Biography

Hyun Bin had a typical childhood as the youngest son of a family with loving parents and a strong older brother. In high school, he fell in love with the allure of acting in a theater club he joined on the advice of a senior, but he was opposed by his father, who wanted him to pursue a normal life. His father, unable to oppose his son's desire, set a condition that he would root for him if he was admitted by the Theater and Film Department of 'Chung-Ang University,' which was coveted by aspiring actors at the time. Hyun Bin was firmly accepted and demonstrated his enthusiasm.

After debuting in a minor role in the 2003 drama 'Bodyguard,' Hyun Bin began his acting career earnestly. The same year, he played an attractive college student in the sitcom Nonstop (2000), which dealt with campus life and began gaining popularity. He shot to fame in 2004 after delivering an outstanding performance in the drama Ireland (2004), His subtle emotional portrayal of the role was sufficient to announce the advent of a new star.

He reached the pinnacle of his career for the first time in 2005 with My Lovely Sam-Soon (2005), a smash drama that achieved a record audience rating of 50%. He did not settle for being a romance star but continued experimenting with different genres and characters. He continued to feature in dramas such as The Snow Queen (2006), Friend, Our Legend (2009) and The World That They Live In (2008), as well as films such as I Am Happy (2008), Late Autumn (2010), Come Rain, Come Shine (2011), and so on, widening his acting range and cementing his place as a character actor.

Hyun Bin reached the peak of his career for the second time in 2011 when he won the grand prize at the renowned Baeksang Arts Awards for the hit drama Secret Garden (2010), which caused Asia to succumb to the 'Hyun Bin Syndrome.' However, when at the top, he volunteered to join the Marine Corps to complete his national military duty responsibilities. This enthralled the fans even more, as he resumed his life sublimely and silently rather than clinging to the 'climax' moment that had come to him.

After being discharged from the military, he pursued more public-friendly works and chose paths that other actors did not. From The Fatal Encounter (2014), about the young days of King Jeongjo, who is regarded as the last sage in Joseon history, to the Confidential Assignment (2017) series, about inter-Korean cooperation, and Rampant (2018), about a zombie-dystopia in the Joseon Dynasty, he captivated the audience with a variety of entertaining films. As a result, Hyun Bin cemented his reputation as an actor who values both popularity and excellence, not only in TV shows but also on the big screen.

He reclaimed the top spot in 2020. He had a worldwide smash hit with the drama Crash Landing on You (2019), which became a hot issue as he reunited with actress Son Ye-Jin, with whom he previously collaborated on the film The Negotiation (2018). Hyun Bin portrayed Ri Jeong-Hyeok, a North Korean soldier who falls in love with a female protagonist who crash-lands in North Korea. The drama has been dubbed the 'Hyun Bin Genre,' since he demonstrated a diverse range of acting in romance, melodrama, and action, demonstrating his potential as a global star.

Following pandemic, he demonstrated his unequaled influence by rejuvenating the moribund Korean film business by participating in a string of blockbusters, including Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022) and The Point Men (2023). He recently met the public with the hit film Harbin (2024).

Harbin (2024) explores the historical life of Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-Geun and was featured in the Gala Presentation section of the 49th Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024. It officially premiered in Korea in December and was sold to 117 countries, including the United States, Japan, France, Australia, and Spain, to reach fans worldwide. Notably, Hyun Bin's serious approach to embodying a historical figure garnered attention, and he was praised for creating a new image of Ahn Jung-Geun by emphasizing his heroic qualities and his human side.

Hyun Bin's next project is the Disney Plus original series Made in Korea (2025), which is scheduled to be released in 2025.
- IMDb mini biography by: Clair Song

More than Korean films and series, technology helped us share our culture.

I'm glad to be part of an era when we are blessed with the opportunity to inspire and entertain through connectivity.

In retrospect, I've become wise in playing my roles in terms of acting techniques. But looking at my old performances when I was young like what I did in 'My Lovely Sam-Soon (2005)' or 'Secret Garden (2010)' there is something fresh and daring that I want to emulate now.

I believe showing various characters is my job and I try to take as many challenges as possible in my dramas and films.

[Speaking on behalf of the Kdrama, Crash Landing on You (2019)] Many people worked hard in order to create 'Crash Landing on You.' I am grateful to the writer, the directors, and all the production staff.