Jung Kyung-ho (actor, born 1983)

Jung Kyung-ho is the son of Jung Eu-young, veteran TV director and frequent collaborator of writer Kim Soo-hyun of hit television dramas such as Mom's Dead Upset, My Husband's Woman, Life Is Beautiful and Childless Comfort. Jung Eul-young was initially against his son pursuing acting, but Jung defied his father's wishes and moved out of the family home. Father and son did not speak for three years (they have since reconciled).[1]

Jung applied for and got accepted in the theater department of Chung-Ang University, regarded as one of the best in Korea, making it the dream college for aspiring actors. During his freshman year, he became roommates with an older theater major named Ha Jung-woo. Ha became a huge influence in Jung's life, and Jung later said he decided to become an actor after seeing Ha perform onstage. It was Ha who persuaded Jung to try out for the KBS actors' audition in 2003.

Jung passed the KBS audition, and was soon signed by leading talent agency SidusHQ.[2] Along with four other newcomers from the agency, he made his acting debut in 5 Stars, a mobile drama produced by SidusHQ and broadcast over SK Telecom.[3] A few minor roles on KBS followed.

Jung's first major break came in 2004 melodrama series I'm Sorry, I Love You, playing the supporting role of an actor who belatedly falls for his childhood friend (Im Soo-jung) and has an unusually close relationship with his mother.[4][5] It was a critical and commercial hit, which led to his being cast in two films in 2005: he played the pop singer crush of a novice nun (Yoon Jin-seo) in the ensemble romantic comedy All for Love,[6] and the more proactive assistant of a shy photographer (Kim Joo-hyuk) in When Romance Meets Destiny.[7]

After playing his first leading role in the little-seen Gangster High (2006),[8] Jung returned to television in the well-received action drama Time Between Dog and Wolf (2007), in which he and Lee Joon-gi played NIS agents.[9][1][10] Back on the big screen, his turn as a policeman who unknowingly becomes interested in an autistic young woman (Kang Hye-jung) in Herb netted him a Best New Actor award at the Chunsa Film Art Awards.[11] Jung then played a 1980s-era college student tutoring a high school girl (Cha Soo-yeon) in surreal romance For Eternal Hearts, the opening film of the 2007 Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival.[12]

Director Lee Joon-ik then cast Jung in Sunny (2008) as a double bassist in a "consolatory band" who helps the heroine (Soo Ae) find her husband during the Vietnam War.[13] The year after, he played a fugitive who faces off against a small town detective (Kim Yoon-seok) in Running Turtle (2009).[14]

For his first role in a historical drama, Jung played a Goguryeo prince torn between love and duty in Ja Myung Go (2009), based on the folktale Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang (Princess Jamyung was played by Jung Ryeo-won).[15] After Ja Myung Go's lackluster ratings, Jung bounced back with popular family drama Smile, You, in which he and Lee Min-jung stars as a couple from different backgrounds. Of playing an endearing "beta male," Jung said, "I am glad to be able to play a fun character and work on a fun script."[16][17]

After that, Jung chose the low-key The Great Gye Choon-bin (2010), a one-act Drama Special episode where he played an art therapist who meets a quirky kindergarten teacher who helps him get over his fear of the dark.[1][18][19]

Cable series Heartless City (2013) was Jung's first acting project post-army, a noir crime drama.[20] He received the best reviews of his career yet for playing the dark, conflicted antihero.[21][22][23]

He next starred as an arrogant Hallyu star on a rough flight from Tokyo to Seoul in the comedy Rollercoaster (released internationally as Fasten Your Seatbelt). It was the directorial debut of actor Ha Jung-woo, Jung's friend and fellow college alumni/agency mate in Fantagio.[24][25]

In 2014, he appeared in the 1970s-set period drama Endless Love,[26] followed by the role of a psychopathic serial killer in Manhole.[27] Jung next starred in Beating Again, a romantic drama about cellular memory after a heart transplant.[28]

In 2016, he starred in the romantic comedy series One More Happy Ending.[29]

In 2017, Jung starred in disaster drama Missing Nine,[30] followed by the critically acclaimed black comedy series Prison Playbook.[31][32]

In 2018, Jung was cast as the lead role in Korean remake of British crime drama Life on Mars.[33][34] The series received acclaim from viewers, and Jung was praised for his convincing portrayal of a dazed detective.[35]

In 2019, Jung starred in the occult melodrama When the Devil Calls Your Name.[36]

In 2020, Jung starred in hit and critically acclaimed medical drama Hospital Playlist.[37]

In April 2008, he and actor Yoo Ha-jun became business partners and launched the internet shopping mall Double Bill,[38] which sold vintage and trendy clothes for men.

Jung enlisted on November 30, 2010, to serve his mandatory military service as an active-duty soldier with the 306th draft.[39] He was later transferred to the military band in Yongin, then discharged on September 4, 2012, with a commendation from the Army Chief of Staff.[40][41][42]

Jung Kyung-ho's agency confirmed in January 2014 that Jung had been dating actress and singer Choi Soo-young of Girls' Generation since early 2013. They became acquainted as they attend the same church and went to the same university.[43]

• Jung Kyung-ho at the Korean Movie Database
• Jung Kyung-ho at IMDb