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Jeong Yong-jun (; born December 20, 1976), better known as Jang Hyuk, is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films Volcano High (2001), Windstruck (2004), The Flu (2013), as well as the television series Successful Story of a Bright Girl (2002), Thank You (2007), The Slave Hunters (2010), Deep Rooted Tree (2011), You Are My Destiny (2014), Voice (2017), Money Flower (2017–18), and Bloody Heart (2022).
After Lee Seung-hwan's music video, Jung Yong-joon making his acting debut in 1997 in the Korean drama Model under his stage name Jang hyuk. Besides the teen series School (1999) and a minor role in the little-seen film Zzang (The Best), Jang appeared in the music video of "To Mother", the 1999 debut single of popular boyband g.o.d, whom he was housemates with at that time. Also in 1999, he played the good-hearted yet aggressive Myung-ha in the series Into the Sunlight. Using the stage name "TJ", he had a brief career as a rapper and acted in several music videos from his rap album TJ Project, which was released in 2000.
Jang's career first began to take off in 2001, when he was cast in the lead role of the special-effects extravaganza Volcano High with actress Shin Min-a. His acting in the eccentric role drew praise from fans and critics. "Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema: Jang Hyuk" . Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
Jang continued to appear in high-profile projects; in 2003, Jang starred alongside Lee Na-young in the comedy Please Teach Me English, by director Kim Sung-su and the following year, he starred opposite Jun Ji-hyun in Kwak Jae-yong's Windstruck. Although Windstruck was generally not well received in Korea, it went on to beat Shiri and become one of the best-selling Korean films in Japan.
In late 2004, together with fellow actors Song Seung-heon and Han Jae-suk, Jang was found to have illegally avoided his mandatory military service through his and Han's agency SidusHQ. Amid widespread public condemnation, Jang apologized to his fans, then began to serve his two-year military term.
He then signed up for the international movie production Dance of the Dragon (2008), a love story that mixed ballroom dancing with martial arts action and costarred actress Fann Wong. "I am a dandy boy" . The New Paper. September 28, 2007. "JANG Hyuk enters the world stage impressively" . Korean Film Biz Zone. April 24, 2008. He won the Best Actor award at the inaugural West Hollywood International Film Festival for his role. "2008 Winners" . West Hollywood International Film Festival. Retrieved 2012-11-13. "Korean hunk gives interview in English" . The New Paper. January 21, 2011. Jang also made a cameo appearance in Japanese drama Ryokiteki na Kanojo, a remake of the 2001 Korean film My Sassy Girl. After his earlier guesting on star Tsuyoshi Kusanagi's talk show, the director of the drama reportedly added new scenes for Jang that were not included in the original script. "Jang Hyuk Makes Cameo Appearance in Japanese Drama" . KBS Global. April 23, 2008. Jang then appeared as the love interest in three music videos of singer Elva Hsiao. "Actor Jang Hyuk Stars in Taiwanese Singer Elva's New Music Video" . KBS Global. June 25, 2008.
More leading roles in TV dramas followed, including Robber (2008) and Tazza (2008) adapted from the Tajja. "Dramas Bring Hero, Gamblers and Orchestra" . The Korea Times. September 9, 2008. In 2009, he appeared in the short film His Concern in the anthology film Five Senses of Eros, the risque thriller Searching for the Elephant, and the melodrama Maybe. "Jang Hyuk praises big screen newcomer Sung Yu-ri" . Asiae. October 5, 2009. " Maybe set out to mend hearts" . Asiae. October 14, 2009.
In the same year, he starred in Fall in Love with Anchor Beauty, the Chinese remake of 2000 Korean drama All About Eve. "Jang Hyuk to star in Chinese remake of All About Eve" . Asiae. March 26, 2010. Fall in Love with Anchor Beauty received high ratings in China during its run. "Chinese remake of All About Eve No. 1 show in China" . Asiae. October 15, 2010.
Back in Korea, Jang played a fund manager-turned-lawyer in 2011's Midas, also starring Lee Min-jung and Kim Hee-ae. "Will Jang score another success with Midas?" . The Korea Herald. February 21, 2011. He next starred in legal drama thriller The Client (2011) with Ha Jung-woo and Park Hee-soon, saying the film satisfied his wish to portray a more emotionally complex persona. Playing a man accused of murdering his wife, Jang said he had to find "the right balance" "as someone who can appear at times like a criminal or at other times like an innocent man." "Ha Jung-woo confident about Korean-style legal thriller" . The Korea Times. August 31, 2011.
Initially reluctant to sign on to period drama Deep Rooted Tree (2011) because he found the role of low-level royal guard Kang Chae-yoon uninteresting in the original novel, Jang changed his mind upon reading that the character had been dramatized and made richer in the TV script. It tells the story of Kang investigating a case involving the serial murders of Jiphyeonjeon scholars in Gyeongbokgung while King Sejong (played by Han Suk-kyu) is developing the Hangul. "Jang Hyuk said did not want to take the role in Tree at first" . Asiae. September 29, 2011. "Actor Jang Hyuk's Soundtrack Picks" . Asiae. December 2, 2011.
In 2013, he headlined Iris II, the sequel to the 2009 spy action series. This was his third acting collaboration with actress Lee Da-hae, after Robber and The Slave Hunters. "Jang Hyuk, Lee Da-hae Confirm Roles in IRIS Sequel" . 10Asia. September 20, 2012. He also returned to the big screen in 2013 blockbuster disaster film The Flu, in which he and Soo Ae played a firefighter and a doctor racing against time to find the cure for a deadly strain of the cold virus.
To the surprise of many given his past draft-dodging scandal, he then joined Real Men, a weekly show in which six male celebrities are filmed documentary-style as they enter army Recruit training. This was Jang's first regular appearance on a variety/reality show in his 17-year acting career. He said, "I'd like to use this opportunity to reflect on myself through Real Men and to experience army life again." He appeared on Real Men from June 2013 to February 2014. He then wrote a collection of on his life experiences titled Jang Hyuk, Hot-Blooded Man, published on August 6, 2013.
In 2015, Jang returned to the milieu of period dramas with Shine or Go Crazy, a fictional romance between a cursed Goryeo prince and the last princess of Balhae. The film Empire of Lust followed, in which he played the wily and ambitious Yi Bang-won who launched a coup to become the king of Joseon. He was next cast in the Chinese film Inside or Outside, a detective mystery co-starring Simon Yam and Wallace Huo. Jang then played a Joseon innkeeper merchant in .
In 2016, Jang was cast in the Chinese drama New Sea. Back in Korea, Jang starred in KBS's medical drama A Beautiful Mind, playing a genius neurosurgeon. Though the drama was critically praised, the number of episodes were brought down from 16 to 14 because of low viewer ratings.
In 2017, he starred in his first cable drama, crime thriller Voice by OCN, where he played an ex-detective who joined a call center's team to track his wife's killer. Voice became a hit and its ratings broke OCN's dramas records when it was aired in Korea. His movie Ordinary Person opposite Son Hyun-joo was released in March 2017, where he acted as a manipulative National Planning Security chief. He also starred in weekend drama Money Flower, earning much acclaim and a Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor nomination for his role as a revenge-seeking lawyer. The same year, he was cast in action film The Swordsman.
In 2018, Jang returned to the small screen with SBS' romantic comedy drama Wok of Love, playing a former gangster turned restaurant owner; and MBC's action melodrama Bad Papa, playing a former champion boxer who chose to become a bad man in order to become a good father.
In 2019, he took part in reality TV program Urban Cops where celebrities team up with real life cops to solve crimes in the city. The same year, he was cast in the historical drama , playing the role of Yi Bang-won.
In 2020, Jang acted as a genius profiler in OCN drama Tell Me What You Saw. His movie The Swordsman was released in September 2020. The same year, he took part in reality TV program Yacht Expedition: The Beginning.
In 2021, Jang took part in outdoor survival variety TV program Law of the Jungle-Pioneers and cooking show National Bang Bang Cook Cook. His noir movie Tomb of the River was released in November 2021.
In 2022, Jang returned to the small screen with KBS2's historical drama Bloody Heart, playing the first vice-premier and a living symbol of power and a figure that everyone obeys. His movie made its world premiere at the Udine Far East Film Festival in April 2022, held a red carpet premiere at Los Angeles in June 2022 and hit the big screens simultaneously in South Korea and North America on 13 July 2022. He also won the Daniel A. Craft award for Excellence in Action Cinema at the 21st New York Asian Film Festival. In November 2022, he took part as a judge in tvN's variety program Super Action.
In March 2023, Jang decided not to renew his contract with Sidus HQ after working with the agency for 26 years since his debut. In April, he returned to the small screen with tvN's drama . In August, he took part in reality TV travel program Express Delivery: Mongolia Edition.
In August 2024, Jang's interactive film In the Realm of Ripley made its world premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival.
In January 2025, it was announced that Jang will make his directional debut with action film 'Stop Stop Dark Cold', in a partnership with a Hollywood-based production team. In February 2025, Jang's reality TV program Language Training Before It's Too Late: Shala Shala in Cambridge was aired. He also took part as a cast member in music entertainment show Handsome Trot.
In August 2025, Jang was appointed as an honorary ambassador for 'World Horse Day', which was proposed by the Mongolian president at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and jointly sponsored by 56 countries, including the Republic of Korea.
Jang has practiced Jeet Kune Do for more than 10 years and is a former professional Taekwondo athlete. He also holds a professional boxer certificate.
Ambassadorship
In December 2018, Jang was appointed as an honorary police sergeant by the Korean National Police Agency for capturing the police's activities through movies and dramas.
Personal life
Jang began dating his girlfriend, Kim Yeo-jin, in 2002. They met at a fitness club, where Kim was his Pilates instructor. The couple's marriage was registered in January 2008, and the ceremony was held in June. His close friends, singer Kim Jong-kook and actor Cha Tae-hyun, participated in the wedding ceremony. The couple have two sons and a daughter, born in February 2008, November 2009 and April 2015 respectively.
Filmography
Film
Television series
Into the Sunlight Han Myung-ha The Great Ambition Park Jae-young Ryokiteki na Kanojo Jang Hyuk Japanese drama; Cameo appearance, ep.1 Tazza Kim Go-ni Fall in Love with Anchor Beauty Chen Yi Po Chinese drama Deep Rooted Tree Kang Chae-yoon / Ddol-bok Old Farewell Kang Soo-hyuk The Producers Jang Hyun-sung Cameo, ep.3 Chun Bong-sam Hit the Top Passerby Cameo, ep.2 Bad Papa Yoo Ji-cheol Yi Bang-won
Web series
Television shows
The Friends in Croatia Main cast National Bang Bang Cook Cook Handsome Trot Cast Member Park-Jang-Dae-So Main Cast
Music video appearances
"The Loneliness of Two People" "Is There Love?" (사랑이 있을까) Kim Yong-jin
Discography
Studio albums
+ List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions, and sales
! rowspan="2" Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:21em;" Album details
! scope="col" style="width:5em" Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" Sales "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Soundtrack appearances
Book
Awards and nominations
+ Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
! scope="col" Award ceremony
! scope="col" Year
! scope="col" Category
! scope="col" Nominee / Work
! scope="col" Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" 2015 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Shine or Go Crazy / 2018 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Money Flower 2018 Best Actor – Television Money Flower 2018 Best Actor Bad Papa Grand Prize (Daesang) The Slave Hunters Top Excellence Award, Actor 2013 Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Top Excellence Award, Actor 2015 Best Couple Award Jang Hyuk
Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Top Excellence Award, Actor 2016 Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries A Beautiful Mind Excellence Award, Actor 2014 Best Couple Award Jang Hyuk
You Are My Destiny Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries You Are My Destiny Best Actor in a Drama Short Old Farewell 2015 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama Shine or Go Crazy 2017 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Weekend Drama Money Flower Grand Prize (Daesang) 2018 Vocal King Award Bad Papa Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama 2002 Top 10 Stars Successful Story of a Bright Girl / Daemang Top Excellence Award, Actor Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Successful Story of a Bright Girl Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Daemang 2008 Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Tazza Top 10 Stars Tazza / Robber 2011 Top 10 Stars Midas / Deep Rooted Tree Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Midas 2018 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Wok of Love
State and cultural honors
Notes
External links
Categories: 1976 Births, Living People, 20th-century South Korean Male Actors, 21st-century South Korean Male Actors, South Korean Male Film Actors, South Korean Male Television Actors, Male Actors From Busan, People From Geumjeong District, Seoul Institute Of The Arts Alumni, Dankook University Alumni, South Korean Jeet Kune Do Practitioners, South Korean Male Taekwondo Practitioners, South Korean Male Rappers, Ihq Artists, Draft Evaders
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