Won Bin
Won Bin in January 2011
Born	Kim Do-jin (1977-11-10)November 10, 1977 (age 47) Jeongseon County,Gangwon Province, South Korea
Alma mater	Yong In University –Department of Film
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1997–2010
Agent	Eden 9
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Spouse	Lee Na-young ​ (m. 2015)​
Children	1
Korean name
Hangul	김도진
Revised Romanization	Gim Dojin
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Tojin
Stage name
Hangul	원빈
Revised Romanization	Won Bin
McCune–Reischauer	Wŏn Pin
Website	wonbinus.co.kr
Signature
Notes
[1][2][3][4][5]

Kim Do-jin (Korean: 김도진; born November 10, 1977), professionally known asWon Bin, is a South Korean actor. He first gained wide popularity in 2000 after starring in theKBS's television seriesAutumn in My Heart. One of the most selective actors in the Korean entertainment industry, he has starred in only five films to date:Guns & Talks (2001),Taegukgi (2004),My Brother (2004),Mother (2009), andThe Man from Nowhere (2010).^[6][7][8][9] He wasGallup Korea's Film Actor of the Year in 2010 and 2011.^[10][11]

Won Bin was born and raised inJeongseon County inGangwon Province, South Korea. He is the fifth and youngest child, with one brother and three sisters. His father was formerly employed in a mine and his mother worked on a farm; both of his parents are now retired. As was common for other children living in mountainous regions, Won Bin spent most of his time playing around with friends in the mountains and rivers, and later explained: "I came back home most nights at sunset with a black and dusty face." He was frequently shy, introspective, and quiet, character traits that would continue to follow him throughout adulthood.^[12] While not talkative or outgoing, he excelled at athletics. Won Bin startedtaekwondo lessons and now holds ablack belt. As a young boy, he initially planned to become a car mechanic due to his interest in car racing and motorcycling. Won Bin graduated from a mechanical high school, where he studied car repair and mechanics.^{[citation needed]}

In November 1995, acable television station was looking to recruit and hire new actors; Won Bin applied and was accepted in his last semester of high school. He started to take acting classes at the station's headquarters and appeared in several dramas. The following month, Won Bin signed an acting contract with a talent agency.^{[citation needed]}

Won Bin made his screen debut with a supporting role in the 1997 filmPropose. His performance in the television seriesReady Go! (1998) helped hone his acting skills. AfterReady Go!, he took a break and entered Paekche Institute of the Arts to take acting classes. In 1999, Won Bin returned to the screen with a lead role in dramaKwangki from which he was recognized as a promising young actor and a teen heartthrob.

His big breakthrough came in 2000 with the television dramasTough Guy's Love (Kkokji) andAutumn in My Heart. His role as a rebellious youngest son in the critically-laudedKkokji proved his acting potential and put him on the A-list for Korean performers.Autumn in My Heart gained wide popularity outside of Korea, making him one of the most popular actors both in Korea and in Asia. In 2002, Won Bin was involved in the first South Korean and Japanese joint production dramaFriends.

Won Bin also had roles in several popular films, includingGuns & Talks andMy Brother, but it was his portrayal of the sensitive younger brother in the blockbuster war filmTaegukgi (2004) that showcased his acting abilities for an overseas audience and cemented his stardom internationally.Taegukgi was the best-selling film in South Korea in 2004 with 11.75 million tickets sold.

His career was interrupted by hismandatory service in theSouth Korean Army. After graduating from the Graduate School of Arts inYong-In University in 2005, Won Bin started his military duty in November 2005 and was stationed at theKorean Demilitarized Zone, a position for which he volunteered.^[13][14] On June 2, 2006, the military officially confirmed that Won Bin would no longer be active.^[15] The decision was made by the military when Won Bin sustained injury to hisACL. He underwent surgery and was officially discharged on June 7, 2006.^[16] After the surgery, he went through rehabilitation for more than a year to recover from the injury.

Won Bin was appointedUNICEF Goodwill Ambassador of the Korean Committee^[17] on September 6, 2007. He has participated in various programs and charity events in Korea forUNICEF since then and has appeared in several promotional videos.

In April 2008, Won Bin confirmed that his next film would beMother directed byBong Joon-ho. Filming started in September 2008 and finished in February 2009. The film was selected to compete in theUn Certain Regard section of the2009 Cannes Film Festival. This was followed by the 2010 filmThe Man from Nowhere, his final film appearance to date.^[18][19]

In July 2013, news broke that Won Bin and actressLee Na-young were in a relationship. The two got to know each other when Lee joined the same agency as Won in August 2011. The pair started dating a year later in August 2012.^[20] Won Bin married Lee on May 30, 2015, in a small, private ceremony in Won Bin's hometown ofJeongseon,Gangwon Province.^{[21][22][23][24]} A press release from their agency Eden 9 in August 2015 announced that the couple were expecting their first child.^[25][26]

• 2000:dream in HEAVEN photobook - 100 pages photo essays with photos taken in Bali, Indonesia and South Korea.
• 2002:WWW-Wonbin Wide pinup Web photobook - 40 pages photo essays.
• 2005:28 Day 'n Year Won Bin Premium Box Set - DVD & photobook - 60-minute DVD and 144 pages of photos with sincere essays written by Won Bin revolving around his private life and his photo session trip to South Korea, Czech Republic, and Japan as well as collector's gifts.
• 2006:BINUS DVD - To show his gratitude to his fans for their years of support, Won Bin has recorded this candid, personal DVD (60 minutes) to be shared just between him and us, the fans - hence the title BINUS (BINUS is the name of his official fan-club), before fulfilling his mandatory military service. It includes revealing footage and private life, with Won Bin re-visiting many places in his hometown to share with his fans his background and childhood memories.
• 2006:Dear Wonbin photobook - Designed like a diary book, with drawings by Won Bin.
• 2010:I Love You Private DVD & Photobook - 105-minute DVD and photobook, filmed in Ireland

In 2001, Won Bin became an exclusive model for Nadri Cosmetics, participating in a commercial video alongside korean singerPark Ji-yoon.^[27][28] In 2012, Won Bin became an endorsement model for the worldwide male cosmetics brand 'Biotherm Homme'.^[29][30] In 2020, OLZEN menswear brand would feature Won in their fall pictorial shoot.^[31]

As aUNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Won Bin has participated in various programs and charity events.

• 2007.09.06 - Appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
• 2007.10.03 - Attended the International Peace Marathon Festival in Seoul to raise fund forUNICEF.
• 2007.11.26 - Attended a charity fashion show to raise fund for UNICEF.
• 2008.02.28 - Attended the "Clean meals, Happy sharing" campaign sponsored by UNICEF and Hanwha Resort.^[32]
• 2008.06.24 - Promoting the Awoo Doll campaign.
• 2008.08.20 - Raised fund through photo project withLouis Vuitton andGQ Korea.^[33]
• 2008.11.27 - Promoting UNICEF Jumper to raise fund.
• 2008.12.22 - Visited an orphanage in Seoul and presented the children there with Christmas gifts.
• 2009.04.04-13 - VisitedGambia for UNICEF, visited relief center, hospital and schools.
• 2010.09.12-17 - VisitedEast Timor for UNICEF, watched over the vaccinations and educational work being done on site by UNICEF.

Many entertainers in South Korea see Won Bin as one of the best examples of a good looking man.

He was mentioned in the lyrics ofLadies' Code's singleKiss Kiss, composed by Super Changddai. The lyrics said, "난 오늘밤 꿈에서 난 원빈 오빠가 나타나 줄 텐데" (Tonight, in my dreams, Won Binoppa will appear).^[34] Members of the South Korean boy groupiKON had also mentioned him on several of their songs.Bobby said in the lyrics of his rap verse onMasta Wu's single "Come Here", "실력이 외모면 난 방탄 유리 앞에 원빈." (If skill equals to looks, I'm Won Bin in front of a bulletproof glass.)^[35] Won Bin's character inThe Man from Nowhere was referenced byKrystal Jung in the 2013 dramaThe Heirs, as well as by iKON'sB.I in the lyrics of his song with co-member Bobby, "Anthem" wherein he said, "날고 기어도 다 씹어 먹어줄게 Call me 아저씨." (We'll chew you up like raw meat, call meahjusshi.)^[36] In the 2015 Korean dramaKill Me, Heal Me, the character ofPark Seo-joon, Oh Ri-on, told Secretary Ahn that the elusive Writer Omega's looks were rumored to be "on the Won Bin level." In 2016 dramaGuardian: The Lonely and Great God,Kim Go-eun's character mentioned Won Bin whenLee Dong-wook's character asked for "a male name that women love".^[37]

• 2002:BVLGARI Brilliant Dreams Award (Japan)
• 2007: Appointed asUNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
• 2011: Best Jewellery Wearer Award (Japan)

• 2000: Best Dresser of the year
• 2002: Voted as the "April 2002 Most Beautiful Man" by MostBeautifulMan.com. The first Asian celebrity to win in this monthly poll.^[42]
• 2005: Voted #1 "Favorite Asian Star" (2005) in the readers' survey by Japanese magazine "CanCam".
• 2005: Voted #1 "Favorite Asian Star" (2005) in the readers' survey by Japanese magazine "an.an".^[43]
• 2006: Voted #1 "Favorite Asian Star" (2006) in the readers' survey by Japanese magazine "an.an".
• 2007: Voted #1 "Favorite Asian Star" (2007) in the readers' survey by Japanese magazine "an.an".

Wikimedia Commons has media related toWon Bin.

• Won Bin Official Website
• Won Bin at theKorean Movie Database
• Won Bin atIMDb
• Won Bin atHanCinema

• Best Actor for Grand Bell Awards winners
• UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors
• 20th-century South Korean male actors
• 21st-century South Korean male actors
• South Korean male film actors
• South Korean male television actors
• South Korean male models
• South Korean male taekwondo practitioners
• Yong In University alumni
• Male actors from Gangwon Province, South Korea
• People from Jeongseon County
• 1977 births
• Living people
• Best New Actor Paeksang Arts Award (television) winners

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