Oh Ji-ho

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Oh Ji-ho

Role / Field:

Acclaimed South Korean actor known for romantic comedies and historical dramas.

Born:

1976-04-14

Century / Era:

1976s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Oh Ji-ho (Korean: 오지호; born April 14, 1976) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for the television dramas Couple or Trouble (2006), The Slave Hunters (2010), The Queen of Office (2013) and My Fair Lady (2016). Oh was born and raised in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province. He dropped out of his e-Business Management course at Anyang Industrial Technical School and at the age of 22, moved to Seoul on his own to pursue a career in acting. He first found work as a commercial model, then made his acting debut in 1998 with a minor role in the film Kka (Naked Being).

Career & Major Achievements

Despite starring in a few movies (notably the erotic two-hander La Belle in 2000), Oh would become better known for his work in television. He soon earned heartthrob status among fans for his handsome face and well-defined muscles, but critics initially dismissed him as just another model-turned-actor with attractive looks but little talent. In 2004, Oh established his acting credentials in A Second Proposal, about a divorcee getting another chance at love; he won Best Supporting Actor at the KBS Drama Awards. He next starred in Couple or Trouble (2006), a Hong sisters-penned romantic comedy series inspired by Overboard about a handyman who gets his petty revenge on an amnesiac heiress by lying to her that she's his live-in girlfriend so that she'll help take care of his three nephews. Couple or Trouble received high ratings and praise for its stars' acting, and Oh took home two popularity prizes at the MBC Drama Awards.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This was followed by more leading roles in Autumn Shower (2005) as a man who falls for the best friend of his comatose wife, Get Karl! Oh Soo-jung (2007) as a pro-golfer who wants to get back at the ex-girlfriend who dumped him when he was overweight and unsuccessful, and Single Dad in Love (2008) as a mixed martial arts fighter whose young son has been diagnosed with a brain tumor; but these series drew lackluster ratings. In 2009, he played a smart yet socially inept underperformer whose wife will do anything to help him climb the corporate ladder in Queen of Housewives; despite being outshined by his other costars, Oh proved his willingness to look foolish in the service of comedy (similar to his turn in the 2005 series Super Rookie). Oh then reunited with Single Dad in Love television director Kwak Jung-hwan in his most high-profile, critically acclaimed series yet: historical drama The Slave Hunters (2010). Using his physicality to great effect, Oh portrayed a Joseon military general who becomes a runaway slave and his performance garnered him an Excellence Award at the 2010 KBS Drama Awards.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1976 (1976-04-14): Birth of Oh Ji-ho — Acclaimed South Korean actor known for romantic comedies and historical dramas.
2. 1998: 1998 Milestone — He first found work as a commercial model, then made his acting debut in 1998 with a minor role in the film Kka (Naked Being).
3. 2000: 2000 Milestone — Despite starring in a few movies (notably the erotic two-hander La Belle in 2000), Oh would become better known for his work in television.
4. 2004: 2004 Milestone — In 2004, Oh established his acting credentials in A Second Proposal, about a divorcee getting another chance at love; he won Best Supporting Actor at the KBS Drama Awards.
5. 2005: 2005 Milestone — This was followed by more leading roles in Autumn Shower (2005) as a man who falls for the best friend of his comatose wife, Get Karl!
6. 2006: 2006 Milestone — He is best known for the television dramas Couple or Trouble (2006), The Slave Hunters (2010), The Queen of Office (2013) and My Fair Lady (2016).
7. 2007: 2007 Milestone — Oh Soo-jung (2007) as a pro-golfer who wants to get back at the ex-girlfriend who dumped him when he was overweight and unsuccessful, and Single Dad in Love (2008) as a mixed martial arts fighter whose young son has been diagnosed with a brain tumor; but these series drew lackluster ratings.
8. 2009: 2009 Milestone — In 2009, he played a smart yet socially inept underperformer whose wife will do anything to help him climb the corporate ladder in Queen of Housewives; despite being outshined by his other costars, Oh proved his willingness to look foolish in the service of comedy (similar to his turn in the 2005 series Super Rookie).
9. 2010: 2010 Milestone — Oh then reunited with Single Dad in Love television director Kwak Jung-hwan in his most high-profile, critically acclaimed series yet: historical drama The Slave Hunters (2010).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Oh Ji-ho

True or False: “Oh Ji-ho first gained significant recognition in the acting industry after starring in a major film role immediately following his debut.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He initially found work as a commercial model and made his acting debut with a minor role in the film Kka (Naked Being) before gaining traction on television.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A Day at the Races (album) — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Queen's fifth studio album, a companion piece to A Night at the Opera.
• Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani — Contemporary (Died in 1976) (1976): Bangladeshi statesman and founder of the Awami League, known for advocating for the poor.
• Abiy Ahmed — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Ethiopian Prime Minister known for sweeping reforms and Nobel Peace Prize.
• Abraham Ortelius — Shared historical date (04-14 · Born) (1527): Pioneering cartographer, creator of the first modern atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.
• Adrien Brody — Shared historical date (04-14 · Born) (1973): Acclaimed American actor known for intense, emotionally charged character portrayals.
• Adam Beyer — Historical peer (Born in 1976) (1976): Pioneering Swedish techno producer and DJ, known for founding Drumcode Records.
• Adolph Zukor — Historical peer (Died in 1976) (1976): Pioneering Hungarian-American film producer, co-founder of Paramount Pictures.
• Aaron Spelling — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Alex Chilton — Historical peer (Died in 2010) (2010): American musician, best known for his vocal work with The Box Tops and Big Star.
• 1976 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1976
• April 14 (04-14) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 14

Frequently Asked Questions about Oh Ji-ho