Song Yoon-ah (Korean송윤아, 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 Secret Mother (2018).

Song Yoon-ah
Song in March 2011
Born (1973-06-07) June 7, 1973 (age 51)
Seoul, South Korea
EducationHanyang University (Cultural anthropology)
OccupationActress
Years active1995–present
AgentSnowball Entertainment
Spouse
(m. 2009)
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
송윤아
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSong Yun-a
McCune–ReischauerSong yuna
WebsiteOfficial Website

Early life and education

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Song Yoon-ah was born in Seoul, but spent her childhood in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province.[2] She has two elder brothers, the first one is a doctor.[citation needed]

While studying cultural anthropology as a freshman at Hanyang University, she was recommended by an older schoolmate to a modeling agency.[3] 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.[4]

Career

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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%.[3][5] 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).[4][6]

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.[4] Song next played an anthropologist from the National Institute of Scientific Investigation in the 2004 horror film Face.[7]

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.[8][9][10][11] 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).[3] But like Face, her previous project in the horror genre, Arang was a commercial and critical failure.[12][13] 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.[3]

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).[14][15][16] 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,[17][18] 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.[19]

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.[2] Apart from occasional stints as an awards ceremony host (she hosted the Korean Film Awards from 2003 to 2010[20]), 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.[21][22][23]

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.[24][25][26][27] Her performance won Best Television Actress at the 51st Baeksang Arts Awards.[28]

In 2016, Song played a villain in action drama The K2.[29]

In 2017, she returned to the big screen and acted as a war correspondent in VR film Nine Days.[30] The film is planned to exhibit in Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival.[31] The same year, she was cast in the film Stone, her first feature film in 7 years.[32] And the film has invited to the 23rd Busan International Film Festival.

In 2018, Song was cast in SBS mystery family drama Secret Mother.[33]

Song then starred in JTBC's 2020 pre-produced 19+ age-restricted series Graceful Friends.[34]

Song was cast in Channel A's series for the first time with melodrama mystery Show Window: The Queen's House.[35]

In 2023, Song reunited with Director Park Hye-ryeong for web show Song Yoon-ah by PDC.[36]

Other activities

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Philanthropy

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On February 13, 2023, Song donated 50 million won to help 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, by donating money through Korea's UNICEF Committee with participation in the Emergency Relief for Children Victims of the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria' programme along with Sul Kyung-gu.[37]

Personal life

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Song married actor Sul Kyung-gu on May 28, 2009 in a Catholic church in Bangbae-dong followed by a reception at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in Seoul.[38] Both graduates of Hanyang University, they acted opposite each other in Jail Breakers (2002) and Lost in Love (2006).[2][39][40][41] Their son Sol Seung-yoon was born on August 3, 2010.[42]

In 2014, Song filed a defamation suit against 57 netizens who spread online rumors that she began having an extramarital affair with Sol in 2002 while he was still married to his first wife and was the cause of their divorce in 2006.[43][44] Sol and Song have denied these rumors, stating that their relationship started in 2007.[39]

Filmography

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Film

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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 Han Gyeong-sun
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

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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

Television show

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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

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Year Title Role Ref.
2023 Song Yoon-ah by PDC Host [36]

Hosting

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Year Title Notes Ref.
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

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

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1995 KBS Super Talent Contest Gold Award Won
Photogenic Award Won
Julia Award Won
1998 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress Mister Q Won
KBS Drama Awards Popularity Award, Actress Paper Crane Won
1999 35th Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actress (TV) Mister Q Won
MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress The Boss Won
2000 SBS Drama Awards Big Star Award Love Story "Lost Baggage" Won
45th Information and Communication Day Prime Minister's Commendation Won
2001 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress Hotelier, Sweet Bear Won
2002 Korea Best Dressed Swan Awards Recipient Won
23rd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Jail Breakers Won
2003 11th Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Supporting Actress Won
40th Grand Bell Awards Won
2004 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama Into the Storm Won
Top 10 Stars Won
2006 4th Korea Fashion World Awards Best Dressed, Movie Actress category Won
MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actress My Beloved Sister Nominated
2007 3rd Andre Kim Best Star Awards[45] Best Star Award Won
MBC Entertainment Awards Achievement Award Won
2008 Cosmopolitan Fun Fearless Female Won
SBS Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) On Air Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress Won
Top 10 Stars Won
2009 4th Andre Kim Best Star Awards[46] Female Star Award Won
2010 2nd Korea Jewelry Awards Diamond Award Won
2014 3rd APAN Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Mama Nominated
27th Grimae Awards Best Actress Won
MBC Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama Won
2015 51st Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress (TV) Won
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Awards, Actress in a Mid-length Drama Assembly Nominated
2018 SBS Drama Awards[47] Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Daily and Weekend Drama Secret Mother Won

References

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  1. ^ 권현진 (March 6, 2007). "송윤아 "이번이 2번째 '1일 명예민원실장'"". Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021 – via Daum.
  2. ^ a b c "Actor Sul and Actress Song to Marry on May 28". The Korea Times. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  3. ^ a b c d "Song Yun-a Gets First Billing at Last". The Chosun Ilbo. 14 August 2006. Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  4. ^ a b c "Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema: Song Yun-ah". Koreanfilm.org. Archived from the original on 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  5. ^ "Song Yoon-ah, Kim Tae-hee, Stars who have risen through evil roles". Hancinema. May 1, 2008. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  6. ^ "Song Yun-ah to hold fan meeting in Japan". KBS Global. 11 October 2005. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  7. ^ "Kim Ha-neul, Song Yoon-ah Compete to be This Summer's Horror Queen". The Chosun Ilbo. 2 June 2004. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  8. ^ "사랑을 놓치다 (Lost in Love) Press Conference Report". Twitch Film. 29 September 2005. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  9. ^ Lee, Min-a (3 January 2006). "Lost Love goes beyond drama stereotyping". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  10. ^ Park, Soo-mee (16 May 2006). "Love, loss and lucid cinematic silence". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  11. ^ "K-FILM REVIEWS: 사랑을 놓치다 (Lost in Love)". Twitch Film. 25 September 2006. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  12. ^ Kim, Tae-jong (29 June 2006). "Arang Interesting But Falls Short". The Korea Times via Hancinema. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  13. ^ Park, Sang-jun (21 November 2006). "Classic horror theme and martial arts collaboration". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  14. ^ "Song Yoon-ah, "Don't be surprised by my drastic transformation"". Broasia via Hancinema. 8 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-07-26. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  15. ^ Kwon, Mee-yoo (27 February 2008). "On Air Looks Into Making of Dramas". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  16. ^ "Song Yoona and Park Yong-ha in Japan to Promote On Air". KBS Global. 11 June 2008. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  17. ^ Park, Sun-young (27 November 2009). "Thriller lays bare the secrets that we keep". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  18. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (26 November 2011). "Yoon's Secret Provides Fresh Thrills". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  19. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (31 December 2009). "On Mother-Daughter Bonding". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  20. ^ "Film Award's First Sole Woman MC". KBS Global. 22 November 2007. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  21. ^ "Director Jang Jin, actress Song Yun-ah and musical director Kolleen Park pose at a press event for their new cable audition show in Seoul". The Chosun Ilbo. 30 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2016-10-02. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  22. ^ Chung, Ah-young (21 August 2011). "Dancer Joo wins Korea's Got Talent". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  23. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (17 January 2013). "Song Yoon-a set for drama comeback". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  24. ^ Lee, In-kyung (25 April 2014). "Song Yoon Ah to Make Return to Dramaland Through Mama". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  25. ^ Kim, Hee-eun (26 April 2014). "Song Yoon-ah back on TV". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  26. ^ "Song Yoon-ah to play a single mother after a six-year break". Korea JoongAng Daily. 9 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  27. ^ Park, Yoon-jin (4 November 2014). "Song Yun Ah Restarts Her Career As An Actress". BNTNews. Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2015-01-04.
  28. ^ Lee, Hoo-nam; Kim, Hyung-eun (28 May 2015). "Baeksang honors new, veteran stars". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  29. ^ "지창욱-송윤아-윤아 '더 케이투', 본격 제작..강렬한 보디가드 액션 예고". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). 11 August 2016 – via Naver.
  30. ^ "VR movie NINE DAYS Confirmed Late January Release". Korean Film Biz Zone. January 25, 2018. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  31. ^ "SONG Yun-a Wraps VR Short WAR CORRESPONDENT". Korean Film Biz Zone. 3 October 2017.
  32. ^ "송윤아, '돌멩이'로 스크린 컴백할까…"긍정 검토 중"(공식입장)". Xports News (in Korean). 18 August 2017.
  33. ^ "'Secret Mother' looks at Korea's intense education scene". Kpop Herald. 9 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  34. ^ ""현실 밀착 미스터리"..'우아한 친구들' 유준상→송윤아, 코믹+서스펜스[종합]". Herald POP (in Korean). 10 July 2020.
  35. ^ Moon Ji-yeon (August 20, 2021). "[공식] 송윤아·이성재·전소민·황찬성 '쇼윈도:여왕의 집' 출연 확정" [[Official] Song Yoon-ah, Lee Seong-jae, Jeon So-min, Hwang Chan-seong confirmed to appear in 'Show Window: The Queen's House']. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021 – via Naver.
  36. ^ a b Jo, Yoon-seon (February 23, 2023). "설경구♥' 송윤아 "사람들이 나에 대해 오해하는 게 있다" ('by PDC')" ['Sol Gyeong-gu♥' Song Yoon-ah "There are things people misunderstand about me" ('by PDC')] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023 – via Naver.
  37. ^ Lim, Hye-young (February 13, 2023). "참담한 심정"…수지→천우희·임시완, 튀르키예 강진에 ★들 기부 행렬 [종합]" [Terrible feeling"... Suzy → Chun Woo-hee · Lim Si-wan, donation procession in Turkey] (in Korean). OSEN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023 – via Naver.
  38. ^ "Stars Seol Kyung-ku and Song Yoon-ah Tie the Knot". KBS Global. 1 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  39. ^ a b "Actors Sul, Song to Tie Knot on May 28". The Korea Times. 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  40. ^ "Sol Kyung-gu, Song Yun-ah to Wed". The Chosun Ilbo. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2015-03-04. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  41. ^ "Jail Breakers lead actors really were Lost in Love". Korea JoongAng Daily. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  42. ^ "Song Yoon-ah gives birth to a son". Dramabeans. 3 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  43. ^ "Actress Song files defamation complaint against netizens". The Korea Herald. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  44. ^ Kim, Hee-eun (25 March 2014). "Song files suit against netizens". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  45. ^ Garcia, Cathy Rose A. (1 May 2007). "Top Stars Win Andre Kim Awards". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  46. ^ Garcia, Cathy Rose A. (29 November 2009). "Stars Shine at Andre Kim's Atelier". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  47. ^ Lee, Jihyun (January 1, 2019). [SBS 연기대상] 감우성·김선아, 공동 대상..베스트 커플상까지(종합) [[SBS Drama Awards] Gam Woo-sung, Kim Sun-ah, co- grand prize.. Best Couple Award (Comprehensive)]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
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