Kim Joo-hyuk (3 October 1972 – 30 October 2017) was a South Korean actor. He was known for his leading roles in the films My Wife Got Married (2008), The Servant (2010), and Yourself and Yours (2016), his supporting roles in Confidential Assignment (2017) and Believer (2018), as well as the television series Lovers in Prague (2005), God of War (2012), Hur Jun, The Original Story (2013) and Argon (2017). He was also an original regular cast member on the third season of the KBS2's reality-variety show 2 Days & 1 Night.
Early life and education In 1991, he enrolled in the Department of Theater and Film at Dongguk University. He received his bachelor's degree in 1997.
Career After graduating, Kim began acting in theater. He passed the audition for SBS 8th open talent recruitment in 1998 and subsequently landed supporting roles in SBS drama KAIST.
He made his fim debut in Say Yes (2001) with a role as a man who confronts a serial killer. It was followed by a supporting role in sport film YMCA Baseball Team (2002) as Oh Dae-hyun, an independence activist and baseball pitcher. He started getting recognition for his third film, Singles (2003).
His first leading role in film came with Hong Du-sik, of Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong (2004). Kim's portrayal of Hong Du-sik (Hong Banjang) is frequently cited as a career-defining performance and his first leading role. Though the film itself wasn't a major box-office success, Kim was widely considered perfectly cast, with critics noting his performance relied more on personal charisma and warmth. Kim Du-chan, the film producer, praised Kim, calling him "the best romantic comedy actor," dubbed him as "Korea's Hugh Grant." In a 2017 posthumous survey, Hong Banjang was voted as his most memorable role.
Personal life Family Kim was the son of actor Kim Mu-saeng. He and his father both played real-life court physician Heo Jun.
Relationships Kim began dating actress Kim Ji-soo in 2003; they portrayed a married couple in the 2002 TV series Like a Flowing River. Their six-year relationship ended in 2009.
Kim also dated God of War co-star Kim Gyu-ri from 2012 to 2013.
In December 2016, Kim was confirmed to be in a relationship with Yourself and Yours (2016) co-star Lee Yoo-young.
Death On 30 October 2017, Kim was involved in a fatal car crash that occurred around 4:30 p.m. KST in Samseong-dong, Seoul. His car overturned and he was taken to Konkuk University Hospital where he was pronounced dead two hours after arrival. According to the police and Konkuk University Medical Center, "It seems the accident occurred after he showed symptoms of a myocardial infarction". However, it was later stated by the police that the autopsy showed no signs of him having a heart attack and that the cause of death was a skull fracture. Moreover, no traces of alcohol or other toxins were detected in the body and the police investigation revealed no evidence of vehicle defects that could have caused the crash.
Kim was cremated and laid to rest in his family grave at Seosan, South Chungcheong Province.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2001 Say Yes Jung-hyun 2002 YMCA Baseball Team Oh Dae-hyeon 2003 Singles Park Su-hyeon 2004 Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong Hong Du-sik 2005 When Romance Meets Destiny Yu Gwang-shik Blue Swallow Han Ji-hyeok 2006 Love Me Not Julian 2008 My Wife Got Married Noh Deok-hoon 2010 The Servant Bang-ja 2011 In Love and War Kim Jung-woong Pitch High Yoon Do-hoon Couples Yoo-seok 2015 Intimate Enemies Chairman Cameo The Beauty Inside Woo-jin 2016 Like for Likes Sung-chan The Truth Beneath Kim Jong-chan Yourself and Yours Yeong-soo2017 Confidential Assignment Cha Ki-seong The Tooth and the Nail Nam Do-jin2018Heung-boo: The Revolutionist Jo HyukPosthumous releaseBeliever Ha-rim
Television series Year Title Role 1998 Letters Written on a Cloudy Day 1999 KAIST Jung Myung-hwan 2000 Tango in Seoul Can Anyone Love? Young-jae 2002 Rival Min Tae-hoon Like a Flowing River Kim Seok-joo 2005 Lovers in Prague Choi Sang-hyun 2008 Terroir Kang Tae-min 2012 God of War Kim Jun 2013 Hur Jun, The Original Story Heo Jun 2015 Reply 1988 adult Choi Taek 2017 Argon Kim Baek-jin
Variety shows Year Title Notes/ 2011 Saturday Night Live Korea Host (season 1, episode 1) 2013–2015, 2017 2 Days & 1 Night - Season 3 Cast member
Music video appearances Year Song title Artist 2002 "I Can't Tell" Cha Eun-ju 2003 "Only..." The Jun
Discography Soundtrack appearances Year Song title Notes 2004 "With the mind to forget" () Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong OST 2011 "Our Love Shines" () (sung with Gong Hyung-jin, Oh Jung-se, Lee Si-young, Lee Yoon-ji) Couples OST
Awards and nominations + Award Year Category Nominated work Result 39th Baeksang Arts Awards 2003 Best New Actor (TV) Like a Flowing River 42nd Baeksang Arts Awards 2006 Best Actor (TV) Lovers in Prague 45th Baeksang Arts Awards 2009 Best Actor (Film) My Wife Got Married 55th Baeksang Arts Awards2019Best Supporting ActorBeliever 29th Blue Dragon Film Awards2008 Best Actor My Wife Got Married Best Couple Award with Son Ye-jin 39th Blue Dragon Film Awards2018Best Supporting ActorBeliever 27th Buil Film Awards 2018Best Supporting ActorBeliever 55th Grand Bell Awards 2018Best Supporting ActorBeliever Special Award KBS Entertainment Awards 2014 Best Newcomer in a Variety Show 2 Days & 1 Night 2015 Best Entertainer Award — Entertainment Category 22nd Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards 2005 Best Dressed, Film Actor category 24th Korean Popular Culture & Arts Awards2018Prime Minister's Commendation MBC Drama Awards 2012 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama God of War 2013 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Hur Jun, the Original Story SBS Drama Awards 2002 Excellence Award, Actor in a Weekend/Daily Drama Like a Flowing River 2005 Top Excellence Award, Actor Lovers in Prague Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Top 10 Stars 2008 Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Terroir 1st The Seoul Awards 2017 Best Supporting Actor (Film) Confidential Assignment 4th Wildflower Film Awards 2017 Best Actor Yourself and Yours
References
External links at Namoo Actors