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Shin Sung-rok
South Korean actor From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Shin Sung-rok (Korean: 신성록; born November 23, 1982) is a South Korean actor. He frequently appears in films and television series, but is better known as active in musical theatre.
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Early life
Shin had initially aspired to become a basketball player together with his brother Je-rok, who is two years younger.[2] Both brothers attended Whimoon High School, known as one of Seoul's top high school basketball programs.[3] An injury prompted Shin to reconsider another career and he transferred to Anyang Arts High School.[3] He majored in Theater and Film at the University of Suwon but subsequently dropped out after being cast in a play.[3][4][5]
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Career
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Shin made his acting debut in 2003, but found it difficult to find acting jobs since directors were reluctant to cast the 189 centimeter-tall aspiring actor in supporting or minor roles. Thinking he would have a better chance if he gained more acting experience and honed his craft on the stage, Shin switched gears and joined the theater company Hakchon.[6][7]
When Shin performed in his first musical Moskito, there were only 20-25 audience members in the 500-seat hall. Despite feeling depressed and frustrated, he said the experience made him strong and helped him become an actor with plenty of guts.[5]
While doing the musical Dracula, Shin was cast in his first substantial onscreen role, in the risqué cable drama Hyena (2006).[6] Supporting roles in dramas and films followed, notably in Thank You (2007) and My Life's Golden Years (also known as All About My Family, 2008). He also appeared on season 1 of the MBC dating reality show We Got Married as a "fake couple" with female comedian Kim Shin-young.
Mainstream breakthrough still eluded Shin, but in theater his star was rising. In 2007, Shin was picked from 400 auditionees for the lead role Solomon in Dancing Shadows, a musical adaptation of the realist play Forest Fire by celebrated Korean playwright Cha Beom-seok.[4] He later received a Best New Actor nomination from the Korea Musical Awards.[8]
As Shin starred in one hit musical after another, he continued to impress critics with his acting performances, his strong and powerful baritone vocals and his delicate and clear alto notes.[9] He is now considered a top musical star, even drawing fans from outside Korea to his shows.[10]
Definitely Neighbors (2010) further boosted his TV profile; for his role as a difficult chef who falls in love with an older divorcee, Shin won Best Supporting Actor in a Weekend/Daily Drama at the 2010 SBS Drama Awards.[6][11] His most popular drama yet was the romantic comedy My Love from the Star (2013), in which he appeared as a villainous businessman.[12][13] This was followed by supporting roles in the 2014 series Lovers of Music (as a talent agency CEO), Liar Game (as the host of a reality show), and The King's Face (as a face reader).[14][15][16]
Despite branching out to film and television, Shin has maintained that his heart will always belong to the stage, and has stated, "I feel more affection toward the stage [rather than TV]. I think it is the stage where actors learn life and understand the meaning of acting. It is where I learned how to act and where I gained confidence. I think the core of my life will remain on the stage" (The Korea Herald, 2007).[4] "The musical is like my old home and it made me what I am now, so I can't stop performing the musicals however busy I get" (The Korea Times, 2009)[5]
In September 2021, Shin decided not to renew his contract with HB Entertainment.[17] Later on September 27, 2021, Shin signed a contract with Screening ENT.[18] After his contract with Sangyeong ENT ended in December 2023, Shin Sung-rok signed a contract with Y.ONE Entertainment on January 9th 2025.[19]
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Personal life
Shin has a younger brother. Shin Jae-rok is a former professional basketball player who had short stints with Anyang KT&G Kites and Changwon LG Sakers before retiring. He became a chef and has since opened his own restaurant.[20] Both of them appeared on KBS talk show Happy Together on July 30, 2015.
Relationships
Shin began dating ballerina Kim Joo-won in 2011; Kim was a principal dancer with the Korea National Ballet for 15 years from 1988 to 2003, and currently teaches at Sungshin Women's University.[21] The pair broke up after four years of dating in August 2015.[22]
In June 2016, Shin married a non-celebrity office worker in Hawaii.[23][24][25] In November the same year, Shin became a father to a daughter.[26]
Filmography
Television series
Film
Television shows
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Stage
Musical
Theater
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Awards and nominations
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References
External links
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