Kim Jung-guk (; born January 14, 1981), known professionally as Jung Woo (), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the drama Reply 1994 (2013) and You Are the Best! (2013).
Career Jung Woo made his acting debut in 2006, and began his career appearing in minor roles on film and television. He drew attention in 2008 for his turn as a morally challenged but lovable villain in action film Spare, the directorial debut of Lee Seong-han.
In 2009, Lee directed Jung Woo again, this time in the leading role in Wish, a film which Jung Woo had written himself based on his own experiences as a troubled youth dreaming of becoming the number one fighter at his school. The character uses his real name Kim Jung-guk and nickname Jjianggu, the movie was shot at his childhood home and high school, Busan Commercial High School, and Jung Woo's real-life friends play themselves in the film. Spanning the years from Jjianggu's school life to his father's last days, the film was an official selection at the 2009 Busan International Film Festival. Jung Woo was praised for his performance, and won Best New Actor at the prestigious Grand Bell Awards in 2010.
In 2013, Jung Woo played a supporting role as a baker who falls for a divorced single mother in the family drama You Are the Best!. His mainstream popularity further increased when he was cast as one of the main characters of Reply 1994, a cable drama about a group of young students from different regions in Korea living together in a boarding house while going to college in 1990s Seoul. This was followed by a role in arthouse spy movie Red Family, produced by Kim Ki-duk.
Jung Woo next starred in the 2015 musical biopic C'est Si Bon. Set in the eponymous live music cafe in Mugyo-dong, downtown Seoul, the film depicted the formation of legendary folk music group Twin Folio, which was active from the 1960s to 80s.
In 2019, Jung was cast in the gangster movie The Boiling Blood.
Personal life Jung Woo married actress Kim Yoo-mi on January 16, 2016. They became a couple after starring together in the 2013 film Red Family.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2001 Running 7 Dogs 2002 Break Out Henchman 7 Conduct Zero Gangster Dan-gun 2003 My Tutor Friend Thug A Good Lawyer's Wife Neighborhood bully Spring Breeze Young friend 2 2004 He Was Cool Ppa-Park-yi Spin Kick Park Do-soo 2005 The President's Last Bang Han Jae-guk 2006 Bloody Tie Detective Kim The City of Violence young Wang-jae How the Lack of Love Affects Two Men Ignorant person 2008 Fate Choi Jung-hak Spare Gil-do Dachimawa Lee MP captain Summer Whispers Jung-sik 2009 Wish Jjianggu Also screenwriter 2012 Doomsday Book Joong-dong segment "A Brave New World" 2013 Red Family Kim Jae-hong 2015 C'est Si Bon Oh Geun-tae The Himalayas Park Mu-taek 2017 New Trial Lee Joon-young 2018 Heung-boo: The Revolutionist Heung-boo Fifth Column Yoon Joong-hyeon 2020 Best Friend Yoo Dae-kwon 2022 Hot Blooded Park Hee-soo Hot Blood: The Original Extended version 2025 Audition 109 Jjang-goo Also director, screenwriter, and producer scope="row" Don't Touch Dirty Hands
Television series Year Title Role Notes 2005 Sad Love Story Lee Min-ho Princess Lulu Assistant manager Lee 2007 If In Love...Like Them Cruel Love Han Jung-woo 2009 Cinderella Man Ma Yi-san Green Coach Kang Seok-jong 2010 Blossom Sisters Kim No-shik 2012 KBS Drama Special – The Great Dipper Park Yong-dae One-act drama 2013 You Are the Best! Seo Jin-wook Reply 1994 Sseureki (nickname) 2015–2016 Reply 1988 Sseureki (nickname) Cameo 2022 Mental Coach Jegal Jegal Gil 2023 Miraculous Brothers Yuk Dong-joo
Web series Year Title Role 2021 Mad for Each Other Noh Hwi-Oh 2022 A Model Family Dong-ha
Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2016 Youth Over Flowers Cast member 2021 Warning of the Earth - 100 People's Leading Show Host Documentary 2022 100 Reading Show - Reading the Earth
Music video appearances Year Song title Artist 2004 "Incurable Disease" Wheesung "Fall in Love with Someone" 2006 "The Day" JeA and Kim Yeon-ji 2007 "New Skin" Monday Kiz "A Good Man" "The Man" "What Can I Do If I Like It" Black Pearl "Finally It's You" "White Lie" Lee Seung-gi "Why Are You Leaving" 2008 "That Person" SeeYa "Without Me" 2009 "Jjarajajja" Joo Hyun-mi and Seohyun "It's Over" Jung Yup
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 2014 Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Reply 1994 Asia Model Awards 2014 Popularity Award Jung Woo Baeksang Arts Awards 2014 Best New Actor – Television Reply 1994 Most Popular Actor (TV) 2017 Most Popular Actor (film) New Trial 2022 Best Actor – Film Hot Blooded Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2015 Fantasia Award C'est Si Bon Grand Bell Awards 2010 Best New Actor Wish KBS Drama Awards 2013 Best New Actor You Are the Best! Seoul International Drama Awards 2014 People's Choice Actor Reply 1994
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