Byun Hee-bong, a seasoned South Korean actor, was born in Jangseon, South Jeolla Province, and embarked on a professional journey that began with his involvement in live theater. Prior to his transition to the screen, he worked as a voice performer for the prominent state TV network MBC in 1966.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Byun's television career flourished with notable appearances in various series, including the 1981 drama "The First Republic," the 1985 historical epic "The Joseon Dynasty 500 Years: Seouljungmae," and the 1999 medical drama "The Legendary Doctor Hur Jun."
Byun's filmography features a significant collaboration with Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho, starting with the 2000 breakout film "Barking Dogs Never Bite." He went on to appear in notable roles in three more films by Bong: the 2003 crime drama "Memories of Murder," the 2006 Cannes presentation "The Host," and the 2017 creature feature "Okja," which marked Netflix's film production debut in Korea and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
In recognition of his immense contribution to the development of South Korea's pop culture, Byun was awarded the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, the second-highest ranking South Korean cultural decoration, in 2020.
