Hwang Jung-min

Hwang has starred in numerous box office hits such as The Unjust (2010), Dancing Queen (2012), New World (2013), Ode to My Father (2014), Veteran (2015), The Himalayas (2015), A Violent Prosecutor (2016), The Wailing (2016), The Spy Gone North (2018), Deliver Us from Evil (2020), and 12.12: The Day (2023). His role in the latter earned him Best Actor at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards.

• Name — Hwang Jung-min • Born — 1 September 1970 • Birthplace — Masan, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea • Education — Seoul Institute of the Arts – Theater • Years Active — 1994–present • Agent — SEM Company • Children — 2 • Height Cm — 182 Hwang Jung-min (born September 1, 1970) is a South Korean actor. One of the highest-grossing actors in South Korea, Hwang is the second actor to join the "100 Million Viewer Club" in Chungmuro. He began his career in musical theatre and first established himself as a leading man in the romantic drama You Are My Sunshine (2005). Hwang has starred in numerous box office hits such as The Unjust (2010), Dancing Queen (2012), New World (2013), Ode to My Father (2014), Veteran (2015), The Himalayas (2015), A Violent Prosecutor (2016), The Wailing (2016), The Spy Gone North (2018), Deliver Us from Evil (2020), and 12.12: The Day (2023). His role in the latter earned him Best Actor at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards.

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." 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." He received further acclaim for his roles as an insurance investigator in Black House, a troubled club CEO who falls in love with a woman with a terminal illness in Happiness, a superhero in A Man Who Was Superman and a private detective in Private Eye. Hwang has said that when choosing scripts, he looks at the overall storyline rather than the character itself. 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. "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."

He made a triumphant return to the stage in the 2008 production of Nine. 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. He has since starred in University of Laughs, The Wedding Singer and Man of La Mancha. Hwang says, "A movie is the art of a director but the play is the art of an actor." 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. 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. He then starred in The Unjust, a highly acclaimed noir about corruption in the South Korean justice system; followed by conspiracy film Moby Dick as a reporter. 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. He returned to TV in the 2012 cable drama Korean Peninsula, but it was less successful. In late 2012, Hwang made his debut as a theatre director in Stephen Sondheim's musical Assassins, which he also starred in.

• Illustration — Hwang at the 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards in 2013 Hwang returned his focus to films, starring in noir film New World (2013), where his performance was singled out by The New York Times. 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. 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. Then later in the year, Hwang headlined Ode to My Father, embodying the South Korean everyman against the backdrop of recent Korean and world history since the 1950s. 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. 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. The film was another smash hit, and is currently the 3rd all-time highest-grossing film in Korean cinema history. 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. In 2016, he starred alongside Kang Dong-won in the crime comedy A Violent Prosecutor, which became the second highest-grossing film of 2016. This was followed by Na Hong-jin's critically acclaimed horror The Wailing, and noir film Asura: The City of Madness, which premiered at the 41st Toronto Film Festival. Hwang was named Gallup Korea's Films Actor of the Year for 2016. Hwang then starred in the war film The Battleship Island alongside So Ji-sub and Song Joong-ki. The film marks his second collaboration with director Ryoo Seung-wan following Veteran. In 2018, he starred in The Spy Gone North, a spy film directed by Yoon Jong-bin. It was another critical and commercial success for Hwang, grossing over $38 million worldwide and reaching its break-even point. In 2020, Hwang starred in the action thriller Deliver Us from Evil, which became one of South Korea's major box-office successes of the year. He also appeared in the series Hush, marking his first television role in eight years. In 2021, he headlined the thriller Hostage: Missing Celebrity, in which he played a fictionalized version of himself. In 2022, Hwang appeared in the Netflix crime series Narco-Saints, portraying a South Korean drug lord.

In 2023, he starred in the action drama The Point Men and the historical political thriller 12.12: The Day, portraying a coup leader and head of the Defense Security Command based on Chun Doo-hwan. The film became the highest grossing South Korean film of the year and earned Hwang numerous awards, including the Blue Dragon Film Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Actor. In 2024, Hwang appeared in the action comedy Mission: Cross and the action thriller I, the Executioner, the sequel to Veteran, marking his return as police detective Seo Do-cheol nine years later.

Hwang married musical theatre actress Kim Mi-hye on September 6, 2004. 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. I breathe only when I act." He enjoys playing musical instruments as a hobby. He learned to play the drums for his role in Waikiki Brothers. For The Battleship Island, he performed a clarinet scene himself using skills developed through his long-time hobby. He also played the clarinet for the OST of the drama Hush and has taken cello lessons.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference(s) • 2009 — The Accidental Couple — Gu Dong-baek • 2012 — Korean Peninsula — Seo Myung-joon • 2020 — Hush — Han Joon Hyuk • 2022 — Narco-Saints — Jeon Yo-hwan • 2025 — Nine Puzzles — Oh Cheol-jin — Cameo

• Year — Title — Artist — Ref. Reference(s) • 2005 — "On One's Way Back" — Na Eol • 2016 — "What A Wonderful Cane" — Lee Dong-woo • 2021 — "Thank U" — Yunho • "Nothing Special with the Day" — Im Chang-jung

Musical play performances • Year — Title — Role — Theater — Date — Ref. Reference(s) • English — Korean • 1995 — Subway Line 1 (Korean musical) — 지하철 1호선 — Cheolsu, Washboard, Little Bastard, Minister's Widow — Hakjeon Blue Theater Small Theater — May 2 • 1995 — Dog Poop — 개똥이 — wheel, earthworm — Seoul Arts Center Towol Theater — October 17 to November 5 • 1996 — Subway Line 1 (Korean musical) — (제20회) 서울연극제; 지하철 1호선 — Cheolsu, Washboard, Little Bastard — Hakjeon Blue Theater Small Theater — September 10 • 1997 — Jesus Christ Superstar — 지저스 크라이스트 슈퍼스타 — Simone, a member of the ensor — Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Auditorium — December 24 to 28 • 1998 — Blood Brothers — 의형제 — ugly, man 1, policeman 1, student — Pre-school Green Small Theater — September 1 • 1997 — Dog Poop — 개똥이 — wheel, earthworm — Cultural Center Grand Theater — March 29 to April 9 • 1999 — Moskito — 모스키토 — Baek Ga-ri — Hakjeon Blue Theater Small Theater — May 1 to August 15 • Cats — 캣츠 — Rum tum tuger • 2001 — Tommy — 토미 — Tommy — Sejong Center for the Performing Arts — November 4 to 11 • 2001 — Line 1 — 지하철 1호선 — Mundi, Kim Byeong-jang, ppallaepan, Office Worker, Minister's Widow — Hakjeon Blue Theater Small Theater — March 15 to 18 • April 27 to June 17 • 2004 — 42nd Street — 브로드웨이 42번가 — Billy Lorre — Popcorn House in Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul — May 15 to August 1 • 2008 — Nine — 나인 — Guido Contini — LG Arts Center — January 22 • 2009-2010 — The Wedding Singer — 웨딩 싱어 — Robby Heart — Chungmu Art Hall grand theater — November 27 to January 31 • 2012 — Man of La Mancha — 맨 오브 라만차 — Miguel de Cervantes Don Quijote — Charlotte Theater — Juni 19 to December 31 • 2012-2013 — Assassins — 어쌔신 — Charlie Guiteau — Doosan Art Center Yeongang Hall — November 20 to February 3 • 2015–2016 — Okepi (Orchestra Pit) — 오케피 — Commander — LG Arts Center — December 18 to February 28

Theater play performances • Year — Title — Role — Theater — Date — Ref. Reference(s) • English — Korean • 1991 — Hamlet — 햄릿 — Ozrik • 1993 — Rhinoceros — 코뿔소 — Waitress — Batangol Small Theater — January 30 to March 3 • 1993 — Birthday Party — 생일파티 — Stage Director — Dongsung Art Center Small Theater — August 8 to September 5 • 1993 — Male Impulse — 남자충동 — Mr. Park — Cultural Center grand theater — October 3 to 8 • Hoam Art Hall — October 10 to November 2 • 2008-2009 — University of Laughs — 웃음의 대학 — Writer — Dongsung Art Center Dongsung Hall — October 24 to November 30 • 2018 — Richard III — 리처드 3세 — Richard III — Seoul Arts Centre CJ Towol Theatre — February 6 to March 4 • 2019 — Oedipus — 오이디푸스 — Oedipus — Seoul Arts Centre CJ Towol Theatre — January 29 to February 24 • Moakdang, Korea Sound Culture Center, Jeonju — March 8 to 9 • Guri Art Hall Cosmos Grand Theater — March 22 to 23 • GS Caltex Yeulmaru Grand Theater, Yeosu — March 29 to 31 • Ulsan Culture and Arts Center Main Performance Hall — April 5 to 6 • 2021–2022 — Richard III — 리처드 3세 — Richard III — Seoul Arts Centre CJ Towol Theatre — January 11 to February 13 • 2024 — Macbeth — 맥베스 — Macbeth — National Theater's Haeoreum Theater — July 13 to August 18

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement • Publisher — Year — Listicle — Placement — Ref. Reference(s) • Forbes — 2014 — Korea Power Celebrity 40 — 25th • 2016 — 14th • Gallup Korea — 2005 — Film Actor of the Year — 4th • 2014 — 19th • 2015 — 3rd • 2016 — 1st • 2017 — 4th • 2018 — 8th • 2019 — 9th • 2020 — 4th • 2021 — 6th • 2022 — 5th • 2023 — 4th • The Screen — 2019 — 2009-2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies — 2nd

Hwang Jung-min began his career in musical theatre, making his acting debut in Line 1 in 1995. 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." 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.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference(s) • 1990 — The General's Son — Bar waiter — Bit part • 1999 — Shiri — Special Investigation Team Agent — Bit part • 2001 — Waikiki Brothers — Kang-soo • 2002 — YMCA Baseball Team — Ryu Kwang-tae • Road Movie — Dae-shik • 2003 — A Good Lawyer's Wife — Ju Yeong-jak • 2004 — The Wolf Returns — Go Jeong-sik • 2005 — This Charming Girl — Writer • A Bittersweet Life — Baek Dae-sik — Cameo • Heaven's Soldiers — Park Jung-woo • You Are My Sunshine — Seok-joong • All for Love — Na Do-chul • 2006 — Bloody Tie — Do Jin-kwang • Over the Hedge — RJ (voice) — Korean dub • 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 — Min Jae-in — Segment: "In My End Is My Beginning" • 2010 — Blades of Blood — Hwang Jeong-hak • The Unjust — Choi Cheol-gi • 2011 — Battlefield Heroes — Kim Beob-min — Cameo • 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 — Money — Orderer — Voice cameo • 2020 — Deliver Us From Evil — Kim In-nam • 2021 — Hostage: Missing Celebrity — Himself • 2022 — Hunt — Lieutenant Lee — Cameo • 2023 — The Point Men — Jung Jae-ho • Kill Boksoon — Shinichiro Oda / Kim Kwang-li — Cameo • 12.12: The Day — Chun Doo-gwang • 2024 — Mission: Cross — Park Kang-moo • I, the Executioner — Seo Do-cheol • 2026 — Hope — Ko Beom-seok

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination • Award ceremony — Year — Category — Nominee / Work — Result — Ref. Reference(s) • Asian Film Awards — 2024 — Best Actor — 12.12: The Day • Baeksang Arts Awards — 2006 — Best Actor – Film — You Are My Sunshine • 2013 — New World • 2016 — Veteran • Grand Prize – Film — Veteran / The Himalayas / A Violent Prosecutor • 2024 — Best Actor – Film — 12.12: The Day • Blue Dragon Film Awards — 2002 — Best New Actor — Road Movie • 2005 — Best Actor — You Are My Sunshine • Best Couple Award — Hwang Jung-min (with Jeon Do-yeon) You Are My Sunshine • Best Supporting Actor — A Bittersweet Life • 2007 — Popular Star Award — Happiness • Best Actor • 2013 — New World • 2015 — Veteran • 2020 — Deliver Us from Evil • 2024 — 12.12: The Day • Buil Film Awards — 2013 — Best Actor — New World • 2016 — Veteran • Best Supporting Actor — The Wailing • 2018 — Best Actor — The Spy Gone North • 2020 — Deliver Us from Evil • 2024 — 12.12: The Day • Busan Film Critics Awards — 2002 — Best New Actor — Road Movie • 2006 — Best Actor — Bloody Tie • Chunsa Film Art Awards — 2005 — Best Actor — You Are My Sunshine • 2009 — Private Eye • 2014 — New World • 2015 — Ode to My Father • 2017 — Best Supporting Actor — The Wailing • 2022 — Best Actor — Hostage: Missing Celebrity • Director's Cut Awards — 2002 — Best New Actor — Road Movie • 2015 — Best Actor — Ode to My Father • 2023 — Best Actor in a Series — Narco-Saints • 2024 — Best Actor in Film — 12.12: The Day • Fantasia Festival — 2011 — Best Actor — Hwang Jung-min (with Ryoo Seung-bum) The Unjust • Golden Cinema Festival — 2015 — Grand Prize (Daesang) — Ode to My Father • Golden Cinematography Awards — 2006 — Best Actor — You Are My Sunshine • Golden Ticket Awards — 2009 — Korea's Top Film Star — Hwang Jung-min • Grand Bell Awards — 2002 — Best New Actor — Waikiki Brothers • 2003 — Best Actor — Road Movie • 2005 — Best Supporting Actor — A Bittersweet Life • 2006 — Best Actor — You Are My Sunshine • 2008 — Happiness • 2012 — Dancing Queen • 2013 — New World / Fists of Legend • 2015 — Ode to My Father • 2016 — Best Supporting Actor — The Wailing • 2018 — Best Actor — The Spy Gone North • Jecheon International Music & Film Festival — 2015 — Best Actor — Ode to My Father • KBS Drama Awards — 2009 — Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries — The Accidental Couple • Top Excellence Award, Actor • Korea Film Actor's Association Awards — 2013 — Top Star Award — New World • Korea Musical Awards — 2012 — Best Actor — Man of La Mancha • Korean Association of Film Critics Awards — 2002 — Best New Actor — Road Movie • 2013 — Best Actor — New World • Korean Film Awards — 2002 — Best Supporting Actor — Waikiki Brothers • 2003 — Best Actor — Road Movie • Best New Actor • 2005 — Best Actor — You Are My Sunshine • Best Supporting Actor — A Bittersweet Life • 2006 — Best Actor — Bloody Tie • Korean Film Producers Association Awards — 2015 — Best Actor — Ode to My Father • Max Movie Awards — 2006 — Best Actor — You Are My Sunshine • 2014 — New World • 2015 — Ode to My Father • 2016 — The Himalayas • Seoul Institute of the Arts Alumni Association — 2019 — Light of Life Award — Hwang Jung-min • Seoul Senior Citizen Movie Awards — 2015 — Movie Couple Award — Hwang Jung-min (with Yunjin Kim) Ode to My Father • The Musical Awards — 2008 — Best Actor — Nine • The Seoul Awards — 2017 — Best Actor in Film — The Battleship Island

Name of country, year given, and name of honor • Country — Ceremony — Year — Honor or Award — Ref. Reference(s) • South Korea — Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards — 2023 — Presidential Commendation • 45th Taxpayers' Day — 2011 — Presidential Commendation