Hyun Bin, a renowned Korean film and TV actor, has captivated audiences with his romantic roles in movies like ‘Late Autumn’ and ‘My Name is Kim San Soon’. Despite initially lacking interest in acting, his striking good looks and the praise he received compelled him to pursue a career in the industry. After completing his bachelor’s degree in Theatre Studies, he made his acting debut in the 2003 film ‘Bodyguard’, despite facing some resistance from his parents. However, as he achieved success and recognition, his parents eventually came to terms with his chosen path. Hyun Bin’s breakthrough role came in the TV series ‘My Name is Kim San Soon’ in 2005, propelling him to nationwide fame. His portrayal of Kang Jae-kyung in the 2006 film ‘A Millionaire’s First Love’ further solidified his status as a heartthrob, gaining him global popularity. Throughout his career, he has been honored with numerous awards at prestigious events such as the KBS Drama Awards, MBC Drama Awards, and Baeksang Art Awards.
Quick Facts
- Born Country: South Korea
- Actors
- South Korean Men
- City: Seoul, South Korea
Childhood & Early Life
Hyun Bin was born in Seoul, South Korea to a typical Korean family on September 25, 1982. He was a curious and silent kid, who didn’t speak much and was quite keen on becoming a detective after watching a lot of detective TV series and films. He and his younger brother would play all around the house, enacting their favorite detectives.
Hyun Bin had a very average life, other than the fact that he was considered extremely good looking. In high school, one of his seniors advised him to try acting and join the theater club. After he joined the theater club, there was no stopping him as he had finally located his calling in life. He would practice for hours at a stretch, honing his skills.
One major event happened during high school when Hyun was riding a bike with his friend. A man shouted from the back, asking them to stop. The man turned out to be a talent manager who asked Hyun to give him a call back. This encounter felt like fate and luck to Hyun, and he knew that he was destined to be in the entertainment industry. However, convincing his parents was the difficult part.
Hyun talked to his parents, but they initially refused to let him pursue a highly uncertain career path. They wanted a safe career for him, and it took 2 years for Hyun to persuade them. They advised him to enroll in Chung-Ang University, which they thought was the best place to learn acting. Hyun started with small jobs at theater productions within the university and eventually started acting, continuously improving his craft over time.
Career
After college, Hyun Bin faced the challenging phase of auditioning. He got a role in the series ‘Bodyguard’ in 2003, and several other small roles followed. His good looks and above-average acting skills made him popular among producers catering to teenagers. He was cast in the 2005 series ‘My Name is Kim Sam Soon’, which became a sensation among Korean youngsters. Hyun’s acting prowess was praised, earning him his first award, the Top Excellence Award at the MBC Drama Awards.
Following the success of ‘My Name is Kim San Soon’, Hyun starred in the film ‘A Millionaire’s First Love’. Although the film initially received mixed reviews, it gained a cult following and is considered one of the best works of Hyun’s career. Despite the film’s performance, Hyun had already become a major Korean star.
In the next few years, Hyun faced both successes and failures. He starred in the television series ‘The Snow Queen’, which was a disaster. This led him to reconsider his choices and take on solid dramatic roles in the TV series ‘The World that they Live in’ and the film ‘I am Happy’. In 2009, he portrayed a sociopath in ‘Friend, Our Legend’, which received critical acclaim.
In 2010, Hyun’s performance in the series ‘Secret Garden’ earned him a lot of appreciation and awards. He became more careful in choosing roles after that. In 2011, he starred in the international success ‘Late Autumn’ and walked the red carpet at the Berlin International Film Festival.
However, Hyun faced setbacks with the critical failure of the film ‘The Fatal Encounter’ and the TV series ‘Hyde, Jekyll, Me’ in 2015. He made a comeback with the successful film ‘Confidential Assignment’ in 2017.
Social Activities
Hyun Bin took a break from acting to complete his mandatory military training. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in March 2011 and served for twenty-one months. He received appreciation from the military for being an exemplary soldier.
Hyun has been vocal against animal cruelty and has raised his voice on national and international levels.
Personal Life
Hyun Bin has been in relationships with several actresses. His first known girlfriend was Hwang Ji-hyun, whom he met during a shoot in 2006. They started dating right away. He then dated Song Hye-kyo in 2009, but the couple announced their breakup in 2011.
Since 2016, Hyun has been in a relationship with actress Kang So-ra. In January 2021, it was revealed that Hyun Bin was dating actress Son Ye-jin. They got married in March 2022 and announced in June 2022 that they were expecting their first child together. The couple welcomed their son in November 2022.