Song Kang-ho Biography: Net Worth, Age, Height, Father, Ethnicity, Siblings, Wife, Children, Movies

Song Kang-ho is a South Korean actor widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Korean cinema, celebrated for his versatile performances across genres.

His collaborations with directors like Bong Joon-ho (Parasite, Memories of Murder) and Park Chan-wook (Joint Security Area, Thirst) have earned him global acclaim, including a Best Actor award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for Broker.

Named one of the 25 greatest actors of the 21st century by The New York Times in 2020, Song’s roles range from comedic to tragic, cementing his legacy as a cornerstone of the Korean New Wave.

His recent work includes Cobweb (2023) and the upcoming One Win (2025).

Profile

• Full Name: Song Kang-ho
• Stage Name: Song Kang-ho
• Born: 17 January 1967
• Age: 58 years old
• Birthplace: Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Occupation: Actor
• Height: 1.80m
• Parents: Song In-dae
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Hwang Jang-suk (m. 1995–present)
• Children: Song Jun-pyoung, Ju-yeon
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $20 million

Early Life and Education

Song Kang-ho was born on January 17, 1967, in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, to Song In-dae and an unknown mother. Information about his siblings is not publicly known.

His passion for acting emerged during his second year at Garak Middle School, inspired by local theatre performances. After graduating from Gimhae High School, he briefly attended Gyeongsang National University in Busan, where he studied broadcasting, but his studies were interrupted by mandatory military service.

Post-service, Song chose not to return to college, instead joining the Yeonwoo Mudae theatre company in Busan at age 23, where he honed his craft through social satires and plays like Chui Sonsaeng and Dongseung. His ethnicity is Korean, and his religious beliefs are not publicly disclosed.

Career

Song Kang-ho’s career began in 1991 with the play A Little Monk, but his screen debut came in 1996 as an extra in Hong Sang-soo’s The Day a Pig Fell into the Well. His early roles in Green Fish (1997) as a gangster and No. 3 (1997) as a trainer of recruits earned him his first Best Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, marking his rise.

His first leading role in The Foul King (2000), directed by Kim Jee-woon, showcased him as a bank clerk turned wrestler, blending comedy and pathos, with Song performing most stunts himself—a role he considers his most challenging.

That same year, his portrayal of a North Korean sergeant in Park Chan-wook’s Joint Security Area won multiple Best Actor awards, establishing him as a leading figure in Korean cinema. His ability to embody diverse characters, from bullies to heroes, set him apart.

Song’s collaborations with Bong Joon-ho elevated him to international stardom. In Memories of Murder (2003), he played an incompetent yet determined detective, earning five Best Actor awards, including at the 40th Grand Bell Awards.

His role as a doting father in The Host (2006) captivated global audiences, followed by Snowpiercer (2013), his English-language debut as a drug-addicted designer, and Parasite (2019), where his portrayal of Kim Ki-taek contributed to the film’s historic Palme d’Or and four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Other notable roles include a vengeful father in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), a vampire priest in Thirst (2009), and a human rights lawyer in The Attorney (2013). In 2022, he won Best Actor at Cannes for Broker, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, playing a laundry owner involved in a baby-selling scheme.

His recent projects include Kim Jee-woon’s Cobweb (2023) and the upcoming One Win (2025), alongside Shin Seung-ho. Song’s naturalistic acting and directorial perspective, as noted by Park Chan-wook, continue to redefine Korean cinema’s global impact.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: Unknown
• Facebook Handle: Unknown
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Song Kang-ho married Hwang Jang-suk in 1995, and they have two children: a son, Song Jun-pyoung (born 1996), a former football player for Suwon Samsung Bluewings despite Song’s initial opposition, and a daughter, Ju-yeon.

Filmography

• The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (1996)
• Green Fish (1997)
• No. 3 (1997)
• The Quiet Family (1998)
• Shiri (1999)
• The Foul King (2000)
• Joint Security Area (2000)
• Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
• Memories of Murder (2003)
• The President’s Barber (2004)
• Antarctic Journal (2005)
• The Host (2006)
• Secret Sunshine (2007)
• The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008)
• Thirst (2009)
• Secret Reunion (2010)
• Hindsight (2011)
• Snowpiercer (2013)
• The Face Reader (2013)
• The Attorney (2013)
• The Throne (2015)
• The Age of Shadows (2016)
• A Taxi Driver (2017)
• Parasite (2019)
• Broker (2022)
• Cobweb (2023)
• One Win (2025)

Net Worth

Song Kang-ho has an estimated net worth of $20 million. His wealth stems from his extensive film career, including major hits such as Parasite, The Host, and Snowpiercer, which have generated significant box office revenue globally. His awards, including a Cannes Best Actor prize and multiple Blue Dragon and Grand Bell awards, have enhanced his earning potential.