WON BIN

WON BIN

Profile

* Name: 원빈 / Won Bin
* Real name: 김도진 / Kim Do Jin
* Profession: Actor and model
* Birthdate: 1977-Nov-10
* Birthplace: Jeong-seon, Kangwon-do, South Korea
* Height: 178cm
* Weight: 62kg
* Star sign: Scorpio
* Blood type: O
* Family: One older brother and three older sisters
* Talent agency: Eden 9



Won Bin (born November 10, 1977 as Kim Do Jin in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do) is a South Korean actor. He is the youngest of five siblings, with one older brother and three older sisters. He is a popular actor and is practically famous throughout Asia.

Won Bin made his screen debut in a 1996 KBS drama. His role as a rebellious youngest son in the 2000 drama Kkokji proved his acting potential and has been recongnized as a promising actor. He made his big breakthrough in the widely popular drama Autumn Fairy Tale (2000). His role in this successful drama landed him on the A-list for Korean performers. The drama gained wide popularity in Asia and he became one of the most popular Korean actors in Korea and Asia as well. In 2002, Won Bin became the first Korean actor to get wide popularity in Japan through the first Japan/Korea joint production drama Friends.

He's also had roles in several popular movies, including Guns & Talks and My Brother, but it is his portrayal of the sensitive younger brother in the blockbuster war movie Taegukgi (aka Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War) (2004) that has truly cemented his fame in the international realm. With the success of the critically acclaimed Taegukgi, recognition of his acting skills has reached an ever-wider international audience.


Won Bin was called into military duty in the South Korean Army in November 2005. He was stationed at the Korean border, a position for which he volunteered. On June 2, 2006, the military officially confirmed Won Bin's discharge. The decision was made by the military when the actor sustained injury to his ACL. The actor has undergone surgery and has officially been discharged on June 7, 2006. After the surgery, the actor had gone through rehabilitation program for more than one year to recover from the injury.

Won Bin was appointed as UNICEF Special Representative of the Korean Committee on September 6, 2007. The actor's new movie Mother directed by Bong Joon-Ho will be released in the first half of 2009.


Filmography

Film

* 2009: Mother (마더)
* 2004: My Brother (우리형)
* 2004: Taegukgi (태극기 휘날리며) / Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War / Brotherhood
* 2001: Guns & Talks (킬러들의 수다)

TV drama

* 2002: Friends (4 episodes mini series) (Korea & Japan co-production for the first time)
* 2000: Autumn Fairy Tale (가을동화) (aka: Autumn in My Heart / Endless Love) (16 episodes)
* 2000: Kkokji (50 episodes)
* 2000: Small Station (one-act drama)
* 1999: Kwangki (aka: Ad Maniac) (36 episodes)
* 1998: Ready, Go! (8 episodes)
* 1997: Propose (14 episodes)
* 1997: Super Sunday variety show

Awards

* 2004: Best Newcomer award (Golden Cinematography Award, Korea) for Taegukgi
* 2004: Best Newcomer award (Chinsa Film Art Festival, Korea) for Taegukgi
* 2002: Bvlgari Brilliant Dreams Awards (Japan)
* 2000: Best Newcomer award (TV drama) (Baek-Sang Award, Korea) for Kkokji and Autumn Tale
* 2000: Best Performance Male Actor (KBS TV award)
* 1999: Best Newcomer award (KBS TV award)