Hong Seok-cheon
Hong in 2018
Born (1971-02-03) 3 February 1971
Cheongyang County, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Alma materHanyang University – Theater and Film (1989)
Occupation(s)Actor, television personality, restaurateur
Years active1994–present
AgentForesta Company
Children2 (adopted)
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHong Seok-cheon
McCune–ReischauerHong 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.[1][2][3]

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.[4][3]

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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10][11]

In 2004, he joined the Democratic Labor Party and was selected by Time magazine as the year's Asian Hero.[12] 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).[13][14] 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.[7][15] In 2008, he hosted his own talk show Coming Out, which featured gay issues.[16] 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.[17] From bit parts and cameos, he now emcees shows on cable television and has a sizeable following on social media.[5]

In 2015, Hong announced that he plans to run for district head of the Yongsan District Office in the 2018 local elections.[18] 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.[19] In 2016, he participated in the program Law Of The Jungle.[20]

In 2018, he revealed that he is third cousins with Taeyong of NCT.[21]

Filmography

Television shows

Year Title Notes
1994Live TV Information CenterReporter
1999Laughter Festival
Music Champ
Sisa Touch! Comedy File
Field Experience of Life
2000Ppo Ppo Ppo (Kiss Kiss Kiss)
TV Star Festival
2001Challenge, Ajumma GoesHost
2008Coming OutHost
2009We Got Married
Immutable Law of Loving Bad Boys – Season 7
2011-2012Rebirth Variety: Havana
2012Queen of Beauty – Season 2
Talk Show Shocking
XY Her
2013Golden Fishery
Chef's Midnight SnacksHost
Splash
Millionaire Game: My Turn
I Live AloneGuest
Witch HuntCast member[22]
2014Shopper ManHost
Cook King KoreaHost
Roommate – Season 2Guest
Running ManGuest
Flying Fox in New York
2015Saturday Night Live Korea – Season 6Cast member
King of Mask SingerContestant,
episode 7[23][24]
Please Take Care of My RefrigeratorCast member[25]
A Meal's Dignity
Hello Counselor Guest
2016Vocal War: God's VoicePanelist; pilot episode, episodes 1–2, 9-10
Battle Trip Contestant with Bong Man-dae; episodes 5-6
Law of the Jungle: New CaledoniaCast member
Golden TambourineGuest
2017Battle Trip Contestant with Yoon Park; episodes 54-55
20184 Wheeled RestaurantCast member
2020Radio StarGuest MC
2022 Restaurant Forgotten 2 Cast Member[26]
Angel Island Regular Member; with Park Jin-hee[27]

Web shows

Year Title Role Ref.
2021 Berry Store Mentor [28]
2022 Mary Queer Host [29]
If you like it, it will ring! [30]

Television series

Year Title Role Notes
1995LA Arirang
1996Three Guys and Three GirlsHong Seok-cheon
2000Paradise
2001Why Can't We Stop Them
2003Perfect LoveHong Seung-jo
2005Sad Love StoryCharlie
18 vs. 29
Fashion 70's
2006Hyena
2007Kid Gang
Golden Bride
2008Life Special Investigation Team
Aeja's Older Sister, MinjaHeo Goo-hyung
The Secret of Coocoo IslandProfessor of Korean
language and literature
2009Can't Stop Now
The Accidental CoupleMovie director Cameo
Swallow the SunJimmy
Assorted GemsDirector Hong
Joseon Mystery Detective Jeong Yak-yongCheol-du [31]
2011Baby Faced Beauty
Bravo, My Love!Julien cameo)
Ojakgyo Family
Saving Mrs. Go Bong-shilSeok-cheon
2012Dummy MommyHairdresser (cameo)
Vampire Prosecutor 2Gabriel Jang Cameo (episode 6)
2013Blue TowerPlatoon first lieutenant Hong
A Tale of Two Sisters (cameo)
Reply 1994ROTC cadet Cameo (episode 2)
2014TriangleMan-kang
Everybody Say KimchiWedding dress shop owner (cameo)
My Secret HotelChef Andre Hong
2015The Man in the MaskPi Sung-ho
Sense8Referee
The Time We Were Not in LoveAirplane passenger Cameo (episode 1)
Yumi's Room
2016My Horrible Bossphotographer Cameo
2017Saimdang, Memoir of Colors
Suspicious Partner monk
2018Player Cameo[32]
Lovely HorriblyKang Hyun-seok
2019My Absolute Boyfriend [33]
2020TouchKim Dong-min
Itaewon ClassHimself Cameo (episodes 2, 4, 9 & 16)
Missing: The Other SideMr. Hong Cameo (episode 9)
2021 Dali & Cocky Prince Chef Hong Seok-cheon Cameo (Episode 1)[34]
Young Lady and Gentleman Real estate president Cameo (Episode 2)[35]
2022 The Driver Cameo [36]
Jinxed at First Hong President [37]
2023 Perfect Marriage Revenge Clothing store owner Cameo (episode 5)[38]

Web series

Year Title Role Ref.
2022 Free [39]
Fantasy Spot Shim [40]

Films

Year Title Role
1997Do the Right ThingHenchman
No. 3Adulterous man
Man with FlowersLee Joo-il
1998Rub LoveStop Bar bartender
Tie a Yellow RibbonDong-gyu
1999Ghost in LoveSubway passenger
2001Last PresentCheong-chun
A Tearful Story(cameo)
Hera PurpleMin-seok
2003Dying or LiveCharlie Choi
2005The Art of SeductionDJ
2006Good LuckSkinhead Hong
PuzzleNoh
2008The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken CourtesanTailor shop owner (cameo)
2009Sky and SeaHair designer (cameo)
2011Dream the Good Dream (short film)Russian mafia Kalashnikov
2012Runway CopShow director
2014Fashion KingMC Seok-cheon (cameo)
2015Love ForecastMy Thai China restaurant owner (cameo)
Mongolian PrincessMovie actor (cameo)
Love ClinicPsychiatrist (cameo)

Theater

Year Title Role Reprised
1994Save the Last Dance for Me
1995A Midsummer Night's DreamFrancis Flute2009
1999A Chorus Line
2002Godspell
2006FootlooseWillard Hewitt
2010The Rocky Horror ShowNarrator
2013-2014Nunsense A-MenSister Mary Leo

Books

Year Title Publisher ISBN
2000My Heart Still Throbs for Forgotten LoveJ-pubISBN 9788983755315
2008Design Your Own RestaurantM-BooksISBN 9788996048459

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Blue Dragon Series Awards 2023 Best Male Entertainer Merry Queer Nominated [41]

References

  1. ↑ Cho, Joohee (May 27, 2009). "Breaking the Gay Taboo in South Korea". ABC News. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Hong Suk-chun talks about coming out of the closet". The Korea Herald. February 4, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Glionna, John M. (March 5, 2012). "South Korean actor throws open closet door". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ Lee, Seung-heon (April 12, 2001). "Hong Seok-Cheon of "coming-out" returns to TV". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Pearson, James; Rashid, Raphael (November 2, 2012). "Gay Korea comes out". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  6. ↑ Chun, Su-jin (June 1, 2001). "Defying the Stigma of a Gender Change". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Kim, Tong-hyung (February 5, 2013). "Hong shares painful experience as first openly gay celebrity". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  8. ↑ Han, Hyon-woo (December 26, 2000). "Hong Seok-cheon Comes Out Some More with Mini-bio". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  9. ↑ Kim, Young-jin (February 14, 2013). "Itaewon: Going Gangnam Style?". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Businesses Hiring Hunks to Woo Customers". The Chosun Ilbo. September 12, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Celebrity reveals restaurant sales figures". The Korea Times. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Time Magazine Selects Korean Actor Hong Seok-cheon as Asian Hero". The Chosun Ilbo. September 24, 2004. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  13. ↑ Chung, Ah-young (June 9, 2009). "Star Actors Team Up in Shakespeare Play". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  14. ↑ Park, Sun-young (June 5, 2009). "Reunion for Midsummer Night revival". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  15. ↑ Kim, Jae-heun (August 11, 2015). "Hong shares secret of success with students". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  16. ↑ Han, Sang-hee (April 13, 2008). "Actor Hong Suk-Chun to Host Coming Out". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  17. ↑ Lee, Sung-eun (September 30, 2014). "Star restaurateur launches ramen line". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Gay TV star chases political career". The Korea Times. March 20, 2015. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  19. ↑ Kim, Jae-heun (February 23, 2015). "Hong Seok-cheon turns his eye to politics". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  20. ↑ Park, Jin-young (2016-05-16). "홍석천, '정글의 법칙' 합류..뉴칼레도니아 간다". Naver (in Korean). Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  21. ↑ "[스브스타] 홍석천의 '8촌' 친척 동생의 정체는?…"NCT 멤버 태용"". SBS News (in Korean). January 16, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  22. ↑ Chun, Su-jin (January 9, 2014). "Breaking taboos gets green light on Witch Hunt". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  23. ↑ Kwon, Ji-youn (May 19, 2015). "Mask King finds hidden singing talent". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  24. ↑ Ko, Dong-hwan (July 1, 2015). "Revealing true self behind mask". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  25. ↑ Kwon, Ji-youn (March 10, 2015). "Growing appetite for Cook TV". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  26. ↑ Lee Se-bin (June 22, 2022). "주문을 잊은 음식점2' 메인 포스터 공개…홍석천·진지희 합류" [The main poster for ‘The Restaurant Who Forgot to Order 2’ was released… Hong Seok-cheon and Jin Ji-hee join] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2022 – via Naver.
  27. ↑ Cho Hyun-jung (October 18, 2022). "박진희X홍석천, 바다구하기 나서..SBS ESG예능 '천사도'로 15년만에 재회" [Park Jin-hee X Hong Seok-cheon, after saving the sea.. Reunited after 15 years with SBS ESG entertainment 'Angel'] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via Naver.
  28. ↑ Kim Seung-jin (October 21, 2021). "홍석천, 베리스토어와 힘든 자영업자 위해 상담 진행" [Seokcheon Hong, Consulting with Berry Store for the Self-Employed] (in Korean). MBN. Retrieved October 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  29. ↑ Kang Da-yun (June 27, 2022). "신동엽X홍석천X하니, 국내 최초 커밍아웃 예능 '메리퀴어' 3MC 확정 [공식]" [Shin Dong-yeop X Hong Seok-cheon X Hani confirmed as 3MCs for Korea's first coming-out entertainment show 'Mary Queer' [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved June 27, 2022 – via Naver.
  30. ↑ Jang Ah-reum (November 23, 2022). "판타지 연애 게임 '좋아하면 울리는 짝!짝!짝!'…진영·홍석천·이은지·츄 4MC" [Fantasy dating game 'If you like it, it will ring! Jinyoung, Hong Seokcheon, Lee Eunji, Chuu 4MC] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved November 23, 2022 – via Naver.
  31. ↑ Han, Sang-hee (November 17, 2009). "Cable TV OCN to Present Joseon's Sherlock Holmes". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on December 27, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Hong Suk-chun and Krystal in the Making of "The Player"". Hancinema. Xports News. June 17, 2018.
  33. ↑ "[Oh!쎈 컷] '절대그이' 여진구·민아·홍종현, 첫 대본 리딩부터 환상 케미". Osen (in Korean). July 10, 2018.
  34. ↑ Park Pan-seok (September 21, 2021). "달리와감자탕' 홍석천, 감자탕 셰프 특급 카메오 출연..김민재 만난다" [Dali and Gamjatang' Hong Seok-cheon, chef Gamjatang's special cameo appearance.. Meet Kim Min-jae] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved September 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  35. ↑ Kim Ye-rung (October 14, 2021). "홍석천부터 양치승까지…'신사와 아가씨' 감초 열전" [From Hong Seok-cheon to Yang Chi-seung... 'Gentleman and Lady' Licorice Enthusiasm] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved October 14, 2021 – via Naver.
  36. ↑ Kang Nae-ri (August 18, 2021). "김승우 연출작 '더 드라이버', 안재욱·이태란 등 출연…9월 첫 촬영" ['The Driver' directed by Kim Seung-woo, Ahn Jae-wook, Lee Tae-ran, etc. first shoot in september]. YTN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  37. ↑ Lee Min-ji (August 24, 2021). "징크스의 연인' 윤지혜-이훈-홍석천-정욱 출연 확정(공식)" ['Yunjin's lover' Yoon Ji-hye - Lee Hoon - Hong Seok-cheon - Jung Woo-sung (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2021 – via Naver.
  38. ↑ Lee, Seul (November 8, 2023). "홍석천, '완결정' 특별출연…'사랑의 큐피드' 드레스 숍 사장" [Hong Seok-chun, 'Wanjungdetermination' special appearance...'Love Cupid' dress shop owner]. X-ports News (in Korean). Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
  39. ↑
  40. ↑ Kim, Bo-ra (September 29, 2022). "하니x배우희, 섹스 이야기 솔직하게 전한다…'판타지스팟' 올 하반기 방송[공식]" [Hani x Actress Bae Woo-hee tells the story of sex frankly... 'Fantasy Spot' to be broadcast in the second half of this year [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via Naver.
  41. ↑ Moon, Ji-yeon (June 26, 2023). "[공식] '더 글로리'·'SNL코리아3' 최다 노미..제2회 청룡시리즈어워즈 후보 발표" [[Official] 'The Glory'-'SNL Korea 3' Most Nominations...2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards Nominations Announced] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved June 28, 2023 – via Naver.
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