Jung Il-woo (; born 9 September 1987) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the sitcom Unstoppable High Kick (2006), and the television dramas The Return of Iljimae (2009), 49 Days (2011), Cool Guys, Hot Ramen (2011), Moon Embracing the Sun (2012), and Cinderella with Four Knights (2016).
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, graduating on 20 February 2014.
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 film My Love.
In 2009, Jung starred in his first leading role as a young warrior battling injustice in historical drama The Return of Iljimae. This was followed by a supporting role in romantic comedy My 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. Alt URL 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 (also known as Love and Lies), 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.
In 2021, Jung played the lead role in the MBN historical drama Bossam: Steal the Fate.
In 2022, Jung joins the ENA drama Good Job, which is the second reunion with Kwon Yu-ri, and returns to the big screen with the film Highway Family, which is slated for release in November.
In February 2023, he attended the Milan Fashion Week 2023 FW collection Onitsuka Tiger fashion show.
Personal life Jung is close friends with fellow actors Lee Min-ho and Kim Bum. Jung is a practicing Roman Catholic.
Car accident In August 2006, Jung sustained injuries in a serious car accident while riding in the back of a car with childhood friend and fellow actor Lee Min-ho, who was badly injured in the accident. Their two friends riding in the front of the car did not survive. Jung was left with partial memory loss, causing him to forget parts of his past. He notes that he remembers things, such as people's faces, but not necessarily where they met, and therefore uses photographs to help him remember.
Military enlistment In November 2016, he was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm. Although this would have exempted him from his mandatory military service, Jung enlisted in December 2016. Jung was discharged on November 30, 2018.
On February 3, 2022, it was confirmed that Jung tested positive for COVID-19, while he had finished the third dose of the vaccine. Jung was contacted by a staff member after filming for SNL Korea Season 2 on January 30 to 31, 2022.
Filmography
Film + Feature film performances(s) Year Title Role Notes English Korean 2006 The World of Silence 조용한 세상 young Ryu Jung-ho 2007 My Love 내사랑 Ji-woo 2016 The Rise of a Tomboy 女汉子真爱公式 Ge YangChinese Film 2018The Discloser 1급기밀 Kang Young-woo Cameo 2022 Highway Family 고속도로 가족 Ki-woo 2025Leaving Mom엄마를 버리러 갑니다young Jeong-minVietnamese-Korean film
Television series + Television drama performances(s) Year Title Role Notes English Korean 2006–2007 High Kick! 거침없이 하이킥 Lee Yoon-ho 2008 The Secret of Coocoo Island 크크섬의 비밀 Cameo (episode 1)2009 The Return of Iljimae 돌아온 일지매 Iljimae My Fair Lady 아가씨를 부탁해 Lee Tae-yoon High Kick Through the Roof 지붕 뚫고 하이킥 Il-woo Cameo (episode 35)2011 49 Days 49일 Scheduler / Song Yi-soo Cool Guys, Hot Ramen 꽃미남 라면가게 Cha Chi-soo High Kick: Revenge of the Short Legged 하이킥! : 짧은 다리의 역습 Il-woo Cameo (episode 40) 2012 Moon Embracing the Sun 해를 품은 달 Prince Yang-myung 2013 The Queen of Office 직장의 신 Cha Chi-soo Cameo (episode 3) 2013–2014 Golden Rainbow 황금 무지개 Seo Do-young 2014 Diary of a Night Watchman 야경꾼일지 Lee Rin 2016 Cinderella with Four Knights 신데렐라와 네 명의 기사 Kang Ji-woon 2017 Love and Lies กลรักเกมมายา Tim Thai drama2019Haechi 해치Prince Lee Geum2020Sweet Munchies야식남녀Park Jin-sung2021 Bossam: Steal the Fate 보쌈-운명을 훔치다 Ba Woo 2022 Good Job 굿잡 Eun Seon-woo 2025 Our Golden Days 화려한 날들 Lee Ji-hyeok scope="row" rowspan=2 Beautiful Woman 女人花似梦 Kim Moon-hoChinese drama The Girls' Lies 恋人的谎言 Lantian
Web series + Web drama series performances(s) Year Title Role Notes English Korean2015 High-End Crush 고품격 짝사랑 Choi Se-hoonSouth Korean-Chinese web drama
Television shows + Television show performances(s) Year Title Role Notes English Korean 2011 One More Time – Jung Il-woo Main Cast2015Star Chef China星厨驾到 CastSeason 2, guest from episode 1–4 2019–2020 Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant신상출시 편스토랑Cast/chef Episodes 1–20 2021 The Village Lover마을애 가게 Cast Member
Web shows + Television show performances(s) Year Title Role Notes English Korean 2022 Saturday Night Live Korea SNL 코리아 Host Season 2 – Episode 11
Music video appearances Year Song Title Artist 2007 "This Is Me" SAT "Goodbye Sadness" Goo Jung-hyun
Hosting Year Title Notes 2022 8th APAN Star Awards with Kwon Yu-ri
Theater + Theater performances(s) Year Title Role English Korean 2010 Beautiful Sunday 뷰티풀 선데이 Lee Joon-seok2019The Elephant Song엘리펀트송Michael2024Kiss of the Spider Woman거미여인의 키스Molina
Discography Singles TitleYearAlbum"Guilty" () 2009 narration for Dynamic Duo song "Scarecrow" () 2011 49 Days OST "Someone Like You" ()Cool Guys, Hot Ramen OST"Rain Tears Instead" ()(with Nicole Jung) 2014 Diary of a Night Watchman"Heartbeat"()2016 The Rise of a Tomboy (女汉子真爱公式)"My All" ()2017Love & Lies (กลรักเกมมายา) OST "If You Come by My Side" ()2025Our Golden Days (화려한 날들) OST
Social activities Year Event Notes2011 12th Jeonju International Film Festival Honorary ambassador Canadian Tourism Commission Honorary ambassador TOTO Workshop Official mentor 2012 4th Japan-Korea Friendship Festival Korean representative2016 K Travel Bus Public Relations ambassador2018National Museum of KoreaPublic Relations ambassador2019Seoul Catholic Social Welfare AssociationAmbassador2019National Center for TraumaAmbassador2023Korean Red CrossPromotional Envoy
Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result APAN Star Awards 2022 Popularity Star Award, Actor Bossam: Steal the Fate Best Couple Jung Il-woo (with Kwon Yu-ri)Bossam: Steal the Fate 2025 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Our Golden Days Asia Influence Eastern Awards 2015 Most Celebrated Actor Jung Il-woo Asia Model Awards 2012 Fashionista Award 49 Days, Cool Guys, Hot Ramen 2016 Asia Special Award, Actor Jung Il-woo Baeksang Arts Awards 2007 Best New Actor – Film My Love 2012 Most Popular Actor (TV) Moon Embracing the Sun Buil Film Awards 2023 Best New Actor Highway Family Cosmo Beauty Awards 2014 Forever Young Icon Male StarJung Il-woo Huading Awards 2012 Asia Male Actor Award KBS Drama Awards 2009 Best New Actor My Fair Lady 2025 Top Excellence Award, Actor Our Golden Days Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Best Couple Award Jung Il-woo Our Golden Days KBS Entertainment Awards 2019 Rookie Award in Show & Entertainment Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-staurant Korea Junior Star Awards 2009 Daesang (Grand Prize), TV category The Return of Iljimae MBC Drama Awards2012 Excellence Award, Actor in a MiniseriesMoon Embracing the Sun Popularity Award, Actor 2013 Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama Golden Rainbow 2014 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project DramaDiary of a Night Watchman Popularity Award, Actor Best Couple Award Jung Il-woo (with Ko Sung-hee)Diary of a Night Watchman MBC Entertainment Awards 2007 Best Male Newcomer in a Comedy/SitcomUnstoppable High Kick Ministry of Health and Welfare Share Happiness Awards 2012 Recipient Jung Il-woo Mnet KM Music Festival 2007 Best Actor in a Music Video Goodbye Sadness Mnet 20's Choice Awards New Star AwardUnstoppable High Kick Drama Star Award SBS Drama Awards2019 Producer AwardHaechi Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Best Couple Award Jung Il-woo (with Go Ara)Haechi Seoul International Drama Awards2026 Best Actor Our Golden Days WEIBO GALA - Weibo Cultural Communication Night (Thailand)2026 Weibo Thailand Film & TV Cultural Communication Artist of the Year Jung Il-woo
References
External links