Hyun Bin

Hyun Bin's first film was Shower in 2002. However, it was not released due to lack of funding.[3][4] Hyun eventually made his debut as an actor in the 2003 television series Bodyguard.[5] He then starred in the sitcom Nonstop 4 and quirky romance drama Ireland,[6] and made his film debut the same year in the youth sports movie Spin Kick.[7]

Hyun shot to stardom with the 2005 romantic comedy series My Lovely Sam Soon with Kim Sun-a,[8] for which Hyun won the Top Excellence Award at the MBC Drama Awards. My Lovely Sam Soon was a massive hit with average ratings of over 37% and recorded 50.5% for the finale, making it one of the highest-rated Korean drama of all time.[9] The explosive popularity of the drama and his portrayal as Sam-sik established Hyun Bin as a top star in South Korea and a Hallyu star as his popularity expanded beyond South Korea to Japan and other countries in Asia.[10][11]

Following the success of My Lovely Sam Soon, Hyun starred in his first film as a lead actor in A Millionaire's First Love (written by internet novelist Guiyeoni).[12] The movie was a hit with the young audience.[13] Hyun's next television project, The Snow Queen, although underperformed, earned him his first Best Actor nomination at Baeksang Arts Awards.[14][15]

To expand his acting profile, Hyun started to choose more eclectic projects. In 2008, he acted in director Yoon Jong-chan's film I Am Happy, playing Man-soo, a man who suffers from mental illnesses. The movie was selected to screen at the 13th Busan International Film Festival in 2008, but it was not released in theaters until late 2009.[16][17] After The Snow Queen, Hyun returned to television with Worlds Within, which was well-received for Noh Hee-kyung's writing.[18] He was praised for his nuanced acting in the drama series.[19] In 2009, Hyun drew critical acclaim with his portrayal as a sociopath in the gangster saga Friend, Our Legend. To prepare for his role, he reportedly watched Kwak Kyung-taek's original film 20 to 30 times.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

In 2010, Hyun starred in Secret Garden, a romantic fantasy drama written by Kim Eun-sook.[27][28] The drama recorded its highest viewership ratings of 35%, and gained enormous popularity both domestically and internationally for its fashion, catchphrases and music.[29] His portrayal as Kim Joo-won created a "Hyun Bin Syndrome" as his name and face were plastered everywhere, from newspapers to television and the internet.[30] Hyun was recognized at the 2010 SBS Drama Awards and the 47th Baeksang Arts Awards for his stellar performance.[31][32] He also contributed to the soundtrack of the drama with "That Man", which peaked at number one in eight Korean music portals.[33][34][35]

In 2011, Hyun appeared in two films that were released back to back; Come Rain, Come Shine, a minimalist breakup indie directed by Lee Yoon-ki, and Late Autumn directed by Kim Tae-yong. Shot in Seattle, Late Autumn is an English-language remake of the 1966 Lee Man-hee classic, in which Hyun played a man on the run who falls in love with a woman who is on special leave from prison (Chinese actress Tang Wei).[36][37][38][39] It became the highest grossing Korean film released in China to date, taking in more than US$9.5 million over two weeks, which was unprecedented for a melodrama.[40] He received a good review from The Hollywood Reporter which stated, "It is Hyun who impresses more for not underplaying the dandy, narcissistic side of his personality."[41] Hyun walked the red carpet at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival, where the two films were both selected to be screened.[42][43][44] He described the honor as his "happiest achievement."[45][46]

On March 7, 2011, Hyun began his 21-month mandatory military service as a soldier in the Marine Corps.[47] He volunteered to serve in the Marine Corps, said to be the toughest branch of the Korean military,[48][49] as he had a good impression of the Marines.[50][51][52][53] Competition rate to enter the Marines at that time was 4:1[54] with Hyun placing in the top 5% of applicants.[55] [56][57] [58]Hyun applied to be a combat soldier. [58][55]The decision to join the Marines while at the peak of his career generated much interest in Korea and overseas.[49][59] Seven broadcasting companies, including Japan's NHK, requested access to the training camp.[49] During training, Hyun received citation as a special grade marksman for his performance in the shooting exercises.[60] The Corps originally planned to put Hyun on public relations duty; however due to public criticism and Hyun's reported desire to serve on the front line, Hyun was assigned on active duty to Baengnyeong Island, close to the Northern Limit Line and Yeonpyeong, site of a November 2010 artillery engagement between the North and South Korean forces.[61] [62]

After joining the Marines and completing six months into his service, Hyun participated in the "Seoul Reclamation Anniversary Marine Marathon Competition". He ran a 6.25 km long course with 400 exemplary senior marines. This event was held in remembrance of the historically significant event when the Marines won back the capital Seoul that had been taken during the 6.25 Korean War.[63]

He was discharged on December 6, 2012, and received a citation for being an exemplary soldier.[64][65][66][67] After the merger of their former agency AM Entertainment with SM Entertainment,[68] Hyun's reps announced in November 2012 that the actor and Shin Min-ah had decided to go independent and set up their own management agency O& Entertainment.[69]

Hyun Bin receiving the Producers’ Choice Award at the 2014 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival

Hyun spent most of 2013 shooting commercials as an in-demand product endorser,[70][71][72][73] and holding fan meetings all over Asia.[74] For his acting comeback after military service, Hyun chose The Fatal Encounter, his first ever period film, in which he played the leading role of King Jeongjo who faced fierce party strife and assassination attempts during his reign.[75][76][77][78] It was released in April 2014 and drew more than 3 million admissions.[79] However, Hyun was criticized for his flat tonation and lack of emotions in the film, which received mostly negative reviews.[80][81]

In 2015, Hyun made a comeback in the Korean drama scene after 4 years with romantic comedy series Hyde, Jekyll, Me. In the drama inspired by the literary character, he plays a man with split personality disorder whose two personas both fall for the same woman.[82]

In January 2016, Hyun set up his own agency, VAST Entertainment, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kakao M three years later.[83][84]

Hyun returned to silver screen with the action-thriller film titled Confidential Assignment (2017), where he plays the role of a North Korean detective that is secretly sent to South Korea to apprehend a crime ring that is made up of North Korean traitors.[85] The film was a success, and Hyun received positive reviews for his action scenes and comedic performance.[86] He then starred in crime action film The Swindlers, along with Yoo Ji-tae, about a prosecutor who plans to catch a con man who has swindled a large sum of money.[87][88][89] The Swindlers was another box office hit for Hyun.[90]

In 2018, Hyun starred in crime thriller The Negotiation, playing a villain role for the first time, alongside Son Ye-jin;[91][92] and zombie blockbuster Rampant (which was co-produced by VAST Entertainment).[93][94] The same year, he returned to the small screen with fantasy suspense drama Memories of the Alhambra alongside Park Shin-hye.[95][96] The series is one of highest rated Korean drama in cable television history, and Hyun was praised for his seemingly indifferent but humorous depiction of his character.[97]

In 2019, Hyun reunited with The Negotiation co-star Son Ye-jin in the hit romance drama Crash Landing on You as a North Korean army captain.[98][99] The drama was a huge success and is the third-highest-rated Korean drama in cable television history,[100] and Hyun was praised for his versatile range of emotions and acting skills.[101]

In 2020, Hyun is set to star as a NIS agent in the thriller film The Point Men, directed by Yim Soon-rye.[102]