5. Kang In-goo from The Show Must Go On
In-goo is a gangster, but not a very rich one. His wife is unhappy with him earning money this way, his daughter hates him and he's constantly tired. He doesn't have much of an opinion about his job, but he cares a lot about doing it. He wants a better life for his wife and daughter, even if he has to lie and cheat his way into getting it for them. In the end he does, but he's not in it, and he's alone and miserable. And diabetic.
Song plays In-goo like a working stiff who just happens to be a mercenary. He's not a good person but he's still just an ordinary guy trying to get by.
4. King Yeong-jo from The Throne
The Throne is an intimate portrait of the crown prince Sa-do and his abusive father who locked him in a rice chest for eight days. Although Yeong-jo was a despot who is implied to have committed regicide to become king, even though he said he didn't want to become king, he was also eccentric and superstitious. His relationship with his son is ambiguous. Was he concerned about him, or only loved what he could become? In any case, he was devastated about Sa-do's death, although he didn't put any blame on himself for giving the crown prince mental health problems.
Song has a powerful screen presence, which is used to great effect. Some humour is conveyed, but only in his superstitious side. Still, a Song Kang-ho performance is still not one to miss.
3. Alex from Madagascar
Song voices Alex in the Korean dub of Madagascar. Voice acting is something Song doesn't normally do but has a great voice range and an incredible amount of charm. Although he's a celebrity, he's not an international one like Ben Stiller is so it's easier to ignore. Song brings his own brand of energy to Alex and absolutely nails the character's more emotionally damaged moments. Pitch perfect.
2. Yoon Tae-goo from The Good, the Bad, the Weird
Tae-goo acts like a goofball, but he's dangerous. It seems simple, but Song makes the role compelling. It helps that Tae-goo has an even uglier past than that of his counterpart Tuco Ramirez. Song is a ton of fun. As always, he throws himself into the role and plays this character who is a complete mystery but so enjoyable to watch. He gives Tae-goo a lot of weight and has great comic timing. Eli Wallach would have been proud.
1. Park Gang-du from The Host
It's only brushed on, but Gang-du has a neurological disability. It only needs to be brushed on, because there's more to Gang-du than that. He's an inept dad, but he loves his daughter. The very reason he lost her was because he panicked in trying to protect her. He doesn't seem bright, but he's surprisingly resourceful, and is incredibly determined, never giving up in trying to save Hyun-seo. He's not particularly ambitious, he just wants to get back to his old boring life, and performs heroic feats in doing so. The result costs poor Gang-du dearly.
He seems to be lazy, but he's either narcoleptic, or has strong emotional burnouts. He has had them since he was little, in any case. He seems to be an idiot but a deleted scene reveals that he was a very early reader, teaching himself the Korean alphabet without his father's assistance.
Usually I have reservations about non-disabled people playing disabled people but Song gives a wonderfully layered performance. Kind of like Park Dong-jin from Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, but more innocent, more childlike and more open.
The best thing about Gang-du is that he stands up for himself constantly. When a translator interrupts him, he sobs, "Please don't cut me off! My words are words, too! Why don't you listen to my words?" Physically and mentally, he's the strongest of Song's roles.
