Jung Woo-sung

Quick Facts: Who was Jung Woo-sung?

Subject:

Jung Woo-sung

Known for:

Highly acclaimed South Korean actor known for versatile roles in cinema and television.

Born:

1973-03-20

Century / Era:

1973s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Jung Woo-sung (Korean: 정우성; born April 22, 1973) is a South Korean actor. He started his career as a fashion model, rising to stardom with the gangster film Beat (1997). He went on to establish himself as a versatile leading man, with films such as City of the Rising Sun (1999), Musa (2001), Mutt Boy (2003), A Moment to Remember (2004), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), Cold Eyes (2013), The Divine Move (2014), Asura: The City of Madness (2016), The King (2017), Steel Rain (2017), Beasts Clawing at Straws (2020), Hunt (2022), and 12.12: The Day (2023). For his role in Innocent Witness (2019), he won the Best Actor at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards and the 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards. Jung's notable TV credits include Asphalt Man (1995), Padam Padam (2011), and Tell Me That You Love Me (2023–24).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Jung served as the first South Korean UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador from 2014 until his resignation in 2024, citing backlash over his advocacy for refugees. Jung was raised in Sadang-dong, then one of the most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods in Seoul. Notably tall from a young age, he often hunched to mitigate his height, which drew attention during his elementary school years. He left high school after completing his first year to work and support his family. When trying to break into the film industry, he was told he was too tall to become an actor, leading him to begin his career as a model.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Jung was selected as an actor through street casting by former Sidus CEO Cha Seung-jae, who was the head of the production department at the film company Shin Cine at the time. Jung made his film debut in a leading role in 1994's The Fox with Nine Tails, one of the first Korean fantasy movies and the first to use computer-generated imagery. He debuted with actress Ko So-young, who later co-starred with him twice including in his breakthrough 1997 film Beat. Directed by Kim Sung-su, Beat is about a high school student forced into gang life. The movie brought Jung widespread fame and started his rise to Korea's A-list and made him one of the most sought-after commercial models.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1973 (1973-03-20): Birth of Jung Woo-sung — Highly acclaimed South Korean actor known for versatile roles in cinema and television.
2. 1994: 1994 Milestone — Jung made his film debut in a leading role in 1994's The Fox with Nine Tails, one of the first Korean fantasy movies and the first to use computer-generated imagery.
3. 1995: 1995 Milestone — Jung's notable TV credits include Asphalt Man (1995), Padam Padam (2011), and Tell Me That You Love Me (2023–24).
4. 1997: 1997 Milestone — He started his career as a fashion model, rising to stardom with the gangster film Beat (1997).
5. 1999: 1999 Milestone — He went on to establish himself as a versatile leading man, with films such as City of the Rising Sun (1999), Musa (2001), Mutt Boy (2003), A Moment to Remember (2004), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), Cold Eyes (2013), The Divine Move (2014), Asura: The City of Madness (2016), The King (2017), Steel Rain (2017), Beasts Clawing at Straws (2020), Hunt (2022), and 12.
6. 2014: 2014 Milestone — Jung served as the first South Korean UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador from 2014 until his resignation in 2024, citing backlash over his advocacy for refugees.
7. 2019: 2019 Milestone — For his role in Innocent Witness (2019), he won the Best Actor at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards and the 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Jung Woo-sung

True or False: “Jung Woo-sung's breakthrough role came from the film *Beat*, which was about a high school student forced into gang life.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The film *Beat* (1997) is credited with bringing Jung widespread fame and starting his rise to A-list status.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. S. Neill — Contemporary (Died in 1973) (1973): Scottish progressive educator, founder of Summerhill, championing self-governance.
• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Died in 1973) (1973): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• AC/DC — Contemporary (Born in 1973) (1973): Iconic Australian hard rock band known for raw, high-energy 'rock and roll'.
• Albert, Duke of Prussia — Shared historical date (03-20 · Died) (1568): First secular ruler of the Duchy of Prussia and key figure in early Lutheranism.
• Alex Gorsky — Shared historical date (03-20 · Born) (1960): American businessman, former Chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson.
• Adrien Brody — Historical peer (Born in 1973) (1973): Acclaimed American actor known for intense, emotionally charged character portrayals.
• Aishwarya Rai — Historical peer (Born in 1973) (1973): Iconic Indian actress celebrated for beauty and versatile performances in Hindi and Tamil cinema.
• Adriana Caselotti — Historical peer (Died in 1997) (1997): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• Alan Walker — Historical peer (Born in 1997) (1997): Norwegian DJ and producer known for house music and maintaining an anonymous public image.
• Akhtar Hameed Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Pioneering Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner.
• 1973 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1973
• March 20 (03-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 20

Frequently Asked Questions about Jung Woo-sung