[Sportschosun Lee Ji-hyun] Actor Myeong Gye-nam, 74, who also uses the stage name Dong Bang-woo, has drawn attention after disclosing his assets as the vice-minister-level Governor of Hwanghae Province.
According to the asset registration status of senior public officials released in the Government Gazette on the 26th by the Public Service Ethics Committee in the Government, Myeong declared total assets of 29.295 million won.
The largest asset listed was a 2018 sedan valued at 14.55 million won. He also reported 9.98 million won in deposits under his own name and 4.76 million won in cash and stocks under the name of his eldest son. The disclosure has attracted attention because the assets of a vice-minister-level official came to less than 30 million won.
Myeong was appointed Governor of Hwanghae Province under the Committee for the Five Northern Provinces, which falls under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, in March this year. The Governor of Hwanghae Province is a vice-minister-level post appointed by the president on the recommendation of the minister of the interior and safety, and serves without a fixed term. The Governor of the Five Northern Provinces is responsible for honorary administration of North Korean regions, including Hwanghae Province and South and North Pyongan and South and North Hamgyong provinces.
At the time, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety explained the appointment by saying, "Governors of the Five Northern Provinces are usually prominent figures among displaced persons from the North or North Korean defectors," and "Myeong was selected after considering, among other things, that his father was a displaced person from Kaesong."
Myeong Gye-nam began his career on the theater stage in the 1970s and went on to build a distinctive acting career across film and television. He also worked as a producer and led the film production company East Film. He left a mark on Korean cinema by producing Lee Chang-dong's signature works, including "Green Fish," "Peppermint Candy," and "Oasis."
As an actor, he appeared in a wide range of films, including "Green Fish," "Peppermint Candy," "Silmido," and "Public Enemy." Since 2019, he has been active under the stage name Dong Bang-woo. He previously said he wanted to try working under a new name after spending many years performing as Myeong Gye-nam.
More recently, he drew attention again by appearing in the film "Shinmyeong," which was inspired by First Lady Kim Keon-hee. He played Kim Choong-seok, a character who devises schemes behind the scenes, and left a strong impression.
olzllovely@sportschosun.com
