Hong Seok-cheon (born February 3, 1971) is a South Korean actor, television personality, restaurateur and member of the dissolved Democratic Labor Party. He caused considerable controversy in his home country when he came out as gay in 2000, and remains the most prominent openly gay celebrity in Korea.[1][2][3]
Career
Hong Seok-cheon was born in Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province. He began his entertainment career as a male model, and made his screen debut in 1994 as a reporter for Live TV Information Center. In 1995, he won the bronze prize at the KBS Comedian Festival (for college students). Due to his versatility and comic timing, Hong went on to a prolific career on South Korean television, appearing in children's programs and variety shows, as well as sitcoms and dramas.[4][3]
In 2000, Hong was asked a question regarding his sexuality on a variety show, and he chose to answer honestly that he was gay. Though the show's producers initially edited out the exchange, a journalist got wind of the story and pressed Hong to confirm his admission.[5] After Hong revealed his homosexuality, he was fired from his network television programs and advertisements amidst public uproar, and no longer landed any major acting roles.[6] He faced massive stigma after becoming the country's first openly gay celebrity, and later said he experienced shunning, verbal abuse and discrimination that he rarely stepped out of his social circle.[7] He then wrote his memoirMy Heart Still Throbs for Forgotten Love, in which he recounted his failed romance with a Dutch man named Tony.[8]
Forced out of the entertainment business, Hong wanted to leave the country to study in New York, but he said he decided stay in Korea to prove to his detractors that he could be a success. He started his first restaurant Our Place in 2002, two years after he came out. He now owns and runs nine high-end restaurants in Itaewon, home to a large expat community in Seoul.[9] Hong's restaurants are all characterized by the prefix "My," namely: My Hong, My Chi chi*s, My Thai, My Thai China, My X, My Chelsea, My Noodle, and My Suji.[10][11]
In 2004, he joined the Democratic Labor Party and was selected by Time magazine as the year's Asian Hero.[12] Hong also continued appearing regularly on talk shows, notably Yeo Yoo Man Man, on which he guested with his parents and discussed his life since coming out. Acting-wise, Hong starred in the thrillerPuzzle (2006) and the stage play A Midsummer Night's Dream (2009).[13][14] He also founded the internet shopping mall Ne2Nom in 2007, and became a professor at Korea National University of Arts (teaching Broadcast Content Production in 2010 and Fashion Arts in 2011).
After his sister's divorce, Hong adopted her two children and changed their last names to his.[7][15] In 2008, he hosted his own talk show Coming Out, which featured gay issues.[16] Despite Korean society's continuing conservatism, Hong overcame initial public disapproval and gradually gained more mainstream acceptance, especially among the younger generation, in part because of his activism in fighting for LGBT rights.[17] From bit parts and cameos, he now emcees shows on cable television and has a sizeable following on social media.[5]
In 2015, Hong announced that he plans to run for district head of the Yongsan District Office in the 2018 local elections.[18] Having lived in Yongsan District for ten years, he said he aims to promote cultural spaces for young artists and small businesses, while providing welfare for sexual minorities. If elected, he will become the first openly gay person to become a publicly elected official in Korea.[19] In 2016, he participated in the program Law Of The Jungle.[20]
In 2018, he revealed that he is third cousins with Taeyong of NCT.[21]
^Lee Se-bin (June 22, 2022). "주문을 잊은 음식점2' 메인 포스터 공개…홍석천·진지희 합류" [The main poster for ‘The Restaurant Who Forgot to Order 2’ was released… Hong Seok-cheon and Jin Ji-hee join] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2022 – via Naver.
^Cho Hyun-jung (October 18, 2022). "박진희X홍석천, 바다구하기 나서..SBS ESG예능 '천사도'로 15년만에 재회" [Park Jin-hee X Hong Seok-cheon, after saving the sea.. Reunited after 15 years with SBS ESG entertainment 'Angel'] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang Da-yun (June 27, 2022). "신동엽X홍석천X하니, 국내 최초 커밍아웃 예능 '메리퀴어' 3MC 확정 [공식]" [Shin Dong-yeop X Hong Seok-cheon X Hani confirmed as 3MCs for Korea's first coming-out entertainment show 'Mary Queer' [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved June 27, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jang Ah-reum (November 23, 2022). "판타지 연애 게임 '좋아하면 울리는 짝!짝!짝!'…진영·홍석천·이은지·츄 4MC" [Fantasy dating game 'If you like it, it will ring! Jinyoung, Hong Seokcheon, Lee Eunji, Chuu 4MC] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved November 23, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Pan-seok (September 21, 2021). "달리와감자탕' 홍석천, 감자탕 셰프 특급 카메오 출연..김민재 만난다" [Dali and Gamjatang' Hong Seok-cheon, chef Gamjatang's special cameo appearance.. Meet Kim Min-jae] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved September 21, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim Ye-rung (October 14, 2021). "홍석천부터 양치승까지…'신사와 아가씨' 감초 열전" [From Hong Seok-cheon to Yang Chi-seung... 'Gentleman and Lady' Licorice Enthusiasm] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved October 14, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kang Nae-ri (August 18, 2021). "김승우 연출작 '더 드라이버', 안재욱·이태란 등 출연…9월 첫 촬영" ['The Driver' directed by Kim Seung-woo, Ahn Jae-wook, Lee Tae-ran, etc. first shoot in september]. YTN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
^Lee Min-ji (August 24, 2021). "징크스의 연인' 윤지혜-이훈-홍석천-정욱 출연 확정(공식)" ['Yunjin's lover' Yoon Ji-hye - Lee Hoon - Hong Seok-cheon - Jung Woo-sung (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seul (November 8, 2023). "홍석천, '완결정' 특별출연…'사랑의 큐피드' 드레스 숍 사장" [Hong Seok-chun, 'Wanjungdetermination' special appearance...'Love Cupid' dress shop owner]. X-ports News (in Korean). Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
Ryu Jeong-min (November 3, 2021). "안내상+홍석천, 역대급 라인업의 고품격 병맛 드라마 온다 ('공기타짜')" [Ahn Nae-sang + Hong Seok-cheon, a high-quality, sick-tasting drama of the all-time lineup is coming (‘Gonggi Tazza’)] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved November 3, 2021 – via Naver.
Ha Ji-won (March 28, 2022). "안내상X홍석천 출연 '공짜' 영화화…31일 OTT로 공개" [Ahn Nae-sang X Hong Seok-cheon starring 'Free' movie adaptation... Released through OTT on the 31st] (in Korean). xportsnews. Retrieved March 28, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Bo-ra (September 29, 2022). "하니x배우희, 섹스 이야기 솔직하게 전한다…'판타지스팟' 올 하반기 방송[공식]" [Hani x Actress Bae Woo-hee tells the story of sex frankly... 'Fantasy Spot' to be broadcast in the second half of this year [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved October 2, 2022 – via Naver.
