Son Chang-min

Son Chang-min (Korean: 손창민; born April 24, 1965) is a South Korean actor renowned for his versatile performances across film and television, beginning his career as a child actor in the early 1970s and spanning over five decades in the industry.^[1][2] Debuting in the 1972 film Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter (directed by Shin Seong-il), Son quickly established himself in youth-oriented roles during the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in children's dramas like X Search Party and teen series such as Diary of a High School Student.^[2] In the 1990s and 2000s, he transitioned to more mature roles in dramas like A Tree Blooming with Love and films including Father and Son: The Story of Mencius (2004), showcasing his range from romantic leads to supporting characters.^[2][1] He gained prominence for portraying antagonists in hit series such as Horse Doctor (2012), Heartless City (2013), and My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol (2015), earning acclaim for his intense and nuanced villainy.^[3][1] Son is a graduate of Chung-Ang University's Graduate School of Mass Communication. He married actress Lee Ji-young in 1991, and they have two daughters.^[1][2] As of 2025, represented by Blossom Entertainment, Son stars in the KBS1 daily drama Catch Your Luck, maintaining his status as a respected figure in South Korean entertainment.^[1]

Early life

Birth and family background

Son Chang-min was born on April 24, 1965, in Busan, South Korea.^[4]
He spent his early childhood in Busan, a major port city that served as a vital economic and cultural center during South Korea's post-Korean War recovery and industrialization in the 1960s and 1970s.
Limited public information is available about his immediate family; he has two older brothers, with details on parents' professions or roles in his upbringing remaining private.
His formative years in Busan exposed him to the region's dynamic environment, where local entertainment scenes, including film productions, were emerging amid the nation's rapid modernization.

Education

Son Chang-min attended Seodaemun Middle School and Gyeongbok High School.^[2] He then attended Chung-Ang University, where he majored in the Department of Theater and Film within the College of Arts.^[5] He was part of the class of 1984, completing his undergraduate studies in the late 1980s, which provided foundational training in acting techniques and film production essential for his professional development.^[5][6] Following his bachelor's degree, Son pursued graduate studies at Chung-Ang University's Graduate School of Journalism and Mass Communication, specializing in broadcasting and media studies.^[7] This program, completed in the early 1990s, equipped him with advanced knowledge in media production and communication, complementing his earlier acting experiences from childhood roles.^[7] During his time at the university, he engaged in extracurricular theater activities, honing his versatile performance style through practical involvement in departmental productions.^[5]

Acting career

Debut and early roles

Son Chang-min entered the acting industry as a child at the age of six, making his professional debut in the 1971 film Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, directed by Shin Seong-il. In this production, he portrayed a supporting role as the grandson of lead actor Shin Young-kyun, marking the start of his work in family-oriented dramas where he often played the offspring of prominent characters.^[8][9] Throughout the 1970s, Son continued to appear in films in similar youthful supporting capacities, including Angel's Rage (1973, directed by No Jin-seob) and Somewhere There's a Mom (1978, directed by Jeong Hoe-cheol), which helped establish his presence in Korean cinema during his early years.^[9] These roles typically involved familial dynamics in melodramas, reflecting the limited but consistent opportunities available to child actors at the time. By the late 1970s, he transitioned to television, debuting onscreen with children's programs and serials on MBC and KBS, such as the adventure series X Search Party (1977) and other historical and adventure series that showcased his versatility in adolescent parts.^[8] As a child actor, Son faced challenges in balancing rigorous filming schedules with formal education, often missing school due to overnight shoots and production demands, which was common for young performers in the era. This period also led to initial typecasting in innocent, familial youth roles, limiting diversity but building his foundational recognition through over 30 projects across film and television by the end of the 1980s. His persistence, supported by his ongoing schooling up to high school, allowed him to maintain momentum into his teenage years.^[8]

Mid-career development

During the 1990s, Son Chang-min shifted toward mature adult roles, moving beyond his early portrayals of youthful characters to embrace more complex dramatic parts that highlighted his growing versatility. This evolution was evident in his supporting role as Hwang Seok-gu in the 1991 film Silver Stallion, a breakthrough project adapted from Ahn Jung-hyo's novel, where he depicted a resilient figure amid rural hardships and personal loss.^[1] His work in the 1997 film Firebird, portraying Min-seop in a tense thriller about betrayal and concealment, further demonstrated his ability to handle intense interpersonal conflicts.^[10] On television, Son solidified his mid-career prominence with leading roles in series that demanded emotional depth, such as Medical Brothers (1997), where he played the dedicated doctor Kim Jun-ki in a family-oriented medical drama.^[1] These projects, numbering over a dozen in the decade, allowed him to explore themes of ambition and moral ambiguity, building on the foundational range from his child acting days. Entering the 2000s, Son's filmography expanded with key collaborations that emphasized his skill in nuanced supporting and antagonistic figures. In Jungle Juice (2002), he starred as Min-cheol, a down-on-his-luck everyman navigating friendship and desperation in a comedic crime tale.^[1] He followed with Father and Son: The Story of Mencius (2004), embodying the authoritative Choi Kang-du in a historical drama drawing from Confucian parables, and The Mafia, the Salesman (2007), where his portrayal of the cunning Sang-jung blended humor with menace in a gangster satire. On TV, roles in Road No. 1 (2010) as the steadfast Oh Jong-ki bridged military action and romance, while later works like Pride and Prejudice (2014) as a sharp prosecutor extended his repertoire into legal intrigue.^[1] Across these dozen or so endeavors, Son earned acclaim for infusing depth into complex professionals and flawed authority figures, often as antagonists whose motivations revealed societal tensions. Son's affiliation with Blossom Entertainment, established in 2012 during his established mid-career phase, influenced his role selection by prioritizing versatile supporting leads and antagonists that leveraged his seasoned presence.^[11] This period aligned with broader transformations in the Korean entertainment industry, where the post-1997 Asian financial crisis recovery and the surging Korean Wave (Hallyu) in the 2000s injected substantial investment into dramas and films, expanding opportunities for veteran actors like Son to reach wider domestic and global audiences through increased production and exports.^[12]

Recent projects

In the 2010s, Son Chang-min expanded his repertoire through prominent television roles that showcased his versatility across genres. He portrayed the scheming noble Lee Myung-hwan in the historical drama Horse Doctor (2012), a MBC series that depicted the rise of a veterinarian in the Joseon era.^[13] In the thriller Heartless City (2013), also known as Cruel City, he played Min Hong-ki, the cunning director of a police unit entangled in a drug cartel investigation, earning praise for his intense performance in the JTBC production.^[14] His role as the antagonistic father Kang Man-hoo in the family melodrama My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol (2015) highlighted themes of revenge and redemption in an MBC daily drama. Later that decade, he appeared as the authoritative King Hwijong in the romantic comedy My Sassy Girl (2017), an SBS adaptation of the classic film, and as the supportive yet complex Goo Pil-mo in the ensemble family saga Band of Sisters (2017), another SBS series focusing on sisterly bonds and societal struggles.^[15] Entering the 2020s, Son continued his steady output with roles in high-profile projects, including a guest appearance in the Netflix-original Record of Youth (2020), which boosted his visibility on global streaming platforms. In 2022, he took on the villainous Kang Baek-san, a ruthless patriarch and main antagonist, in the KBS2 revenge drama Vengeance of the Bride, spanning 102 episodes and exploring corporate intrigue and familial betrayal. His most recent major role came in 2025 as the miserly landlord Han Mu-cheol in the KBS1 daily drama Catch Your Luck (also titled Good Luck! or Protect Your Luck), a 121-episode series about friendship, fortune, and midlife crises, where he stars alongside peers like Sunwoo Jae-deok and Park Sang-myeon.^[16][17][18] This period marked Son's transition to diverse genres, including historical epics, gritty thrillers, and heartfelt family dramas, while adapting to the rise of streaming services that have amplified K-dramas' international reach. Projects like Record of Youth and Rookie Cops (2022, Disney+) exemplify this shift, contributing to broader global audiences for Korean content and influencing role selections toward narratives with universal appeal. Since 2010, he has appeared in over 15 television projects, demonstrating sustained activity into his 60s and building on mid-career foundations for longevity. Recent collaborations, such as with rising stars like Park Bo-gum in Record of Youth and younger ensemble casts in Catch Your Luck, underscore his integration into multigenerational stories amid the K-drama industry's globalization, which has opened opportunities for veteran actors in export-driven productions.^[19][20]

Personal life

Marriage and family

Son Chang-min married his longtime girlfriend, Lee Ji-young, in 1991 following a seven-year romance that began in 1985 when they met at a ski resort during his university years.^[21] The couple, both born in 1965, tied the knot at the height of his popularity as a young star in the entertainment industry, and their union was often highlighted as an exemplary celebrity marriage in the early 1990s.^[22] Lee, an interior designer who runs her own firm called INNEN DESIGNWORKS and has authored a cookbook, occasionally appeared alongside her husband in media, including a 2006 television commercial for Hyundai Hai Life insurance that showcased their family-oriented image.^[23] The marriage produced two daughters, with the elder born in the early 1990s and the younger in the mid-1990s; both have largely stayed out of the public eye to preserve their privacy.^[24] As of 2012, the daughters were pursuing studies in the United States, reflecting the family's emphasis on education amid Son's demanding career.^[25] Despite the challenges of his acting schedule, Son made efforts to prioritize family time in the years following their marriage, though the couple's differing personalities and his professional commitments led to a separation around 2010.^[26] By 2025, Son and Lee had been living apart for over a decade due to these ongoing differences, but they remain legally married without pursuing divorce, allowing each to focus on their individual paths while co-parenting from afar.^[27] This arrangement has enabled Son to maintain a stable personal life that supports his continued work in the industry, with the family retaining ties to his Busan roots through occasional visits.^[22]

Public persona and interests

Son Chang-min is known among peers for his supportive role in mentoring younger actors, sharing practical advice on emotional control during performances. In a 2015 interview, actor Lee Tae-hwan credited Son with teaching him how to manage his feelings on set while working together on the drama Pride and Prejudice, highlighting Son's approachable and guiding presence in the industry.^[28] Throughout his career, Son has expressed thoughtful views on the evolution of the entertainment industry, particularly regarding the challenges faced by veteran performers. In a 2025 production presentation for the drama Catch the Great Luck, he conveyed sympathy for the older generation's struggles, emphasizing the need to authentically portray their lived experiences of hardship.^[29] Earlier, in a 1994 feature, he noted positive shifts in media coverage of entertainment and culture, observing that major outlets like JoongAng Ilbo had become more responsive to public interests in films, broadcasts, and performances compared to previous decades.^[30] Despite his six-decade-long career spanning child acting to mature roles, Son maintains a low-key public profile, with limited visible social media engagement or high-profile philanthropic initiatives documented in major outlets. His interactions with fans and the media tend to focus on professional reflections rather than personal disclosures, underscoring a reserved off-screen demeanor.

Filmography

Television series

Son Chang-min's television career spans over five decades, beginning as a child actor in the mid-1970s and encompassing more than 40 series, where he evolved from innocent youthful roles to complex supporting characters, often portraying antagonists, fathers, or authority figures in historical and modern dramas.^[31] His credits include notable appearances in long-running daily dramas and miniseries across major networks like KBS, MBC, and SBS. The following table lists his television series chronologically, highlighting key roles and episode counts where significant. No variety shows or standalone special appearances are prominently documented in his television work beyond the integrated drama specials listed.^[31]

Films

Son Chang-min's film career spans from his debut as a child actor in the early 1970s to his last major role in 2009, encompassing over 30 feature films primarily in drama, family, comedy, and thriller genres. His early works often featured him in supporting roles as young family members, reflecting the era's focus on familial and social themes in South Korean cinema. By the 1980s and 1990s, he transitioned to more prominent parts in adventure and romantic comedies, while the 2000s saw him in lead comedic and dramatic roles that highlighted his versatility before he shifted emphasis to television.^[31][1]

Awards and nominations

1980s–1990s

Son Chang-min continued to receive formal recognition for his acting in the mid-1980s, as he transitioned from child roles to more mature characters in television dramas, establishing himself as an emerging talent in South Korean entertainment. Prior to this, he had earned the Best Child Actor award at the 10th Grand Bell Awards in 1971. His breakthrough in adult roles came with the 21st Baeksang Arts Awards in 1985, where he won the Best New Actor (TV) for his performances in the KBS series Diary of a High School Student and The People I Love, roles that showcased his ability to portray youthful, relatable protagonists in daily dramas.^[32] By the early 1990s, Son had expanded into film, earning widespread popularity for his lead role as a law student entangled in a tragic romance in All That Falls Has Wings (1990). This performance led to his win for Most Popular Actor (Film) at the 26th Baeksang Arts Awards, reflecting audience appreciation for his charismatic screen presence during a pivotal phase of his career shift to adult-oriented projects.^[33] The same film also brought Son a nomination for Best Actor at the 28th Grand Bell Awards in 1990, where he competed alongside established performers like Park Joong-hoon and Kim In-moon, though the award ultimately went to Shin Seong-il for Korean Connection.^[34] These honors, totaling three significant accolades and nods within the decade, underscored his successful evolution from teen idol to respected leading man, paving the way for broader industry acceptance.

2000s–present

In the 2000s, Son Chang-min earned acclaim for his versatile portrayals in historical and family dramas, receiving two notable honors that year alone. At the 2005 MBC Drama Awards, he won the Special Acting Award for his role as the titular character in the historical drama Shin Don, where he depicted the life of the Goryeo-era monk and advisor.^[33] Similarly, at the 2005 SBS Drama Awards, he received the Excellence Award for Actor in a Drama Special for playing Koo Soo-han in Bad Housewife, a role that showcased his ability to blend intensity with emotional depth in a narrative about marital strife and redemption.^[33] Building on this momentum into the 2010s, Son's nominations and wins highlighted his prowess in ensemble-driven TV projects. He was nominated for the Top Excellence Award in the Best Actor category for Special Project Drama at the 2012 MBC Drama Awards for his supporting performance as Lee Myung-hwan in Horse Doctor, a sageuk series centered on veterinary medicine in the Joseon era.^[35] In 2015, he secured the Excellence Award for Actor in a Special Drama at the MBC Drama Awards for portraying Kang Man-hoo in My Daughter, Geum Sa-wol, earning praise for his depiction of a resilient, working-class father figure in this family-oriented special project.^[36] His streak continued with the Top Excellence Award for Actor in a Daily/Weekend Drama at the 2017 SBS Drama Awards, awarded for his lead role as Goo Pil-mo in Band of Sisters (also known as Unni Is Alive), where he portrayed a devoted husband navigating themes of sisterhood and loss.^[37] Entering the 2020s, Son maintained his trajectory of recognition in daily dramas, receiving a nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Daily Drama) at the 2022 KBS Drama Awards for his antagonistic yet complex portrayal of Kang Baek-san in Vengeance of the Bride.^[38] This period reflects a broader trend in Son's career, with a pronounced focus on excellence in television dramas rather than film, amassing over five honors and nominations that underscore his enduring impact in serialized storytelling.^[33]