Hong Seok-cheon
{{short description|South Korean actor, television personality, restaurateur}}
{{family name hatnote|Hong||lang=Korean}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Hong Seok-cheon
| image = '현지에서 먹힐까' 제작 발표회 홍석천.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hong in March 2018
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|2|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = Cheongyang County, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea
| nationality = South Korean
| years_active = 1994–present
| occupation = Actor, television personality, restaurateur
| agent = Foresta Company
| alma_mater = Hanyang University – Theater and Film (1989)
| spouse =
| children = 2 (adopted)
| module = {{Infobox Korean name|child=yes|headercolor=transparent
| hangul = 홍석천
| hanja = {{linktext|洪|錫|天}}
| rr = Hong Seok-cheon
| mr = Hong Sŏkch'ŏn
}}}}
Hong Seok-cheon (born February 3, 1971) is a South Korean actor, television personality, restaurateur and member of the dissolved Democratic Labor Party. He caused considerable controversy in his home country when he came out as gay in 2000, and remains the most prominent openly gay celebrity in Korea.{{cite web|last=Cho|first=Joohee|title=Breaking the Gay Taboo in South Korea|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=7351116|date=May 27, 2009|website=ABC News|access-date=September 9, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Hong Suk-chun talks about coming out of the closet|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130204000707|website=The Korea Herald|access-date=August 13, 2015|date=February 4, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Glionna|first=John M.|title=South Korean actor throws open closet door|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-mar-05-la-fg-south-korea-gay-activist-20120306-story.html|date=March 5, 2012|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 14, 2014}}
Career
Hong Seok-cheon was born in Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province. He began his entertainment career as a male model, and made his screen debut in 1994 as a reporter for Live TV Information Center. In 1995, he won the bronze prize at the KBS Comedian Festival (for college students). Due to his versatility and comic timing, Hong went on to a prolific career on South Korean television, appearing in children's programs and variety shows, as well as sitcoms and dramas.{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Seung-heon|title=Hong Seok-Cheon of "coming-out" returns to TV|url=http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=130500&biid=2001042705358|website=The Dong-a Ilbo|access-date=August 14, 2015|date=April 12, 2001}}
In 2000, Hong was asked a question regarding his sexuality on a variety show, and he chose to answer honestly that he was gay. Though the show's producers initially edited out the exchange, a journalist got wind of the story and pressed Hong to confirm his admission.{{cite web|last1=Pearson |first1=James |last2=Rashid |first2=Raphael |title=Gay Korea comes out |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/01/404_123797.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=August 14, 2015 |date=November 2, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084908/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/01/404_123797.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }} After Hong revealed his homosexuality, he was fired from his network television programs and advertisements amidst public uproar, and no longer landed any major acting roles.{{cite web|last=Chun|first=Su-jin|title=Defying the Stigma of a Gender Change|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=1889733|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=August 14, 2015|date=June 1, 2001}} He faced massive stigma after becoming the country's first openly gay celebrity, and later said he experienced shunning, verbal abuse and discrimination that he rarely stepped out of his social circle.{{cite web|last=Kim |first=Tong-hyung |title=Hong shares painful experience as first openly gay celebrity |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/people/2013/08/178_130074.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=August 14, 2015 |date=February 5, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913203213/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/people/2013/08/178_130074.html |archive-date=September 13, 2015 }} He then wrote his memoir My Heart Still Throbs for Forgotten Love, in which he recounted his failed romance with a Dutch man named Tony.{{cite web|last=Han|first=Hyon-woo|title=Hong Seok-cheon Comes Out Some More with Mini-bio|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2000/12/26/2000122661301.html|website=The Chosun Ilbo|access-date=August 14, 2015|date=December 26, 2000}}
Forced out of the entertainment business, Hong wanted to leave the country to study in New York, but he said he decided stay in Korea to prove to his detractors that he could be a success. He started his first restaurant Our Place in 2002, two years after he came out. He now owns and runs nine high-end restaurants in Itaewon, home to a large expat community in Seoul.{{cite web|last=Kim |first=Young-jin |title=Itaewon: Going Gangnam Style? |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2014/04/203_130484.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=August 14, 2015 |date=February 14, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091839/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2014/04/203_130484.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }} Hong's restaurants are all characterized by the prefix "My," namely: My Hong, My Chi chi*s, My Thai, My Thai China, My X, My Chelsea, My Noodle, and My Suji.{{cite web|title=Businesses Hiring Hunks to Woo Customers|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/09/12/2007091261022.html|website=The Chosun Ilbo|access-date=August 14, 2015|date=September 12, 2007}}{{cite web|title=Celebrity reveals restaurant sales figures |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/07/511_181958.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=August 14, 2015 |date=July 1, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726030313/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/07/511_181958.html |archive-date=July 26, 2015 }}
In 2004, he joined the Democratic Labor Party and was selected by Time magazine as the year's Asian Hero.{{cite web|title=Time Magazine Selects Korean Actor Hong Seok-cheon as Asian Hero|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2004/09/24/2004092461022.html|date=September 24, 2004|website=The Chosun Ilbo|access-date=September 14, 2014}} Hong also continued appearing regularly on talk shows, notably Yeo Yoo Man Man, on which he guested with his parents and discussed his life since coming out. Acting-wise, Hong starred in the thriller Puzzle (2006) and the stage play A Midsummer Night's Dream (2009).{{cite web|last=Chung |first=Ah-young |title=Star Actors Team Up in Shakespeare Play |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/06/146_46554.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=August 14, 2015 |date=June 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083413/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/06/146_46554.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 }}{{cite web|last=Park|first=Sun-young|title=Reunion for Midsummer Night revival|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2905712|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=August 14, 2015|date=June 5, 2009}} He also founded the internet shopping mall Ne2Nom in 2007, and became a professor at Korea National University of Arts (teaching Broadcast Content Production in 2010 and Fashion Arts in 2011).
After his sister's divorce, Hong adopted her two children and changed their last names to his.{{cite web|last=Kim |first=Jae-heun |title=Hong shares secret of success with students |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/people/2015/08/178_184611.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=August 14, 2015 |date=August 11, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815113727/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/people/2015/08/178_184611.html |archive-date=August 15, 2015 }} In 2008, he hosted his own talk show Coming Out, which featured gay issues.{{cite web|last=Han |first=Sang-hee |title=Actor Hong Suk-Chun to Host Coming Out |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/04/201_22429.html |date=April 13, 2008 |website=The Korea Times |access-date=September 14, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808060226/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/04/201_22429.html |archive-date=August 8, 2014 }} Despite Korean society's continuing conservatism, Hong overcame initial public disapproval and gradually gained more mainstream acceptance, especially among the younger generation, in part because of his activism in fighting for LGBT rights.{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Sung-eun|title=Star restaurateur launches ramen line|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2995459|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=August 14, 2015|date=September 29, 2014}} From bit parts and cameos, he now emcees shows on cable television and has a sizeable following on social media.
In 2015, Hong announced that he plans to run for district head of the Yongsan District Office in the 2018 local elections.{{cite web|title=Gay TV star chases political career |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/03/511_175585.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=August 14, 2015 |date=March 20, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720062846/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/03/511_175585.html |archive-date=July 20, 2015 }} Having lived in Yongsan District for ten years, he said he aims to promote cultural spaces for young artists and small businesses, while providing welfare for sexual minorities. If elected, he will become the first openly gay person to become a publicly elected official in Korea.{{cite web|last=Kim |first=Jae-heun |title=Hong Seok-cheon turns his eye to politics |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2015/02/201_173971.html |website=The Korea Times |access-date=August 14, 2015 |date=February 23, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711121043/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2015/02/201_173971.html |archive-date=July 11, 2015 }} In 2016, he participated in the program Law of the Jungle.{{cite news|last=Park|first=Jin-young|title=홍석천, '정글의 법칙' 합류..뉴칼레도니아 간다|url=https://entertain.naver.com/ranking/read?oid=109&aid=0003316084|website=Naver|date=2016-05-16|access-date=2016-05-11|language=ko}}
In 2018, he revealed that he is third cousins with Taeyong of NCT.{{Cite news|url=https://news.sbs.co.kr/news/endPage.do?news_id=N1004575700|title=[스브스타] 홍석천의 '8촌' 친척 동생의 정체는?…"NCT 멤버 태용"|website=SBS News|last=Oh|first=Ki-ppeum|date=January 16, 2018|access-date=December 24, 2022|language=ko}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" | |||
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| scope="row" rowspan=3|1997
| Do the Right Thing || Henchman || || | |||
| No. 3 | Adulterous man | ||
| Man with Flowers | Lee Joo-il | ||
| scope="row" rowspan=2|1998
| Rub Love || Stop Bar bartender || || | |||
| Tie a Yellow Ribbon | Dong-gyu | ||
| scope="row" | 1999
| Ghost in Love || Subway passenger || || | |||
| scope="row" rowspan=3|2001
| Last Present || Cheong-chun || || | |||
| A Tearful Story | Cameo | ||
| Hera Purple | Min-seok | ||
| scope="row" | 2003
| Dying or Live || Charlie Choi || || | |||
| scope="row" | 2005
| The Art of Seduction || DJ || || | |||
| scope="row" rowspan=2|2006
| Good Luck || Skinhead Hong || || | |||
| Puzzle | Noh | ||
| scope="row" | 2008
| The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan || Tailor shop owner || Cameo || | |||
| scope="row" | 2009
| Sky and Sea || Hair designer || Cameo || | |||
| scope="row" | 2011
| Dream the Good Dream || Russian mafia Kalashnikov || Short film || | |||
| scope="row" | 2012
| Runway Cop || Show director || || | |||
| scope="row" | 2014
| Fashion King || MC Seok-cheon ||Cameo || | |||
| scope="row" rowspan=3|2015
| Love Forecast || My Thai China restaurant owner || Cameo || | |||
| Mongolian Princess | Movie actor | Cameo | |
| Love Clinic | Psychiatrist | Cameo |
= Television series =
= Web series =
=Television shows =
= Web shows =
Stage
=Theatre=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | 1994
| Save the Last Dance for Me || || || |
| scope="row" | 1995; 2009
| A Midsummer Night's Dream || Francis Flute || || |
| scope="row" | 1999
| A Chorus Line || || || |
| scope="row" | 2002
| Godspell || || || |
| scope="row" | 2006
| Footloose || Willard Hewitt || || |
| scope="row" | 2010
| The Rocky Horror Show || Narrator || || |
| scope="row" | 2013–2014
| Nunsense A-Men || Sister Mary Leo || || |
Bibliography
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Publisher ! scope="col" | ISBN |
|---|
| scope="row" | 2000
| My Heart Still Throbs for Forgotten Love || J-pub || {{ISBN|9788983755315}} |
| scope="row" | 2008
| Design Your Own Restaurant || M-Books || {{ISBN|9788996048459}} |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination ! scope="col" | Award ceremony ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Nominee / Work ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| scope="row" | Blue Dragon Series Awards
| style="text-align:center" | 2023 |rowspan="1" | Best Male Entertainer | Merry Queer | {{nom}} |style="text-align:center" rowspan="1" |{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0004024285|last=Moon|first=Ji-yeon|title=[공식] '더 글로리'·'SNL코리아3' 최다 노미..제2회 청룡시리즈어워즈 후보 발표|trans-title=[Official] 'The Glory'-'SNL Korea 3' Most Nominations...2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards Nominations Announced |publisher=Sports Chosun|via=Naver|date=June 26, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|language=ko}} |
|---|
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Twitter}}
- {{HanCinema person}}
- {{kmdb person|00012489|Hong Seok-cheon}}
- {{IMDb name|1065496|Hong Seok-cheon}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hong, Seok-cheon}}
Category:South Korean male television actors
Category:South Korean male film actors
Category:South Korean male musical theatre actors
Category:South Korean male stage actors
Category:South Korean male models
Category:South Korean gay actors
Category:South Korean LGBTQ rights activists