Jung Il-woo is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the sitcomUnstoppable High Kick, and the television dramasThe Return of Iljimae, 49 Days, Cool Guys, Hot Ramen, Moon Embracing the Sun and Cinderella with Four Knights.
Early life
The son of a former television news anchorman, Jung Il-woo studied Broadcasting at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, then later dropped out and transferred to the Theater and Film department of Hanyang University. In August 2006, Jung sustained injuries in a serious car accident while riding with childhood friend and fellow actor Lee Min-ho, who was badly injured in the accident.
Career
2006–2010: Beginnings and rising popularity
Jung made his acting debut in 2006 with a minor role in the thriller The World of Silence, but he first rose to fame playing a rebellious teen and motorcycle fanatic with a crush on his teacher in daytime family sitcom Unstoppable High Kick. He then joined the ensemble cast of 2007 romantic comedy filmMy Love. In 2009, Jung starred in his first leading role as a young warrior battling injustice in historical dramaThe Return of Iljimae. This was followed by a supporting role in romantic comedyMy Fair Lady, as an idealistic, upper-class lawyer. He further challenged himself when he made his stage debut in 2010 as an HIV-positive gay man in the sold-out play Beautiful Sunday, written by Japanese playwright Mayumi Nakatani.
2011–present: Breakout and overseas popularity
Jung's breakout role was in 2011 tearjerker 49 Days, in which he portrayed the Scheduler, a witty modern-day Grim Reaper. His popularity increased with his leading man turn in 2011 cable romantic comedy Cool Guys, Hot Ramen, in which he played an arrogant, immature yet lovable chaebol heir. A supporting role in hit 2012 historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun followed; Jung played a prince who becomes his half-brother's rival in love and for the throne. Following the success of Cool Guys, Hot Ramen and Moon Embracing the Sun, Jung was launched to stardom as a Hallyu star. He won the Asia Male Actor award at Beijing's Huading Awards, the first non-Chinese entertainer to be nominated at the awards show since it began in 2005. From 2013 to 2014, he played a prosecutor who falls in love with a girl from a family of orphans in Golden Rainbow. This was followed by a leading role as a prince turned ghost-seeing night watchman who patrols the palace after curfew and keeps the king and his citizens safe, in the supernatural period drama Diary of a Night Watchman. In 2015, Jung starred in the Korean-Chinese web drama High-End Crush opposite Jin Se-yeon. In less than a month, the drama series recorded over 200 million views. Jung then starred in the Chinese romantic comedy film Rise of a Tomboy, where he plays the CEO of an IT firm who helps a girl develop a love formula for a mobile app. In January 2016, Jung signed with a new management agency, HB Entertainment. Jung made his return to Korean television in tvN's romantic comedy Cinderella with Four Knights, playing a lonely and wild-child rebel who is not yet used to being a member of a rich family, having lived most of his life as an orphan. In 2017, Jung starred in Gon Rak Game Ma Ya, making him the first Korean actor to land a leading role in a Thailand drama. The drama emerged as a local sensation, and led to a rise of popularity for Jung in the country. In 2019, Jung starred in the historical action drama Haechi. This marks his first project after enlistment.
