Hong Seok-cheon
South Korean actor, television personality, restaurateur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
- Actor
- television personality
- restaurateur
Hong Seok-cheon | |
|---|---|
Hong in 2025 | |
| Born | 3 February 1971 Cheongyang County, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea |
| Education | Hanyang University – Theater and Film (1989) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Agent | Foresta Company |
| Children | 2 (adopted) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 홍석천 |
| Hanja | 洪錫天 |
| RR | Hong Seokcheon |
| MR | Hong 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.[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 such 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 to 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
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Do the Right Thing | Henchman | ||
| No. 3 | Adulterous man | |||
| Man with Flowers | Lee Joo-il | |||
| 1998 | Rub Love | Stop Bar bartender | ||
| Tie a Yellow Ribbon | Dong-gyu | |||
| 1999 | Ghost in Love | Subway passenger | ||
| 2001 | Last Present | Cheong-chun | ||
| A Tearful Story | Cameo | |||
| Hera Purple | Min-seok | |||
| 2003 | Dying or Live | Charlie Choi | ||
| 2005 | The Art of Seduction | DJ | ||
| 2006 | Good Luck | Skinhead Hong | ||
| Puzzle | Noh | |||
| 2008 | The Accidental Gangster and the Mistaken Courtesan | Tailor shop owner | Cameo | |
| 2009 | Sky and Sea | Hair designer | Cameo | |
| 2011 | Dream the Good Dream | Russian mafia Kalashnikov | Short film | |
| 2012 | Runway Cop | Show director | ||
| 2014 | Fashion King | MC Seok-cheon | Cameo | |
| 2015 | Love Forecast | My Thai China restaurant owner | Cameo | |
| Mongolian Princess | Movie actor | Cameo | ||
| Love Clinic | Psychiatrist | Cameo | ||
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | LA Arirang | |||
| 1996 | Three Guys and Three Girls | Hong Seok-cheon | ||
| 2000 | Paradise | |||
| 2001 | Why Can't We Stop Them | |||
| 2003 | Perfect Love | Hong Seung-jo | ||
| 2005 | Sad Love Story | Charlie | ||
| 18 vs. 29 | ||||
| Fashion 70s | ||||
| 2006 | Hyena | |||
| 2007 | Kid Gang | |||
| Golden Bride | ||||
| 2008 | Life Special Investigation Team | |||
| Aeja's Older Sister, Minja | Heo Goo-hyung | |||
| The Secret of Coocoo Island | Professor of Korean language and literature | |||
| 2009 | Can't Stop Now | |||
| The Accidental Couple | Movie director | Cameo | ||
| Swallow the Sun | Jimmy | |||
| Assorted Gems | Director Hong | |||
| Joseon Mystery Detective Jeong Yak-yong | Cheol-du | [22] | ||
| 2011 | Baby Faced Beauty | |||
| Bravo, My Love! | Julien | Cameo | ||
| Ojakgyo Family | ||||
| Saving Mrs. Go Bong-shil | Seok-cheon | |||
| 2012 | Dummy Mommy | Hairdresser | Cameo | |
| Vampire Prosecutor 2 | Gabriel Jang | Cameo; episode 6 | ||
| 2013 | Blue Tower | Platoon first lieutenant Hong | ||
| A Tale of Two Sisters | Cameo | |||
| Reply 1994 | ROTC cadet | Cameo; episode 2 | ||
| 2014 | Triangle | Man-kang | ||
| Everybody Say Kimchi | Wedding dress shop owner | Cameo | ||
| My Secret Hotel | Chef Andre Hong | |||
| 2015 | The Man in the Mask | Pi Sung-ho | ||
| Sense8 | Referee | |||
| The Time We Were Not in Love | Airplane passenger | Cameo; episode 1 | ||
| Yumi's Room | ||||
| 2016 | My Horrible Boss | Photographer | Cameo | |
| 2017 | Saimdang, Memoir of Colors | |||
| Suspicious Partner | Monk | |||
| 2018 | Player | Cameo | [23] | |
| Lovely Horribly | Kang Hyun-seok | |||
| 2019 | My Absolute Boyfriend | [24] | ||
| 2020 | Touch | Kim Dong-min | ||
| Itaewon Class | Himself | Cameo; episodes 2, 4, 9 & 16 | ||
| Missing: The Other Side | Mr. Hong | Cameo; episode 9 | ||
| 2021 | Dali & Cocky Prince | Chef Hong Seok-cheon | Cameo; episode 1 | [25] |
| Young Lady and Gentleman | Real estate president | Cameo; episode 2 | [26] | |
| 2022 | The Driver | Cameo | [27] | |
| Jinxed at First | Hong President | [28] | ||
| 2023 | Perfect Marriage Revenge | Clothing store owner | Cameo; episode 5 | [29] |
Web series
Television shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Live TV Information Center | Reporter | ||
| 1999 | Laughter Festival | |||
| Music Champ | ||||
| Sisa Touch! Comedy File | ||||
| Field Experience of Life | ||||
| 2000 | Ppo Ppo Ppo (Kiss Kiss Kiss) | |||
| TV Star Festival | ||||
| 2001 | Challenge, Ajumma Goes | Host | ||
| 2008 | Coming Out | Host | ||
| 2009 | We Got Married | |||
| Immutable Law of Loving Bad Boys – Season 7 | ||||
| 2011–2012 | Rebirth Variety: Havana | |||
| 2012 | Queen of Beauty – Season 2 | |||
| Talk Show Shocking | ||||
| XY Her | ||||
| 2013 | Golden Fishery | |||
| Chef's Midnight Snacks | Host | |||
| Splash | ||||
| Millionaire Game: My Turn | ||||
| I Live Alone | Guest | |||
| Witch Hunt | Cast member | [32] | ||
| 2014 | Shopper Man | Host | ||
| Cook King Korea | Host | |||
| Roommate – Season 2 | Guest | |||
| Running Man | Guest | |||
| Flying Fox in New York | ||||
| 2015 | Saturday Night Live Korea – Season 6 | Cast member | ||
| King of Mask Singer | Contestant (Hardware Store Boss Kim) | Episode 7 | [33][34] | |
| Please Take Care of My Refrigerator | Cast member | [35] | ||
| A Meal's Dignity | ||||
| Hello Counselor | Guest | |||
| 2016 | Vocal War: God's Voice | Panelist | Pilot episode, episodes 1–2, 9–10 | |
| Battle Trip | Contestant | with Bong Man-dae; episodes 5-6 | ||
| Law of the Jungle: New Caledonia | Cast member | |||
| Golden Tambourine | Guest | |||
| 2017 | Battle Trip | Contestant | with Yoon Park; episodes 54-55 | |
| 2018 | 4 Wheeled Restaurant | Cast member | ||
| 2020 | Radio Star | Guest MC | ||
| 2022 | Restaurant Forgotten 2 | Cast Member | [36] | |
| Angel Island | Regular Member | with Park Jin-hee | [37] | |
Web shows
Stage
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Save the Last Dance for Me | |||
| 1995; 2009 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Francis Flute | ||
| 1999 | A Chorus Line | |||
| 2002 | Godspell | |||
| 2006 | Footloose | Willard Hewitt | ||
| 2010 | The Rocky Horror Show | Narrator | ||
| 2013–2014 | Nunsense A-Men | Sister Mary Leo | ||
Bibliography
| Year | Title | Publisher | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | My Heart Still Throbs for Forgotten Love | J-pub | ISBN 9788983755315 |
| 2008 | Design Your Own Restaurant | M-Books | ISBN 9788996048459 |
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Dragon Series Awards | 2023 | Best Male Entertainer | Merry Queer | Nominated | [42] |
