letter, and the incendiary political content of The President's Last Bang [9]. Nonetheless, these controversial works at home went on to screen at Cannes, and comprised a trio of films at the Austrian FilmAsia festival's retrospective tribute to the actor[10].

In spite of this rocky return to feature films, Han seems assured a place in the canon by such major directors as Park Chan-wook[11], Lee Jun-ik[12], and Jang Jin [13] when discussing casting and the development of Korean films. While his work gradually became an acquired taste for general audiences, he remains acclaimed for his distinctive style (a cerebral and intricate minimalism marked by its implosive restraint and integrative effect on ensemble), among peers such as Kim Hye-su[14], Song Kang-ho[15][16][17], Oh Dal-su (especially for their collaboration in Forbidden Quest and A Bloody Aria), Sol Kyung-gu[18], and Choi Min-sik[19] [20].

Known for his distinctive voice and diction[21], Han has been a long-time mentor to Gam Wu-seong[22][23], 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 (You Are My Sunshine)[24], Kim Myung-min[25], Kim Ju-hyeok (Blue Swallow), Kim Ji-soo (This Charming Girl)[26], Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (who famously began a second career in Korea after seeing Han in Shiri), Rain, Lee Sung-jae (Barking Dogs Never Bite), and the current darling of independent films, Im Ji-gyu[27].

In addition to legendary Korean actor Kim Seung-ho, Han has been influenced by Al Pacino, Ken Takakura, Shohei Imamura, The Godfather trilogy, and Hayao Miyazaki. Off-screen, he's known as a family man[28], avid golfer (likens the sport to acting) and voracious reader[29]. He collects animation by Studio Ghibli and desires to join their voice cast one day - as a Korean-speaking character[30].

After rising to stardom under neophyte helmers in the late 1990s, Han continues to prefer them over seasoned directors with the goal of creating "New Korean Cinema". 2006 saw a trio of somewhat offbeat titles[31] that gathered strong to minor box office. Next is a return to his favored genre of the thriller - An Eye for an Eye opposite Cha Seung-won in early 2008.

Contents

[edit] Filmography

[edit] TV Dramas

  • Han Ji-Bong's Three Families (한지붕 세 가족, MBC 1986-1994): bit role
  • Our Paradise (우리들의 천국, MBC 1990)
  • Eyes of Dawn (여명의 눈동자 or 黎明의 눈동자, MBC 1991-2): bit role
  • Sons and Daughters (아들과 딸, MBC 1992-3)
  • Pilot (파일럿, MBC 1993)
  • The Moon of Seoul (서울의 달, MBC 1/8-10/16/1994)
  • Three Families Under a Roof (한지붕 세가족, MBC 1994) Sunday morning drama
  • The Only Room for Them (그들만의 방, MBC "Best Theater" 1994)
  • Challenge (도전, MBC 1994)
  • Kareisky (까레이스키, MBC 1994)
  • Love and War (전쟁과 사랑, MBC 1995)
  • Hotel (호텔, MBC, 1995)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Prominent TV writer Choi Wan-kyu aspires to create classic characters as Han's role in The Moon of Seoul, July 25, 2007 interview.
  2. ^ Producer of Temptation of Wolves (2004) compares debut role of actor-idol Kang Dong-won to Han in The Moon of Seoul, August 20, 2004.
  3. ^ At Choi Min-sik's suggestion, Park Chan-wook settled on actor Yu Ji-tae, for his resemblance to Han -- who's the closest to Park's conception for the arch-nemesis character Woo-jin. Interview from April 27, 2007.
  4. ^ Director Im Sang-soo describes Han as a "perfect, unusual actor" and "lone wolf" driven by frustration, to a skeptical journalist; February 28, 2005 interview with Ddanzi Ilbo.
  5. ^ Han prefers actors meet the public through acting, not "garbage" talk in interviews, October 21, 2004.
  6. ^ Although a popular spokesman in commercials, his choice in unsavory roles after 2003 has thwarted his wholesome image and appeal to advertisers; October 8, 2007 interview with A Bloody Aria director, Won Shin-yeon.
  7. ^ Outspoken actor Yu Oh-seong joins the panning of Double Agent, using it to criticize the Korean film industry and the bestowing of "National Actor" status upon Han; Interview from September 20, 2004.
  8. ^ The furor over his hiatus and subsequent return is parodied in the romantic comedy Mr. Handy, with pastiches of Shiri and Double Agent.
  9. ^ Director Bong Joon-ho on freedom of speech, and praises film, cast, and crew of The President's Last Bang, Essay from February 15, 2005.
  10. ^ Program schedule for FilmAsia Festival, January to July, 2005.
  11. ^ Park Chan-wook is quoted by Kim Ji-su from a private gathering, for praising Han's "superlative" work among Korean actors in The President's Last Bang; October 31, 2006 article.
  12. ^ Lee Jun-ik mentions Han as among the next-generation leading men, after the elder icons Ahn Sung-ki and Park Joong-hoon of his "Radio Star"; September 29, 2006 interview.
  13. ^ Jang Jin on turning to other actors when first-choice such as Han declined the roles in My Son and The Big Scene; April 25, 2007 and August 19, 2005 interviews.
  14. ^ Kim Hye-su on Han's "detailed" performances and desire for future collaboration; Interview for Tazza: The High Rollers from Sept 14, 2006.
  15. ^ Song Kang-ho on Han as one of the senior actors paving way for younger generation; March 29, 2007 interview.
  16. ^ Song Kang-ho on Han entering the actor's prime, while falling out of favor with general audiences; May 2005 GQ Korea interview.
  17. ^ Song Kang-ho considers it "pointless" to rank actors like himself, Han, Choi Min-sik, and Sol Kyung-gu, April 29, 2005 interview.
  18. ^ Sol Kyung-gu names Han as one of his acting influences, at the 6th Korean Film Awards (MBC), December 1, 2007.
  19. ^ Choi Min-sik considers acting, and actors like himself, Han, and Song Kang-ho are ill-suited to ranking a la Olympic medalists; Interview for Chihwaseon, May 9, 2002.
  20. ^ Choi Min-sik credits close friend Han for the early career-turning roles in No. 3 and Shiri, and desires future collaboration; March 18, 2005 interview; March 26, 2005 article.
  21. ^ Many impressions of Han's voice and diction appear in variety shows, TV dramas, and amateur videos online. The best known of late being Park Joong-hoon in the June 2007 broadcast of the Grand Bell Awards.
  22. ^ Gam Wu-seong on Han and Shim Hye-jin as acting influences, Interview on April 15, 2006.
  23. ^ Gam Wu-seong on Han's friendship and desire for future collaboration, Interview on March 16, 2007.
  24. ^ Hwang Jung-min on Han as an influence since his early days in theater, and desire for future collaboration; December 22, 2007 article.
  25. ^ Kim Myung-min on Han and Choi Min-sik as the Korean actors he respects the most; April 23, 2008 interview.
  26. ^ Kim Ji-su and Kim Ju-hyeok name Han's work in The President's Last Bang as their most admired performance by a Korean actor. That role, plus Han's No. 3, are the kind of options she considers lacking for Korean actresses.
  27. ^ Im Ji-gyu, of Milkyway Liberation Front and Who's That Knocking On My Door?, on Han as a role model of versatility and unique style, December 18, 2007 article.
  28. ^ Character actor Song Byung-ho ( Oasis, Failan) is in envy of Han's four children, especially in a time when Korea's birth rate has hit an all-time low; October 31, 2007 interview.
  29. ^ Sensational report of Han reading 100 titles a month, March 28, 2007.
  30. ^ Han on his family's admiration for Miyazaki; May 8, 2005 interview.
  31. ^ Dogville was a key inspiration to do more unconventional films; Interview for The Scarlet Letter, October 21, 2004.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links