Shin Sung-rok (Korean: 신성록; born November 23, 1982) is a South Korean actor. He frequently appears in films and television series, but is better known an active in musical theatre.
Early life
Shin had initially aspired to become a basketball player together with his brother Je-rok, who is two years younger.[2] Both brothers attended Whimoon High School, known as one of Seoul's top high school basketball programs.[3] An injury prompted Shin to reconsider another career and he transferred to Anyang Arts High School.[3] He majored in Theater and Film at the University of Suwon but subsequently dropped out after being cast in a play.[3][4][5]
Career
Shin made his acting debut in 2003, but found it difficult to find acting jobs since directors were reluctant to cast the 189 centimeter-tall aspiring actor in supporting or minor roles. Thinking he would have a better chance if he gained more acting experience and honed his craft on the stage, Shin switched gears and joined the theater company Hakchon.[6][7]
When Shin performed in his first musical Moskito, there were only 20-25 audience members in the 500-seat hall. Despite feeling depressed and frustrated, he said the experience made him strong and helped him become an actor with plenty of guts.[5]
While doing the musical Dracula, Shin was cast in his first substantial onscreen role, in the risqué cable drama Hyena (2006).[6] Supporting roles in dramas and films followed, notably in Thank You (2007) and My Life's Golden Years (also known as All About My Family, 2008). He also appeared on season 1 of the MBC dating reality show We Got Married as a "fake couple" with female comedian Kim Shin-young.
Mainstream breakthrough still eluded Shin, but in theater his star was rising. In 2007, Shin was picked from 400 auditionees for the lead role Solomon in Dancing Shadows, a musical adaptation of the realist play Forest Fire by celebrated Korean playwright Cha Beom-seok.[4] He later received a Best New Actor nomination from the Korea Musical Awards.[8]
As Shin starred in one hit musical after another, he continued to impress critics with his acting performances, his strong and powerful baritone vocals and his delicate and clear alto notes.[9] He is now considered a top musical star, even drawing fans from outside Korea to his shows.[10]
Definitely Neighbors (2010) further boosted his TV profile; for his role as a difficult chef who falls in love with an older divorcee, Shin won Best Supporting Actor in a Weekend/Daily Drama at the 2010 SBS Drama Awards.[6][11] His most popular drama yet was the romantic comedy My Love from the Star (2013), in which he appeared as a villainous businessman.[12][13] This was followed by supporting roles in the 2014 series Lovers of Music (as a talent agency CEO), Liar Game (as the host of a reality show), and The King's Face (as a face reader).[14][15][16]
Despite branching out to film and television, Shin has maintained that his heart will always belong to the stage, and has stated, "I feel more affection toward the stage [rather than TV]. I think it is the stage where actors learn life and understand the meaning of acting. It is where I learned how to act and where I gained confidence. I think the core of my life will remain on the stage" (The Korea Herald, 2007).[4] "The musical is like my old home and it made me what I am now, so I can't stop performing the musicals however busy I get" (The Korea Times, 2009)[5]
In September 2021, Shin decided not to renew his contract with HB Entertainment.[17] Later on September 27, 2021, Shin signed a contract with Screening ENT.[18]
Personal life
Shin has a younger brother. Shin Jae-rok is a former professional basketball player who had short stints with Anyang KT&G Kites and Changwon LG Sakers before retiring. He became a chef and has since opened his own restaurant.[19] Both of them appeared on KBS talk show Happy Together on July 30, 2015.
^Jeon Hyo-jin (September 24, 2021). "[단독] 신성록, HB엔터와 결별…재계약 않기로" [[Exclusive] Shin Sung-rok breaks up with HB Entertainment... not to renew the contract]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via Naver.
^Shim Eom-kyung (September 27, 2021). "[단독]신성록, 신생 기획사 상영이엔티와 전속계약…이민기와 한솥밥" [[Exclusive] Shin Seong-rok, an exclusive contract with a new agency, Sangyeong ENT... Lee Min-gi and Hansot-bap]. Spotify News (in Korean). Retrieved September 27, 2021 – via Naver.
^"신성록·이세영·안보현·남규리, '카이로스' 라인업 확정(공식)" [Shin Sung-rok, Lee Se-young, Ahn Bo-hyun and Nam Gyu-ri Confirm Roles in "Kairos"]. YTN (in Korean). May 7, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
^Lee Seung-rok (October 29, 2021). "[공식] 신성록, MBC '닥터로이어' 출연 확정…소지섭과 브로맨스 펼친다" [[Official] Shin Sung-rok confirmed to appear in MBC's 'Doctor Royer'... Bromance with So Ji-sub]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved October 29, 2021 – via Naver.
^Ha, Soo-jung (September 18, 2024). 신성록x오나라, 박신혜 복귀작 특별출연 "분량 상관없이 최선" [공식] [Shin Sung-rok x Oh Na-ra, special appearances on Park Shin-hye's return "Do your best regardless of the amount of screen time" [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024 – via Naver.
^Shin Young-eun (May 17, 2022). "신성록 MC발탁, 영화 큐레이션 OCN 'O씨네' 진행" [Shin Sung-rok selected as MC, film curation OCN ‘O Cine’]. Star Today by MBN (in Korean). Retrieved May 17, 2022 – via Naver.
^"[art] 청소년이 유권자가 된다면…" [[art] If young people become voters…] (in Korean). October 28, 2004.
^"모스키토". Hakchon (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2012.
^Kim Ji-hye (August 24, 2021). "신성록, 뮤지컬 '지킬 앤 하이드' 출연 확정..쉴 틈 없는 열일" [Shin Sung Rok Musical 'Jekyll & Hyde' appearance confirmed]. Herald POP (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim Na-yeon (June 13, 2022). "엘리자벳' 10주년, 옥주현·이지혜→신성록·김준수 초호화 캐스팅[공식]" ['Elisabeth' 10th anniversary, Ock Joo-hyun, Ji-hye → Shin Seong-rok, Kim Jun-su super luxurious casting [Official]]. MT Star News (in Korean). Retrieved June 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Shin Young-eun (September 28, 2022). "스위니토드' 강필석·신성록·이규형→전미도·김지현·린아 캐스팅…12월 개막" ['Sweeney Todd' Kang Pil-seok, Shin Seong-rok, Lee Kyu-hyeong → Jeon Mi-do, Kim Ji-hyun, Lina Casting… December start]. Maeil Economy (in Korean). Retrieved September 28, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Na-yeon (July 7, 2023). "박은태·신성록·규현, 뮤지컬 '벤허' 캐스팅 라인업 공개 [공식]" [Park Eun-tae-Shin Sung-rok-Gyu-hyun reveal casting line-up for musical 'Ben-Hur' [Official]]. MT Star News (in Korean). Retrieved July 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^"창작뮤지컬 차지연·구원영 출연…3월 개막" [Appeared in the creative musical Chae-yeon and Gu Won-young... Opening in March]. www.themusical.co.kr (in Korean). January 10, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
^"뮤지컬 '파과', 킬러 '조각'은 차지연·구원…신성록·김재욱 출연" [The musical 'Paghwa', Killer 'Scleave' is Chae-yeon and Gu-won... Starring Shin Sung-rok and Kim Jae-wook]. 뉴시스 (in Korean). March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
^Lee, Seung-rok (December 30, 2017). "[MBC연기대상] 신성록·한선화, 미니시리즈 우수상 수상 영광" [[MBC Acting Awards] Shin Sung-rok and Han Seon-hwa, Glory of Excellence Award for Miniseries] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Hee-yeon (January 1, 2019). [제56회 대종상]'기생충' 작품상 포함 5관왕 달성…이병헌·정유미 주연상(종합) [[Comprehensive]'SBS Drama Awards' Gam Woo-sung-Kim Sun-ah, Best Couple Award followed by'Joint Grand Prix']. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020 – via Naver.
^Choi, Hee-jae (December 30, 2022). "김영대·박주현·이혜리, 미니시리즈 부문 우수연기상 수상 [MBC 연기대상]" [Kim Young-dae, Park Joo-hyun, and Lee Hye-ri won the Excellence Award in the mini-series category [MBC Drama Awards]] (in Korean). X-ports News. Retrieved March 5, 2023 – via Naver.