Biography of Bae Yong-joon
South Korean businessman and former actor Bae Yong-joon is the chairman of the management agency KeyEast. He retired from acting in 2007. Some of his famous works include, ‘Did We Really Love?’, ‘Hotelier’, ‘April Snow’ and ‘Winter Sonata’.
Early Life and Education
Bae Yong-joon was born on 29 August 1972 in Mapo District, Seoul, South Korea. After completing basic school education, he enrolled at Sungkyunkwan University in 2000 as a Film Studies major.
Career
Acting Career of Bae Yong-joonÂ
In 1994, Bae Yong-joon made his acting debut with the Korean drama, ‘Salut D’Amour’. He won the Best New Actor award at the KBS Drama Awards in 1995 for his role in ‘Our Sunny Days of Youth’. He quickly gained popularity and because of that, he received a lot of opportunities to play leading roles in television series.
In 1996, Yong-joon appeared in the South Korean drama, ‘Papa’ with actors Lee Young-ae, Jung Chan and Choi Yoon-young. In the same year, he acted in the series, ‘First Love’ alongside Choi Soo-jong, Choi Ji-woo, Park Sang-won and Lee Seung-yeon.
After three years, he was cast in the South Korean drama series, ‘Did We Really Love?’, alongside actors Kim Hye-soo, Yoon Son-ha, Lee Jae-ryong and Park Sang-min.
In 2001, Bae Yong-joon played a mergers and acquisitions specialist in the South Korean television drama series, ‘Hotelier’ with Song Yoon-ah, Kim Seung-woo and Song Hye-kyo.
In 2002, he co-starred with Choi Ji-woo in the South Korean television series, ‘Winter Sonata’. His performance in this melodrama about first love, lost memory and unknown family ties transformed his career and the face of Korean dramas abroad, especially in Japan.
Next year, Yong-joon appeared in his first major big-screen role in the 2003 South Korean romantic drama film, ‘Untold Scandal’ alongside Jeon Do-yeon and Lee Mi-sook.
In 2005, he acted in director Hur Jin-ho’s South Korean romantic drama film, ‘April Snow’ alongside Son Ye-jin.
Bae Yong-joon as a Business Man
Bae Yong-joon entered the restaurant business in 2005 by establishing restaurants and cafes that profit from the well-being trend. He owns multiple traditional Korean restaurants.
Using his popularity in Japan, he became a promoter of Korean cuisine. Additionally, his Gosire lunchboxes became popular in convenience stores and supermarkets in Japan.
Holing the majority of shares of the KeyEast management agency, Yong-joon became one of the wealthiest celebrities in Korea.
Bae Yong-joon’s Return to Acting
In 2007, Yong-joon returned to television with the South Korean historical fantasy series, ‘The Legend’, co-starring Lee Ji-ah, Moon So-ri and Choi Min-soo.
In 2009, he reunited with Choi Ji-woo for an animated series, ‘Winter Sonata Anime’, both as voice actors, aired in Japan.
In the same year, KeyEast and Yong-joon in partnership with Park Jin-young and JYP Entertainment produced a teen musical series, ‘Dream High’ in 2011. This series revolved around the life of students who attend a high school for the performing arts.
Achievements
South Korean businessman and former actor Bae Yong-joon who made his acting debut in 1994 has achieved reasonably good in his career. Here are some of his notable achievements.
- Bae Yong-joon won the Best Actor award at the 10th Anniversary of Korean Entertainment in 2013 for his role in ‘Winter Sonata’.
- Yong-joon won the Achievement Award at the 1st Stars of Korean Tourism Awards, conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2010.
- At the 1st Korea Brand Image Awards in 2009, Yong-joon won the Recipient, Broadcasting category award.
- In 2008, Bae Yong-joon won the Recipient, Hwagam Medal at the Order of Cultural Merit (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).
- At the 2ndKorea Drama Awards,Yong-joon won the Hallyu Achievement Award in 2008.
Military Life
Retired Winter Sonata actor Bae Yong-joon was exempted from mandatory military service as he couldn’t meet the needed eyesight standards.
Personal Life
Bae Yong-joon and actress Park Soo-jin announced their engagement in May 2015 and married on 27 July 2015 at the Sheraton Grande Walkerhill Hotel.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Bae Yong-joon is one of the most popular and wealthiest South Korean actors. The estimated net worth of Yong-joon is around 5 million US dollars. He earned most of his income from acting as well as business.
Awards
- 10th Anniversary of Korean Entertainment in Japan Awards 2013
Best Actor – ‘Winter Sonata’ - 10th Anniversary of Korean Entertainment in Japan Awards 2013
Best Actor – ‘Winter Sonata’ - 1st Stars of Korean Tourism Awards (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) 2010
Achievement Award - 1st Korea Brand Image Awards 2009
Recipient, Broadcasting category - Order of Cultural Merit (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) 2008
Recipient, Hwagam Medal
- 2ndKorea Drama Awards 2008
Hallyu Achievement Award
- MBC Drama Awards 2007
Best Couple Award with Lee Ji-ah – ‘The Legend’
- MBC Drama Awards 2007
Popularity Award – ‘The Legend’ - MBC Drama Awards 2007
Grand Prize (Daesang) – ‘The Legend’ - 4th Proud Korean Awards (Journalists Federation of Korea) 2004
Recipient, Public Art category - 33rd Japan Men’s Fashion Association 2004
Best Dressed of the Year, International category - 40th Baeksang Arts Awards 2004
Best New Actor (Film) – ‘Untold Scandal’ - 24th Blue Dragon Film Awards 2003
Popular Star Award – ‘Untold Scandal’
- 24th Blue Dragon Film Awards 2003
Best New Actor - KBS Drama Awards 2002
Popularity Award – ‘Winter Sonata’
- 10th Korean Most Popular Entertainment Awards 2002
Best Actor (TV) – ‘Winter Sonata’ - 38th Baeksang Arts Awards 2002
Most Popular Actor (TV) – ‘Winter Sonata’ - Kyunghyang Shinmun Readers’ Choice Special Advertisement Awards 1997
Readers’ Favorite Advertisement Model - 33rd Baeksang Arts Awards 1997
Most Popular Actor (TV) –Â First Love - Korean Model Center Best Dressed Awards 1996
- KBS Drama Awards 1996
Popularity Award – ‘First Love’
- KBS Drama Awards 1995
Photogenic Award- ‘Our Sunny Days of Youth’ - KBS Drama Awards 1994
Best New Actor – ‘Our Sunny Days of Youth’
Credit: Pinterest
Interesting Facts about Bae Yong-joon
- Bae Yong-joon enrolled at Sung Kyun Kwan University and majored in film studies in 1999.
- Yong-joon is also known as the abbreviated BYJ.
- Bae Yong-joon loves Golf, Computer Gaming, Photography, Weightlifting and Fishing.
- The estimated net worth of Yong-joon is around 5 million US dollars.
- Bae Yong-joon entered the restaurant business in 2005.
FAQs
- What is the official Instagram ID of Bae Yong-joon?
yongjoon_bae - When is the birthday of Bae Yong-joon?
Bae Yong-joon was born on 29 August 1972. - Â Bae Yong-joon has how many children?
Yong-joon has two children. - What is the occupation of Yong-joon?
Yong-joon is an actor cum businessman.
