Song Kang-ho (; born January 17, 1967) is a South Korean actor. He's widely considered one of the most influential figures in Korean cinema, having starred in a diverse range of critically acclaimed films. In 2020, The New York Times named him one of the greatest actors of the 21st century. He's been recognized four times as Gallup Korea's Film Actor of the Year four times (2013, 2017, 2019 and 2020).
Song gained significant international recognition for his role in Bong Joon-ho's Parasite, a film that won both the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Picture. Song with the rest of the casts shared acting award from Critics' Choice Movie Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
He later made history at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first South Korean actor to win Best Actor and the second South Korean actor after Jeon Do-yeon who won acting award in the festival, for his performance in Hirokazu Kore-eda's Broker.
His numerous accolades also include two Best Actor Award from Fantasia International Film Festival, one Grand Prize and Two Best Actor Awards from Baeksang Arts Awards, four Best Actor Awards from Blue Dragon Film Awards, and Best Actor Awards Grand Bell Awards.
The South Korean government has also twice honored him with the Order of Cultural Merit for his contributions: the Ok-gwan Order in 2019 (after Parasite) and the Bo-gwan Order in 2022 (after Broker). In 2022, he also received The Étoile du Cinéma Award from the French Embassy of South Korea.
State honors +Name of country, award ceremony, year given, and name of honorCountryAward CeremonyYearHonorFrance French Night2022The Étoile du Cinéma AwardSouth KoreaKorean Popular Culture and Arts Awards2022Bogwan (Precious Crown), 3rd ClassMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism2019Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit (4th Class) Miryang City Government2007 Honorary CitizenNational Tax Service2004Presidential Commendation
Major international award ceremony Cannes Film Festival Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result 2022 75th Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Broker
Critics' Choice Awards Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result 2019 25th Critics' Choice Awards Best Acting EnsembleParasite
Screen Actors Guild Awards Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result 2019 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureParasite
Other international award ceremony AACTA International Awards The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, known as the AACTA Awards, are presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts(AACTA). Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result 2019 9th AACTA International Awards Best Supporting ActorParasite
Asian Film Awards The Asian Film Awards is presented annually by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society to members of Asian cinema. Song has received one award out of five nominations.
Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result20071st Asian Film AwardsBest ActorThe Host 20082nd Asian Film AwardsSecret Sunshine 20093rd Asian Film AwardsThe Good, the Bad, the Weird 20104th Asian Film AwardsThirst 20148th Asian Film AwardsThe Attorney
Asia-Pacific Film Festival The Asia-Pacific Film Festival (abbreviated APFF) are presented annually by the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-Pacific (FPA). Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result2013 56th Asia-Pacific Film Festival Best Supporting Actor Snowpiercer
Asia Pacific Screen Awards The Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) is an international cultural initiative overseen by the Asia Pacific Screen Academy and headquartered in Australia, sometimes called "Asia-Pacific Oscars". Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result2016 10th Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best ActorThe Throne
Asian World Film Festival The Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) is an annual film festival based in Los Angeles, California, founded by Kyrgyz filmmaker, Sadyk Sher-Niyaz in 2015. Song has received one award. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result2017 3rd Asian World Film Festival Special Mention AwardA Taxi Driver
Busan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae District, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. Song has received one award. YearAward ceremonyNominated artistCategoryResult201520th Busan International Film FestivalAsia Casting Market Curtain Call Award
Deauville Asian Film Festival The Deauville Asian Film Festival (the Festival du film asiatique de Deauville) took place annually in Deauville, France from 1999 to 2014. A film competition was added to the festival in 2000. Song has received one award. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result 2001 4th Deauville Asian Film Festival Best Actor Joint Security Area
Fantasia Festival Fantasia International Film Festival, also known as Fantasia Fest or simply Fantasia, is an annual film festival founded in 1996 and held primarily in Montreal, Canada. It specializes in genre films, including fantasy, horror, science fiction, and cult cinema, and draws over 100,000 attendees each year. Song has received two awards. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result 2007 11th Fantasia Festival Best Actor The Show Must Go On 2017 21st Fantasia Festival Taxi Driver
Firenze Korea Film Awards The Florence Korea Film Festival, also known as the Firenze Korea Film Awards, is an annual film festival in Florence, Italy, that celebrates Korean cinema. Song has received one award from this festival. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result 2024 23rd Firenze Korea Film Awards Festival Award Cobweb
Locarno International Film Festival The Locarno International Film Festival is a prominent international film festival held annually in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, it is hosted by the Associazione Festival del film Locarno. Song has received one award from this festival. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result2019 72nd Locarno International Film Festival Excellence AwardParasite
Los Angeles Film Critics Association The Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award are presented annually by Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), an American film critic organization founded in 1975. Song has received one award. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result 2019 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting ActorParasite
Palm Springs International Film Festival The Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) is an annual film festival held each January in Palm Springs, California. The festival is run by the Palm Springs International Film Society. Song has received one award from this festival. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result2008 19th Palm Springs International Film Festival FIPRESCI Best Actor AwardSecret Sunshine
Phoenix Critics Circle Awards The Phoenix Critics Circle Awards are presented annually by The Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC), affiliated with the Phoenix Film Foundation, for the annual Phoenix Film Festival. Song has received one award. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result2020 Phoenix Critics Circle Awards Best Supporting ActorParasite
Seoul International Drama Awards The Seoul International Drama Awards are presented annually by The Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee Korean Broadcasters Association. Song has received one award. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result202419th Seoul International Drama AwardsBest Actor - International SeriesUncle Samsik
Domestic award ceremony Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards are presented annually by JoongAng Group in the second quarter of each year. Song has received three awards out of thirteen nominations. Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result200036th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (Film)The Foul King 200137th Baeksang Arts AwardsJoint Security Area Most Popular Actor (Film) 200844th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (Film)The Show Must Go On 200945th Baeksang Arts AwardsThe Good, the Bad, the Weird 201450th Baeksang Arts AwardsGrand Prize (Daesang) for FilmThe Attorney Best Actor (Film) 201652nd Baeksang Arts AwardsThe Throne 201753rd Baeksang Arts AwardsThe Age of Shadows 201854th Baeksang Arts AwardsGrand Prize (Daesang) for FilmA Taxi Driver Best Actor (Film) 202056th Baeksang Arts AwardsParasite 202359th Baeksang Arts AwardsBroker
Blue Dragon Film Awards The Blue Dragon Film Awards are presented annually by Sports Chosun (a sister brand of the Chosun Ilbo) Song has received four awards out of eighteen nominations.
Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result199718th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New ActorNo. 3 Best Supporting Actor 200021st Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest ActorJoint Security Area 200223rd Blue Dragon Film AwardsSympathy for Mr. Vengeance 200324th Blue Dragon Film AwardsMemories of Murder 200425th Blue Dragon Film AwardsThe President's Barber 200627th Blue Dragon Film AwardsThe Host 200728th Blue Dragon Film AwardsThe Show Must Go On 200829th Blue Dragon Film AwardsThe Good, the Bad, the Weird 200930th Blue Dragon Film AwardsThirst 201334th Blue Dragon Film AwardsThe Face Reader 201435th Blue Dragon Film AwardsThe Attorney 201536th Blue Dragon Film AwardsThe Throne 201637th Blue Dragon Film AwardsThe Age of Shadows 201738th Blue Dragon Film AwardsA Taxi Driver 201940th Blue Dragon Film AwardsParasite 202243rd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBroker 202344th Blue Dragon Film AwardsCobweb
Buil Film Awards The Buil Film Awards are presented annually by the Busan Ilbo newspaper. Song has received two awards out of four nominations.
Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result201423rd Buil Film AwardsBest ActorThe Attorney 201726th Buil Film AwardsA Taxi Driver 202231st Buil Film AwardsBroker 202433rd Buil Film AwardsCobweb
Busan Film Critics Awards The Busan Film Critics Awards are presented annually by the Busan Film Critics Association (BCFA), a small but independent-minded group of critics based in Busan, South Korea. Each year they announce their choices shortly before the opening of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), and a ceremony is then held at the festival to present the prizes. Song has received two awards out of two nominations.
Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result20001st Busan Film Critics AwardsBest ActorJoint Security Area 20078th Busan Film Critics AwardsBest ActorThe Show Must Go On
Chunsa Film Art Awards The Chunsa Film Art Awards (also known as the Icheon Chunsa Film Festival) are presented annually by the Korea Film Directors' Society since its establishment in 1990. The awards take their name from the pen name of the early Korean actor and filmmaker from the silent film era, Na Woon-gyu. Song has received three awards out of nine nominations.
Year Award ceremony Nominated artist Category Result200311th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBest ActorMemories of Murder 200917th Chunsa Film Art AwardsThirst 201419th Chunsa Film Art AwardsThe Attorney 201722nd Chunsa Film Art AwardsThe Age of Shadows 201823rd Chunsa Film Art AwardsA Taxi Driver 201924th Chunsa Film Art AwardsParasite 202025th Chunsa Film Art AwardsThe King's Letters 202227th Chunsa Film Art AwardsBroker 202328th Chunsa Film Art AwardsCobweb
Director's Cut Awards The Director's Cut Awards are presented annually by the Korea Film Director's Network (KFDN), a group of approximately 300 Korean filmmakers. Song has received seven awards out of eight nominations.