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Biography
Song Il-gook (Hangul: 송일국; Hanja: 宋一國; born October 1, 1971) is a South Korean actor and television personality. He rose to prominence as the title character in the historical drama Jumong (2007) which became one of the pioneers of Korean Wave. This was followed by starring roles in The Kingdom of the Winds (2008) and Jang Yeong-sil (2016).
From 2014 to 2016, Song and his fraternal triplet sons Dae-han, Min-guk and Man-se starred in KBS2's reality show The Return of Superman.
Early life and education
Song is the grandson of politician Kim Du-han, great grandson of Kim Jwa-jin, the famous anarchist and Korean independence movement general during the early 1900s. Song is the son of former and politician Kim Eul-dong.
He graduated from the Cheongju University and majored in Performing Arts and later attended Chung-Ang University to obtain a master's degree.
Career
Song is the vice-president of the Korean Triathlon Confederation and participated in the 2008 Seoul International Triathlon Competition. In April 2008, Song carried the Olympic torch through Seoul.
Song is also an armature sketch artist. He has also modeled professionally, both on the runway and in print. In 2008, he was one of the subjects of the Kolon Christmas Photo Shoot.
In 2009, the state of Hawaii designated March 21 as Song Il-gook day. In April 2010, he was invited to the Blue House to dine with heads of state, including the president of Kazakhstan, as Jumong garnered immense popularity in the central Asian country.
In October 2015, Song signed an exclusive contract with management agency C-JeS Entertainment.
Personal life
On March 15, 2008, Song was wed to High Court Judge Jung Seung-yeon in a private, traditional Korean wedding at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul.
Song adheres to a pescetarian diet for both health and ethical reasons.
Children
Song and wife Jung became parents to fraternal triplet sons at a hospital in Seoul in March 16, 2012. Their sons are named Dae-han, Min-guk and Man-se which, when said together mean "Long Live the Republic of Korea". Song and his three sons starred in the variety show The Return of Superman from July 6, 2014 to February 7, 2016. The triplets also made a cameo appearance in Song's television series Jang Yeong-sil (2016).
Filmography
TV series
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Did We Really Love? | MBC | |
| Goodbye My Love | MBC | ||
| Into the Sunlight | MBC | ||
| 2000 | All About Eve | MBC | |
| 2002 | Hard Love | Na Young-jae | KBS2 |
| Jang Hui-bin | Kim Chun-taek | KBS2 | |
| Album of Life | Shin Hyung-shik | KBS1 | |
| 2003 | Bodyguard | Han Sung-soo | KBS2 |
| Desert Spring | Ki-hyun | MBC | |
| 2004 | People of the Water Flower Village | Kang Sung-woo | MBC |
| Terms of Endearment | Na Jang-soo | KBS1 | |
| Emperor of the Sea | Yeom Moon/Yeom Jang | KBS2 | |
| 2006 | Jumong | Jumong, later King Dongmyeong | MBC |
| 2007 | Lobbyist | Harry/Kim Joo-ho | SBS |
| 2008 | The Kingdom of The Winds | Prince Muhyul, later King Daemusin | KBS2 |
| 2010 | A Man Called God | Michael King/Choi Kang-ta | MBC |
| 2011 | Crime Squad | Park Sae-hyuk | KBS2 |
| Fermentation Family | Ki Ho-tae | jTBC | |
| 2016 | Jang Yeong-sil | Jang Yeong-sil | KBS1 |
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Art of Seduction | Seo Min-jun |
| Red Eye | ||
| 2014 | Entangled | Hyun Ki-jeung |
| 2015 | Tattoo | Han Ji-soon |
Variety show
| Year | Title | Network | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-2016 | The Return of Superman | KBS2 | Series regular (Ep 34-116) |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actor | Album of Life |
| 2004 | Best Couple Award (With Han Ga-in) | Terms of Endearment | |
| 2005 | Excellence Award, Actor | Emperor of the Sea | |
| Popularity Award, Actor | |||
| Best Couple Award (With Soo Ae) | |||
| 2005 | KBS | Right Language Award | |
| 2006 | Grimae Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Jumong |
| 2006 | 14th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | Best TV Actor | |
| 2006 | MBC Drama Awards | Grand Prize/Daesang | |
| Top Excellence Award, Actor | |||
| 2007 | 19th Korea Producer's Awards | Best TV Actor | |
| 2007 | 41st Taxpayer's Day | Commendation from the Prime Minister | |
| 2008 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | The Kingdom of the Winds |
| Best Couple Award (With Choi Jung-won) | |||
| 2009 | Asia Model Festival Awards | Asia Star Awards | |
| 2011 | 2nd Republic of Korea Popular Culture and Arts Awards | Commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism | |
| 2012 | Goodwill Cooperation Service (GCS): | Award for Service Towards World Peace, Celebrities Who Serve category | |
| 2013 | 2nd Historical Drama Festival | Historical Drama Star Who's Brightened Korea | |
| 2014 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Special PD Award | The Return of Superman |
| 2015 | Excellence Award – Male Variety Category | ||
| 2016 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Jang Yeong-sil |