Han Suk-kyu (Korean: 한석규; born November 3, 1964) is a South Korean actor. One of the leading actors ofKorean cinema, he rose to prominence in the 1990s with a string of critically acclaimed films, includingGreen Fish (1997),No. 3 (1997),The Contact (1997),Christmas in August (1998), and the action thrillerShiri (1999), which was a major box office success and marked a turning point for the Korean film industry. Following this successful period, Han took a hiatus from acting due to aherniated disc.

Han Suk-kyu
Han in 2019
Born	(1964-11-03)November 3, 1964 (age 60) Seoul, South Korea[1]
Education	Dongguk University - Theater and Film
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1990–present
Spouse	Im Myung-Ju ​ (m. 1998)​
Children	4
Korean name
Hangul	한석규
Hanja	韓石圭
Revised Romanization	Han Seok-gyu
McCune–Reischauer	Han Sŏkkyu

Upon his return, Han re-established himself as a versatile actor with roles in both film and television. His notable later works include the historical dramaDeep Rooted Tree (2011),^[2] the espionage thrillerThe Berlin File (2013), and the crime dramaThe Prison (2017). He is also well known for his portrayal of Teacher Kim in the popular medical dramaDr. Romantic (2016–2023).^[3][4] In addition, he appeared in the thriller seriesWatcher (2019) and the psychological dramaDoubt (2024).^[5]

While a student at the Theater and Film department ofDongguk University, he sang in an amateur folk rock band. He took a brief, year-long contract asvoice actor atKBS, before moving on to TV and film acting.^[6]

After a debut in the 1990MBC campus dramaOur Paradise, Han rose to stardom as "Hong-shik" inThe Moon of Seoul (1994), a charming gigolo from the slums determined to attain wealth at all cost in the big city. "Choon-seop", an old friend from hometown played byChoi Min-sik, struggles hopelessly to stop "Hong-shik" from his self-ruin. The partnership of Han and Choi as uneasy allies or foes, parlayed into two flagship films of the 1990s:No. 3 andShiri. Both the series and "Hong-shik" character have since become beloved icons, as part of the Korean television's golden era before the advent ofKorean Wave.^[7]

Before the end of the 20th century, Han headlined films that were critically acclaimed (Green Fish,No. 3) and commercially successful (The Contact,Christmas in August,^[8]Shiri — the latter two making particular impact in Japan).^[9]

Han's experience in the early stages of Korean cinema renaissance in the 1990s, cemented his belief in a script-driven model for movie-making. Thus the founding of "Makdong Script Festival" (named after his role inGreen Fish), with co-sponsor film magazineCine 21. Winners may claim two cash prizes funded by Han, with the potential to launch directing careers based from their own scripts. The annual contest is now extant over 10 years, with two titles produced so far: the comedy2424 (2002) andPrivate Eye (2009) starringHwang Jung-min.

Han went into an extended hiatus in 1999 declining several lucrative opportunities with name directors as he suffered disc problem.

Han returned in 2003 with espionage filmDouble Agent.^[10] The film, which netted one million admissions, was seen as a failure for a star labeled by the media as "box office guarantee." This was followed by a sizablebacklash fromnetizens and the press, who rushed to bury the co-self-produced spy thriller as the public disgrace of a former golden boy.^{[citation needed]}

His press and image took further beating in the next two, even more polarizing films: the unforeseen tragedy surroundingThe Scarlet Letter, and the incendiary political content ofThe President's Last Bang.^[11][12] Nonetheless, these controversial works screened at Cannes, and were featured in a tribute to the actor at the Austrian FilmAsia festival.^[13]

Despite this rocky return to feature films, Han remains well regarded by such major directors asPark Chan-wook,Lee Joon-ik,Kang Woo-suk andJang Jin. Compared to his peak popularity in the 90s, his work may seem an acquired taste for general audiences, although some cult following ensued for his ultra-sadistic turn inA Bloody Aria.^[14]

He remained self-managed until as late as 2006, before joining the KM Culture agency^[15] due to increased regimentation of the industry. Making 2006 a busy year, Han starred in period sex comedyForbidden Quest, followed by black comedy filmA Bloody Aria and melodrama filmSolace.^[16][17][18] Stylish thrillers followed, where Han starred alongsideCha Seung-won inEye for an Eye^[19] andSon Ye-jin in the adaptation ofKeigo Higashino novel ofWhite Night.^[20] Han then starred inVillain and Widow withKim Hye-soo.^[21]

Han returned to the spotlight with his performance in historical dramaDeep Rooted Tree, where his performance ofKing Sejong earned him the Grand Award at the 2011SBS Drama Awards.^[22]

In 2013, Han starred in the action thriller filmThe Berlin File, playing a South Korean agent.^[23] He then starred in musical filmMy Paparotti, playing a music teacher who is stuck in a rut until he meets a delinquent teenager.^[24]

He returned to the small screen in the historical dramaSecret Door, playingKing Yeongjo. This was followed by period filmThe Royal Tailor, about a rivalry between two tailors at theSanguiwon. However, both projects were less successful.^[25][26]

Han bounced back with the hit medical dramaDr. Romantic, written by acclaimed screenwriterKang Eun-kyung.^[27] The drama garnered over 20% viewership ratings, and Han received positive reviews for his performance.^[28] He also won the Grand Prize (Daesang) Award at the2016 SBS Drama Awards.

Han returned to the big screen in crime drama filmThe Prison.^[29] Han is slated to star in upcoming thrillersIdol andFather's War, and period drama filmAstronomy.^[30][31][32]

In 2019, Han starred in OCN's thriller dramaWatcher as a detective.^[33]

In 2020, Han reprised his role of Teacher Kim inDr. Romantic 2.^[34]

Known for his distinctive voice anddiction, Han has been a long-time mentor toKam Woo-sung, including coaching the latter'senunciation for his film debut inMarriage is a Crazy Thing. Actors of the younger generation also continue to cite him as an influence; among them:Hwang Jung-min,Ryoo Seung-bum,Kim Myung-min,Kim Joo-hyuk ofBlue Swallow,Kim Ji-soo ofThis Charming Girl,Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (who famously began a second career in Korea after seeing Han inShiri),Rain,Lee Sung-jae ofBarking Dogs Never Bite, TV heartthrobLee Jin-wook, and the current darling of independent films,Im Ji-kyu.^{[35][36][37][38][39]} He also remains well respected among major peers for his distinctive style (a cerebral and intricate minimalism driven bysemantics and implosive restraint):Kim Hye-soo,Song Kang-ho,Oh Dal-su (especially for their collaboration inForbidden Quest andA Bloody Aria),Sul Kyung-gu, andChoi Min-sik.^{[40][41][42][43]}

For his part, Han has cited influences by legendary Korean actorKim Seung-ho,Al Pacino,Ken Takakura,The Godfather trilogy, andHayao Miyazaki.^{[citation needed]}

On November 22, 1998, Han married KBS 21st voice actor Im Myung-ju, whom he dated from the days of the KBS Voice Actor Association.^[44] The couple have two sons and two daughters.^[45][46]

• Han Suk-kyu at theKorean Movie Database
• Han Suk-kyu atIMDb
• Han Suk-kyu atHanCinema