Song Il-kook (Korean: 송일국; Hanja: 宋一國; born 1 October 1971[1]) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his role in the 2006 hit drama series Jumong as the titular character.
Song is the vice-president of the Korean Triathlon Confederation[3][4] and participated in the 2008 Seoul International Triathlon Competition.[5] In April 2008, Song carried the Olympic torch through Seoul.[1][6]
According to Reuters the most popular episodes of Jumong attracted over 90% of Iranian audience (compared to 40% in South Korea), propelling Song Il-gook to superstar status in Iran.
Song is also an amateur sketch artist.[7] He has also modelled professionally, both on the runway and in print. In 2008, he was one of the subjects of the Kolon Christmas Photo Shoot.[8]
In 2009, the state of Hawaii designated March 21 as Song Il-kook day.[9] In April 2010, he was invited to the Blue House to dine with Heads of State, including the president of Kazakhstan, as Jumong garnered immense popularity in the central Asian country.[10]
In October 2015, Song signed an exclusive contract with management agency C-JeS Entertainment.[11]
Personal life
On 15 March 2008, Song was wed to High Court Judge Jung Seung-yeon in a private, traditional Korean wedding at the Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul.[12][13][14]
Song and Jung became parents to fraternal triplet sons at a hospital in Seoul on 16 March 2012.[15] Their sons are named Dae-han, Min-guk and Man-se which, when said together mean "Long live the Republic of Korea". Song and his sons starred in the variety show The Return of Superman from 6 July 2014 to 7 February 2016. The triplets also made a cameo appearance in Song's television series Jang Yeong-sil (2016).
Song adheres to a pescetarian diet for both health and ethical reasons.[16]
^Honors are given at the Taxpayers' Day (납세자의 날), organized by National Tax Service, Taxpayers' Day in Korea is March 3. An award ceremony is held annually, during which individuals and corporations receive commendation for being model taxpayers.[26]
^Lee, Seo-hyun, '송일국-이하늬-윤진서-김효진-배종옥' 공통점은! [Song Il-kook, Lee Ha-nui, Yun Jin-seo, Kim Hyo-jin and Bae Jong-ok have something in common] (2012-01-04) (in Korean), Shinmoongo, Retrieved 2012-05-11, Archive (2012-05-11), Archive2 (2012-05-11)
^Kang Jin-ah (2022-09-14). "뮤지컬 '브로드웨이 42번가', 26주년 귀환…송일국·이종혁 출연" [Musical 'Broadway 42nd Street' returns to its 26th anniversary... Starring Song Il-gook and Lee Jong-hyuk] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2022-09-14 – via Naver.
^Kang Jin-ah (2022-09-14). "뮤지컬 '브로드웨이 42번가', 26주년 귀환…송일국·이종혁 출연" [Musical 'Broadway 42nd Street' returns to its 26th anniversary... Starring Song Il-gook and Lee Jong-hyuk] (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved 2022-09-14 – via Naver.
^"[NTN포토] 연극 '나는 너다' 제작발표회 열려" [[NTNPhoto] Drama ‘I am you’ The production presentation will be held.]. 나우뉴스 (in Korean). 2010-06-09. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
^"[연극 리뷰] '나는 너다'…인간 안중근 아픔을 응시하다" [[Theatre Review] 'I'm You'... Staring at the pain of human Ahn Jung-geun]. 매일경제 (in Korean). 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
^Jo, Yu-kyung (2017-04-10). "남경주·최정원·이지하·송일국, 연극 '대학살의 신' 합류 [공식]" [Nam Kyung-joo, Choi Jung-won, Ji-ha, Song Il-guk, join the play 'God of Massacre' [Official]]. m.entertain.naver.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
^Yoo, Byung-cheol (2019-03-25). "송일국, 연극 '대학살의 신' 마지막 공연 성료…더 깊어진 연기로 완벽한 무대 복귀" [Song Il-guk, the final performance of the play 'God of Carnage' is completed... Perfect return to the stage with deeper acting]. m.entertain.naver.com. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
^대중문화예술상 2011년 [2011 Popular Culture and Arts Awards]. Korea Creative Content Agency (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2020-07-12. Retrieved 2021-05-31.