Jinyoung (entertainer, born 1994)
South Korean singer and actor (born 1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Park Jin-young (Korean: 박진영; born September 22, 1994), known mononymously as Jinyoung,[2] and formerly as Jr.[3] and Junior,[3][4] is a South Korean singer, actor, and songwriter.[3][5] He is a member of the South Korean boy band Got7 and boy band duo JJ Project.[4] As an actor, he has appeared in the films Christmas Carol (2022), and Hi-Five (2025), as well as the television series The Devil Judge (2021), Yumi's Cells (2021–2022), The Witch (2025), and Our Unwritten Seoul (2025).
September 22, 1994
- Junior
- Jr.
- Singer
- actor
- songwriter
Jinyoung | |
|---|---|
Jinyoung in October 2025 | |
| Born | Park Jin-young September 22, 1994 Changwon, South Korea |
| Other names |
|
| Education | Howon University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Agents | |
| Works | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Label | JYP |
| Member of | |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 박진영 |
| Hanja | 朴珍榮 |
| RR | Bak Jinyeong |
| MR | Pak Chinyŏng |
| Website | bhent.co.kr |
| Signature | |
 | |
Early life and education
Jinyoung is a native of Udo Island in Jinhae District, Changwon,[6][7][8] where his grandparents reside, but grew up in Yongwon-dong, Jinhae District.[9]
He had childhood ambitions to be an entertainer and appear on TV since his fifth year of primary school.[10][11] His mother was against it and, when Jinyoung was attending his sixth year,[12] she sent him to an audition for SM Entertainment, agreeing that, if he failed, he would give up;[11] however, he made it to the third and final preliminary round and won the popularity award.[11] As the family's opposition diminished,[11] he started taking dance classes at Busan Dance School in Seomyeon and Haeundae starting from the winter vacation of his first year of middle school,[9][13][unreliable source?][14] although he didn't take it seriously for the first three months until his father reproached him.[10]
After three months of intense practice, he was able to dance,[10] and in 2009 he successfully auditioned for JYP Entertainment, winning first place at the open audition with Jay B over 10,000 applicants;[11][15] he subsequently moved to Seoul alone.[16] At that time he only liked dancing, but, thinking seriously about his future, he realized that he loved music as a whole.[10][17] He attended Gyeonggi High School and Howon University.[18][19]
Career
2011–2014: Dream High 2, JJ Project and debut with Got7
In 2011, after six months of acting classes,[14] Jinyoung was cast in the role of Jung Ui-bong in the television drama Dream High 2.[20] The drama began airing on January 30, 2012, on KBS.[21] On February 29, he released the song "We Are The B" for the drama's soundtrack, along with Jinwoon, Kang So-ra and Kim Ji-soo.[22]
In May 2012, Jinyoung and fellow trainee Jay B debuted as the duo JJ Project with the single album Bounce.[23] On March 11, 2013, it was announced that he would be appearing as Ddol-yi on MBC's new drama When a Man Falls in Love,[24] which aired for twenty episodes beginning April 3. On January 16, 2014, Jinyoung debuted as a vocalist in JYP Entertainment's new boy group Got7.[25] Their first EP was released soon after on January 20 and Jinyoung made the choreography for one of the songs, "Follow Me".[26]
2015–2017: Hosting and acting roles
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In 2015, Jinyoung was cast in a supporting role in the drama This is My Love, which aired on JTBC from May 29 to July 18.[27][28] His portrayal of the male lead's younger counterpart caught attention and he received favorable reviews for his natural acting of a teenage boy.[29] His stable performance showcasing the typical bluntness, rough rebellion, and subtle excitement of a teen's first love was deemed unbecoming of a rookie and was noted to be completely different from Got7's soft boyfriend image.[30][31] Although the previous roles hadn't sparked his interest in acting, while filming This is My Love Jinyoung realized that it was actually fun, and the memories of that time prompted him to continue working as an actor.[9] The same year in March he was hired as official host for M Countdown alongside Shinee's Key, group member BamBam and CNBLUE's Jung-shin.[32] Jinyoung left his position as MC in March 2016 to focus on activities with Got7, including the group's first worldwide concert tour.[33]
In 2016, Jinyoung was cast as the male lead in the independent film A Stray Goat, directed by Cho Jae-min: in the film, he played a high school student who moves to the town of Goseong where he meets a girl, who is an outcast because of rumors and suspicions about her father.[34][35] The movie was theatrically released on March 1, 2017, and premiered at the 17th Jeonju International Film Festival.[36][37][34] In September 2016, he was cast for a supporting role in the drama The Legend of the Blue Sea, where he portrayed the teenage version of Lee Min-ho's character, the male lead of the series.[38][39] In February 2017, SBS announced Jinyoung, NCT's Doyoung, and Blackpink's Jisoo as the new fixed MCs of Inkigayo.[40][41]
2018–2020: Transition to leading roles
In December 2018, Jinyoung landed his first lead role in the fantasy rom-com drama He Is Psychometric alongside Kim Kwon, Kim Da-som and Shin Ye-eun,[42] receiving favorable reviews from viewers for his rough action scenes and heartbreaking tearful acting.[43] Producer Kim Byung-soo stated that he had struggled five years to find the right guy in his early twenties to play Lee Ahn, and that Jinyoung caught his eye through This is My Love while he was looking for new faces.[44] In 2020, Jinyoung starred in the television series When My Love Blooms alongside Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Bo-young and Jeon So-nee,[45] and was cast in the movie Yaksha: Ruthless Operations as the youngest member of a team of spies in foreign countries dedicated to overseas missions.[46][47]
In August, he was confirmed as the main lead in the tvN legal drama The Devil Judge alongside Ji Sung as associate judge Kim Ga-on.[48][49][50] Jinyoung auditioned for the role due to a fascination for Kim Ga-on's gradual change over the course of the series.[51] Writer Moon Yoo-seok later shared that he had cast him for his defiant gaze and that, upon learning of Park's commitment to studying the role, he thought that he had found the perfect Ga-on, "sincere, competent and eager, but with an indistinct sense of resignation and anger."[52] The drama premiered in July 2021,[53] and Bryan Tan of Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore praised Jinyoung by writing, "[he] has been spectacularly pleasurable to watch. The young actor is extremely authentic in his portrayal of the tortured and righteous associate judge Kim Ga-on, and his ambiguous romantic feelings towards his friend Yoon Soo-hyun adds flavour to the side plot, and his presence adds a lighter and youthful dimension in contrast to Kang Yo-han's direct and merciless methods."[54] Throughout 2020, he collaborated with Tom Ford Beauty to promote Rose Prick Eau de Parfum,[55] make-up line Shade and Illuminate,[56] and the unisex perfume collection Private Blend.[57] Rose Prick Eau de Parfum was sold out in a day.[58]
2021–2024: Departure from JYPE and solo activities
In January 2021, Jinyoung, along with the other six members of Got7, chose not to renew his contract with JYP Entertainment.[59] On January 28 it was announced that he signed an exclusive contract with BH Entertainment.[60] On July 22, 2021, he was confirmed to appear in the tvN drama Yumi's Cells as Yoo Ba-bi alongside Kim Go-eun. The series, based on the webtoon of the same title, premiered the following September.[61] On July 29, 2021, Jinyoung released the self-written, self-composed digital single "Dive" as a gift for fans, along with a special performance clip published on 1theK Originals official YouTube channel.[62] The song, based on the sound of the bands,[62] debuted on Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart at number 12.[63] In September, he starred in New York Fashion Week's digital fashion short film, Concept Korea New York S/S 2022, for Nohant, a unisex casual brand based in Seoul. The film was released through the New York Fashion Week official website and Korea Creative Content Agency official YouTube channel.[64][65]
On September 29, 2021, he released "Dive (Japanese ver.)".[66] The following month, Jinyoung was confirmed to star as the lead in the crime thriller film Christmas Carol, based on the novel of the same name, about a guy who goes to a juvenile detention center to avenge his twin brother's death.[67] The film, which was selected by the Busan Asian Project Market (APM), began filming in February 2022.[67][68] Released on December 7, 2022,[69] the movie earned Jinyoung the Best New Actor – Film Award and the Most Popular Actor Award at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards.[70][71] Jinyoung received praises for the bold change of image and his performance in the movie,[72][73][74][75][76] which was defined as "unparalleled" by Jo Jae-yong of Single List.[77] Other journalists and critics noted how he was able to express numerous different emotions with a single glance.[78][79]
In the summer of 2022, Jinyoung reprised his role in the second season of Yumi's Cells,[80] for which he released the OST "Shining on Your Night".[81] In December, he featured in a 100-page special edition of TMRW magazine.[82] In March 2022, he starred in a three-part cinematic advertisement for the virtual game KlayCity.[83] In November 2022, BH Entertainment announced that Jinyoung would be releasing a solo album in January 2023 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his debut.[84] The extended play, titled Chapter 0: With, was released on January 18, 2023.[85] On May 8, 2023 he enlisted as an active duty soldier.[86] He served in the 11th Maneuver Division and was discharged on November 7, 2024.[87]
2025–present: The Witch, Our Unwritten Seoul and Hi-Five
After completing his military service, at the beginning of 2025 Jinyoung joined Got7 to commemorate their eleventh anniversary with the release of the extended play Winter Heptagon, for which he co-wrote the song "Her".[88][89] Between February and March 2025, he starred in Channel A's mystery romance The Witch,[90] which was filmed before his enlistment.[91] His portrayal of data miner Lee Dong-jin earned him praises both from viewers and critics,[92][93] who highlighted his portrayal of the character's emotions and captured his earnest desire to save a person.[92] Kim Seo-hyun of 100 News wrote: "Park Jin-young worked his magic to make even Dong-jin's clumsy and immature appearance into a character that we can empathize with."[94] In the same year, Jinyoung appeared in the tvN television series Our Unwritten Seoul opposite Park Bo-young[95] and in the feature film Hi-Five.[96] To play the role of a cult leader in the latter, he referred to Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, rewatching the movie several times.[97] He was praised for his stable acting and his command of the screen, with media defining his performance "incredibly compelling".[98]
In 2026, he starred in JTBC's coming-of-age melodrama series Still Shining opposite Kim Min-ju.[99]
Other activities
Endorsements
On October 10, 2025, DENTISTE, an oral care brand, announced that it had selected actor Park Jin-young as its newest model. The company explained that it chose him for his bright and refreshing charm and healthy, sophisticated image, which fit the brand, as the model for its first campaign advertisement carrying the message 'Happy New Breath'.[100]
Philanthropy
In February 2020, it was reported that Jinyoung had donated an undisclosed amount of money to wild animals affected by fires in Australia.[101] In August 2020, he donated ₩20 million to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help flood victims in South Korea.[102] On August 10, 2022, Jinyoung donated ₩30 million to help those affected by the 2022 South Korean floods through the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.[103] In December, he donated ₩50 million to One Love Village, a facility for children with severe disabilities.[104] On February 9, 2023, Jinyoung donated ₩30 million through Save the Children for the victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, especially children,[105] becoming a member of the Honors Club of the organization.[106]
On March 26, 2025, the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association announced that he had donated ₩50 million for wildfire relief and firefighter support, thus joining its Honors Club for achieving a cumulative donation of ₩100 million won.[107] On April 2, he donated ₩30 million won to Save the Children to help children and families affected by the 2025 Myanmar earthquake.[108] On September 22, Park made a second donation to the NGO on September 22 for his birthday, donating ₩100 million (US$85,810.58) to provide meals and kitchen facilities to children from low-income families.[109]
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [110] | |||
| Chapter 0: With |
|
9 |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Sales (DL) |
Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [112] |
US World [113] | |||||
| As lead artist | ||||||
| "Dive" | 2021 | —[a] | 12 | N/a | Non-album singles | |
| "Dive (Japanese ver.)" | — | — | ||||
| "Cotton Candy" | 2023 | — | — | Chapter 0: With | ||
| "Christmas Fever" | 2025 | TBA | Non-album single | |||
| Soundtrack appearances | ||||||
| "We Are the B" (B급 인생) (with Kang So-ra, 2AM's Jeong Jinwoon and Kim Ji-soo) |
2012 | 13 |
— |
|
Dream High 2 OST | |
| "Hold Me" (이렇게)[116] | 2018 | — | — | N/a | Top Management OST | |
| "Shining on Your Night" (달이 될게)[81] | 2022 | —[b] | — | Yumi's Cells 2 OST | ||
| "You Can Be Loved" (with Baek A-yeon)[118][c] |
— | — | Princess Aya OST | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||||
Songwriting credits
All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database, unless otherwise noted.[119]
| Year | Artist | Title | Album | Lyrics | Music | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credited | With | Credited | With | ||||
| 2012 | JJ Project | "Na Na Na" (Ver. MM Choice) (나나나) (with Kim Se-hwang, Robin, DJ Lip2Shot) | MM Choice Part. 2 | Yes | JB, San E | No | N/a |
| 2015 | Got7 | "To Star" (이.별) | Mad: Winter Edition | Yes | N/a | No | N/a |
| 2016 | "Can't" (못하겠어) | Flight Log: Departure | Yes | Mark | Yes | Distract, Secret Weapon | |
| "Mayday" | Flight Log: Turbulence | Yes | N/a | Yes | Distract | ||
| 2017 | "Paradise" | Flight Log: Arrival | Yes | BamBam, Distract | Yes | Distract, Secret Weapon | |
| "Firework" | 7 for 7 | Yes | Distract | Yes | |||
| JJ Project | "Coming Home" | Verse 2 | Yes | Distract | Yes | ||
| "Tomorrow, Today" (내일, 오늘) | Yes | Defsoul, J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul" | No | N/a | |||
| "On & On" | Yes | Mr. Cho, Defsoul | Yes | Mr. Cho, Defsoul, Cheongdam-dong Gun-woo | |||
| "Don't Wanna Know" | Yes | JB | No | N/a | |||
| "The Day" (그날) | Yes | Jukjae, Ju Daekwan (MonoTree) | No | N/a | |||
| 2018 | Got7 | "Thank You" | Eyes On You | Yes | N/a | Yes | Stephen Langstaff, Charlie Tenku, Matthew Weedon, Distract |
| "2 (Two)" | The New Era | Yes | Mark, Yugyeom, Distract, Secret Weapon, Samuelle Soung | Yes | Mark, Yugyeom, Distract, Secret Weapon | ||
| "I Am Me" | Present: You | Yes | Distract | Yes | Distract, Ludwig Lindell | ||
| "My Youth" | Yes | Distract | Yes | Distract, Tobias Karlsson, Sangmi Kim | |||
| "Higher" | Present: You & Me | Yes | Mark | Yes | Distract, Secret Weapon | ||
| "King" | Yes | BamBam | Yes | BamBam. Frants | |||
| 2019 | "25" | I Won't Let You Go | Yes | Yugyeom, Distract, Cosho | Yes | Yugyeom, Distract, Secret Weapon | |
| "Zero" | Yes | Cosho | Yes | Distract, Secret Weapon | |||
| "The End" (끝) | Spinning Top: Between Security & Insecurity | Yes | N/a | Yes | Distract, Secret Weapon | ||
| "Run Away" | Call My Name | Yes | Vendors, Ruy Da-som | No | N/a | ||
| 2020 | "Love You Better" | Dye | Yes | Jo Mi-yang, room102 | No | N/a | |
| "Wave" | Breath of Love: Last Piece | Yes | Distract | Yes | Distract, Ludwig Lindell | ||
| 2021 | "Encore" | Non-album singles | Yes | N/a | Yes | Trippy | |
| Jinyoung | "Dive" | Yes | N/a | Yes | Choi Joon, Ludwig Lindell | ||
| 2022 | Got7 | "Don't Care About Me" | Got7 | Yes | Yugyeom | Yes | Yugyeom, Distract, Ludwig Lindell |
| 2023 | Jinyoung | "Animal" | Chapter 0: With | Yes | N/a | Yes | Distract, Brian Cho |
| "Cotton Candy" | Yes | Distract, Ludwig Lindell | Yes | Distract, Ludwig Lindell | |||
| "Our Miracle" (너를만남이란기적) | Yes | N/a | Yes | Distract, Secret Weapon | |||
| "Sleep Well" (잘자) | Yes | Distract, Ludwig Lindell | Yes | Distract, Ludwig Lindell | |||
| "Letter" (편지) | Yes | N/a | No | N/a | |||
| 2025 | Got7 | "Her" | Winter Heptagon | Yes | N/a | Yes | Distract, 82oom (Papermaker), Noah (Papermaker) |
| "Yours Truly," (우리가할수있는말은.) | Yes | Got7 | No | N/a | |||
| Jinyoung | "Christmas Fever" | Non-album single | Yes | Lee Hyung-seok (PNP), Chaz Jackson, Infinity | No | N/a | |
Filmography
_at_"He_Is_Psychometric"_press_conference,_5_March_2019_04.jpg)
Selected filmography
- He Is Psychometric (2019)
- The Devil Judge (2021)
- Yumi's Cells (2021–2022)
- Christmas Carol (2022)
- Hi-Five (2025)
- Our Unwritten Seoul (2025)
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APAN Music Awards | 2020 | Male Entertainer Award | Park Jin-young | Nominated | |
| APAN Star Awards | 2022 | Best Couple | Park Jin-young with Kim Go-eun Yumi's Cells |
Nominated | [120] |
| 2023 | Popularity Star Award, Actor | Park Jin-young | Nominated | [121] | |
| Global Star Award | Nominated | [122] | |||
| Asia Artist Awards | 2020 | Potential Award (Actor) | Won | [123] | |
| Popularity Award (Actor) | Won | [124] | |||
| 2021 | Nominated | [125] | |||
| U+Idol Live Popularity Award (Actor) | Nominated | [126] | |||
| 2022 | Idolplus Popularity Award (Actor) | Nominated | [127] | ||
| 2023 | Popularity Award (Actor) | Nominated | [128] | ||
| 2024 | Nominated | [129] | |||
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2017 | Most Popular – Actor (Film) | A Stray Goat | Nominated | [130] |
| 2023 | Best New Actor – Film | Christmas Carol | Won | [70] | |
| Most Popular Actor | Park Jin-young | Won | [71] | ||
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2025 | Best New Actor | Hi-Five | Nominated | [131] |
| Popular Star Award | Park Jin-young | Won | |||
| Brand of the Year Awards | 2025 | Male Idol Actor of the Year | Won | [132] | |
| Buil Film Awards | 2025 | Star of the Year | Nominated | [133] | |
| Fundex Awards | 2025 | Popular Star Prize (Male) | Nominated | [134] | |
| iMBC Awards | 2025 | Best Male Actor | Nominated | [135] | |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2025 | Popular Couple Award | Park Jin-young with Park Bo-young Our Unwritten Seoul |
Nominated | [136][137] |
| Park Jin-young with Roh Jeong-eui The Witch |
Nominated | ||||
| Multitainer Award | Park Jin-young | Nominated | |||
| Hot Star Award | Nominated | ||||
| Excellence Award, Actor | The Witch / Our Unwritten Seoul | Nominated | [138] | ||
| Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | 2023 | Best New Actor | Christmas Carol | Won | [139] |
| Max Movie Awards | 2017 | Rising Star Award | A Stray Goat | Nominated | [140] |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2023 | Idolchamp Artist Award | Park Jin-young | Nominated | [141] |
| StarHub Night of Stars | 2019 | Favourite Korean Drama Male Character | He Is Psychometric | Won | [142] |
| Wildflower Film Awards | 2023 | Best New Actor Award | Christmas Carol | Nominated | [143][144] |
Listicles
Bibliography
Photobooks
- Hey Guys, JYP Entertainment and Copan Global (2019), UPC 8809686161287
- Hear, Here, JYP Entertainment and Copan Global (2020), UPC 8809686168118
Notes
- "You Can Be Loved" wasn't released commercially; it got an official music video and was only featured in the movie.
