Jung Woo-sung
Encyclopedia
Jung Woo-sung is a South Korea
n actor.
, together with Ko So-young. He and Ko would go on to act in two more films together.
Jung found widespread fame in Kim Sung-soo's 1997 film Beat, in which he played a high school student who becomes caught up in gang life against his will. Since this film, he became known as one of Korea's top commercial stars. In the subsequent years he portrayed a young boxer in City of the Rising Sun, a naval lieutenant in Phantom: The Submarine, and a marathoner in Love.
In 2001, Jung took on one of his most high-profile roles in Kim Sung-soo's epic blockbuster Musa
. Playing a long-haired slave, he acted opposite Chinese superstar Zhang Ziyi
and received wide exposure abroad as well as in Korea. After spending time in 2002 directing a series of music videos and appearing in a large number of commercials, Jung took on the eccentric lead role in Mutt Boy, the fifth film by director Kwak Kyung-taek
(Friend, Champion
).
Jung's next roles would be in highly romantic roles that played off his established screen image. In the box office hit A Moment to Remember
he plays an architect whose wife (played by Son Ye-jin
) is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease
, and in the Netherlands
-set Daisy
, he plays a hired assassin who falls in love with a street artist played by Jeon Ji-hyun. Jung plays a happily married fireman in Sad Movie
, and falls in love with an old friend in A Good Rain Knows
. His big-budget martial arts films The Restless
and Reign of Assassins
would also have romantic elements.
Kim Ji-woon
's "kimchi western" The Good, the Bad, the Weird
would give Jung one of his most iconic roles, using his physicality to great effect as the Clint Eastwood
counterpart in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
. Shortly after he would work again with the director in a short for W Magazine Korea.
Given the hype regarding his return to the small screen after 15 years, Jung's spy genre drama Athena: Goddess of War
(spin-off
to 2009's IRIS
) was a disappointment, failing to duplicate its predecessor's ratings. He made his Japanese drama debut with a guest appearance
in episodes 6 and 7 of Good Life ~Arigatou, Papa. Sayonara~.
Jung next stars in the English-language 3D remake of John Woo
's The Killer. The film will be shot in Los Angeles, and reunites him with A Moment to Remember
director John H. Lee and Reign of Assassins
director John Woo
who will be producing.
He has been cast as the male lead in the upcoming TV series Padam Padam...The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats which will mark the establishment of new broadcasting station jTBC. Written by acclaimed drama writer Noh Hee-kyung, Jung said he "decided on this drama because I was drawn to the way Noh Hee-kyung writes 'family drama.' Whether mother-son or father-son, the love and pain experienced by families is something I’d like to try portraying in a realistic way." He plays a man released from 16 years of imprisonment on false charges of murder.
Jung is best friends with fellow actor Lee Jung-jae
; they are co-owners and co-investors of several businesses.
After they were photographed on a date in Paris, Jung confirmed in March 2011 that he was dating Athena
co-star Lee Ji-ah
. But after Lee's married and divorced past with top Korean rocker Seo Taiji became exposed to the public the following month, the Korean press reported in June that Jung and Lee had broken up.
music videos:
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n actor.
Career
Jung Woo-sung was born in Seoul on March 20(lunar calendar), 1973. After first finding work as a model, he made his film debut in the 1994 movie The Fox with Nine TailsThe Fox with Nine Tails
The Fox with Nine Tails is a 1994 South Korean film, and was the feature debut of director Park Heon-su. It was also the film debut of lead actors Ko So-young and Jung Woo-sung, who would later star together in Beat and Love ....
, together with Ko So-young. He and Ko would go on to act in two more films together.
Jung found widespread fame in Kim Sung-soo's 1997 film Beat, in which he played a high school student who becomes caught up in gang life against his will. Since this film, he became known as one of Korea's top commercial stars. In the subsequent years he portrayed a young boxer in City of the Rising Sun, a naval lieutenant in Phantom: The Submarine, and a marathoner in Love.
In 2001, Jung took on one of his most high-profile roles in Kim Sung-soo's epic blockbuster Musa
Musa (film)
Musa , released as both The Warrior and The Ultimate Warrior in English-speaking countries, is a 2001 South Korean epic film directed by Kim Seong-soo, starring Jung Woo-sung, Ahn Sung-ki, Ju Jin-mo and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi...
. Playing a long-haired slave, he acted opposite Chinese superstar Zhang Ziyi
Zhang Ziyi
Zhang Ziyi is a Chinese film actress. Zhang is coined by the media as one of the Four Young Dan actresses in the Film Industry in China, along with Zhao Wei, Xu Jinglei, and Zhou Xun...
and received wide exposure abroad as well as in Korea. After spending time in 2002 directing a series of music videos and appearing in a large number of commercials, Jung took on the eccentric lead role in Mutt Boy, the fifth film by director Kwak Kyung-taek
Kwak Kyung-taek
Kwak Kyung-taek is a South Korean film director best known for his 2001 record-breaking film Friend.- Career :Friend, a drama where conflicting criminal alliances turn old friends into enemies, set a new Korean box office record with an audience of 8 million, and he received the Holden Award for...
(Friend, Champion
Champion (2002 film)
Champion is a 2002 South Korean film, directed by Kwak Kyung-taek, about South Korean boxer Duk Koo Kim, portrayed by Yu Oh-seong. Kim was Korea's most popular boxer, who in his rise to international fame faced the reigning lightweight champion Ray Mancini in 1982. He lost the match after 14 long...
).
Jung's next roles would be in highly romantic roles that played off his established screen image. In the box office hit A Moment to Remember
A Moment to Remember
A Moment to Remember is a 2004 South Korean film based on a 2001 Japanese television drama Pure Soul broadcast by Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation. It stars Son Ye-jin and Jung Woo-sung. A Moment to Remember follows the theme of discovery in a relationship and the burdens of loss caused by...
he plays an architect whose wife (played by Son Ye-jin
Son Ye-jin
Son Ye-jin is a South Korean actress.-Career:Son Ye-jin has taken on a variety of roles in her career to date, propelling her to fame both in Korea and in other Asian countries...
) is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, and in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
-set Daisy
Daisy (film)
Daisy is a 2006 South Korean-Hong Kong co-production film directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, and starring Jun Ji-hyun, Jung Woo-sung, David Chiang, Lee Sung-jae and Cheon Ho-jin....
, he plays a hired assassin who falls in love with a street artist played by Jeon Ji-hyun. Jung plays a happily married fireman in Sad Movie
Sad Movie
Sad Movie is a 2005 South Korean romance film with an all-star cast. It is the second film directed by Kwon Jong-kwan, following S Diary from 2004.-Synopsis:...
, and falls in love with an old friend in A Good Rain Knows
A Season of Good Rain
Season of Good Rain , also known as A Good Rain Knows, is a 2009 film by Heo Jin-ho. Originally intended as the second segment of Chengdu, I Love You, the director and producers expanded its running time and released it as a stand-alone feature...
. His big-budget martial arts films The Restless
The Restless (2006 film)
The Restless is a 2006 fantasy South Korean film directed by Jo Dong-oh, starring Kim Tae-hee and Jeong Woo-seong. The film's Korean title, Joongchun, is literally translated as "Midheaven".-Plot summary:...
and Reign of Assassins
Reign of Assassins
Reign of Assassins is a 2010 wuxia film directed by Su Chao-pin and co-directed by John Woo. The film is shot in China and set during the Ming Dynasty. The film stars Michelle Yeoh, who plays an assassin who tries to return to a normal life after being counseled by a priest...
would also have romantic elements.
Kim Ji-woon
Kim Ji-Woon
Kim Ji-woon is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. Kim Ji-woon has a history of successfully tackling a wide range of film genres, garnering a cult following among Asian films fans all over the world.-Career:...
's "kimchi western" The Good, the Bad, the Weird
The Good, the Bad, the Weird
The Good, the Bad, the Weird is a 2008 South Korean western film directed by Kim Ji-woon, starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jung Woo-sung...
would give Jung one of his most iconic roles, using his physicality to great effect as the Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
counterpart in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a 1966 Italian epic spaghetti western film directed by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach in the title roles. The screenplay was written by Age & Scarpelli, Luciano Vincenzoni and Leone, based on a story by Vincenzoni and Leone...
. Shortly after he would work again with the director in a short for W Magazine Korea.
Given the hype regarding his return to the small screen after 15 years, Jung's spy genre drama Athena: Goddess of War
Athena: Goddess of War
Athena: Goddess of War is a South Korean espionage television drama series broadcast by SBS in 2010 and a spin-off of 2009's Iris...
(spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
to 2009's IRIS
Iris (TV series)
Iris is a South Korean espionage television drama series broadcast by KBS in 2009. With a budget in excess of 20 billion won , it, along with its spin-off Athena: Goddess of War, share the record for the most expensive Korean dramas ever produced.Premiering in October 2009, the series was a...
) was a disappointment, failing to duplicate its predecessor's ratings. He made his Japanese drama debut with a guest appearance
Guest appearance
In show business , a guest appearance is a participation of an outsider performer , usually called guest artist , in an event , i.e., the participation of a performer which does not belong to the regular crew In performance...
in episodes 6 and 7 of Good Life ~Arigatou, Papa. Sayonara~.
Jung next stars in the English-language 3D remake of John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
's The Killer. The film will be shot in Los Angeles, and reunites him with A Moment to Remember
A Moment to Remember
A Moment to Remember is a 2004 South Korean film based on a 2001 Japanese television drama Pure Soul broadcast by Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation. It stars Son Ye-jin and Jung Woo-sung. A Moment to Remember follows the theme of discovery in a relationship and the burdens of loss caused by...
director John H. Lee and Reign of Assassins
Reign of Assassins
Reign of Assassins is a 2010 wuxia film directed by Su Chao-pin and co-directed by John Woo. The film is shot in China and set during the Ming Dynasty. The film stars Michelle Yeoh, who plays an assassin who tries to return to a normal life after being counseled by a priest...
director John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
who will be producing.
He has been cast as the male lead in the upcoming TV series Padam Padam...The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats which will mark the establishment of new broadcasting station jTBC. Written by acclaimed drama writer Noh Hee-kyung, Jung said he "decided on this drama because I was drawn to the way Noh Hee-kyung writes 'family drama.' Whether mother-son or father-son, the love and pain experienced by families is something I’d like to try portraying in a realistic way." He plays a man released from 16 years of imprisonment on false charges of murder.
Personal life
Jung gave up studying to pursue his dream of becoming an actor, dropping out of high school after one year. It was controversial at the time that he did not conceal this fact but rather claimed that he did not regret his decision.Jung is best friends with fellow actor Lee Jung-jae
Lee Jung-jae
Lee Jung-jae is a South Korean actor.- Career :Lee Jung-jae, apart from being a top star in film and TV, also works as a highly successful fashion model. One year after his debut on television in 1993, Lee was cast in his first film, a feature by Bae Chang-ho. His breakthrough would come in late...
; they are co-owners and co-investors of several businesses.
After they were photographed on a date in Paris, Jung confirmed in March 2011 that he was dating Athena
Athena: Goddess of War
Athena: Goddess of War is a South Korean espionage television drama series broadcast by SBS in 2010 and a spin-off of 2009's Iris...
co-star Lee Ji-ah
Lee Ji-ah
Lee Ji-ah is a South Korean actress. Her first role was in The Legend as Sujini, a lover of Damdeok, the King .-Biography:...
. But after Lee's married and divorced past with top Korean rocker Seo Taiji became exposed to the public the following month, the Korean press reported in June that Jung and Lee had broken up.
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Fox with Nine Tails The Fox with Nine Tails The Fox with Nine Tails is a 1994 South Korean film, and was the feature debut of director Park Heon-su. It was also the film debut of lead actors Ko So-young and Jung Woo-sung, who would later star together in Beat and Love .... |
Hyuk |
| 1996 | Born to Kill Born to Kill (1996 film) Born to Kill is a 1996 South Korean action film by Jang Hyun-soo, starring Jung Woo-sung and Shim Eun-ha.- Plot :The life of a professional killer becomes complicated when he falls in love with his neighbor Soo-ha, a bargirl.- Cast :... |
Kil |
| Shanghai Grand Shanghai Grand Shanghai Grand, also known as Shanghai Grand 1996 to differentiate this film from the more illustrious television series of the same Chinese title, The Bund , is a 1996 Hong Kong film directed by Poon Man-kit and starring Andy Lau, Leslie Cheung and Ning Jing.This film was directed by Poon Man-kit... |
Ryu So-hwang | |
| 1997 | Beat Beat (1997 film) Beat is 1997 South Korean crime action film by Kim Sung-su and based of manhwa by Sim San is about high school dropout who become gangster it stars Jung Woo-sung and Ko So-young in lead roles... |
Min |
| Motel Cactus | Lee Mi-ku | |
| 1998 | City of the Rising Sun City of the Rising Sun City of the Rising Sun is 1998 South Korean film is about of two friends who finds themselves for falling in love with same woman. The film stars Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae.-Cast:*Jung Woo-Sung ... Do Chul... |
Do-chul |
| 1999 | Phantom: The Submarine | Number 431 |
| Love | Myung-soo | |
| 2001 | Musa Musa (film) Musa , released as both The Warrior and The Ultimate Warrior in English-speaking countries, is a 2001 South Korean epic film directed by Kim Seong-soo, starring Jung Woo-sung, Ahn Sung-ki, Ju Jin-mo and Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi... |
Yeo-sol |
| 2003 | Mutt Boy | Cha Cheol-min |
| 2004 | A Moment to Remember A Moment to Remember A Moment to Remember is a 2004 South Korean film based on a 2001 Japanese television drama Pure Soul broadcast by Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation. It stars Son Ye-jin and Jung Woo-sung. A Moment to Remember follows the theme of discovery in a relationship and the burdens of loss caused by... |
Cheol-su |
| 2005 | Sad Movie Sad Movie Sad Movie is a 2005 South Korean romance film with an all-star cast. It is the second film directed by Kwon Jong-kwan, following S Diary from 2004.-Synopsis:... |
Jin-woo |
| 2006 | Daisy Daisy (film) Daisy is a 2006 South Korean-Hong Kong co-production film directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, and starring Jun Ji-hyun, Jung Woo-sung, David Chiang, Lee Sung-jae and Cheon Ho-jin.... |
Park Yi |
| The Restless The Restless (2006 film) The Restless is a 2006 fantasy South Korean film directed by Jo Dong-oh, starring Kim Tae-hee and Jeong Woo-seong. The film's Korean title, Joongchun, is literally translated as "Midheaven".-Plot summary:... |
Yi-gwak | |
| 2008 | The Good, the Bad, the Weird The Good, the Bad, the Weird The Good, the Bad, the Weird is a 2008 South Korean western film directed by Kim Ji-woon, starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jung Woo-sung... |
Park Do-won, the Good |
| 2009 | Present (short) | |
| A Good Rain Knows A Season of Good Rain Season of Good Rain , also known as A Good Rain Knows, is a 2009 film by Heo Jin-ho. Originally intended as the second segment of Chengdu, I Love You, the director and producers expanded its running time and released it as a stand-alone feature... |
Park Dong-ha | |
| 2010 | Reign of Assassins Reign of Assassins Reign of Assassins is a 2010 wuxia film directed by Su Chao-pin and co-directed by John Woo. The film is shot in China and set during the Ming Dynasty. The film stars Michelle Yeoh, who plays an assassin who tries to return to a normal life after being counseled by a priest... |
Jiang Ah-sheng |
| 2012 | The Killer | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Asphalt Man Asphalt Man Asphalt Man is a 1995 SBS TV series starring Lee Byung-hun, Choi Jin-shil, Lee Young-ae and Jung Woo-sung. It is based on a comic by Huh Young-man.-Cast:*Lee Byung-hun as Kang Dong Joon*Jung Woo-sung as Kang Dong Suk... |
Kang Dong-suk | SBS |
| 1996 | 1.5 | MBC Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC (Hangul : 문화방송주식회사, Munhwa Bangsong Jushikoesa) is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television... |
|
| 2010 | Athena: Goddess of War Athena: Goddess of War Athena: Goddess of War is a South Korean espionage television drama series broadcast by SBS in 2010 and a spin-off of 2009's Iris... |
Lee Jung-woo | SBS |
| 2011 | Good Life ~Arigatou, Papa. Sayonara~ | Dr. Lee (ep. 6-7) | Fuji TV Fuji Television is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the .... |
| Padam Padam...The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats | Yang Kang-chil | jTBC |
Music videos
He directed (but did not star in) the following g.o.d.G.o.d.
g.o.d. was a Korean pop music group. The name is an acronym for Groove Over Dose. Their name is lower cased to avoid confusion with God. The group was one of the few groups to have an album become a "million seller" in K-pop. The members have gone to solo careers after dis-forming.- Career:The...
music videos:
- Since You Left Me (2000)
- You Just Don’t Know (2002)
- Sad Love (2002)
- A Fool (2002)
Awards
- 2011 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: HallyuKorean waveThe Korean Wave, also known as the Hallyu , refers to spread of South Korean culture around the world. The term was coined in China in mid-1999 by Beijing journalists surprised by the fast growing popularity of Korean entertainment and culture in China...
Merit Award for Film - 2009 Style Icon Awards: Style Icon Actor
- 2009 Asian Film AwardsAsian Film AwardsThe Asian Film Awards are presented annually by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society to recognize excellence of film professionals in the film industries of Asian cinema.-History:...
: Best Supporting Actor (The Good, the Bad, the WeirdThe Good, the Bad, the WeirdThe Good, the Bad, the Weird is a 2008 South Korean western film directed by Kim Ji-woon, starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jung Woo-sung...
) - 2008 Korea Fashion & Design Awards: Best Dresser of the Year
- 2008 Blue Dragon Film AwardsBlue Dragon Film AwardsThe Blue Dragon Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony that is presented annually by Sports Chosun for excellence in film in South Korea....
: Popularity Award - 2008 Hawaii International Film FestivalHawaii International Film FestivalThe Hawaii International Film Festival is a film festival held in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It was started in 1981 by Jeannette Paulson Hereniko and has been held annually in the fall for two weeks...
: Outstanding Achievement in Acting - 2001 Blue Dragon Film AwardsBlue Dragon Film AwardsThe Blue Dragon Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony that is presented annually by Sports Chosun for excellence in film in South Korea....
: Popularity Award - 1999 Blue Dragon Film AwardsBlue Dragon Film AwardsThe Blue Dragon Film Awards is an annual awards ceremony that is presented annually by Sports Chosun for excellence in film in South Korea....
: Popularity Award - 1997 Korean Critics' Choice Awards: Best New Actor (Beat)
- 1996 Baeksang Arts AwardsPaekSang Arts AwardsPaekSang Arts Awards, also known as BaekSang Arts Awards, is an awards ceremony held annually by IS PLUS Corp, since 1965. It is to honour outstanding achievements in the South Korean entertainment industry and to garner public attention upon the best in Korean films and dramas...
: Best New Actor, TV category (Asphalt ManAsphalt ManAsphalt Man is a 1995 SBS TV series starring Lee Byung-hun, Choi Jin-shil, Lee Young-ae and Jung Woo-sung. It is based on a comic by Huh Young-man.-Cast:*Lee Byung-hun as Kang Dong Joon*Jung Woo-sung as Kang Dong Suk...
)
External links
- Jung Woo-sung at HanCinema