Hong Seok-cheon

Hong Seok-cheon (born February 3, 1971) is a South Korean actor, television personality, restaurateur and member of the 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] In 2018, he revealed to be third cousins with Taeyong of NCT.[4]

This is a Korean name; the family name is Hong.
Hong Seok-cheon
Born (1971-02-03) 3 February 1971
Cheongyang County, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Alma materHanyang University – Theater and Film (1989)
OccupationActor, television personality, restaurateur
Years active1994–present
AgentForesta Company
Children2 (adopted)
Korean name
Hangul
Revised RomanizationHong Seok-cheon
McCune–ReischauerHong Sŏkch'ŏn

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.[5][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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11][12]

In 2004, he joined the Democratic Labor Party and was selected by Time magazine as the year's Asian Hero.[13] 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).[14][15] 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.[8][16] In 2008, he hosted his own talk show Coming Out, which featured gay issues.[17] 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.[18] From bit parts and cameos, he now emcees shows on cable television and has a sizeable following on social media.[6]

In 2015, Hong announced that he plans to run for district head of the Yongsan District Office in the 2018 local elections.[19] 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 government official in Korea.[20] In 2016, he participated in the program Law Of The Jungle.[21]

Filmography

Variety shows
Year Title Network Notes
1994Live TV Information CenterKBS1Reporter
1999Laughter FestivalMBC
Music ChampMBC
Sisa Touch! Comedy FileKBS2
Field Experience of LifeKBS2
2000Ppo Ppo Ppo (Kiss Kiss Kiss)MBC
TV Star FestivalMBC
2001Challenge, Ajumma GoesMBSHost
2008Coming OuttvNHost
2009We Got MarriedMBC
Immutable Law of Loving Bad Boys – Season 7O'live TV
2011-2012Rebirth Variety: HavanaOBS
2012Queen of Beauty – Season 2KBS Drama
Talk Show ShockingChannel A
XY HerKBS2
2013Golden FisheryMBC
Chef's Midnight SnacksO'live TVHost
SplashMBC
Millionaire Game: My TurntvN
I Live AloneMBCGuest
Witch HuntJTBCCast member[22]
2014Shopper ManKBS WHost
Cook King KoreaSBSHost
Roommate – Season 2SBSGuest
Running ManSBSGuest
Flying Fox in New YorkJTBC
2015Saturday Night Live Korea – Season 6tvNCast member
King of Mask SingerMBCContestant,
episode 7[23][24]
Please Take Care of My RefrigeratorJTBCCast member[25]
A Meal's DignityKBS Joy
Hello Counselor KBS Guest
2016Vocal War: God's VoiceSBSPanelist; pilot episode, episodes 1-2, 9-10
Battle Trip KBS2Contestant with Bong Man-dae; episodes 5-6
Law of the Jungle: New CaledoniaSBSCast member
Golden TambourineMnetGuest
2017Battle Trip KBS2Contestant with Yoon Park; episodes 54-55
20184 Wheeled RestauranttvNCast member

Television series
Year Title Role Network
1995LA ArirangSBS
1996Three Guys and Three GirlsHong Seok-cheonMBC
2000ParadiseKBS Joy
2001Why Can't We Stop ThemSBS
2003Perfect LoveHong Seung-joSBS
2005Sad Love StoryCharlieMBC
18 vs. 29KBS2
Fashion 70'sSBS
2006HyenatvN
2007Kid GangOCN
Golden BrideSBS
2008Life Special Investigation TeamMBC
Aeja's Older Sister, MinjaHeo Goo-hyungSBS
The Secret of Coocoo IslandProfessor of Korean
language and literature		MBC
2009Can't Stop NowMBC
The Accidental CoupleMovie director (cameo)KBS2
Swallow the SunJimmySBS
Assorted GemsDirector HongMBC
Joseon Mystery Detective
Jeong Yak-yong[26]		Cheol-duOCN
2011Baby Faced BeautyKBS2
Bravo, My Love!Julien (cameo)MBC
Ojakgyo FamilyKBS2
Saving Mrs. Go Bong-shilSeok-cheonTV Chosun
2012Dummy MommyHairdresser (cameo)SBS
Vampire Prosecutor – Season 2Gabriel Jang (guest, episode 6)OCN
2013Blue TowerPlatoon first lieutenant HongtvN
Sincerity Moves Heaven(cameo)KBS1
Reply 1994ROTC cadet (cameo, episode 2)tvN
2014TriangleMan-kangMBC
Everybody, Kimchi!Wedding dress shop owner (cameo)MBC
My Secret HotelChef Andre HongtvN
2015The Man in the MaskPi Sung-hoKBS2
Sense8RefereeNetflix
The Time We Were Not in LoveAirplane passenger
(cameo, episode 1)		SBS
Yumi's RoomO'live TV
2016My Horrible Bossphotographer (cameo)JTBC
2017Saimdang, Memoir of ColorsSBS
Suspicious Partner monk SBS
2018Player[27]CameoOCN
Lovely HorriblyKang Hyun-seokKBS2
2019My Absolute Boyfriend[28]SBS
2020TouchKim Dong-minChannel A
Itaewon ClassHimself (Cameo, episodes 2, 4, 9 & 16)JTBC

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
gollark: Oh hey, it actually does seem to be DNS propagation or whatever.
gollark: It won't be much use, given that the people viewing it can't access it.
gollark: The site of their hosting provider is down too.
gollark: I don't think it's actually that.
gollark: It is probably *not* that, actually.

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. Glionna, John M. (March 5, 2012). "South Korean actor throws open closet door". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  4. "Hong Suk Chun finally reveals the SM idol he's related to is NCT's Taeyong | allkpop.com". allkpop. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  5. Lee, Seung-heon (April 12, 2001). "Hong Seok-Cheon of "coming-out" returns to TV". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  6. 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.
  7. Chun, Su-jin (June 1, 2001). "Defying the Stigma of a Gender Change". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  8. 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.
  9. Han, Hyon-woo (December 26, 2000). "Hong Seok-cheon Comes Out Some More with Mini-bio". The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  10. 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.
  11. "Businesses Hiring Hunks to Woo Customers". The Chosun Ilbo. September 12, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  12. "Celebrity reveals restaurant sales figures". The Korea Times. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  13. "Time Magazine Selects Korean Actor Hong Seok-cheon as Asian Hero". The Chosun Ilbo. September 24, 2004. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  14. 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.
  15. Park, Sun-young (June 5, 2009). "Reunion for Midsummer Night revival". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. Lee, Sung-eun (September 30, 2014). "Star restaurateur launches ramen line". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  19. "Gay TV star chases political career". The Korea Times. March 20, 2015. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  20. 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.
  21. Park, Jin Young. "홍석천, '정글의 법칙' 합류..뉴칼레도니아 간다". 2016-05-16. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
  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. 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.
  27. "Hong Suk-chun and Krystal in the Making of "The Player"". Hancinema. Xports News. June 17, 2018.
  28. "[Oh!쎈 컷] '절대그이' 여진구·민아·홍종현, 첫 대본 리딩부터 환상 케미". Osen (in Korean). July 10, 2018.
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