Jung Kyung-ho

Early life and education

Jung was born in Gwangmyeong, and is the son of Jung Eul-young, a veteran TV director and frequent collaborator of writer Kim Soo-hyun. Jung's father initially opposed his dream of pursuing acting, which led Jung to move out of the family home and not speak to his father for three years before finally reconciling.

Jung was accepted to the theater department of Chung-Ang University. During his freshman year, he became roommates with an older theater major named Ha Jung-woo. Jung has said that his eventual decision to become an actor was influenced by seeing Ha perform onstage. It was Ha who persuaded Jung to try out for the KBS actors' audition in 2003.

Career

Early career and breakthrough

Jung passed the KBS actors' audition, and was soon signed by leading talent agency SidusHQ. 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. 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. 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, and When Romance Meets Destiny.

After playing his first leading film role in Gangster High (2006), 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. 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. 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.

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

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. 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."

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.

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.

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.

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

In 2016, he appeared in the romantic comedy series One More Happy Ending. 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, followed by the critically acclaimed Shin Won-ho's black comedy series Prison Playbook. 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.

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

In 2019, Jung starred in the occult melodrama When the Devil Calls Your Name. Jung acted as Ha Rip (Seo Dong-cheon), a star composer who has sold his soul to a titular devil. 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. He reprised his role in season 2 in 2021.

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.

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. He reprised his role as Prior Walter in The National Theater Company of Korea's premiere of Angels in America - Part Two: Perestroika. His performance gained critical recognition and earned him a nomination for Best Actor in Theater in 2022 Baeksang Arts Award.

In 2022, Jung returned to the big screen with The Great Dancer and Men of Plastic.

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. 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.

Personal life

Relationship

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

Business

In April 2008, he and actor Yoo Ha-jun became business partners and launched the internet shopping mall Double Bill, 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. 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.

Filmography

Accolades