Seo In-guk

Seo In-guk
In September 2016
Native name	서인국
Born	(1987-10-23) October 23, 1987 Ulsan, South Korea
Residence	Seoul, South Korea
Other names	Seo In-gook Seo In-kuk
Education	Daebul University Applied Music
Occupation	Singer songwriter actor
Musical career
Genres	K-pop Ballad R&B J-pop Dance
Instruments	Vocal
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Jellyfish Entertainment CJ E&M Irving Entertainment Nippon Crown

Seo In-guk (Hangul: 서인국; born October 23, 1987) is a South Korean singer and actor. He launched his singing career after winning the talent reality show Superstar K in 2009, and made his acting breakthrough in tvN's Reply 1997.

Early life and education

Seo was born on October 23, 1987, in Ulsan.^[1] He decided to become a singer at the age of ten, after being inspired by the Korean rock musician Kim Jung-min. He performed at family gatherings and school events, and went on to study Applied Music at Daebul University, also auditioning in entertainment agencies.^[2] After repeatedly being rejected and told to lose weight, he struggled with bulimia for a time.^[3][4]

Career

2009-2012: Superstar K and Reply 1997

In 2009 Seo competed in the Mnet singing contest Superstar K, winning the show's first season.^[5][6][7]

In 2012,Seo was part of the cast of the jukebox musical Gwanghwamun Love Song^[8] and made his onscreen acting debut with a supporting role in KBS's Love Rain.^[9][10] He also signed with Japanese agency Irving Entertainment.^[11] He landed his first leading role later that year, in cable channel tvN's '90s nostalgic hit drama Reply 1997. Seo's portrayal of a teenage boy in unrequited love with his childhood best friend won praise from both audiences and critics.^[12][13][14] He also recorded two singles for the soundtrack (both duets with co-star Jung Eun-ji), and one of them, "All For You", became one of the best-selling singles of the year on the Gaon Single Chart.^[15] Shortly after, he appeared in MBC's weekend drama The Sons (also known as Rascal Sons).^[16][17][18]

2013-Present: Japanese debut, variety shows and returns to acting

Seo joined the newly launched reality/variety show I Live Alone from January to June 2013.^[19]

In November 2013

He returned to the music scene in April 2013 with the single With Laughter or with Tears, the first soulful ballad in his discography. Actress Ku Hye-sun appeared in the music video, which depicted a painful breakup.^[20] Several weeks later, the song was followed by his Japanese debut with the release of the single Fly Away.^[21][22]

In June 2013, he was cast in Master's Sun, a drama series written by the Hong Sisters, playing a former soldier who served in the Zaytun Division who becomes the head of security for a shopping mall company.^[23][24]

In October 2013, he starred in his first big-screen leading role in No Breathing, a coming-of-age film about two swimming rivals, alongside Lee Jong-suk and Kwon Yuri.^[25][26]

In December 2014

He then played a dual role in Another Parting, a five-episode miniseries about a man and a woman who meet in the final moment of their lives and spend one special day together. Produced by LOEN Entertainment, the drama premiered on February 17, 2014 on Taekwang Group-owned cable channel Dramacube (also airing on BTV and YouTube).^[27]

In 2014, Seo headlined another cable romantic comedy series, High School King of Savvy, in which he played a high school student and star hockey player who leads a double life when he's forced to take on his older brother's job as an executive at an IT company.^[28][29][30] Later that year, Seo starred in his first period drama The King's Face, playing illegitimate crown prince Gwanghae, who becomes his father King Seonjo's rival in politics and love.^[31]

In 2015, Seo joined the cast of SBS variety show Law of the Jungle from March to May, for the Indochina season.^[32]

He was then cast as a genius profiler in the police procedural/romance series Hello Monster which premiered in June 2015 on KBS2.^[33]

On December 15, 2015, he participated alongside other artists on Jellyfish Entertainment's collaborative track “Love In The Air” (Hangul: 사랑난로) for the album Jelly Christmas 2015 – 4랑.^[34][35] The single placed at #14 on the Gaon Digital Chart.^[36]

In 2016 Seo joined Law of the Jungle for the second time for the show's Mongolia season.^[37] He also starred in OCN's workplace drama 38 Revenue Collection Unit, playing a professional swindler which became the highest rated series in OCN's history.^[38] He then took on the leading role in MBC's romantic comedy Shopaholic Louis.

Filmography

Television drama

Web series

Films

Variety show

Music video appearances

Musical theatre

Discography

Achievements

Awards and nominations

Music programs

Seo In-guk's wins on Korea's televised music shows. M! Countdown and Music Triangle are aired on cable channels Mnet and KM, respectively.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Seo In-guk.

• Official website (Korean)
• Seo In-guk at HanCinema
  
• Seo In-guk at the Internet Movie Database