Sung Dong-il is a South Korean actor and comedian who is well-known for his wit and comic timing. He began his career in theatre and quickly moved into show business through television series and variety shows. He ultimately moved into film, becoming one of the most well-known supporting performers in the Korean entertainment industry. He made his television debut in 1992 with ‘Gwanchon Essay,’ and he went on to appear in a number of other series, including ‘Korea Gate’ and ‘Snail,’ among others. Sung received his first film offer in the shape of ‘Running 7 Dogs’ in 2001. After a few more years of little appearances, he was offered a part in the main cast of ‘200 Pounds Beauty,’ a romantic comedy drama that cemented his reputation as a capable actor. And after that bridge, on which he had been playing minor roles, had been crossed, he began to receive larger roles. He jumped at the chance to show off his acting abilities. For his portrayal in the film ‘Take Off,’ he went on to win multiple acting honors. In addition, he has received SBS and KBS Drama Awards for his work on television. After starring on the reality/variety show ‘Dad! Where Are We Going?’ with his son, he quickly became a national celebrity.
Childhood and Adolescence
Sung Dong-il was born on April 27, 1967, in Incheon, South Korea. He claims he was raised in a strict household with numerous rules and limits. Sung’s parents were devout Christians, yet they couldn’t stop their son from pursuing his dreams. Sung was known for his exquisite sense of humour, which he proudly displayed among his classmates and family members. Making a living out of it, on the other hand, was a distant concept.
He excelled in school and hoped to pursue a career in engineering. However, he got bitten by the acting bug when he was in high school. He, on the other hand, saw it as more of a pastime than a passion.
struggled to get into a technical institution after finishing high school and eventually enrolled in Yuhan University’s Mechanical Design department. However, he never gave up performing and continued to perform in local theaters. He saw it as a recreational hobby, and he kept up the habit until 1987, when he entered the professional theatre. His fame grew even more, and when he tried out for the SBS Open Talent auditions in 1991, he was one of the few who got in. As a result, a career as an actor took off.
Career of Sung Dong-il
Sung earned a role in SBS’ comedy series ‘Gwanchon Essay’ as a result of the talent quest. After completing the series, everything went back to square one, and after a modest start, he began to receive more jobs, the majority of which were minor. But, as far as Sung was concerned, things was quite good because he was making enough money to survive in a huge metropolis like Seoul.
He took every offer that came his way and, thanks to his comic timing, continued to make people laugh. He starred in shows including ‘Korea Gate,’ ‘The Bicycle-Riding Woman,’ and ‘Snail’ in the late 1990s. In 1999, Sung debuted in the film ‘Love In 3 Colors,’ in which he performed a prominent role for the first time. The romantic drama series was light on comedy but heavy on romance, allowing Sung to experiment with many genres.
He eventually obtained the essential experience, which he would need when he made his debut appearance in a film that he had already signed. With ‘Running 7 Dogs,’ he made his feature debut in 2001. Despite the fact that the film was a flop, it paved the way for Sung to earn more meaty roles.
Throughout this time, Sung continued to star on television in shows like as ‘Rustic Period’ and ‘South of the Sun.’ A larger audience enjoyed his performance as a manager in ‘Drama City.’ With his 2006 picture ‘200 Pounds Beauty,’ Sung’s never-ending quest for success came to a conclusion. It was a romantic comedy about the lives of struggling musicians, with Sung playing a recording industry CEO.
It was a huge part that put him out of his comfort zone because it included comedic elements. And Sung was credited as one of the key reasons for the film’s success when he succeeded in making the audience laugh. He was now being cast as one of the main protagonists, and his next project was the historical heist comedy film ‘Once Upon a Time,’ set around WWII. Sung played a nightclub owner in the film, which was a highly interesting part for him. The film was a hit, and Sung was cast in numerous roles as a result.
Sung was acclaimed as one of the most bankable supporting actors in both films and TV shows during this period of his career. He was focused on securing great cinema roles while being a part of successful TV programs such as ‘My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox’ and ‘New Heart.’ He went on to star in shows like ‘Delicious Asia’ and ‘Dream of Goose,’ as well as other popular variety shows at the time.
He experienced a dramatic shift of image with the 2010 series ‘The Slave Hunters,’ in which he played a bad part for the first time in his career. He received praise for the successful historical drama, and he demonstrated to the world that he can fit into any part. He also won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the KBS Drama Awards that year.
Sung won Best Supporting Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, Max Movie Awards, and Chunsa Film Art Awards for his award-winning sports drama ‘Take Off’ from 2009.
Sung won an award for his role as Jang Hyun in the historical drama series ‘Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love,’ for which he received the ‘Excellence Award’ at the SBS Drama Awards 2013. He won the same award for the second straight year in 2014 for the series ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love.’
Apart from his acting performances, for which he was already well-known in the country, he also appeared in the reality show ‘Dad!’ ‘How are we going to get there?’ Along with his biological son, he took part in the show. Five celebrity fathers and their children went camping in the show. The relationship between Sung and his kid became one of the show’s main talking topics.
Sung had a busy year in 2015, appearing in six films in a row, including ‘Chronicle of a Blood Merchant’ and ‘The Accidental Detective.’ He acted with panache in his parts, something he was widely known for at the time.
He proceeded to have success on television, appearing in a number of fictitious series and variety shows. He participated in shows like ‘Dear My Friends’ and ‘The Legend of the Blue Sea’ in 2016. He is now filming for the large budget picture ‘The Accidental Detective 2’ and looking forward to the release of his series ‘Wise Prison Life.’
Personal Experiences of Sung Dong-il
Park Kyung-hye and Sung Dong-il dated for several years before married in 2003, and the pair has three children, born in 2006, 2008, and 2011. Sung is very close to his son, Joon, and admitted that he was first confused when he received an opportunity to go on a show with him. But, in the end, he was glad he said yes because he believes the show made him a better parent. He also stated that it made him aware of some of his own personal flaws.
Estimated Net Worth
Sung Dong-il is one of the wealthiest and most well-known actors in Hollywood. Sung Dong-net il’s worth is estimated to be at $3 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.