Biography
Who is Hong Seok-cheon?
Early life and career beginnings
Hong Seok-cheon was born in Cheongyang County, located in South Chungcheong Province, South Korea. He attended Hanyang University during his formative years. His professional entertainment career began when he worked as a male model. In 1994, he appeared on screen for the first time as a reporter for the Live TV Information Center program.
His early success continued in 1995 when he received the bronze prize at the KBS Comedian Festival, which was organized for college students. Due to his natural comic timing and versatility, he quickly became a familiar face on South Korean television. He appeared in various roles across children's programs, variety shows, sitcoms, and television dramas throughout his early career.
Coming out and public impact
In 2000, Hong made a significant life decision during a variety show appearance. When asked about his personal life, he chose to speak honestly about being gay. Although show producers initially removed the segment, a journalist later pressed him for confirmation. This public revelation led to significant professional challenges. He was fired from his network television programs and commercial advertisements.
Facing intense public backlash, Hong experienced significant stigma and discrimination, which led him to withdraw from public life for a period. He eventually detailed his experiences and a past relationship in his memoir titled My Heart Still Throbs for Forgotten Love. Despite the hostility he faced, he remained in South Korea to prove he could succeed in his home country. He later became a vocal activist, fighting for the rights of LGBT individuals and gradually gaining mainstream acceptance, particularly among younger generations.
Business ventures and restaurants
After leaving the entertainment industry temporarily, Hong established his first restaurant named Our Place in 2002. He eventually expanded his business interests in the Itaewon area of Seoul, which is known for its large expatriate population. He opened a series of high-end restaurants, all featuring the prefix My in their names.
His restaurant portfolio includes establishments such as My Hong, My Chi chi*s, My Thai, My Thai China, My X, My Chelsea, My Noodle, and My Suji. In 2007, he also founded an internet shopping mall called Ne2Nom. Later in his career, he expanded his professional activities into academia, serving as a professor at the Korea National University of Arts. He taught courses on Broadcast Content Production in 2010 and Fashion Arts in 2011.
Personal life and political activities
Hong Seok-cheon has taken on significant familial responsibilities, including the adoption of his sister's two children following her divorce. He officially changed their surnames to match his own. Regarding his extended family, he publicly shared in 2018 that he is third cousins with Taeyong, a member of the group NCT.
His involvement in public affairs has been consistent. He joined the Democratic Labor Party in 2004. In 2015, he announced his intention to run for district head of the Yongsan District Office. He has lived in the Yongsan District for over ten years and has expressed a desire to improve cultural spaces for young artists and small businesses while supporting welfare for sexual minorities. He also appeared on the reality program Law of the Jungle in 2016.
Birthday and age
Hong Seok-cheon was born on February 3, 1971, which makes Hong 55 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Hong shares the date with 27 other famous people.
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