Song Jong-hee

Song Jong-hee
Born1969 (age 56–57)
South Korea
EducationVancouver Film School
OccupationMake-up artist
Years active1995 to present
Korean name
Hangul
송종희
RRSong Jonghui
MRSong Chonghŭi

Song Jong-hee (Korean: 송종희; born 1969) is a South Korean makeup artist, as well as CEO and co-founder of the film makeup studio Mimos.[1][2] Starting her professional career with her 1996 debut in Kill the Love, she stood out from many of her peers by engaging early in pre-production to shape characters and offer screenplay input. She is known for her work in films A Muse and My Dictator, which earned her nominations for the Best Technical Award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

Widely recognized as a frequent collaborator of Park Chan-wook, she has worked with him since Joint Security Area (2000), with credits including Oldboy (2003), Lady Vengeance (2005), The Handmaiden (2016), Decision to Leave (2022), and No Other Choice (2025). She has also partnered with other acclaimed directors such as Bong Joon Ho, Kim Jee-woon, Lee Chang-dong, Hur Jin-ho, and Um Tae-hwa.

Career

1995 to 1999: Beginning as makeup artist

In her mid-twenties, Song left her job and secretly enrolled in an art academy to study for college entrance exams. Her life took an unexpected turn on a day she skipped her classes to visit Sinchon with a friend who was modeling for a single day. Captivated by the makeup artist's technique, she tagged along for the next three sessions, realizing that a human face could truly serve as a canvas.[3]

Diving into the professional makeup world, she trained for three months before entering the field. From video shoots and theater productions to bridal styling, fashion layouts, and print advertising, she experienced every corner of the industry. Even so, she felt disconnected from commercial beauty work focused on producing identical, cookie-cutter looks with heavy eye makeup and flushed cheeks. With so many talented artists already doing that work, she doubted her talent.[3]

Everything changed in 1995 when she stepped onto her first movie set, joining Director Lee Myung-se's team for Affliction of Man. Receiving the storyboard for the first time, she saw every corner densely packed with notes the director had written while agonizing over it all night. It felt like a door opened, as if he was reaching out a hand saying, "Come in here and think it over with me; please help me." Working there, she realized she loved dressing actors as characters and working closely with people, finally experiencing a true sense of accomplishment.[3]

In 1996, she debuted as a lead makeup artist on Lim Jong-jae's Kill the Love.[4][5] During her next project, the 1997 film The Contact, she spent breaks chatting endlessly with lead actors Han Suk-kyu and Jeon Do-yeon over the script. Brainstorming together before the era of smartphones sparked a constant stream of new ideas. She loved collaborating to analyze character emotions, imagine expressions, and refine the look to help the actors' performances shine.[3]

2000 to 2008: Career breakthrough

Song first work Park Chan-wook in Joint Security Area (2000). She received technical award for her work at 2001 Women Filmmakers' Night - Woman Filmmaker of the Year Awards Ceremony.[6] She subsequently worked with Park's other films. Most notably the neo-noir thrillers of The Vengeance Trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance). Song spent five hours crafting Oh Dae-su's (Choi Min-sik) wild, explosion-surviving hair in Park Chan-wook's Old Boy (2003) to symbolize his pent-up wrath and captivity-driven desire for retribution. Song Jong-hee crafted Geum-ja's (Lee Young-ae) iconic look in Park Chan-wook's Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) with flowing dark hair and crimson-fading smoky eyes. This striking aesthetic captured her contradictory emotions of vengeance and grief, portraying her complex inner turmoil as she executed her plan.[4]

2009 to present: Career after Vancouver Film School and establishment of Mimos

In 2009, she attended the Vancouver Film School.[7][8] During her study, she traveled to Seattle, USA, in her spare time, to work on Director Kim Tae-yong's Late Autumn.[3]

After returning from her study in 2011, Song partnered with Jang Ju-eun and Lee Yu-sun to launch the film make-up and hairdressing studio Mimos.[9] Her first major project after that was director Jung Ji-woo's A Muse, for which Jung recruited her while she was still studying special effects makeup at the Vancouver Film School. Although Song initially thought the director's vision of aging the young actor Park Hae-il was a crazy challenge, she was persuaded by his goal to create an intelligent, unconventional elderly character and joined the production.[3]

To prepare, Song spent three weeks studying real elderly individuals at Tapgol Park in Jongno, observing their postures, gaits, and unique facial features to distinguish subtle differences across age groups. Reflecting on her research, she shared a poignant conversation with an elderly acquaintance who revealed that the hardest part of aging is becoming invisible to society. Her source explained that losing the casual attention of others creates a profound sense of isolation, capturing the emotional depth Song aimed to bring to the film's makeup design.[3]

To commemorate her 30th career anniversary, Song and Mimos are hosting an exhibition titled "Song Jong-hee's 30 Years of Film Makeup: A Record of Time Built on Repetition and Restraint" at Yeonhee Gallery, located at 706-5 Yeonhee-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, from June 20, 2026, to August 9, 2026.[10][11][12]

Filmography

Films

Films credit[13]
Year Title Director Credited as Ref
English Korean
1995 Affliction of Man 남자는 괴로워 Lee Myung-se Makeup/Hair Team [3]
Go Alone Like Musso's Horn 무소의 뿔처럼 혼자서 가라 Oh Byung-chul [13]
1996 Kill the Love 그들만의 세상 Lim Jong-jae Makeup/Hair
1997 Connection 접속 Jang Yun-hyeon Makeup/Hair [3]
1998 If the Sun Rises in the West 해가 서쪽에서 뜬다면 Lee Eun [13]
1999 Happy End 해피엔드 Jung Ji-woo
2000 Joint Security Area 공동경비구역 J.S.A Park Chan-wook
2000 I Wish I Had a Wife 나도 아내가 있었으면 좋겠다 Park Heung-sik
2001 One Fine Spring Day 봄날은 간다 Hur Jin-ho [3]
2002 YMCA Baseball Team YMCA 야구단 Kim Hyun-seok [13]
2002 Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance 복수는 나의 것 Park Chan-wook
2002 Bus, Stop 버스, 정류장 Lee Mi-yeon
2003 Family Affairs 바람난 가족 Im Sang-soo
2003 Memories of Murder 살인의 추억 Bong Joon-ho [14]
Oldboy 올드보이 Park Chan-wook [15]
2004 The Little Mermaid 얼굴없는 미녀 Park Heung-sik [13]
2004 Faceless Beauty 인어공주 Kim In-sik
2004 The President's Barber 효자동 이발사 Im Chan-sang Makeup/Hair Support
2005 Hello, Big Brother 안녕, 형아 Im Tae-hyung Makeup/Hair
2005 Lady Vengeance 친절한 금자씨 Park Chan-wook [3]
2006 200 Pounds Beauty 미녀는 괴로워 Kim Yong-hwa [3]
The Host 괴물 Bong Joon-ho [16]
2006 Like a Virgin 미녀는 괴로워 Lee Hae-jun, Lee Hae-young [17]
2006 No Regret 후회하지 않아 Lee Song-hee-il [18]
2007 Fantastic Parasuicides 판타스틱 자살 소동 Park So-young
2008 Go Go 70s 고고70 Choi Ho
2008 Crush and Blush 미쓰 홍당무 Lee Kyoung-mi
2008 Modern Boy 모던 보이 Jung Ji-woo Makeup/Hair Support
2008 Secret Sunshine 밀양 Lee Chang-dong
2009 Thirst 박쥐 Park Chan-wook Makeup/Hair [19]
Castaway on the Moon 김씨표류기 Lee Hae-jun [13]
2011 Late Autumn 만추 Kim Tae-yong [20]
2012 A Muse 은교 Jung Ji-woo [21]
2013 Days of Wrath 잉투기 Shin Jai-ho [3]
2013 Ingtoogi: The Battle of Internet Trolls 잉투기 Um Tae-hwa
2013 Way Back Home 집으로 가는 길 Bang Eun-jin
2014 My Dictator 나의 독재자 Lee Hae-jun [22]
2014 Big Match 빅매치 Choi Ho [23]
2015 Coin Locker Girl 차이나타운 Han Jun-hee [24]
2015 4th Place 4등 Jung Ji-woo [23]
2015 The Advocate: A Missing Body 성난 변호사 Hur Jin-ho Special effects makeup
2016 The Handmaiden 아가씨 Park Chan-wook Makeup/Hair [25]
2016 Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned 가려진 시간 Um Tae-hwa [23]
2016 Familyhood 굿바이 싱글 Kim Tae-gon Special effects makeup
2017 Memoir of a Murderer 살인자의 기억법 Won Shin-yun Makeup concept design
2017 Forgotten 기억의 밤 Jang Hang-jun Special effects makeup [26]
2017 Heart Blackened 침묵 Jung Ji-woo Makeup/Hair [27]
2017 A Single Rider 싱글라이더 Lee Joo-young
2017 Method 메소드 Bang Eun-jin special props
2018 Illang: The Wolf Brigade 인랑 Kim Jee-woon Makeup/Hair
2019 The Day I Died: Unclosed Case 내가 죽던 날 Park Ji-wan Makeup Team B
2019 Bring Me Home 나를 찾아줘 Kim Seung-woo Makeup/Hair
2019 The Battle: Roar to Victory 봉오동 전투 Won Shin-yun
2022 Decision to Leave 헤어질 결심 Park Chan-wook [18]
2023 Concrete Utopia 콘크리트 유토피아 Um Tae-hwa Makeup/Hair [23]
2023 Rebound 리바운드 Jang Hang-jun Special effects makeup [27]
2024 Wonderland 원더랜드 Kim Tae-yong Makeup/Hair
2024 Love in the Big City 대도시의 사랑법 E.oni
2025 No Other Choice 어쩔수가없다 Park Chan-wook [28]
2026 The King's Warden 왕과 사는 남자 Jang Hang-jun [29]
2026 Pavane 파반느 Lee Jong-pil [23]

Short films

Shorts' credit
Year Title Director Credited for Notes Ref.
English Korean
2003 If You Were Me 여섯개의 시선 Park Chan-wook Makeup/Hair Omnibus film [30][31]
2012 Footsteps 발걸음 Kim Hyung-kyun [13]
2012 Day Trip 청출어람 PARKing CHANce [32][33]
2018 Believe it or not 반신반의
2022 Life Is But a Dream 일장춘몽 Park Chan-wook for Apple Inc. [34]

Series

Series' credit
Year Title Network Director Role Ref.
English Korean
2020 The School Nurse Files 보건교사 안은영 Netflix Lee Kyoung-mi Makeup/Hair [35]
2022 Somebody 썸바디 Jung Ji-woo [27]
2023 Mask Girl 마스크걸 Kim Young-hoon [36]
2026 Can This Love Be Translated? 이 사랑 통역 되나요? Yoo Young-eun [27]

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations received by Song
Award Year Category Recipient Result Ref.
Blue Dragon Film Awards 2012 Technical Award A MuseNominated [5]
2014 My DictatorNominated [37]
International Makeup Artist Trade Show 2011 Best Makeup Artist Song Jong-heeWon [38]
Woman in Film Korea Festival 2001 Woman Filmmaker of the Year Award I Wish I Had a Wife
One Fine Spring Day
Joint Security Area		Nominated [8]
Technical award Won [39][40]

Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Hankook Ilbo 2024 A veteran's edge Shortlisted [3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "SONG Jong-hee". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  2. ↑ Park, Kkot (June 22, 2026). SPECIAL ② 좀비가 진화하듯 달린다 — 한국영화 특수분장은 지금? [SPECIAL ② It runs as if a zombie is evolving. What is the state of special effects makeup in Korean movies now?]. magazine.kofic.or.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Park, Ji-yeon (August 2, 2024). ‘올드보이’부터 ‘마스크걸’까지… 분장감독 송종희 “내 분장의 끝은 입”-문화ㅣ한국일보 [From 'Oldboy' to 'Mask Girl'... Makeup Director Song Jong-hee: “The pinnacle of my makeup is the mouth” [Veteran’s Detail]]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "KO-Pick: The artistry of Korean makeup and hairdressing". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Ko-pick : The Development of Costume Design and Makeup in Korean Films". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  6. ↑ 양성희 (December 19, 2001). "정재은감독 `올해 여성영화인상`". 문화일보 (in Korean). Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Makeup Director Jong-hee Song on 'Mask Girl'". September 14, 2023. Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  8. 1 2 여성영화인 시상식, 내달 18일 개최. Cine21 (in Korean). November 29, 2001. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  9. ↑ 이, 화정 (March 31, 2015). 한국영화의 미래를 이끌 차세대 스탭들 그들의 솔직한 이야기를 듣다 (5). Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 15, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  10. ↑ 이, 우빈 (July 3, 2026). [기획] 얼굴에 기록한 한국영화 - 전시. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  11. ↑ 이, 우빈 (July 3, 2026). [인터뷰] 감정까지 어루만지는 분장의 일 – 송종희 분장감독. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  12. ↑ "오대수의 갈깃머리, 금자의 붉은 눈은 어떻게 만들어졌을까?". Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 씨네21DB — 송종희. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  14. ↑ Elley, Derek (April 25, 2003). "Film Review: Memories of Murder". Variety. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  15. ↑ Elley, Derek (January 7, 2004). "Old Boy". Variety. Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  16. ↑ Elley, Derek (May 22, 2006). "The Host". Variety. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  17. ↑ 취, 재팀 (April 20, 2007). 분장 아티스트 송종희. Cine21 (in Korean). Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  18. 1 2 Rooney, David (May 23, 2022). "Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave' ('Heojil Kyolshim'): Film Review | Cannes 2022". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  19. ↑ Lee, Maggie (May 15, 2009). "Thirst — Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  20. ↑ Harvey, Dennis (September 23, 2010). "Late Autumn". Variety. Archived from the original on January 6, 2026. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  21. ↑ 구, 혜미 (July 13, 2026). 영화 분장 30년의 기록, 송종희 분장감독 인터뷰. Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  22. ↑ 이, 혜미 (October 14, 2014). ‘설경구 맞아?’ 5시간 특수분장 끝 ‘김일성’ 변신 모습이…. Herald Corp (in Korean). Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 송, 경원 (September 8, 2023). [기획] “배우와 호흡 맞춰 새로운 캐릭터를 창조한다”, ‘콘크리트 유토피아’, ‘마스크걸’ 송종희 분장감독. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 21, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  24. ↑ Kim, Hye-ri (May 12, 2015). 열망과 두려움 사이에서, 여전히 [Between aspiration and fear, still]. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Award-winning art director discusses craft". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. June 13, 2016. Archived from the original on January 6, 2026. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  26. ↑ 영화 [기억의 밤] 상세정보. Cine21. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  27. 1 2 3 4 이, 우빈 (July 3, 2026). [기획] 배우의 피부 위에 세워진 세계 - 전시 스케치. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  28. ↑ Kiang, Jessica (August 30, 2025). "'No Other Choice' Review: Park Chan-wook's Dazzling Murder Comedy Is a Masterclass in Controlled Chaos". Variety. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  29. ↑ Park, Jun-hee (April 8, 2026). "'King's Warden' makeup director on crafting faces that carry history". The Korea Herald. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  30. ↑ "If You Were Me". IndieStory. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  31. ↑ Elley, Derek (November 26, 2003). "If You Were Me". Variety. Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  32. ↑ Lee, Claire (December 30, 2012). "Park brothers reunite for another short". The Korea Herald. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  33. ↑ Ji, Yong-jin (January 4, 2013). "DAY TRIP Directors PARK Chan-wook, PARK Chan-kyong and Actor SONG Kang-ho". Korean Film Council. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Watch Park Chan-wook's New iPhone-Shot Film Project, 'Life is but a Dream'". February 20, 2022. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  35. ↑ 청소년미디어의 중심-서울시청소년미디어센터. m.ssro.net. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  36. ↑ ‘올드보이’부터 ‘마스크걸’까지… 분장감독 송종희 “내 분장의 끝은 입” [베테랑의 한끗] (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 22, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026 – via Naver News.
  37. ↑ Son, Jung-bin (December 17, 2014). "'변호인', 청룡영화상 최우수작품상 등 4관왕". Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2020 – via Naver.
  38. ↑ 김, 성훈 (May 10, 2011). [Cine talk] 자연스러운 노인분장 기대해도 좋아. Cine21 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
  39. ↑ 2회 2001년 올해의 여성영화인상 (여성영화인축제). KMDb.
  40. ↑ 정재은 감독‘올해의 여성영화인상’수상. Khan (in Korean). December 19, 2001. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
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