Song Yoon-ah

Song Yoon-ah (Template:Korean, born June 7, 1973) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for starring in the film Jail Breakers (2002), as well as the television dramas Hotelier (2001), On Air (2008), Mama (2014), The K2 (2016), and Show Window: The Queen's House (2021–2022).

Early life and education

Song Yoon-ah was born in Seoul, but spent her childhood in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province.<ref name=marry1 /> She has two elder brothers, the first one is a doctor.Template:Citation needed

While studying cultural anthropology as a freshman at Hanyang University, she was recommended by an older schoolmate to a modeling agency.<ref name="billing" /> Song made her entertainment debut when she won three awards at the KBS Super Talent Contest in 1995, and began appearing in magazine advertisements and as an extra on TV shows.<ref name="kfilm" />

Career

In 1998, Song rose to fame as the antagonist in Mister Q, playing the head of the design department in an underwear company who bullies the heroine; the trendy drama was a big hit, with a peak viewership rating of 45.3%.<ref name=billing /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Over the next few years, Song became well known for her roles in TV dramas such as Paper Crane (1998), The Boss (1999), and Hotelier (2001).<ref name=kfilm>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Her first few films did not make a significant impression at the box office. But in late 2002, Song starred in one of the bigger commercial hits of the year, Jail Breakers with actors Sul Kyung-gu and Cha Seung-won. Her energetic performance in Kim Sang-jin's comedy was recognized with Best Supporting Actress trophies from the Blue Dragon Film Awards, the Chunsa Film Art Awards, and the Grand Bell Awards.<ref name=kfilm /> Song next played an anthropologist from the National Institute of Scientific Investigation in the 2004 horror film Face.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2006, she reunited onscreen with Sol Kyung-gu in Lost in Love, a low-key melodrama directed by Choo Chang-min about two college friends who drift apart and reconnect over the course of ten years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Arang followed, in which Song played a detective on the trail of a serial killer; this was her first time to get top billing over a male costar (rookie actor Lee Dong-wook).<ref name=billing>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> But like Face, her previous project in the horror genre, Arang was a commercial and critical failure.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Song returned to television with My Beloved Sister, in the title role of a graduate art student who grew up wealthy but must suddenly take on the responsibilities as head of the family and take care of her younger brothers after their father goes bankrupt then disappears.<ref name=billing />

Her next hit drama came in 2008 with On Air, a behind-the-scenes look at the Korean entertainment industry. Song was cast in the role of scribe Kim Eun-sook's alter ego, a successful, acerbic screenwriter who clashes egos with a top actress (played by Kim Ha-neul) while falling for a TV director (played by Park Yong-ha).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Then in the 2009 thriller Secret, Song played the wife of a homicide detective—she becomes the prime suspect in a brutal murder he's investigating,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while in the 2010 tearjerker Wedding Dress, her character is a widowed designer who is diagnosed with cancer and begins sewing the ultimate parting gift, a special dress for her young daughter's wedding, which she will never get to see.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After getting married in 2009 and giving birth in 2010, Song went on a five-year hiatus from acting. She became an adjunct professor and part-time lecturer at Seoul Arts College in 2010, as a faculty member of the Department of Performing Arts and the Department of Broadcasting, Entertainment and Visual Arts.<ref name=marry1 /> Apart from occasional stints as an awards ceremony host (she hosted the Korean Film Awards from 2003 to 2010<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>), in 2011 she also joined the cooking show Food Essay on cable channel Olive, and served as a judge on the first season of talent-reality show Korea's Got Talent.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Song made her acting comeback in the 2014 drama series Mama, which revolved around a terminally ill single mother's quest to find a loving family for her son before her impending death, leading to her befriending the current wife of a former lover.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her performance won Best Television Actress at the 51st Baeksang Arts Awards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2016, Song played a villain in action drama The K2.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2017, she returned to the big screen and acted as a war correspondent in VR film Nine Days.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The film is planned to exhibit in Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The same year, she was cast in the film Stone, her first feature film in 7 years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> And the film has invited to the 23rd Busan International Film Festival.

In 2018, Song was cast in SBS mystery family drama Secret Mother.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Song then starred in JTBC's 2020 pre-produced 19+ age-restricted series Graceful Friends.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Song was cast in Channel A's series for the first time with melodrama mystery Show Window: The Queen's House.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2023, Song reunited with Director Park Hye-ryeong for web show Song Yoon-ah by PDC.<ref name=":0" />

Other activities

Philanthropy

Song and her husband Sul Kyung-gu are known for their philanthropic efforts. In July 2010, they covered the entire surgical expenses for a child with congenital heart disease and personally visited her at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They later donated Template:KRW through the Korean Committee for UNICEF to assist victims of the sinking of MV Sewol in April 2014. Sul expressed deep sympathy for the tragedy, stating, "I felt indescribable pain witnessing the Sewol ferry disaster. I sincerely wish for recovery."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> More recently, on February 13, 2023, the couple contributed another Template:KRW to Korea's UNICEF Committee to support children affected by the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Song and actor Sul Kyung-gu got married on May 28, 2009, in a Catholic church in Bangbae-dong, followed by a reception at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in Seoul.<ref name=catholic>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Both are graduates of Hanyang University and have acted together in Jail Breakers (2002) and Lost in Love (2006).<ref name=marry1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=marry2>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their son, Sul Seung-yoon, was born on August 3, 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2014, Song filed a defamation suit against 57 netizens who spread online rumors her alleged extramarital affair with Sul in 2002 while he was still married to his first wife, leading to their divorce in 2006.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Sul and Song have denied these rumors, stating that their relationship began in 2007.<ref name=marry2 />

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997	1818 (Profanity)	Hong Se-in
1998	Zzang (The Best)	Song Na-young
2000	A Masterpiece in My Life	Kang Yeo-kyung
2002	Jail Breakers	Hahn Kyung-soon
2004	Face	Jung Sun-young
2006	Lost in Love	Yeon-soo
	Arang	So-young
2009	Secret	Yoo Ji-yeon
2010	Wedding Dress	Seo Go-eun
2018	Nine Days	Kim Sun-joo / Park Seung-hee	Short film
2019	Innocent Witness	Kim Soo-in	Cameo
	Stone Skipping	Teacher Kim

Television series

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995	Age of Individuality
	Brilliant People
1996	Tears of the Dragon	Ms. Jung, Yi Suk-beon's wife
1997	Drama City: "The Road to Gorangpo"
	Hometown of Legends: "The Nine-Tailed Fox"
	Beyond the Horizon
1998	Love	Lee Hee-soo
	Mister Q	Hwang Joo-ri
	Cool Special: "The Eye of Terror"	Jung-in
	Paper Crane	Cha Yeon-hee
	Advocate	Jang Hye-mi
1999	The Boss	Han Yeon-ji
	You Don't Know My Feelings	Na Sook-ja
	Love Story: "Lost Baggage"	Jung-in
2000	Bad Friends	Ha Young-seo
2001	Hotelier	Seo Jin-young
	Sweet Bear	Han Jung-eun
2002	The Present	Kim Hye-jin
2004	Into the Storm	Cha Mi-seon
2005	Hong Kong Express	Han Jung-yeon
2006	My Beloved Sister	Yoon Seung-joo
2008	On Air	Seo Young-eun
2010	Secret Garden	Top star at giveaway event	Cameo (episode 2)
2014	Mama	Han Seung-hee
2015	Assembly	Choi In-kyung
2016	The K2	Choi Yoo-Jin
	KBS Drama Special: "Sweet Home"	Dr.Song	Cameo
2018	Secret Mother	Kim Yoon-jin
	Room No. 9	Park Hyun-jung	Cameo
2020	Graceful Friends	Nam Jung-hae
2021	Show Window: The Queen's House	Han Sun-joo
2023	Delivery Man	Mo Chae-Ryung	Cameo (episode 12)

Television shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	Go! Our Heaven	Host
1999	Super TV Sunday Is Fun - Song Yoon-ah's Summer Escape
2011	Food Essay
	Korea's Got Talent	Judge	Season 1
	The Miracle of Kangaroo Mother Care	Narrator	Documentary
2012	Spring Hasn't Come Yet: One Year After the Earthquake in Japan
2014	Hope TV SBS	Host

Web shows

Year	Title	Role	Template:Abbr
2023	Song Yoon-ah by PDC	Host	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Hosting

Year	Title	Notes	Template:Abbr
1998	Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival - Big Concert Musical Journey	with Kim Byun-chan
1999	Korean Video and Records Awards	with Shin Dong-ho
2000	36th Baeksang Arts Awards
	SBS Drama Awards	with Yoo Jung-hyun
2002	Golden Disk Awards	with Shin Dong-ho
	SBS Drama Awards	with Yoo Jung-hyun
2003	2nd Korean Film Awards	with Ahn Sung-ki
	SBS Drama Awards	with Yoo Jung-hyun
2004	3rd Korean Film Awards	with Ahn Sung-ki
2005	4th Korean Film Awards
2006	5th Korean Film Awards
2007	6th Korean Film Awards
2008	7th Korean Film Awards
2010	8th Korean Film Awards

Discography

Soundtrack appearances

Year	Song title	Notes
2002	"Pink Lipstick"	Jail Breakers OST
2008	"Shadow"	On Air OST

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
1995	KBS Super Talent Contest	Gold Award	Template:NA	Template:Won
		Photogenic Award	Template:NA	Template:Won
		Julia Award	Template:NA	Template:Won
1998	SBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress	Mister Q	Template:Won
	KBS Drama Awards	Popularity Award, Actress	Paper Crane	Template:Won
1999	35th Baeksang Arts Awards	Most Popular Actress (TV)	Mister Q	Template:Won
	MBC Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress	The Boss	Template:Won
2000	SBS Drama Awards	Big Star Award	Love Story "Lost Baggage"	Template:Won
	45th Information and Communication Day	Prime Minister's Commendation	Template:NA	Template:Won
2001	MBC Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actress	Hotelier, Sweet Bear	Template:Won
2002	Korea Best Dressed Swan Awards	Recipient	Template:NA	Template:Won
	23rd Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Jail Breakers	Template:Won
2003	11th Chunsa Film Art Awards	Best Supporting Actress		Template:Won
	40th Grand Bell Awards			Template:Won
2004	SBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama	Into the Storm	Template:Won
		Top 10 Stars		Template:Won
2006	4th Korea Fashion World Awards	Best Dressed, Movie Actress category	Template:NA	Template:Won
	MBC Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress	My Beloved Sister	Template:Nom
2007	3rd Andre Kim Best Star Awards<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Best Star Award || Template:NA || Template:Won
	MBC Entertainment Awards	Achievement Award		Template:Won
2008	Cosmopolitan	Fun Fearless Female	Template:NA	Template:Won
	SBS Drama Awards	Grand Prize (Daesang)	On Air	Template:Nom
		Top Excellence Award, Actress		Template:Won
		Top 10 Stars		Template:Won
2009	4th Andre Kim Best Star Awards<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Female Star Award || Template:NA || Template:Won
2010	2nd Korea Jewelry Awards	Diamond Award	Template:NA	Template:Won
2014	3rd APAN Star Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries	Mama	Template:Nom
	27th Grimae Awards	Best Actress		Template:Won
	MBC Drama Awards	Grand Prize (Daesang)		Template:Nom
		Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama		Template:Won
2015	51st Baeksang Arts Awards	Best Actress (TV)		Template:Won
	KBS Drama Awards	Excellence Awards, Actress in a Mid-length Drama	Assembly	Template:Nom
2018	SBS Drama Awards<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Daily and Weekend Drama || Secret Mother ||Template:Won

External links

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