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Won Bin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the South Korean actor. For the boy group member with the same name, see Riize.
In this Korean name, the family name is Kim. In the stage name or pen-name, the surname is Won.
Won Bin
Won in January 2011
Born
Kim Do-jin

(1977-11-10) November 10, 1977 (age 47)
Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province, South Korea
Alma mater
OccupationActor
Years active1997–2010
AgentEden 9
Spouse
​
(m. 2015)​
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
김도진
Hanja
金道鎭
Revised RomanizationGim Dojin
McCune–ReischauerKim Tojin
Stage name
Hangul
원빈
Hanja
元斌
Revised RomanizationWon Bin
McCune–ReischauerWŏn Pin
Websitewonbinus.co.kr
Signature

Kim Do-jin (Korean: 김도진; born November 10, 1977), professionally known as Won Bin (원빈), is a South Korean actor. He first gained wide popularity in 2000 after starring in the KBS's television series Autumn in My Heart. One of the most selective actors in the Korean entertainment industry, he has starred in only five films to date: Guns & Talks (2001), Taegukgi (2004), My Brother (2004), Mother (2009), and The Man from Nowhere (2010). He was Gallup Korea's Film Actor of the Year in 2010 and 2011.[1][2]

Early life

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Won was born on November 10, 1977, in Jeongseon County in Gangwon Province, South Korea. He is the fifth and youngest child, with one brother and three sisters. His father was employed in a mine, and his mother worked on a farm. Like other children living in mountainous areas, Won spent most of his time playing with friends in the mountains and rivers. He was often shy, introspective, and quiet—traits that would follow him into adulthood. Although not talkative or outgoing, he excelled in athletics. Won began taking taekwondo lessons and holds a black belt. He graduated from Chuncheon Mech Tech High School and initially planned to become a car mechanic due to his interest in car racing and motorcycling.[3]

In November 1995, a cable television network was looking for new actors; Won applied and was accepted in his last semester of high school. He was soon noticed by fashion designer André Kim, who invited him to appear in his fashion show. Afterward, Won signed with a talent agency and decided to adopt the stage name "Won Bin".[3]

Career

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Won made his acting debut with a supporting role in the 1997 television series Propose. He then starred in the series Ready Go! (1998) and Kwangki (1999). In 1998, Won graduated from the Broadcasting and Entertainment Department at Paekche Institute of the Arts.[4][5]

Won had his big breakthrough in 2000. He played the rebellious youngest son in the critically acclaimed drama Tough Guy's Love (Kkokji). However, it was Autumn in My Heart that brought him widespread recognition not only in Korea but throughout Asia. The series became widely popular outside of Korea, ushering in the cultural phenomenon known as the "Korean Wave".[6]

In 2001, Won graduated from the Department of Theater at Yong In University.[7] In 2002, he appeared in the series Friends, the first South Korean–Japanese co-production. That same year, he enrolled in the master's program at the Department of Film, the Graduate School of Arts, Yong In University.[7]

Won's first major success on the big screen was the war drama Taegukgi, in which he played a sensitive younger brother who is forcibly drafted into the South Korean army at the start of the Korean War. Taegukgi became the highest-grossing film in South Korea in 2004, selling 11.75 million tickets.[8] Won also starred in such popular films as Guns & Talks (2001) and My Brother (2004).

In November 2005, Won enlisted for mandatory military service. He was stationed in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a position for which he volunteered.[9][10] On June 2, 2006, the military officially confirmed that Won would no longer be active.[11] The decision was made by the military when Won sustained injury to his ACL. He underwent surgery and was officially discharged on June 7, 2006.[12] Rehabilitation from the injury took more than a year.

In September 2007, Won was appointed as a special representative of the Korean Committee for UNICEF. Over the years, he has participated in various programs and charity events for the organization. In June 2024, he was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Korea.[13]

After a five-year break, Won returned to the big screen with the film Mother, directed by Bong Joon Ho. The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.[14] It was followed by The Man from Nowhere, which became the highest-grossing film in South Korea in 2010 and is Won's final appearance as an actor to date.[15]

Despite his prolonged hiatus from acting, Won retains his popularity with the public. In 2024, Gallup Korea conducted a survey on "The actor you want to see again", in which Won took first place.[16]

Personal life

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On May 30, 2015, Won married actress Lee Na-young in a small, private ceremony held in Won's hometown of Jeongseon County.[17] The couple reportedly began dating in August 2012.[18] Lee gave birth to their son in December 2015.[19]

Endorsements

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Won is a successful commercial model. In 2018, a news program claimed that Won had earned more than ₩24 billion from advertising since 2010.[20] He has modeled for more than 50 brands since 1999.

Won also worked as a fashion model for André Kim, who was the first to discover him in 1995. He appeared in several of Kim's fashion shows in the 1990s and early 2000s.[21] Kim wrote in his book, "I happened to see Won Bin by chance. His exquisite sculptural features, the overall balance of his face, his lonely gaze, and his elegant aura. Very young yet somehow profound. His inner depth was radiating beautifully."[22]

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Won in 2010

Many artists in South Korea consider Won to be one of the best examples of a good-looking man; he has been nicknamed "Godbin" by Korean internet users.

Adding to his mystique is his role in The Man from Nowhere and his extended break from acting at the height of his fame.[23] Won is referred to as a "dragon" by other celebrities due to the rarity of seeing him in person.[24][25] As a result, he is frequently mentioned in popular culture.

  • The director of Mother, Bong Joon Ho, said that he added the line, "Do-joon's eyes are like a work of art. They're like deer's eyes," after casting Won for the role.[26]
  • Won is mentioned in the lyrics of Ladies' Code's single "Kiss Kiss": "난 오늘밤 꿈에서 난 원빈 오빠가 나타나 줄 텐데" (Tonight, in my dreams, Won Bin oppa will appear).[27]
  • South Korean boy band iKon references The Man from Nowhere in two songs, "Anthem" and "Hug Me". The lyrics of the first song read, "날고 기어도 다 씹어 먹어줄게 Call me 아저씨" (We'll chew you up like raw meat, call me ahjusshi), while the second song contains a reference to the final scene of the film.
  • On Masta Wu's single "Come Here", Bobby says in his rap verse, "실력이 외모면 난 방탄 유리 앞에 원빈" (If skill equals to looks, I'm Won Bin in front of a bulletproof glass).[28]
  • Screenwriter Kim Eun-sook, who has often said that she would like to work with Won, named the main character in the 2012 series A Gentleman's Dignity Kim Do-jin, which is Won's real name.[29]
  • In episode 20 of the 2013 series Reply 1994, Sung Dong-il's character, who always makes wrong predictions, sees a commercial with a long-haired Won and declares that he will not have longevity as a celebrity and will be forgotten the moment he tries to cut his hair like ahjusshi (a reference to a scene from The Man from Nowhere).
  • Won is referenced twice in the 2013 series Good Doctor. In episode 15, Joo Won's character watches another doctor comfort a little girl and says, "Our professor is like Won Bin in The Man from Nowhere." In episode 16, the same character quotes Won from the film.
  • In episode 7 of the 2015 drama Kill Me, Heal Me, Park Seo-joon's character tells Secretary Ahn that the elusive Writer Omega's looks are rumored to be "on the Won Bin level." When Ji Sung's character hears about this in episode 8, they set out to "look for someone who looks like Won Bin." After the search yields no results, Sung asks, "Truthfully, is a face at Won Bin's level common?"
  • In the third episode of the 2020 series Oh My Baby, Park Soo-young's character suggests getting an interview with Won and his wife, actress Lee Na-young, about parenting. Kim Jae-hwa's character replies, "Who knows? We might have our first sold-out issue thanks to you," before dismissing the proposal as unrealistic.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Saturday, 2:00 PM Pretty delivery man Bit part
2001 Guns & Talks Ha-yun
2004 Taegukgi Lee Jin-seok
My Brother Jong-hyun
2009 Mother Yoon Do-joon
2010 The Man from Nowhere Cha Tae-sik

Television series

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Propose Hyun-woo
1997–1998 Ready, Go! Han Seung-joo
1999 Jump Won Bin Special appearance
1999–2000 Kwangki Kang Min
2000 Drama City:
"Small Station" 		Min-ho
Kkokji Song Myung-tae
Autumn in My Heart Han Tae-suk
2002 Friends Kim Ji-hoon South Korea–Japan co-production

Music video appearances

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Year Song title Artist
1999 "Goodbye Day" Han Sung-ho
2001 "For You" Yim Jae-beom

Awards and nominations

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Award Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Asian Film Awards 2010 Best Supporting Actor Mother Nominated
Baeksang Arts Awards 2001 Best New Actor – Television Autumn in My Heart Won
2010 Best Actor – Film Mother Nominated
2011 Best Actor – Film The Man from Nowhere Nominated
Blue Dragon Film Awards 2001 Best New Actor Guns & Talks Nominated
2010 Best Actor The Man from Nowhere Nominated
Popular Star Award Won Bin Won
Buil Film Awards 2010 Best Actor The Man from Nowhere Nominated
Chunsa Film Art Awards 2004 Best New Actor Taegukgi Won [31]
Cine21 Awards 2010 Best Actor The Man from Nowhere Won
Film Journalists Association Annual Film Awards 2011 Best Actor Won
Golden Cinematography Awards 2004 Best New Actor Taegukgi Won
Grand Bell Awards 2010 Best Actor The Man from Nowhere Won [32]
Popularity Award Won Bin Won
2011 Popularity Award Won [33]
KBS Drama Awards 1999 Best New Actor Kwangki Won
2000 Excellence Award, Actor Tough Guy's Love
Autumn in My Heart 		Won
Korea World Youth Film Festival 2011 Favorite Actor The Man from Nowhere Won
Korean Film Awards 2002 Best New Actor Guns & Talks Nominated
2004 Best Actor My Brother Nominated
2010 Best Actor The Man from Nowhere Won [34]
Max Movie Awards 2011 Best Actor Won
University Film Festival of Korea 2011 Best Actor Won

Other awards

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  • 2002: BVLGARI Brilliant Dreams Award (Japan)
  • 2011: Best Jewellery Wearer Award (Japan)

Magazine/media recognition

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  • 2000: Best Dresser of the year
  • 2002: Voted as the "April 2002 Most Beautiful Man" by MostBeautifulMan.com. The first Asian celebrity to win in this monthly poll.[35]
  • 2005: Voted #1 "Favorite Asian Star" (2005) in the readers' survey by Japanese magazine "CanCam".
  • 2005: Voted #1 "Favorite Asian Star" (2005) in the readers' survey by Japanese magazine "an.an".[36]
  • 2006: Voted #1 "Favorite Asian Star" (2006) in the readers' survey by Japanese magazine "an.an".
  • 2007: Voted #1 "Favorite Asian Star" (2007) in the readers' survey by Japanese magazine "an.an".

Listicles

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Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Forbes 2011 Korea Power Celebrity 40 17th [37]
2012 37th [38]

References

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  1. ^ "Won Bin is actor of the year". Korea JoongAng Daily. Yonhap News Agency. December 20, 2010. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "Won Bin Named Actor of the Year". KBS World. December 22, 2011. Archived from the original on April 18, 2025. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Won Bin - A story behind the success". Sports Seoul. Autumn 2000. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  4. ^ "원빈 > 백제스타 – 백제예술대학교" [Won Bin > Paekche Star – Paekche Institute of the Arts]. Paekche Institute of the Arts (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  5. ^ "[캠퍼스 청춘예찬] 백제예술대학 방송연예과" [Paekche Institute of the Arts Broadcasting and Entertainment Department]. Jeonbuk Ilbo (in Korean). May 7, 2002. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  6. ^ Sohn, JiAe (August 29, 2016). "K-drama masterpieces (2): 'Autumn in My Heart'". Korea.net. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "탤런트 원빈 용인대 석사과정 합격" [Talent Won Bin admitted to the master's program at Yong In University]. Cine21 (in Korean). December 6, 2002. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  8. ^ Kehr, Dave (September 3, 2004). "Revisiting the Korean War in a Tale of Two Brothers". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  9. ^ "Won Bin heads for frontline army post". Xinhua News Agency. January 10, 2006. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  10. ^ "Actor Won Bin Reports for DMZ Duty". The Dong-A Ilbo. February 11, 2006. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  11. ^ "Star Discharged After Brief Stint With Frontline Unit". The Chosun Ilbo. January 2, 2006. Archived from the original on April 19, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  12. ^ "Injured Star Discharged from Military Service". The Chosun Ilbo. January 7, 2006. Archived from the original on October 22, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  13. ^ "원빈 친선대사" [Won Bin Goodwill Ambassador]. UNICEF (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 16, 2025. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "Cannes Screening for Film "Mother" Set". KBS World. May 8, 2009. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  15. ^ Breihan, Tom (September 22, 2017). "In South Korea, a horrifically extreme thriller can be the box-office champion of the year". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  16. ^ "'15년 공백→은퇴설' 원빈, 근황만 떠도 화제..'다시 보고 싶은 배우 1위' 위엄 [★FOCUS]" ['15-year hiatus → retirement rumors' Won Bin, even just his current status is a hot topic..'No. 1 actor I want to see again']. Star News (in Korean). January 28, 2025. Archived from the original on April 3, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  17. ^ "Actor Won Bin ties knot with actress Lee Na-young". The Korea Herald. May 31, 2015. Archived from the original on May 31, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  18. ^ Yoon, Min-sik (July 3, 2013). "Won Bin, Lee Na-young dating: agency". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on April 6, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  19. ^ Sung, So-young (December 20, 2015). "Won Bin, Lee Na-young are parents". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on February 8, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
  20. ^ "원빈 광고 수입 공개 "광고 1편당 6~7억 수준...8년간 240억 이상"" [Won Bin's ad income revealed "Approximately 600-700 million per ad...Over 24 billion in 8 years"]. Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). July 6, 2018. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  21. ^ "원빈·전도연·김희선, 故 앙드레김 조문행렬 줄이어" [Won Bin, Jeon Do-yeon, and Kim Hee-sun attend André Kim's funeral procession]. Edaily (in Korean). August 13, 2010. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  22. ^ Kim, André (August 20, 2010). 앙드레 김 My Fantasy [André Kim My Fantasy] (in Korean). Morning country. p. 142. ISBN 978-89-5587-200-2.
  23. ^ "잘 지내나요, 원빈" [How are you, Won Bin?]. Vogue Korea (in Korean). June 4, 2019. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  24. ^ "'놀면' 유재석 이효리 비 "활동하면서 원빈 본 적 한 번도 없어"[결정적장면]" ['Hangout with Yoo' Yoo Jae Suk, Lee Hyori, Rain "I've never seen Won Bin in my life"[Crucial scene]]. Newsen (in Korean). August 8, 2020. Archived from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  25. ^ "연예인 사이에서 '전설의 용' 원빈, 14년째 작품 안하는 이유 (당나귀 귀)" ["Legendary Dragon" Won Bin among celebrities, why no work for 14 years (Boss in the Mirror)]. iMBC (in Korean). November 11, 2024. Archived from the original on November 11, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  26. ^ Chang, Kee (April 13, 2017). "The Lost Interview: Bong Joon-ho". Anthem. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  27. ^ "KISS KISS". Melon. LOEN Entertainment. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  28. ^ "이리와봐 (Feat. Dok2, BOBBY)". Melon (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  29. ^ "김은숙 작가 "'신품' 김도진, 내가 찜한 원빈...본명F4들 첫사랑 김은희는 절친 이름"" [Writer Kim Eun-sook: "'Newcomer' Kim Do-jin, my choice is Won Bin... F4's first love, Kim Eun-hee, is the name of a close friend"]. Donga (in Korean). June 28, 2012. Archived from the original on April 23, 2025. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  30. ^ Jeon Won-won (December 17, 2016). "[夜TV] 박보검vs원빈...'도깨비' 이동욱, 저승사자가 갖게될 이름은?" [[夜TV] Park Bo-gum vs Won Bin... 'Goblin' Lee Dong-wook, what name will the grim reaper have?]. MyDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Naver.
  31. ^ "When I Turned Nine unexpected winner of Chunsa Film Art Awards". HanCinema. November 25, 2004. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  32. ^ Park, Soo-Mi (October 31, 2010). "'Poetry' rings Korea's Grand Bell with Multiple Wins". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  33. ^ "48th Grand Bell Awards Highlight Year's Best". The Chosun Ilbo. October 18, 2011. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  34. ^ "The Man From Nowhere sweeps Korea Film Awards". Asiae. November 19, 2010. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  35. ^ "April 2002 Most Beautiful Man - Won Bin". MostBeautifulMan.com, April 2002. Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
  36. ^ "Won Bin voted favorite Asian star". Xinhua News Agency, Apr 18, 2005. Archived from the original on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
  37. ^ "Korea's Top Celebrities". Forbes. April 4, 2011. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  38. ^ Jeong, Su-jeong; Seo, Gyeong-Jun; Song, Ji-won (March 1, 2012). "[KOREA POWER CELEBRITY 40] Celebrity List 40". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021 – via Joins.
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