Jung Woo
Birth nameKim Jung-guk
Birth dateJanuary 14, 1981 (age 45)
Birth placeBeomil-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea[1]
Alma materKyung Hee University (Master's degree in Cultural Contents Studies)
OccupationActor
Years active2001–present
AgentBH Entertainment[2]
SpouseKim Yoo-mi (m. 2016)
Websitebhent.co.kr
Jung Woo
Headercolortransparent
Hangul%김정국
Hangulstage%정우

Kim Jung-guk (Korean: 김정국; born January 14, 1981), known professionally as Jung Woo (Korean: 정우), is a South Korean actor.[3] He is best known for his roles in the drama Reply 1994 (2013) and You Are the Best! (2013).

Career

Jung Woo made his acting debut in 2006, and began his career appearing in minor roles on film and television. He drew attention in 2008 for his turn as a morally challenged but lovable villain in action film Spare, the directorial debut of Lee Seong-han.[4]

In 2009, Lee directed Jung Woo again, this time in the leading role in Wish, a film which Jung Woo had written himself based on his own experiences as a troubled youth dreaming of becoming the number one fighter at his school. The character uses his real name Kim Jung-guk and nickname Jjianggu, the movie was shot at his childhood home and high school, Busan Commercial High School, and Jung Woo's real-life friends play themselves in the film. Spanning the years from Jjianggu's school life to his father's last days, the film was an official selection at the 2009 Busan International Film Festival.[5] Jung Woo was praised for his performance, and won Best New Actor at the prestigious Grand Bell Awards in 2010.[6]

In 2013, Jung Woo played a supporting role as a baker who falls for a divorced single mother in the family drama You Are the Best!.[7] His mainstream popularity further increased when he was cast as one of the main characters of Reply 1994, a cable drama about a group of young students from different regions in Korea living together in a boarding house while going to college in 1990s Seoul.[8][unreliable source?][9] This was followed by a role in arthouse spy movie Red Family, produced by Kim Ki-duk.

Jung Woo next starred in the 2015 musical biopic C'est Si Bon. Set in the eponymous live music cafe in Mugyo-dong, downtown Seoul, the film depicted the formation of legendary folk music group Twin Folio, which was active from the 1960s to 80s.[10][11][12]

In 2019, Jung was cast in the gangster movie The Boiling Blood.[13][14]

Personal life

Jung Woo married actress Kim Yoo-mi on January 16, 2016.[15][16] They became a couple after starring together in the 2013 film Red Family.[17]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2001Running 7 Dogs
2002Break OutHenchman 7
Conduct ZeroGangster Dan-gun
2003My Tutor FriendThug
A Good Lawyer's WifeNeighborhood bully
Spring BreezeYoung friend 2
2004He Was CoolPpa-Park-yi
Spin KickPark Do-soo
2005The President's Last BangHan Jae-guk
2006Bloody TieDetective Kim
The City of Violenceyoung Wang-jae
How the Lack of Love Affects Two MenIgnorant person
2008FateChoi Jung-hak
SpareGil-do
Dachimawa LeeMP captain
Summer WhispersJung-sik
2009WishJjiangguAlso screenwriter
2012Doomsday BookJoong-dongsegment "A Brave New World"
2013Red FamilyKim Jae-hong
2015C'est Si BonOh Geun-tae
The HimalayasPark Mu-taek
2017New TrialLee Joon-young
2018Heung-boo: The RevolutionistHeung-boo
Fifth ColumnYoon Joong-hyeon
2020Best FriendYoo Dae-kwon
2022Hot BloodedPark Hee-soo[18]
Hot Blood: The OriginalExtended version[19]
2025Audition 109Jjang-gooAlso director, screenwriter, and producer[20]
scope="row"Don't Touch Dirty Hands[21]

Television series

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2005Sad Love StoryLee Min-ho
Princess LuluAssistant manager Lee
2007If In Love...Like Them
Cruel LoveHan Jung-woo
2009Cinderella ManMa Yi-san
Green CoachKang Seok-jong
2010Blossom SistersKim No-shik[22]
2012KBS Drama Special – The Great DipperPark Yong-daeOne-act drama
2013You Are the Best!Seo Jin-wook
Reply 1994Sseureki (nickname)
2015–2016Reply 1988Sseureki (nickname)Cameo
2022Mental Coach JegalJegal Gil[23]
2023Miraculous BrothersYuk Dong-joo[24]

Web series

YearTitleRoleRef.
2021Mad for Each OtherNoh Hwi-Oh
2022A Model FamilyDong-ha[25][26]

Television shows

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2016Youth Over FlowersCast member
2021Warning of the Earth - 100 People's Leading ShowHostDocumentary[27]
2022100 Reading Show - Reading the Earth[28]

Music video appearances

YearSong titleArtistRef.
2004"Incurable Disease"Wheesung
"Fall in Love with Someone"
2006"The Day"JeA and Kim Yeon-ji
2007"New Skin"Monday Kiz
"A Good Man"
"The Man"
"What Can I Do If I Like It"Black Pearl
"Finally It's You"
"White Lie"Lee Seung-gi
"Why Are You Leaving"
2008"That Person"SeeYa
"Without Me"
2009"Jjarajajja"Joo Hyun-mi and Seohyun
"It's Over"Jung Yup

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremonyYearCategoryNominee / WorkResultRef.
APAN Star Awards2014Excellence Award, Actor in a MiniseriesReply 1994
Asia Model Awards2014Popularity AwardJung Woo
Baeksang Arts Awards2014Best New Actor – TelevisionReply 1994[29]
Most Popular Actor (TV)
2017Most Popular Actor (film)New Trial
2022Best Actor – FilmHot Blooded[30]
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival2015Fantasia AwardC'est Si Bon[31]
Grand Bell Awards2010Best New ActorWish
KBS Drama Awards2013Best New ActorYou Are the Best![32]
Seoul International Drama Awards2014People's Choice ActorReply 1994

References

  1. ^ "정우" (in Korean). Cinefox (씨네폭스). Archived December 28, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  2. ^ "정우, 이병헌·한지민과 한솥밥...Bh 전속계약". Archived March 5, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  3. ^ "Jung Woo (정우, Korean actor, original work)". Archived April 20, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  4. ^ Han, Sung-joo (August 19, 2008). "Spare offers plenty more than fist-fights". The Korea Herald via Hancinema. Archived November 21, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  5. ^ "New Films". Korean Film Biz Zone. January 1, 2010. Archived March 31, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  6. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (October 31, 2010). "Poetry sweeps 47th Daejong Film Awards". The Korea Times. Archived July 11, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  7. ^ "Today's Photo: March 5, 2013". The Chosun Ilbo. March 5, 2013. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  8. ^ "Reply 1994's "Trash Oppa" Jung Woo Poses for CeCi and Talks About Co-Stars' Acting". Soompi. November 20, 2013. Archived January 7, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  9. ^ Yun, Chloe (December 20, 2013). "Reply 1994 Jung Woo Reveals Sexy Masculine Pictorial". BNTNews. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Jung Woo to star in new film". The Korea Times. March 10, 2014. Archived March 11, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  11. ^ Lee, Eun-sun (February 6, 2015). "Jung Woo selects another retro role". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived October 26, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  12. ^ "Jung Woo Says He'd Put Love Before Friendship". The Chosun Ilbo. February 28, 2015. Archived October 22, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
  13. ^ Kim Ji-hye (March 21, 2019). "정우, 천명관 감독 데뷔작 '뜨거운 피' 주연 발탁" (in Korean). SBS News. Archived March 5, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  14. ^ "HOT BLOOD with JUNG Woo Cool Downs after 4-Month Shoot". Korean Film Biz Zone. August 13, 2019. Archived April 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  15. ^ Ahn, Woorim (January 13, 2016). "Jung Woo Gets Married with Kim Yumi". BNTNews. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  16. ^ Yoon, Ga-yi (January 17, 2016). "Jung Woo and Kim Yu Mi's Wedding Ceremony Photos Released". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  17. ^ "Actors Jung Woo, Kim Yu-mi to tie the knot". The Korea Times. January 13, 2016. Archived January 27, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  18. ^ Kim Ji-won (February 14, 2022). "[공식] 정우 주연 '뜨거운 피', 3월 23일 개봉 확정" [[Official] 'Hot Blood', starring Jung Woo, confirmed for release on March 23rd] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived April 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 14, 2022. – via Naver
  19. ^ Jo Ji-young (May 16, 2022). "[공식] 정우 주연 '뜨거운피', 미공개 장면 추가된 확장판 26일 개봉 확정" [[Official] 'Hot Blood', starring Jung Woo, confirmed for release on the 26th, an extended version with unreleased scenes] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived April 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 16, 2022. – via Naver
  20. ^ Jang Ye-sol (August 20, 2025). "정우, 감독으로 부국제 뜬다...첫 연출작 '짱구' 최초 공개 [공식]" [Jung Woo to Make a Debut at the Busan International Film Festival as Director... First Directorial Film "Crayon Shin-chan" Revealed [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Naver. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  21. ^ Kim Seon-woo (January 2, 2023). "[씨네+] 긴 기다림의 끝...극장가 접수할 2023년 韓영화 라인업" [[Cine+] End of long wait... 2023 Korean movie lineup to be accepted by theaters] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived January 2, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 2, 2023. – via Naver
  22. ^ Wee, Geun-woo (January 29, 2010). "PREVIEW: MBC weekend drama Dandelion Family". Asiae. Archived March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  23. ^ Shin Min-hee (March 18, 2022). "Lee Yoo-mi gets role in 'Mental Coach' series". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived June 7, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  24. ^ Lee, Seung-gil (November 8, 2022). "이보영·조승우·한지민·이준호·임윤아...JTBC, 초호화 2023년 드라마 라인업 전격공개" [Lee Bo-Young - Cho Seung-Woo - Han Ji-Min - Lee Joon-Ho - Im Yoon-A...JTBC unveils ultra-luxury 2023 drama line-up] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived January 17, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 12, 2023. – via Naver
  25. ^ Lim Ha-eun (August 31, 2021). "정우·박희순·윤진서·박지연, 넷플릭스 '모범가족' 출연 확정" [Jung-woo, Park Hee-soon, Yoon Jin-seo, and Park Ji-yeon confirmed to appear in Netflix's 'Exemplary Family'] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived February 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 31, 2021. – via Naver
  26. ^ Moon Ji-yeon (July 14, 2022). "[공식] 정우·박희순→윤진서·박지연, '모범가족' 8월 12일 공개 확정" [[Official] Jungwoo Park Hee-soon → Yoon Jin-seo and Park Ji-yeon, 'Exemplary Family' confirmed to be released on August 12th] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived July 14, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2022. – via Naver
  27. ^ Kim Min-ri (July 14, 2021). "정우, 데뷔 20년 만에 첫 다큐 도전...'지구의 경고' 프리젠터 활약" [Jungwoo's first documentary challenge after 20 years of debut... Presenter of 'Warning of the Earth'] (in Korean). My Daily. Naver. Archived July 14, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  28. ^ Yeon Hwi-seon (August 16, 2022). "정우, '100인의 리딩쇼' MC 발탁...파일럿 이어 진행 실력 인정 [공식]" [Jungwoo selected as MC for 'Leading Show of 100'...] (in Korean). Osen. Archived August 16, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 16, 2022. – via Naver
  29. ^ "Stars on the red carpet at Baeksang Awards". The Korea Herald. May 28, 2014. Archived March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  30. ^ Ahn Byung-gil (April 11, 2022). "58회 백상예술대상 후보 공개...영광의 주인공은?" [58th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations revealed... Who is the hero of glory?] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived May 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 11, 2022. – via Naver
  31. ^ Conran, Pierce (July 10, 2015). "LEE Min-ho and MOON Chae-won to Receive BiFan Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived July 11, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  32. ^ Lee, Cory (January 2, 2014). "Kim Hye-soo Reclaims Glory, Good Doctor, Secret Love Win Big at the 2013 KBS Drama Awards". TenAsia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.