Jung Kyung-ho

Early career and breakthrough

Jung passed the KBS actors' audition, and was soon signed by leading talent agency SidusHQ.^[5] 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.^[6] A few minor roles on KBS followed.

Jung's first major break came in the 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 who has an unusually close relationship with his mother.^[7][8] The series was a critical and commercial hit. Following the conclusion of this series, Jung was cast in two films in 2005: All for Love,^[9] and When Romance Meets Destiny.^[10]

After playing his first leading film role in Gangster High (2006),^[11] 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.^[12][1][13] His portrayal of a policeman who unknowingly becomes interested in an autistic young woman (Kang Hye-jung) in the film Herb netted him a Best New Actor award at the Chunsa Film Art Awards.^[14] Jung then played a 1980s-era college student tutoring a high school girl (Cha Soo-yeon) in surreal romance For Eternal Hearts, which was the opening film for the 2007 Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival.^[15]

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.^[16] The year after, he played a fugitive who faces off against a small town detective (Kim Yoon-seok) in Running Turtle (2009).^[17]

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.^[18] Although Ja Myung Go received lackluster ratings, Jung bounced back with a leading role in the popular family drama Smile, You, starring alongside Lee Min-jung. 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."^[19][20]

Later in 2010, Jung appeared in a one-act Drama Special episode, The Great Gye Choon-bin, playing an art therapist who overcomes his fear of the dark through his relationship with a kindergarten teacher.^[1][21][22]

2013–2016: Post-military enlistment

Following his two-year mandatory enlistment in the Korean military, Heartless City (2013) became Jung's first acting project post-army, a noir crime drama, playing a conflicted antihero to critical acclaim.^{[23][24][25][26]}

He next starred as an arrogant Hallyu star 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.^[27][28]

In 2014, he appeared in the 1970s-set period drama Endless Love,^[29] followed by the role of a psychopathic serial killer in Manhole.^[30] He also starred in Beating Again, a romantic drama about cellular memory after a heart transplant.^[31]

In 2016, he appeared in the romantic comedy series One More Happy Ending.^[32] Jung played a single father who worked as reporter-photographer of gossip magazine "Masspunch", Song Soo-hyuk, love interest of main lead Han Mi-mo, acted by Jang Na-ra.

2017–2020: Rising popularity and breakthrough

In 2017, Jung starred in disaster drama Missing Nine,^[33] followed by the critically acclaimed Shin Won-ho's black comedy series Prison Playbook.^[34][35] Jung acted as Lee Joon-ho, an elite prison guard. The series was a commercial hit and became one of the highest rated Korean series on cable television history.^[36]

In 2018, Jung was cast as the lead role in Korean remake of British crime drama Life on Mars.^[37][38] Directed by Lee Jung-hyo, the series received acclaim from viewers, and Jung was praised for his convincing portrayal of a dazed detective.^[39]

In 2019, Jung starred in the occult melodrama When the Devil Calls Your Name.^[40] Jung acted as Ha Rip (Seo Dong-cheon), a star composer who has sold his soul to a titular devil.^[41] In December, Jung made a special appearance in the popular drama Crash Landing on You as the ex-boyfriend of Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), which was facilitated by his connection with the production director, Lee Jung-hyo.

In 2020, Jung reunited with director Shin Won-ho in the critically acclaimed medical drama Hospital Playlist as Kim Jun-wan, an associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery.^[42] He reprised his role in season 2 in 2021.^[43]

On August 24, 2021, it was announced that Jung, Jo Jung-suk, Jeon Mi-do, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Kim Dae-myung were attached to start filming Na Yeong-seok's new variety show in Gangwon Province on September 6.^[44]

2021–present: Leading roles and theater debut

In 2021, Jung was cast in his first theater production as Prior Walter in the Korean premiere of Tony Kushner's award-winning play, Angels in America. The National Theater Company of Korea's premiere of Angels in America - Part One: The Millennium Approaches was held from November 26 to December 26 at the Myeongdong Arts Theater.^[45] He reprised his role as Prior Walter in The National Theater Company of Korea's premiere of Angels in America - Part Two: Perestroika.^[46] His performance gained critical recognition and earned him a nomination for Best Actor in Theater in 2022 Baeksang Arts Award.^[47][48]

In 2022, Jung returned to the big screen with The Great Dancer^[49] and Men of Plastic.^[50][51]

He then starred alongside Jeon Do-yeon in Yoo Je-won's romantic-comedy drama Crash Course in Romance which premiered on tvN in January 2023.^[52] According to Good Data Corporation, Crash Course in Romance ranked first with a topical share of 23.8% in Top 10 of TV Topicality Ranking in the drama category in four weeks in a row. Jung Kyung-ho ranked first in the performer category for five consecutive weeks.^[53]

Relationship

Jung was in a relationship with singer and actress Choi Soo-young of Girls' Generation from 2012 to 2026.^[54]

Business

In April 2008, he and actor Yoo Ha-jun became business partners and launched the internet shopping mall Double Bill,^[55] which sold vintage and trendy clothes for men.

Military service

Jung enlisted on November 30, 2010, to serve his mandatory military service in the Korean military as an active-duty soldier with the 306th draft.^[56] 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.^[57][58][59]

Film

Television series

Variety shows

Music video appearances

Awards and nominations

Listicles