Kim Nam-gil

Quick Facts: Who was Kim Nam-gil?

Subject:

Kim Nam-gil

Known for:

Versatile South Korean actor known for historical roles and dramatic range.

Born:

1980-03-13

Century / Era:

1980s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Kim Nam-gil (Korean: 김남길; born March 13, 1980) is a South Korean actor, producer, director, singer and philanthropist. He had his breakthrough role as Silla politician Bidam in the historical series Queen Seondeok (2009), and became known for his roles in period drama Portrait of a Beauty (2008), adventure film The Pirates (2014), disaster blockbuster Pandora (2016), crime thriller Memoir of a Murderer (2017) and the crime-comedy television drama The Fiery Priest (2019). Outside acting, Kim is the founder and CEO of a non-profit organization Gilstory that focuses on preserving cultural heritage, promoting arts and raising special purpose relief funds. Kim is known for his versatility as an actor and for often balancing projects with commercial value and roles that are artistic in nature. He was placed 17th in the top 40 most powerful stars in Korea 2020 by Forbes.

Career & Major Achievements

On February 3, 2021, Kim launched Gilstory ENT, a comprehensive entertainment company, together with Han Jae Deok, head of film production company Sanai Pictures. Kim began his acting career on television with a minor role in the 1999 KBS youth drama School 1. Four years later, he passed the 2003 Talent Audition conducted annually by MBC, and appeared in various minor roles on the network's shows, such as Be Strong, Geum-soon!. During this time, he was using the stage name Lee Han, which he made up to avoid confusion with Kang Nam-gil, another Korean actor with a similar name, and to give himself a more sophisticated image. In the following years he took on more supporting roles in television dramas, among them Goodbye Solo, Lovers, and When Spring Comes.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Kim debuted on the big-screen in 2004 gangster movie Low life. In 2006, he made the bold decision to portray a homosexual character in the controversial queer indie No Regret in a role which included several gay sex scenes. The film was critically praised and traveled the film festival circuit, being shown among others in the Panorama section of the 57th Berlin Film Festival. He was then cast in 2008's Public Enemy Returns, where he worked with the actor Jung Jae-young. Kim had stated in interviews that Jung Jae-young, who attended the same high school he did, had been his role model as an actor.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1980 (1980-03-13): Birth of Kim Nam-gil — Versatile South Korean actor known for historical roles and dramatic range.
2. 1999: 1999 Milestone — Kim began his acting career on television with a minor role in the 1999 KBS youth drama School 1.
3. 2003: 2003 Milestone — Four years later, he passed the 2003 Talent Audition conducted annually by MBC, and appeared in various minor roles on the network's shows, such as Be Strong, Geum-soon!.
4. 2004: 2004 Milestone — Kim debuted on the big-screen in 2004 gangster movie Low life.
5. 2006: 2006 Milestone — In 2006, he made the bold decision to portray a homosexual character in the controversial queer indie No Regret in a role which included several gay sex scenes.
6. 2008: 2008 Milestone — He was then cast in 2008's Public Enemy Returns, where he worked with the actor Jung Jae-young.
7. 2009: 2009 Milestone — He had his breakthrough role as Silla politician Bidam in the historical series Queen Seondeok (2009), and became known for his roles in period drama Portrait of a Beauty (2008), adventure film The Pirates (2014), disaster blockbuster Pandora (2016), crime thriller Memoir of a Murderer (2017) and the crime-comedy television drama The Fiery Priest (2019).
8. 2020: 2020 Milestone — He was placed 17th in the top 40 most powerful stars in Korea 2020 by Forbes.
9. 2021: 2021 Milestone — On February 3, 2021, Kim launched Gilstory ENT, a comprehensive entertainment company, together with Han Jae Deok, head of film production company Sanai Pictures.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kim Nam-gil

True or False: “Kim Nam-gil's breakthrough role in Queen Seondeok was immediately followed by him winning the Grand Prize at the 2019 SBS Drama Awards.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While his popularity surged after Queen Seondeok, he won the Grand Prize at the 2019 SBS Drama Awards for The Fiery Priest.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abby Wambach — Contemporary (Born in 1980) (1980): Iconic American soccer forward, celebrated for her goal-scoring prowess and longevity.
• Adande Thorne — Contemporary (Born in 1980) (1980): Trinidadian-American YouTuber, animator, comedian, and actor known as Swoozie.
• Alejo Carpentier — Contemporary (Died in 1980) (1980): Influential Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist of the Latin American Boom.
• Adam Clayton — Shared historical date (03-13 · Born) (1960): Irish-English bassist and founding member of the globally renowned rock band U2.
• Ahmad Tejan Kabbah — Shared historical date (03-13 · Died) (2014): Sierra Leonean politician and economist, served as the third President of Sierra Leone.
• Alexei Kosygin — Historical peer (Died in 1980) (1980): Soviet statesman who chaired the Council of Ministers from 1964 to 1980.
• Alexei Yagudin — Historical peer (Born in 1980) (1980): Pioneering Russian figure skater, celebrated for multiple World and Olympic titles.
• Aage Bohr — Historical peer (Died in 2009) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Abdurrahman Wahid — Historical peer (Died in 2009) (2009): Influential Indonesian politician, Islamic leader, and fourth President known for pluralism.
• Ahn Jae-hwan — Historical peer (Died in 2008) (2008): South Korean actor known for roles in films like Beautiful Temptation and Show Show Show.
• 1980 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1980
• March 13 (03-13) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 13

Frequently Asked Questions about Kim Nam-gil