Yoon Kye-sang

Yoon Kye-sang (Korean: 윤계상; born December 20, 1978) is a South Korean actor and singer. He began his career in 1999 as part of the K-pop boy band g.o.d, then left the group in 2004 and pursued an acting career. He made his acting debut in the film Flying Boys (2004), for which he won Best New Actor at the Baeksang Arts Awards. Yoon became active in both television and film, with leading roles in romantic comedies such as My 19 Year Old Sister-in-Law (2004) and Who Are You? (2008) and the melodrama Crazy for You (2007), as well as more serious fare in The Moonlight of Seoul (2008) and The Executioner (2009). After a supporting turn in the hit series The Greatest Love (2011), he returned to the big screen in the well-received indie Poongsan (2011).[1]

Yoon Kye-sang
Born (1978-12-20) December 20, 1978
Seoul, South Korea
EducationChungkang College of Cultural Industries
Kyung Hee University
OccupationActor, singer
Years active1999–present
Musical career
GenresK-pop, R&B
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1999–2004
2014–present
Associated acts
Yoon Kye-sang
Hangul
윤계상
Hanja
尹啓相
Revised RomanizationYun Gye-sang
McCune–ReischauerYun Kye-sang

Career

1999–2004: Pop star beginnings

In 1997 Yoon answered an advertisement for Park Joon-hyung's project music group and had auditioned with aspirations of becoming a rock star. Along with Danny Ahn, Son Ho-young, Kim Sun-a and producer and singer-songwriter Park Jin-young, the group was initially called "GOT6".[2] Kim Sun-a left to pursue acting and was replaced by Kim Tae-woo. The group became a five-member boy band called g.o.d, short for "Groove Over Dose", and debuted in January 1999.[2] Despite the lukewarm response to their debut performance, the group would go on to establish themselves as one of the most popular boy bands of the early 2000s. However, he left the band in 2004 and went into acting,[3] making his film debut in Flying Boys, directed by Byun Young-joo.[4][5] He made his television debut that same year in My 19 Year Old Sister-in-Law with Jung Da-bin.[6][7]

Some of the group's fans called Yoon a "traitor" for leaving g.o.d. The group would release their seventh and final album before going on indefinite hiatus in December 2005.[8]

Military service

Having just departed from g.o.d, Yoon was at the height of his popularity, but had to interrupt his nascent acting career due to mandatory military service.[9] He enlisted in the Republic of Korea Army on December 7, 2004, and was assigned to the 102nd Reserves at Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on the Korean Demilitarized Zone.[10][11] After completing basic training and serving there for some time, Yoon was reassigned in 2006 to duties as an "entertainment soldier" in the newly formed group Korean Forces Network, which provides television and radio broadcasts to soldiers, and also allows celebrities to maintain a public profile while completing their military service.[9] He was discharged from the army on December 6, 2006. In an interview that day, he said that he had not slept the night before and was very tired, but looked forward to seeing his fans; he further stated that he planned to resume his career in 2007.[12]

As late as June 2011, his military service still earned him public attention, when a round-cheeked photo of him in uniform "went viral" among South Korean internet users. The photos received many amused comments for his then-fat cheeks, forming a sharp contrast with his more recent appearance.[13]

2007–2013: Acting career

In January 2007, Yoon returned to show business in the television drama Crazy in Love (also known as Crazy for You); he portrayed a gangster who falls in love with the widow (Lee Mi-yeon) of a man he'd accidentally killed.[14][15] The following year, he and Kim Ha-neul were cast in Lovers of Six Years, playing a couple in a six-year relationship. According to Kim, her initial perception of Yoon was that he was very shy, whereas Yoon perceived Kim as snobby, so it took them some time to break the ice and establish a good working relationship.[16] Later that year, he took a dual role in the comedy television series Who Are You?, playing a cold-hearted corporate raider who, in the aftermath of a traffic accident, becomes possessed by the spirit of a cheerful deliveryman for a few hours each day.[17] At the same time he took a starring role opposite Ha Jung-woo in Beastie Boys (also known as The Moonlight of Seoul), portraying a worker in a host club; The Korea Times movie review praised him for his "gripping performance."[18]

In 2009, he left his agency SidusHQ and joined My Name Is Entertainment. After doing a lighter role in the slice-of-life drama Triple,[19] Yoon starred in the movie The Executioner, which examined capital punishment in South Korea; it debuted at the 14th Busan International Film Festival. Yoon played the role of a junior prison guard who takes up his post after failing an examination, and unluckily finds himself assigned to carry out executions after the only other guard in the prison with such experience quits.[20] Just before the movie came out, he made controversial remarks in an interview with GQ Korea stating that the South Korean movie industry was dominated by leftists. As controversy rose among internet users over his remarks, he quickly made an apology for what he described as his "ignorance."[5] He also became part of the ensemble cast in Come, Closer, a 2010 omnibus feature that follows the broken relationships of five couples.[21][22]

After his highly anticipated big-budget Korean War drama Road No. 1, tanked in the ratings,[23][24] Yoon said he wanted to play a character "who gets loved by the public" and took on a supporting role as a sweet, kind doctor in romantic comedy The Greatest Love.[25]

The drama's success and Yoon's popularity in it helped bring attention to his next project, the low-budget, gritty indie Poongsan.[26][27] Director Juhn Jai-hong fought to cast Yoon against type as the titular taciturn messenger, saying that he'd been impressed by the piercing gaze Yoon had shown in previous films.[28] Calling it "a meaningful project," Yoon enjoyed the difficult acting challenge of telling the story only through his eyes, facial expressions and body movements.[29][30][31] He was recognized with Best Actor nominations from the 2011 Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards.

After starring in the third season of popular sitcom High Kick!,[32] he was cast in the action thriller The Suspect,[33] but withdrew when co-star Choi Min-sik backed out. He also pulled out from Acting Class when the big-screen comedy encountered pre-production delays.[34][35][36]

In May 2012, he transferred to a new agency, A List Entertainment. Then Yoon and close friend, actor Kwon Se-in (who uses the stage name Kwon Yul) filmed the reality/travelogue program Real Mate in Sydney for seven days and six nights.[37] Kwon also appeared on Yoon Kye-sang's One Table, a reality show on cable channel O'live that helped fulfill Yoon's dream of owning a restaurant.[38] After honing his cooking skills and learning culinary secrets, Yoon prepared a feast for his former band members g.o.d on the show's season finale; it was also the first time in eight years all five members of g.o.d appeared on television together.[39][40]

Yoon then appeared in Kim Jee-woon's short film One Perfect Day in 2013.[41] He also starred in a Chinese film titled Hello My Love,[42] which premiered online and garnered over 100 million hits.[43]

Yoon then signed with a new talent agency, Saram Entertainment.[44]

2014–present: Return to g.o.d and reunion

In early 2014 it was announced that g.o.d would be reuniting as a five-piece to celebrate their 15th anniversary. It also marked Yoon's return to the music industry after a decade.[45] They released their eighth album in July and afterwards embarked on a successful nationwide concert tour.[46][47] Yoon wrote the lyrics for the song "Wind" (바람), which was released after the conclusion of their nationwide tour as a gesture of gratitude to fans.[48]

In 2014, Yoon starred in the melodrama series The Full Sun, in which he played a con man who enters a complicated romance with a jewelry heiress.[49][50] This was followed by the romantic comedy film Red Carpet, in the role of an adult film director who dreams of making his first commercial feature.[51][52]

Minority Opinion (also known as The Unfair), Yoon's film where he played a public defender whose client is accused of killing a riot policeman during a forced demolition, which had wrapped filming in 2013,[53] finally received a theatrical release in 2015.[54] He next starred in Last, a cable series based on Kang Hyung-kyu's webtoon about a fund manager whose financial ruin leads to life among the homeless living underground at Seoul Station,[55] followed by Love Guide for Dumpees (titled A Dramatic Night in Korean), a play-turned-movie about a man and woman who agree to be casual lovers but end up finding something more.[56][57]

In 2016, Yoon was cast in the Korean remake of American television series The Good Wife.[58] Yoon then played a disabled man in the film The Bacchus Lady, a bittersweet drama about an elderly prostitute helmed by E J-yong.[59][60]

Yoon played a villain role in crime noir The Outlaws, which premiered in late 2017.[61] He next starred in the thriller Golden Slumber, playing a friend of the protagonist tasked to chase him down.[62]

In 2019, Yoon starred in Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission, which depicts two men who travel the country to collect Korean words in secret in 1910.[63][64] The same year, he was cast in the fantasy action film Fluid Renegade.[65]

Personal life

Yoon is the youngest of two siblings in his family. He describes having been very embarrassed as a young boy when he ran errands for his mother and elder sister, such as buying tampons for them at the store.[16]

In December 2000, Yoon, then a member of g.o.d, received a poisoned drink from a supposed fan. Yoon's mother drank the drink and had to have her stomach pumped.[66]

In February 2013, Yoon's agency confirmed his relationship with Lee Ha-nui, a South Korean actress, model, classical musician, gayageum player and a beauty pageant titleholder.[67] On June 11, 2020, it was confirmed that both have broken up.[68]

Yoon and three friends opened the first cereal café bar in Seoul called Midnight in Seoul which has since become a franchise.[69] The initially small venture became popular on social media within South Korea due to its popularity with K-pop idol singers who frequented the place and posted pictures online. Entertainer and 2AM member Jo Kwon became president of the franchise while Yoon and his friends remain the owners and still run the original café.[70]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
2004 Flying Boys Kang Min-jae
2008 Lovers of Six Years Kim Jae-young
The Moonlight of Seoul Kim Seung-woo
2009 The Executioner Oh Jae-kyung
2010 Come, Closer Hyun-oh
2011 Poongsan Poongsan
2013 One Perfect Day (short film) Un-cheol
Hello My Love
2014 Red Carpet Park Jung-woo
2015 Minority Opinion Yoon Jin-won
A Dramatic Night Yoo Jung-hoon
2016 The Bacchus Lady Do-hoon
2017 The Outlaws Jang Chen
2018 Golden Slumber Moo-yeol
2019Mal-Mo-E: The Secret MissionRyu Jung-hwan
2019Spiritwalker (w/t)

Television series

Year Title Role Network
2001 New Nonstop MBC
2004 My 19 Year Old Sister-in-Law Kang Seung-jae SBS
2007 Crazy for You Kim Chae-joon SBS
2008 Who Are You? Cha Seung-hyo MBC
2009 Triple Jang Hyun-tae MBC
2010 Road No. 1 Shin Tae-ho MBC
2011 The Greatest Love Yoon Pil-joo MBC
High Kick: Revenge of the Short Legged Yoon Kye-sang MBC
2013 Potato Star 2013QR3 Brain surgeon Kye-sang
(cameo, episodes 9–10)
tvN
2014 Beyond The Clouds Jung Se-ro/Lee Eun-soo KBS2
2015 Last Jang Tae-ho JTBC
2016 The Good Wife Seo Joong-won tvN
2019–2020 Chocolate Lee Kang JTBC

Variety show

Year Title Network
2000–2001 g.o.d's Babysitting Diaries MBC
2010 It Travel: Yoon Kye-sang in Turkey[71] TrendE
2012 Real Mate in Australia: Kye-sang and Se-in Go to Sydney QTV
One Table with Yoon Kye-sang O'live
2013 Stars into Travel: Yoon Kye-sang's Tasteful Journey
to Gyeongbuk
[72]
KBS2
2015 Three Meals a Day 2 tvN

Discography

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2004SBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a Drama SpecialMy 19 Year Old Sister-in-LawNominated
200541st Baeksang Arts AwardsBest New ActorFlying BoysWon [73]
26th Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest New ActorNominated
4th Korean Film AwardsBest New ActorNominated
2007Andre Kim Best Star AwardsBest Star Award, Male categoryN/AWon [74]
SBS Drama AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a MiniseriesCrazy for YouNominated
2008 2nd Mnet 20's Choice Hot Movie Star Actor The Moonlight of Seoul Nominated
201148th Grand Bell AwardsBest ActorPoongsanNominated
32nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest ActorNominated
7th Mnet 20's Choice Hot Drama Star The Greatest Love Nominated
MBC Entertainment AwardsExcellence Award, Actor in a Sitcom/ComedyHigh Kick: Revenge of the Short LeggedWon [75]
MBC Drama AwardsBest New Actor in a MiniseriesThe Greatest LoveNominated
2014 KBS Drama Awards Best Couple Award with Han Ji-hye The Full Sun Nominated
Netizen Award, Actor Nominated
20176th Korea Film Actors Association AwardsPopular Star AwardThe OutlawsWon [76]
20189th KOFRA Film AwardsDiscovery of the YearWon [77]
27th Buil Film Awards Popular Actor AwardNominated
14th Jecheon International Music & Film FestivalJIMFF Star AwardWon [78]

References

  1. "Inside actor Yoon Kye-sang". Kpop Herald. July 27, 2015.
  2. "다섯 남자 god의 귀환…" (in Korean). MBC. November 29, 2014.
  3. Kim, Hee-ju (August 4, 2011). "Actor Yoon Kye-sang's Song Picks". 10Asia.
  4. <연합인터뷰>윤계상, "나도 미쳐보고 싶었다". Yonhap News (in Korean). July 21, 2004.
  5. Cho, Jae-hyon (March 19, 2010). "Yoon Kye-sang's Leftist Remarks Cause Online Stir". The Korea Times.
  6. "윤계상, SBS 드라마서 모터사이클 레이서 변신". Sports Chosun (in Korean). July 4, 2004.
  7. "My 19-year-old Sister-in-law". Korea Tourism Organization. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  8. "god Is Dead". The Chosun Ilbo. October 12, 2005. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012.
  9. "A musician in the South Korean army". The Standard. April 27, 2006.
  10. "god 출신 윤계상, 춘천 102보충대 입소" [g.o.d. member Yoon Kye-sang enters 102nd Reserves at Chuncheon]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). December 7, 2004.
  11. "Yoon Kye-sang Receive Citations". KBS Global. January 20, 2005.
  12. 윤계상 제대...내년 초 방송 복귀 [Yoon Gye-sang discharged...will resume appearances next year]. SBS News (in Korean). December 6, 2006.
  13. 윤계상, 과거 군시절 사진공개..'볼살통통' [Yoon Kye-sang's old army photos go public ... 'fat cheeks']. Money Today (in Korean). June 25, 2011.
  14. "Rain Voted Most Likely to Dominate 2007". The Chosun Ilbo. January 2, 2007.
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  16. Lee, Hyo-won (January 15, 2008). "Actors Kim, Yoon Gossip About Love". The Korea Times.
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  63. "YOON Kye-sang Confirmed to Star in MALMOI". Korean Film Biz Zone. February 9, 2018.
  64. "Yoon Kye-sang hopes to highlight forgotten history: In his latest film, the actor plays a scholar working on a hangul dictionary". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 22, 2018.
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  73. Kim, Soo-jin (May 20, 2005). '말아톤' '파리의 연인' 백상예술대상 대상 (종합) [Marathon, Lovers in Paris are Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize winners]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2015.
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  75. ""I Am a Singer" takes program of the year at MBC Entertainment Awards". 10Asia. December 30, 2011.
  76. "Top Star Awards for NA Moon-hee, LEE Jung-hyun, CHOI Min-shik and Hyun-bin". Korean Film Biz Zone. January 8, 2018.
  77. "1987 Tops Korean Film Reporters Association Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. February 9, 2018.
  78. "'JIMFF 어워즈' 윤계상·오종혁·손담비, 수상.."너무 감사하다"". Osen (in Korean). August 11, 2018.
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