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Byun Hee-bong

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In this Korean name, the family name is Byun.
Byun Hee-bong
Byun in July 2017
Born
Byun In-chul

(1942-06-08)8 June 1942[1]
Jangseong County, Zenranan-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan (now South Jeolla Province, South Korea)
Died18 September 2023(2023-09-18) (aged 81)
Seoul, South Korea
OccupationActor
Years active1970–2019
Honours Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit (2020)
Korean name
Hangul
변희봉
Hanja
Revised RomanizationByeon Hui-bong
McCune–ReischauerPyŏn Hŭibong
Birth name
Hangul
변인철
Hanja
Revised RomanizationByeon In-cheol
McCune–ReischauerPyŏn In-chŏl

Byun Hee-bong (Korean: 변희봉; born Byun In-chul; 8 June 1942 – 18 September 2023) was a South Korean film, television and voice actor. In 1963, he embarked on his voice acting career by making his debut in the first season of DBS Donga Broadcasting. He further expanded his experience by joining the second season of MBC Culture Broadcasting in 1965.

Making his acting debut in 1970, he was known as director Bong Joon-ho's personal favorite actor, and his performances in the director's films have sparked a fresh wave of recognition for his unique contributions as a supporting actor. He appeared in four of Bong Joon-ho's feature films. In Barking Dogs Never Bite, he portrayed a peculiar apartment security guard with a deep affinity for bone soup. In Memories of Murder, he took on the role of a local detective chief, while in The Host, he captivated audiences as Park Hee-bong, the grandfather of the film's protagonist's family. For this role, Byun also won several awards, including the 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards for best supporting actor.[2] In Okja, Byun made a special appearance as Joo Hee-bong.

Early life

Byun In-chul was born in Sinchang Village, Sinpyeong-ri, Buk-myeon, Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province.[3]

He attended Salesian High School in Gwangju. He took up law at Chosun University before dropping out to pursue acting.[4]

Career

Byun entered the MBC actor's auditions in 1965, and made his acting debut in 1970.[5] A year later in 1971, he became a regular on the landmark police procedural Chief Inspector. At the time of his debut, he used his real name, Byeon In-cheol, but in 1977, in an attempt to improve his image as a villain, he used the stage name Byun Hee-bong.[6]

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).[7]

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.[8] 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).[9][10][11] 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.[12][13]

Among Byun's other notable roles were 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),[14][15] and espionage film The Spies (2012).[16] Byun was also known for being active in television, with his portrayals of endearing, humorous fathers/grandfathers, or stern, cunning professionals.[17]

Death

Byun died from complications of pancreatic cancer in Seoul on 18 September 2023, at the age of 81.[18][19]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
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

Television

Television series appearances[20]
Year Title Role
English Korean
1970 101 Hong Kong 홍콩 101번지 bit part
1971 Chief Inspector 수사반장
1973 113 Investigation Division 113 수사본부
1976 Wealthy Merchant Im Sang-ok 거상 임상옥
1978 Government 정부인
1979 Season of Love 사랑의 계절
Last Witness 최후의 증인
Anguk-dong Madam 안국동 아씨
1980 The End of the Line 종점
Power Diary 전원일기 Various minor roles other than Hyeran's father
1981 New Madam 새아씨
1st Republic 제1공화국 Ahn Jae-hong
1982 Market People 시장사람들
1983 Trade King Choi Bong-joon 무역왕 최봉준
Sunflower in Winter 겨울 해바라기
Five Hundred Years of the Joseon Dynasty – "The King of Chudong Palace" 조선왕조 오백년 – 추동궁 마마 Nam Eun
3840 Shortstop 3840 유격대
1984 Five Hundred Years of the Joseon Dynasty – "The Ume Tree in the Midst of the Snow" 조선왕조 오백년 – 설중매 Yu Jagwang
Governor-General of Korea 조선총독부 Lee Wan-yong
Chusa Kim Jung-hee 추사 김정희
1985 Wild Orchid 풍란 (드라마) Yu Jagwang
White-haired Youth 백발의 청춘
The Season of Men 남자의 계절 Kim Joong-han
1986 Five Hundred Years of the Joseon Dynasty – "Hoecheonmun" 조선왕조 오백년 – 회천문 Choe Myeong-gil
Five Hundred Years of the Joseon Dynasty – "Namhan Mountain Castle" 조선왕조 오백년 – 남한산성 Choe Myeong-gil
1987 Beautiful Secret Love Affair 아름다운 밀회 President Jang
1988 Three Women 세 여인
Five Hundred Years of the Joseon Dynasty – "The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong" 조선왕조 오백년 – 한중록 Park Mun-su
Our Town 우리 읍내 Nam Dae-chun
1989 The 2nd Republic 제2공화국
The Fifth Row 제5열 Jo Geum-san
Legacy 유산 Lawyer Hwang
1990 Daewongun 대원군 (1990년 드라마) Hong Soon- mok
Anti-People Special Committee 반민특위 (드라마) Choi Un- ha
The Handmaid and Gainae 머슴아와 가이내
1991 Eyes of Dawn 여명의 눈동자 Park Choon-geum
Three Day Promise 3일의 약속
We're Middle Class 우리는 중산층 Patriarch Park
1993 For The Poet 시인을 위하여
The 3rd Republic Hyun Seok-ho
MBC Best Theater – "Soon-dal and Byung-gu and Ok-joo" Byung-gu's father
Moonlight Hometown 달빛 고향
1994 Close One Eye 한쪽 눈을 감아요
1995 Relationship Is 인연이란
Seoul Nightsangok 서울 야상곡
Asphalt Man
Glorious Dawn Heungseon Daewongun
1996 Halt 간이역
Tears of the Dragon
1997 Desire Yoon-seok
Scamper 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" 쑥과 마늘에 관한 진실 principal [21]
Damo
2004 Good Morning Confucius 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 – "Gyeryongsan Buyong" 계룡산 부용이 Sabu [22]
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 Gumiho 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 Kook Hyun-il [23]

Theater

Year Title Role Theater Date Ref.
English Korean
2013 Snow of March 3월의 눈 Jang-oh National Theatre Company Baek Sung-jang Min-ho Theatre March 1–23 [24][25]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1982 MBC Drama Awards Won
1985 Hankook Ilbo Popularity Award The Ume Tree in the Midst of the Snow Won
21st Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actor (TV) 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 Won
9th Director's Cut Awards Performer of the Year (ensemble cast) Won
2007 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (Film) Nominated
44th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated
4th Best Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Won [26]
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

State honors

List of State Honour(s)
State Award Ceremony Year Honor Ref.
South Korea Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards[a] 2020 Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit

Notes

  1. ^ Since 2010 Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

References

  1. ^ Kim Eun-ju (23 January 2007). "중년배우 전성시대, 요즘 돋보이는 활약을 보여주고 있는 중년배우 11". Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 18 September 2023.
  2. ^ "S. Korean actor Byun Hee-bong, frequent collaborator of Bong Joon-ho, dies at 81". Yahoo News. 18 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  3. ^ "국립극단 디지털 아카이브 — 변희봉" [National Theatre Company Digital Archive — Byun Hee-bong]. archive.ntck.or.kr. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  4. ^ Han, Sang-jin (24 June 2011). "[한상진 기자의 藝人 탐구 ⑦] 영화배우 변희봉" [[Reporter Han Sang-jin's exploration of entertainers ⑦] Actor Byun Hee-bong]. Naver News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  5. ^ Na, Won-jung (18 September 2023). "송강호 "많은 영감 주신 선생님" 변희봉 비보에 놀란 영화계". Korea JoongAng Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  6. ^ "李大根(이대근)·邊仁徹改名(변인철개명) 李章玄(이장현)·邊希峰(변희봉)으로". NAVER Newslibrary. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Okja actor Byun Hee Bong dies at 81". Hindustan Times. 18 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  8. ^ "변희봉 "'괴물'은 단연코 내 대표작"". The Chosun Ilbo. 3 July 2006. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Monster Flick Ups Hype With Five-Poster Campaign". The Chosun Ilbo. 14 June 2006. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  10. ^ Yang, Seung-cheol (16 July 2006). "That river creature is his baby: Meet the maker of Host". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  11. ^ 변희봉 "'괴물'은 단연코 내 대표작". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 3 July 2006. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  12. ^ "PRESS SCREENING: 괴물 (The Host)". Twitch Film. 7 July 2006. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  13. ^ "The Host Set for All-Time Box-Office Record". The Chosun Ilbo. 1 September 2006. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  14. ^ Yi, Chang-ho (13 December 2007). "Off beat SHIN Ha-kyun Plays The Game". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  15. ^ Vijn, Ard (15 May 2008). "THE DEVIL'S GAME Korean LE DVD Review". Twitch Film. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  16. ^ Park, Eun-jee (21 September 2012). "The Spy, Covertness offer different takes on espionage". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  17. ^ Han, Sang-jin (23 May 2011). 영화배우 변희봉. Shin Dong-A (in Korean). Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  18. ^ Hwang, Jae-ha (18 September 2023). "원로배우 변희봉 췌장암 투병 끝 별세…향년 81세". Yonhap News. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Byun Hee-bong, veteran actor known for 'The Host,' dies at 81". Korea JoongAng Daily. 18 September 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Byun Hee-Bong | Actor". IMDb. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  21. ^ http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/dramacity/view/1235888_1355.html Archived 20 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL]
  22. ^ http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/dramacity/view/1358662_1355.html Archived 16 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine [bare URL]
  23. ^ ""Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho 2" Gets a Massive Cast Update". HanCinema. 26 November 2018. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  24. ^ "국립극단 디지털 아카이브 — 3월의 눈(2013, 서울)" [National Theatre Company Digital Archive — Snow of March (2013, Seoul)]. archive.ntck.or.kr. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Living Over the meaning of existence, the Play Snow of March". K-PopCulture. 5 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  26. ^ "변희봉, "나이 많은 배우 소외시키지 않았으면"" [Byun Hee-bong, "If you don't alienate older actors"]. entertain.naver.com (in Korean). 7 February 2007. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
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