Sol Kyung-gu
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Sul Kyung-gu (; born May 14, 1967) is a South Korean actor. Upon his graduation in 1994, he appeared in numerous theatrical productions, such as the hit Korean adaptation of the German rock musical '' Subway Line 1'', and productions of
Sam Shepard Samuel Shepard Rogers III (November 5, 1943 – July 27, 2017) was an American playwright, actor, director, screenwriter, and author whose career spanned half a century. He wrote 58 plays as well as several books of short stories, essays, ...
's '' True West'' and A. R. Gurney's ''
Love Letters A love letter is a romantic way to express feelings of love in written form. Love Letter(s) or The Love Letter may also refer to: Film and television Film * ''Love Letters'' (1917 film), an American drama silent film * ''Love Letters'' ( ...
''. Sul is considered one of the leading actors representing Chungmu-ro in the 2000s, alongside
Choi Min-sik Choi Min-sik (; born May 30, 1962) is a South Korean actor. Known for his intense and transformative performances, he first gained recognition with the television series ''The Moon of Seoul'' (1994). His film breakthrough came with '' Shiri'' (1 ...
and
Song Kang-ho Song Kang-ho (; born January 17, 1967) is a South Korean actor. Regarded as one of the most influential actors in Korean cinema, he has appeared in critically acclaimed films across various genres. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, i ...
. He is best known for his collaborations with director
Lee Chang-dong Lee Chang-dong (; born July 4, 1954) is a South Korean film director, screenwriter, and novelist. He has directed six feature films: ''Green Fish'' (1997), ''Peppermint Candy (film), Peppermint Candy'' (1999), ''Oasis (2002 film), Oasis'' (2002) ...
in ''
Peppermint Candy ''Peppermint Candy'' () is a 1999 South Korean tragedy film by Lee Chang-dong. The film opens with the suicide of the protagonist and uses reverse chronology to depict some of the key events of the past 20 years of his life that led to this point ...
'' (1999) and ''
Oasis In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentPublic Enemy Public Enemy is an American Hip-hop, hip hop group formed in Roosevelt, New York, in 1985 by Chuck D and Flavor Flav. The group rose to prominence for their political messages including subjects such as Racism in the United States, American r ...
''
film series A film series or movie series is a collection of related films in succession that share the same fictional universe, or are marketed as a series. It is a type of series fiction. This article explains what film series are and gives brief examples ...
(2002–2008) for which he won the Baeksang Arts Award Grand Prize, and '' Silmido'' (2003) which became the highest-grossing film in South Korea at the time of release. He also won Best Actor at the
Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the newspaper ''Hankook Ilbo'', ...
for his performances in ''
Hope Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's own life, or the world at large. As a verb, Merriam-Webster defines ''hope'' as "to expect with confid ...
'' (2013) and ''
Kingmaker A kingmaker is a person or group that has great influence on a monarchy or royal in their political succession, without themselves being a viable candidate. Kingmakers may use political, monetary, religious, and military means to influence the ...
'' (2022). His other notable films include '' Jail Breakers'' (2002), '' Voice of a Murderer'' (2007), '' Tidal Wave'' (2009), '' The Tower'' (2012), '' Cold Eyes'' (2013), '' The Spy: Undercover Operation'' (2013), '' The Merciless'' (2017), '' Memoir of a Murderer'' (2017), and '' The Book of Fish'' (2021).


Early life and education

Sul was born in Seocheon,
South Chungcheong Province South Chungcheong Province (), informally called Chungnam, is a Administrative divisions of South Korea, province of South Korea in the Hoseo region in the southwest of the Korean Peninsula. South Chungcheong borders the provinces of Gyeonggi to ...
, on May 1, 1968. He is the second son, with one younger sister. He and his family moved to Dohwa-dong,
Mapo District Mapo District () is one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea. Mapo has a population of 381,330 (2015) and has a geographic area of 23.87 km2 (9.22 sq mi), and is divided into 24 '' dong'' (administrative neighborhoods). Mapo is located in ...
,
Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
when his father, who was a civil servant, transferred to the Mapo District Office. Sul attended and then enrolled in and . Sul's parents wanted him to go to an engineering college, thus guaranteeing him a stable job. However, Sul entered the Department of Theater and Film of
Hanyang University Hanyang University (HYU, ) is a Private university, private research university in Seoul and Ansan (ERICA campus), South Korea. ''Hanyang'' () derives from the Names of Seoul, former name of the capital Seoul used during the Joseon period. The u ...
with the idea of becoming a film director.


Career


1993–1997: Early career

Sul studied theater and film at
Hanyang University Hanyang University (HYU, ) is a Private university, private research university in Seoul and Ansan (ERICA campus), South Korea. ''Hanyang'' () derives from the Names of Seoul, former name of the capital Seoul used during the Joseon period. The u ...
(Class of '86). In May 1993, When Sul was in his 4th year of college, he directed a play for the 1st Young Theatre Festival, '. At that time, Sul planned to enter the 3rd KBS Talent Recruitment, but he had no choice but to give up the recruitment due to his professor's request. He was also active in Dongsung-dong since the second semester of his senior year, including guest directing play ''Bison'', a performance for the drama class at , as a part-time job. Gradually, he naturally gave up his dream of becoming a film director, and debuted in 1993 with the play ''Simbasame'' as Sul joined ''Hanyang Theater Company'', a theater company with alumni of the Department of Theater and Film at
Hanyang University Hanyang University (HYU, ) is a Private university, private research university in Seoul and Ansan (ERICA campus), South Korea. ''Hanyang'' () derives from the Names of Seoul, former name of the capital Seoul used during the Joseon period. The u ...
as the majority of its members. When Sul was in his 4th year of college, Sul received a full scholarship with straight-A credits and went up to the department at once. Before graduating from Hanyang University, he received invitations from his advisor to study master at Hanyang University graduate school or
Korea National University of Arts Korea National University of Arts () is a national university in Seoul, South Korea. Korea National University of Arts was established in 1993 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as the only national university of arts with an aim to ...
, but he refused. Sul continued his theatre activities in ''Hanyang Theater Company,'' however Sul didn't want to be under the shadow of his school. After graduating, Sul left the company. In May 1994, Sul asked a college senior who was the head of the planning department at the theater company ' for a part-time job. He met Kim Min-ki and was cast in the hit Korean adaptation of the German rock musical '. Sul participated in this production from the premiere in 1994 to 1996, playing all but two of the 80 roles, accumulating various experiences and acting skills and achieving great success. In addition, he has been active as a theater actor and musical actor in Daehakro, appearing in plays such as Korean productions of
Sam Shepard Samuel Shepard Rogers III (November 5, 1943 – July 27, 2017) was an American playwright, actor, director, screenwriter, and author whose career spanned half a century. He wrote 58 plays as well as several books of short stories, essays, ...
's '' True West'' and musical '. Since 1988, Sul began taking on minor roles in television. On stage, he was a star actor who played 14 roles, but in television dramas, he was just an aspiring actor. In the mid-1990s, Sul began taking on minor roles in feature films. In 1996, Sul made his screen debut in his first film '' A Petal'', playing the role of Woo-ri, a college student who is chasing the whereabouts of the female lead (
Lee Jung-hyun Lee Jung-hyun (; born February 7, 1980), also known by her occasional stage name Ava, is a South Korean singer and actress. She was first recognized for her acting abilities with award-winning role in her first film and has been solidified as on ...
), on the recommendation of director Shim Kwang-jin, a college classmate who was taking directing lessons from director Jang Seon-woo.


1998–2002: Career breakthrough

In 1997, Sul met Cha Seung-jae, the CEO of Sidus FNH, the producer of the film '' Girls' Night Out,'' which was released in 1998. Sul had a minor role, and his name was featured in the credits as an actor. Sul played a cartoonist who spends a night with Yeon (
Jin Hee-kyung Jin Hee-kyung (; born September 7, 1968) is a South Korean actress. Filmography Film Television series Awards References External links * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jin, Hee-kyung South Korean film actresses South Korean television actress ...
), a hotel employee in the play, and his acting was short but impressive. He then signed management contracts with Sidus HQ and made his breakthrough, with major roles in ''Rainbow Trout,'' ''Phantom: The Submarine,'' and ''The Bird That Stops in the Air'' (1999). In early 1999, Sul was selected for the lead role through an audition for director Lee Chang-dong's film ''
Peppermint Candy ''Peppermint Candy'' () is a 1999 South Korean tragedy film by Lee Chang-dong. The film opens with the suicide of the protagonist and uses reverse chronology to depict some of the key events of the past 20 years of his life that led to this point ...
.'' Initially, Sul failed in the first audition, but the director's wife, known as the playwright of the production Confession, saw him in the audition film she saw in the living room by chance, and recommended him, saying, "Here's Kim Young-ho", recognizing him as famous. In addition, director Lee Chang-dong revealed the reason for casting Sul Kyung-gu:
Unlike other actors, I rather liked that he hesitated and said that he had no confidence. He looked weak in charisma with an ordinary mask, but his face was different every time I saw him, and that seemed to enable him to express various colors as well as good and evil, so he was cast.
In film ''
Peppermint Candy ''Peppermint Candy'' () is a 1999 South Korean tragedy film by Lee Chang-dong. The film opens with the suicide of the protagonist and uses reverse chronology to depict some of the key events of the past 20 years of his life that led to this point ...
,'' Sul played Kim Yeong-ho, a
suicidal Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or acad ...
man devastated by the two-decades of historical change his country undergoes. After shooting for six months from mid-May to the end of September, the film debuted on October 14 of that year as the opening film at the 4th
Busan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF; ), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae District, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held fro ...
. The film was acclaimed and Sul received rave reviews. He swept 10 New Actor Awards and Best Actor Awards at the Korean Film Critics Association Award,
Chunsa Film Art Awards The Chunsa Film Art Awards (also known as the Icheon Chunsa Film Festival) have been presented in South Korea since the founding of the prize by the Korea Film Directors' Society in 1990. The awards take their name from the pen name of the earl ...
,
Blue Dragon Film Awards The Blue Dragon Film Awards () is an annual awards ceremony that is presented by ''Sports Chosun'' (a sister brand of the ''Chosun Ilbo'') for excellence in film in South Korea. The Blue Dragon Film Awards considers only blockbusters and popula ...
, Daejong Awards, and
Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the newspaper ''Hankook Ilbo'', ...
. Sul next appeared in the romantic comedy '' I Wish I Had a Wife'' with
Jeon Do-yeon Jeon Do-yeon (; born February 11, 1973) is a South Korean actress. She made her film debut with '' The Contact'' (1997), a melodrama that established her as a leading actress. She continued to gain acclaim with ''A Promise'' (1998), a romantic ...
in 2001, playing the role of Bong-su, an ordinary old bachelor bank clerk who yearns for romance. Then acted in a Japanese TV drama produced by
NHK , also known by its Romanization of Japanese, romanized initialism NHK, is a Japanese public broadcasting, public broadcaster. It is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television licence, television license fee. NHK ope ...
. In 2002, Sul starred in three major films. As a violent and unscrupulous police detective in ''
Public Enemy Public Enemy is an American Hip-hop, hip hop group formed in Roosevelt, New York, in 1985 by Chuck D and Flavor Flav. The group rose to prominence for their political messages including subjects such as Racism in the United States, American r ...
'', he won Best Actor at the
Grand Bell Awards The Grand Bell Awards (), also known as the Daejong Film Awards, is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea. The Grand Bell Awards retains prestige as the oldest co ...
and
Blue Dragon Film Awards The Blue Dragon Film Awards () is an annual awards ceremony that is presented by ''Sports Chosun'' (a sister brand of the ''Chosun Ilbo'') for excellence in film in South Korea. The Blue Dragon Film Awards considers only blockbusters and popula ...
respectively. In August, he starred in
Lee Chang-dong Lee Chang-dong (; born July 4, 1954) is a South Korean film director, screenwriter, and novelist. He has directed six feature films: ''Green Fish'' (1997), ''Peppermint Candy (film), Peppermint Candy'' (1999), ''Oasis (2002 film), Oasis'' (2002) ...
's acclaimed third film ''
Oasis In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentSilver Lion The Silver Lion (, also known as Silver Lion for Best Direction) is an annual award presented for best directing achievements in a feature film in the official competition section of the Venice Film Festival since 1998. The prize has been awar ...
for Best Director at the
Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival (, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival held in Venice, Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the ...
. Sul's portrayal of a mildly mentally disabled outcast with
sociopath Psychopathy, or psychopathic personality, is a personality construct characterized by impaired empathy and remorse, along with bold, disinhibited, and egocentric traits. These traits are often masked by superficial charm and immunity to st ...
ic inclinations won him Best Actor at the
Chunsa Film Art Awards The Chunsa Film Art Awards (also known as the Icheon Chunsa Film Festival) have been presented in South Korea since the founding of the prize by the Korea Film Directors' Society in 1990. The awards take their name from the pen name of the earl ...
,
Korean Association of Film Critics Awards The Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (), also known as the Critics Choice Awards (), is an annual awards ceremony for excellence in film in South Korea. It was established in 1980 by the Korean Association of Film Critics (KAFC). The ce ...
,
Korean Film Awards The Korean Film Awards was a South Korean film awards ceremony hosted by the broadcasting network MBC from 2002 to 2010. History Originally named the MBC Film Awards, the ceremony was first established in 2002. It was renamed the Korean Film Awa ...
,
Director's Cut Awards The Director's Cut Awards () is an annual awards ceremony for excellence in film in South Korea. It is presented by the Korea Film Director's Network (KFDN), a group of approximately 300 Korean filmmakers. The KFDN selects winners in the Korean ...
, and 29th
Seattle International Film Festival The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is a film festival held annually in Seattle, Washington, United States, since 1976. It usually takes place in late May and/or early June. It is one of the largest festivals in the world, and feature ...
. In November, he acted together with
Cha Seung-won Cha Seung-won (; born June 7, 1970) is a South Korean actor, who began his career as an in-demand model (person), fashion model in the 1990s. Cha achieved stardom through the hit comedy films ''Kick the Moon'' (2001), ''Jail Breakers'' (2002), ' ...
in a box office hit '' Jail Breakers'' by director Kim Sang-jin.


2003–2011: Success as a box-office actor

In 2003, Sul starred in '' Silmido'' directed by Cinema Service founder
Kang Woo-suk Kang Woo-suk (; born November 10, 1960, in Gyeongsan) is a South Korean film Film producer, producer and Film director, director. He has often been called the most powerful man in Korean cinema, topping Cine21 magazine's list of '50 Most Powerful ...
, which became the first Korean film in history to gross 10 million admissions. His next role was as the
title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piëce. The title o ...
in ''
Rikidōzan (born Kim Sin-rak; ; November 14, 1924 – December 15, 1963), better known as Rikidōzan (), was a Korean-born Japanese wrestler who competed in sumo and professional wrestling. He was known as The Father of Puroresu (professional wrestling ...
'', about the legendary ethnic Korean
pro wrestler Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...
who became a national hero in Japan in the 1950s. Sul gained 20 kilograms for the role and also delivered 95% of his lines in
Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
. Although his performance was acclaimed, the film vastly underperformed on its local release. In 2005, Sul starred in the
sequel A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music, or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...
'' Another Public Enemy'', which ended up outgrossing the original. This was followed by a second sequel, '' Public Enemy Returns'' in 2008. His other films '' Haeundae'' (2009), '' The Tower'' (2012) and '' Cold Eyes'' (2013) have also been box office hits. For his performance in '' Haeundae'', he won Grand Prize at the 2009 Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards, followed by Best Actor award at the 18th
Chunsa Film Art Awards The Chunsa Film Art Awards (also known as the Icheon Chunsa Film Festival) have been presented in South Korea since the founding of the prize by the Korea Film Directors' Society in 1990. The awards take their name from the pen name of the earl ...
for his performance in 2010 film '' No Mercy''. In October 2005, Sul Kyung-gu played the role of the male protagonist Andy in A. R. Gurney's ''
Love Letters A love letter is a romantic way to express feelings of love in written form. Love Letter(s) or The Love Letter may also refer to: Film and television Film * ''Love Letters'' (1917 film), an American drama silent film * ''Love Letters'' ( ...
'' by the theatre company Hanyang Repertory. It was directed Professor , his acting teacher. It was his comeback onstage for the first time in years since his latest the musical Subway Line 1.


2012–2015: Career resurgence

Sul Kyung-gu returned to the big screen after about a year and a half with the disaster film '' The Tower'' in December 2012. In 2013, Sul appeared in three movies, '' Cold Eyes'', '' The Spy: Undercover Operation'', and ''
Hope Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's own life, or the world at large. As a verb, Merriam-Webster defines ''hope'' as "to expect with confid ...
'' and mobilised a total of 1681 million viewers in 2013. He ranked 2nd after
Song Kang-ho Song Kang-ho (; born January 17, 1967) is a South Korean actor. Regarded as one of the most influential actors in Korean cinema, he has appeared in critically acclaimed films across various genres. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, i ...
in the box office actor. In director Lee Jun-ik's
family drama In film and television show, television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or docudrama, semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humour, humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional te ...
''
Hope Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's own life, or the world at large. As a verb, Merriam-Webster defines ''hope'' as "to expect with confid ...
'', which is based on the
child sexual assault A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''child ...
case known as the Cho Doo-soon case, Sul played the role of Dong-hoon, expressing the desperate need of a father to watch his daughter's pain and suffering, and resonating with the audience. He received favorable reviews for his excellent acting, and won the Best Actor at the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards. In a media interview, director Lee Jun-ik commented on Sul:
He was a very respectable actor. Before filming, he came to the scene with a lot of emotion and only looked at the wall, but when the filming started, he poured out his emotions terribly. Because of Sul Kyung-gu, he was able to complete 'Wish'. He is a great learner.
The following year, Sul starred in '' My Dictator'', as an aspiring actor who is forced to impersonate North Korean leader. For his performance in ''My Dictator'', he won Best Actor at the 35th Golden Cinematography Awards. Sul began teaching acting in 2014 at his
alma mater Alma mater (; : almae matres) is an allegorical Latin phrase meaning "nourishing mother". It personifies a school that a person has attended or graduated from. The term is related to ''alumnus'', literally meaning 'nursling', which describes a sc ...
Hanyang University, as an adjunct
professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...
in the College of Performing Arts. In 2015, Sul starred in the war drama film '' The Long Way Home'' alongside
Yeo Jin-goo Yeo Jin-goo (, born August 13, 1997) is a South Korean actor. Yeo began his career as a child actor, debuting in the film ''Sad Movie'' (2005). Nicknamed "Nation's Little Sister, Nation's Little Brother", he went on to play the younger characte ...
. Sul played the role of Jang Nam-bok, a farmer who is suddenly dragged to the battlefield with a newborn baby in the war film ''Western Front'', the directorial debut of playwright Cheon Seong-il. The film depicts the story of the confrontation between Jang Nam-bok of the South Korean Army and Kim Yeong-gwang (Yeo Jin-goo) of the North Korean Army ahead of the armistice agreement in July 1953. With this film, he took on the role of a soldier for the third time following the previous films ''Peppermint Candy'' and ''Silmido''.


2017–present: Film comeback and other ventures

In 2017, Sul starred opposite Im Si-wan in '' The Merciless''. It was shown out of competition in the Midnight Screenings section at the
70th Cannes Film Festival The 70th Cannes Film Festival took place from 17 to 28 May 2017, in Cannes, France. Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar was the president of the jury for the main competition. Italian actress Monica Bellucci hosted the opening and closing ceremon ...
on May 24, 2017. The film brought Sul to win Best Actor awards at the 54th Grand Bell Awards and 37th
Korean Association of Film Critics Awards The Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (), also known as the Critics Choice Awards (), is an annual awards ceremony for excellence in film in South Korea. It was established in 1980 by the Korean Association of Film Critics (KAFC). The ce ...
. He next starred in
thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...
'' Memoir of a Murderer'', as a retired serial killer with
Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...
. For his performance in ''Memoir of a Murderer'', Sul received Best Actor awards at the 17th
Director's Cut Awards The Director's Cut Awards () is an annual awards ceremony for excellence in film in South Korea. It is presented by the Korea Film Director's Network (KFDN), a group of approximately 300 Korean filmmakers. The KFDN selects winners in the Korean ...
in 2017 and the 9th Korea Film Reporters Association Film Awards (KOFRA) in 2018. The release of Sul's third film in 2017, ''
I Want to Know Your Parents ''I Want to Know Your Parents'' () is a 2022 South Korean mystery drama film directed by Kim Ji-hoon and written by Gim Gyung-mi. Based on a Japanese theatrical play ''Oya no Kao ga Mitai'' by Seigo Hatasawa, the film stars Sul Kyung-gu, Ch ...
'', has been postponed indefinitely following the scandal of actor
Oh Dal-su Oh Dal-su (; born 15 June 1968) is a South Korean character actor who has appeared on television, film, and stage. His acting career spans over 35 years. Oh is best known for his supporting roles in director Park Chan-wook's films, having appear ...
. Sul next starred in a 2019 film ''
Idol Idol or Idols may refer to: Religion and philosophy * Cult image, a human-made object that is venerated or worshipped for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents * Murti, a devotional image of a deity or saint used during puja ...
'' opposite Han Suk-kyu and Chun Woo-hee, which opened in March. Despite the solid acting by three senior actors, ''Idol'' received mix reviews. In April 2019, Sul reunited with
Jeon Do-yeon Jeon Do-yeon (; born February 11, 1973) is a South Korean actress. She made her film debut with '' The Contact'' (1997), a melodrama that established her as a leading actress. She continued to gain acclaim with ''A Promise'' (1998), a romantic ...
, eighteen years after ''I Wish I Had a Wife'', in the film ''
Birthday A birthday is the anniversary of the birth of a person or figuratively of an institution. Birthdays of people are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with birthday gifts, birthday cards, a birthday party, or a rite of passage. Many religion ...
''. The film, inspired by the Sinking of MV ''Sewol'' tragedy, deals with the struggles faced by a couple who lose their son in a tragic accident. The film had its international premiere at the 2019 Far East Film Festival in
Udine Udine ( ; ; ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northeastern Italy, in the middle of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic Sea and the Carnic Alps. It is the capital of the Province of Udine, Regional decentralization entity ...
. The same year, Sul starred in the human comedy film ''Man to Men'' with Cho Jin-woong. Sul has reunited with '' The Merciless'' director Byun Sung-hyun for the film ''
Kingmaker A kingmaker is a person or group that has great influence on a monarchy or royal in their political succession, without themselves being a viable candidate. Kingmakers may use political, monetary, religious, and military means to influence the ...
''. It was released in December 2021. In 2022 Sul was honoured by 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival by hosting an actor special exhibition 'The Actor, Sul Kyung-gu' focusing on actor Sul Kyung-gu's 29-year acting career along with various events such as the publication of a commemorative booklet entitled 'Sul Kyung-gu is Snow Gyeong-gu', and mega talk during the festival. In May 2025,
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
announced that Sul will be one of the main characters of their new drama ''The Rat'', alongside with
Ryu Jun-yeol Ryu Jun-yeol (; born September 25, 1986) is a South Korean actor, activist, and photographer. Ryu began his acting career in independent films and gained attention for his role in the feature film '' Socialphobia'' (2015). He rose to internatio ...
.


Other activities


Philanthropy

Sul and his wife Song Yoon-ah supported the entire cost of surgery for Ha-jin, who was suffering from
congenital heart disease A congenital heart defect (CHD), also known as a congenital heart anomaly, congenital cardiovascular malformation, and congenital heart disease, is a defect in the structure of the heart or great vessels that is present at birth. A congenital he ...
. In July 2010, they visited Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. In April 2014, Sul Kyung-gu, along with Song Yoon-ah, said through the Korean Committee for
UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
, "I felt pain that is difficult to express in words while watching the Sewol ferry disaster. I sincerely hope for recovery," and donated to the victims of the sinking of MV ''Sewol''. On February 13, 2023, Sul and Song Yoon-ah donated to assist with recovery efforts for the
2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes On 6 February 2023, at 04:17 Time in Turkey, TRT (01:17 Coordinated Universal Time, UTC), a  7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Ba'athist Syria, Syria. The epicenter was west–northwest ...
, through Korea's UNICEF Committee with participation in the Emergency Relief for Children Victims of the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria programme.


Personal life


Relationships

Sul married the younger sister of actor
Ahn Nae-sang Ahn Nae-sang (; born December 25, 1964) is a South Korean actor. He began his career on the stage, and in 1994 made his film debut in the Bong Joon-ho short film ''Baeksekin'' ("White Man" or "White-collar worker"), followed by Jang Sun-woo's ...
in 1996. They have one daughter together. After being separated for four years, Sul and his wife divorced on July 21, 2006. On May 28, 2009, Sul married actress Song Yoon-ah. They have one son together. Sul and Song previously worked together in the films '' Jail Breakers'' (2002) and ''Lost in Love'' (2006).


Filmography


Film


Television series


Music video appearances


Stage credit


Musical


Theater


Awards and nominations


Listicles


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sol, Kyung-gu 1967 births Living people South Korean male film actors South Korean male stage actors South Korean male television actors 20th-century South Korean male actors 21st-century South Korean male actors Hanyang University alumni Male actors from South Chungcheong Province Best New Actor Paeksang Arts Award (film) winners Grand Prize Paeksang Arts Award (Film) winners