Kim Nam-gil is a multifaceted South Korean personality, distinguished as an actor, producer, singer, and philanthropist. His impressive repertoire of leading roles in films like Pandora (2016),The Shameless (2015),The Pirates (2014),Portrait of a Beauty (2008),and the crime-comedy television drama The Fiery Priest (2019) has garnered widespread recognition.
Kim Nam-gil's breakthrough role was the character Bidam in the hit television period drama The Great Queen Seondeok (2009),which catapulted him to stardom. He initially debuted on television with a minor role in the 1998 KBS drama "School 1" (as Min-soo),followed by a five-year hiatus before winning the 31st audition for MBC Television.
Kim Nam-gil later changed his name to "Lee Han" in 2005, adopting a seemingly more exotic moniker. However, in 2006, he took the bold decision to accept his first lead role in the critically acclaimed independent film No Regret (2006),playing the character Song Jae-min, a homosexual. Although the film received high praise from critics and film festivals, it failed to propel Kim Nam-gil to instant stardom.
Instead, he continued to take on supporting roles in television dramas and commercial films. Prior to the release of Public Enemy Returns (2008),Kim Nam-gil reverted back to his birth name after receiving advice from director Kang Woo-suk.
In 2009, Kim Nam-gil was cast in the MBC drama The Great Queen Seondeok (2009) as Bidam, a character that became the secret weapon in securing the series' success. The production company promoted his character to Korean media outlets and press agencies, leading to the drama's widespread popularity and Kim Nam-gil's skyrocketing fame.
As a result, he was frequently voted the sexiest man by Korean women, received numerous commercial endorsement offers, and flooded with scenarios for various upcoming films and drama series. Kim Nam-gil is also the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization Gilstory, which focuses on preserving cultural heritage, promoting arts, and raising special purpose relief funds.
