Byun Hee-bong (born Byun In-chul; June 8, 1942) is a South Korean actor.
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Byun Hee-bong | |
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![]() Byun in 2017 | |
Born | Byun In-chul (1942-06-08) June 8, 1942 (age 80) Jangseong County, South Jeolla, South Korea |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1970–present |
Korean name | |
Hangul | |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Byeon Hui-bong |
McCune–Reischauer | Pyŏn Hŭibong |
Birth name | |
Hangul | |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Byeon In-cheol |
McCune–Reischauer | Pyŏn In-chŏl |
Byun In-chul was born in Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province, and attended Salesian High School in Gwangju. He took up law at Chosun University before dropping out to pursue acting. Byun entered the MBC actor's auditions in 1965, and made his acting debut in 1970. A year later in 1971, he became a regular on the landmark police procedural Chief Inspector. He began using the stage name Byun Hee-bong in 1977. Throughout the 1970s, he became known on TV as a character actor who played eccentric men who didn't quite fit in with mainstream Korean society. He transitioned to the big screen in the 1980s, and earlier in his film career, starred in the classic Lee Doo-yong film Eunuch (1986) and A Surrogate Father (1993).
In 2000, Byun appeared in a memorable supporting role in Bong Joon-ho's directorial debut Barking Dogs Never Bite, playing a bizarre apartment maintenance man with a love for dog meat. It rejuvenated his career, and Bong would later cast him in the short film Sink & Rise (2004), and his seminal works crime drama Memories of Murder (2003) and monster movie The Host (2006).[1][2][3] The Host became the top-grossing Korean film of all time, and Byun won much acclaim for his performance as the strong-willed patriarch of a "loser" family, including Best Supporting Actor awards at the Asia Pacific Film Festival and Blue Dragon Film Awards.[4][5]
Among Byun's other notable roles are in martial arts fantasy Volcano High (2001), rural dramedy My Teacher, Mr. Kim (2003), horror comedy To Catch a Virgin Ghost (2004), body swap thriller The Devil's Game (2008),[6][7] and espionage film The Spies (2012).[8] Byun also continues to be active in television, with his portrayals of endearing, humorous fathers/grandfathers, or stern, cunning professionals.[9]
Year | Title | Role |
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1980 | Dull Servant Pal Bul-chul | |
1983 | Hotel at 00:00 | |
1985 | A Man With Color | |
1986 | Eunuch | |
No Woman Is Afraid of the Night | ||
1988 | We Are Going to Geneva Now | |
Karma | ||
The World of Women | ||
1993 | A Surrogate Father | |
2000 | Barking Dogs Never Bite | apartment maintenance man |
2001 | Volcano High | Vice principal Jang Hak-sa |
2003 | Scent of Love | |
My Teacher, Mr. Kim | Old Choi | |
Memories of Murder | Sergent Koo Hee-bong | |
Spring Breeze | Writer Noh | |
2004 | Au Revoir, UFO | real estate agent |
To Catch a Virgin Ghost | ||
Lovely Rivals | Principal Byun In-chul | |
Sink & Rise (short film) | ||
2005 | Another Public Enemy | Byun Hee-bong |
Crying Fist | Sang-hwan's coach | |
Detective Mr. Gong | Gong Pil-doo's father | |
2006 | The Host | Park Hee-bong |
Mission Sex Control | Mr. Kang | |
2007 | Small Town Rivals | CEO Baek |
2008 | The Devil's Game | Kang No-shik |
2009 | Lifting King Kong | school superintendent |
Searching for the Elephant | zoo official (cameo) | |
2010 | Haunters | Jung-shik |
2011 | In Love and War | Village leader |
2012 | I Am the King | Shin Ik-yeok |
The Spies | Adviser Yoon | |
2013 | Mr. Go | Weiwei's grandfather (cameo) |
2017 | Okja | Hee-bong |
2019 | By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture | Baek Young-Kam |
Year | Title | Role |
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1970 | 홍콩 101번지 | bit part |
1971 | Chief Inspector | |
1973 | 113 Investigation Division | |
1979 | Anguk-dong Madam | |
1981 | New Madam | |
The 1st Republic | ||
1982 | Market People | |
1983 | 무역왕 최봉준 | |
Sunflower in Winter | ||
The King of Chudong Palace | Nam Eun | |
1984 | The Ume Tree in the Midst of the Snow | Yu Jagwang |
1985 | The Season of Men | Kim Joong-han |
1986 | Namhan Mountain Castle | Choe Myeong-gil |
1987 | 아름다운 밀회 | President Jang |
Three Women | ||
1988 | The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong | Park Mun-su |
Our Town | Nam Dae-chun | |
1989 | The 2nd Republic | |
The Fifth Row | Jo Geum-san | |
유산 | Lawyer Hwang | |
1990 | 머슴아와 가이내 | |
1991 | Eyes of Dawn | Park Choon-geum |
Three Day Promise | ||
We're Middle Class | Patriarch Park | |
1993 | 시인을 위하여 | |
The 3rd Republic | Hyun Seok-ho | |
MBC Best Theater: Soon-dal and Byung-gu and Ok-joo | Byung-gu's father | |
달빛 고향 | ||
1994 | 한쪽 눈을 감아요 | |
1995 | 인연이란 | |
서울 야상곡 | ||
Asphalt Man | ||
Glorious Dawn | Heungseon Daewongun | |
1996 | 간이역 | |
Tears of the Dragon | ||
1997 | Desire | Yoon-seok |
질주 | ||
1998 | Love and Success | |
The King's Path | ||
Legend of Ambition | ||
1999 | Hur Jun | Sung In-chul |
2000 | Mokminsimseo | 서용보 |
Secret | Chan-shik | |
Foolish Princes | Yeo Jae-man | |
2002 | The Dawn of the Empire | Kim Geun-ryul |
Lovers | Gong Hee-bong (cameo) | |
2003 | Something About 1% | Lee Kyu-chul |
Drama City: The Truth About Wormwood and Garlic[10] | principal | |
Damo | ||
2004 | 굿모닝 공자 | Go Dok-han |
New Human Market | Oh Jong-doo | |
Choice | ||
A Second Proposal | ||
2005 | Green Rose | Prosecutor Jung |
My Girl | Seol Woong | |
Drama City: 계룡산 부용이[11] | Sabu | |
2006 | Great Inheritance | Jung Il-do |
Wolf | Senator Yoon Gab-soo | |
2007 | Behind the White Tower | Oh Kyung-hwan |
Witch Yoo Hee | Ma Yoon-hoon | |
2009 | My Too Perfect Sons | Song Shi-yeol |
2010 | Master of Study | Cha Ki-bong |
My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox | Cha Poong | |
The President | Go Sang-ryul | |
2011 | Glory Jane | Old man Hwang (cameo) |
2012 | Ohlala Couple | Wolha, matchmaker of fate |
2013 | Princess Aurora | Oh Dae-san |
Goddess of Fire | Moon Sa-seung | |
2014 | Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit | Han Won-bin |
Drama Festival: Lump in My Life" | Pan-shik | |
Pinocchio | Choi Gong-pil | |
2015 | Save the Family | Jung Soo-bong |
2016 | Madame Antoine: The Love Therapist | President Kim |
2016 | Blow Breeze | Kim Deok-cheon |
2019 | My Lawyer, Mr. Jo 2: Crime and Punishment [12] | Kook Hyun-il |
Year | Title | Role |
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2013 | Snow of March[13] | Jang-oh |
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
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1982 | MBC Drama Awards | Won | ||
1985 | Hankook Ilbo | Popularity Award | Won | |
21st Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular Actor (TV) | The Ume Tree in the Midst of the Snow | Won | |
1986 | JoongAng Ilbo | Our Star Award | Won | |
2003 | 2nd Korean Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | My Teacher, Mr. Kim | Nominated |
2004 | KBS Drama Awards | Best Actor in a One-Act Drama/Special | Won | |
2006 | 51st Asia Pacific Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | The Host | Won |
27th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Host | Won | |
9th Director's Cut Awards | Performer of the Year (ensemble cast) | The Host | Won | |
2007 | 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (Film) | The Host | Nominated |
44th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Host | Nominated | |
4th Max Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actor | The Host | Won | |
2008 | 44th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor (Film) | The Devil's Game | Nominated |
2009 | KMDb Choiwos Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | |
2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Master of Study | Nominated |
2014 | MBC Drama Awards | Best Actor in a One-Act/Short Drama | Lump in My Life | Won |
Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
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1960s |
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1970s |
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1990s |
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2000s |
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2010s |
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2020s |
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Director's Cut Awards for Best Actor | |
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1990s |
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2000s |
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2010s |
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2020s |
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General | |
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National libraries | |
Other |
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