| Ha Jeong-woo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kim Seong-hun March 11, 1979 |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Known for | The Chaser |
Ha Jeong-woo (Hangul: 하정우, born March 11, 1979) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his role in the 2008 film The Chaser.
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Born as Kim Seong-hun, Ha Jeong-woo comes from an acting family. His father Kim Yong-geon is a well-known veteran actor who has appeared in many movies and television series, while his younger brother Kim Yeong-hoon is an aspiring actor. Ha has said that since he was 4 or 5 years old, he has always dreamed of becoming an actor like his father. Before entering college, Ha studied at a private acting institute and at one point had actor Lee Beom-soo as his instructor. He then enrolled at Chung-Ang University as a theater major, where he acted on the stage.
In 1998, Ha began his military service, working in the Armed Forces Public Relations Department. He put his acting experience to good use during this time, appearing in 10 promotional films for the military. In 2002, he made his acting debut in the SBS sitcom Honest Living and his feature film debut in the 2002 film Madeleine. For the next few years, Ha's acting career was relatively low-key, appearing in several supporting roles, but not receiving a lot of attention. Things started to change in 2005. He signed with talent agency Sidus HQ and on their recommendation changed his name to "Ha Jeong-woo" from Kim Seong-hun. Ha would also appear in his first starring role in the indie film The Unforgiven - a film centered around the relationships between military personnel.[1] He then appeared in Kim Ki-duk's Time and Breath, which brought more notice to his acting talents in Korea and overseas. During this time, his popular MBC drama series H.I.T garnered him more female fans, with his portrayal of a cool-headed prosecutor who is romantically involved with a feisty police officer played by Ko Hyun Jung. He also starred in the American indie film Never Forever opposite Vera Farmiga, which garnered praise from the film festival circuit.
Ha's breakout came in the 2008 film The Chaser, in which he played a character loosely based on serial killer Yoo Young-chul. The movie became a huge hit at the Korean box office, raking in over 5 million ticket sales, while also garnering high praise from critics and numerous awards from local award-giving bodies. Ha's portrayal of a psychopath, coupled with his performance as a charming scoundrel in My Dear Enemy that same year, showcased his versatility and elevated his status as one of the most sought-after actors in the Korean film industry. Since The Chaser, Ha has worked virtually non-stop for the next several years, taking on diverse but compelling roles in The Moonlight in Seoul, Boat, and Take Off. Take Off, based on the Korean national ski jumping team, became one of the biggest box office hits of 2009.[2][3]
American director Martin Scorsese, rumored to be attached to a Hollywood remake of The Chaser[4], has complimented Ha as having as much potential as his The Departed stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon.[5]
Ha reunited with his The Chaser director Na Hong-jin and costar Kim Yoon-seok in Na's sophomore feature The Yellow Sea[6], which netted Ha Best Actor trophies from the Asian Film Awards, Baeksang Arts Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics.[7][8][9]
Ha said the legal thriller The Client evoked his early days of theater, and the director praised Ha for his "moments of true brilliance and genius" during the production.[10][11][12]
He recently wrapped filming the romantic comedy Love Fiction with Gong Hyo-jin.[13]
In Ryu Seung-wan's upcoming film The Berlin File, Ha is set to star as a North Korean agent in Berlin who is betrayed and cut loose in the midst of a financial espionage intrigue. Jun Ji-hyun will play his wife, a translator at the North Korean embassy in Berlin. Together they try to escape being purged, with Ryu Seung-beom and Han Suk-kyu playing North and South Korean operatives on their trail.[14]
Casting is underway for Nameless Gangster, pitting Ha opposite acclaimed veteran actor Choi Min-shik; this is Ha's third collaboration with director Yun Jong-bin.[15]
Ha Jeong-woo is also an artist. Though it began as a hobby in his university days, Ha began painting in earnest in 2007.[16] His paintings, all done in a modernist style, have been displayed in several solo art exhibitions.[17][18][19] Critics have said his paintings, with their strong colors and interesting composition[20] are reminiscent of those by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.[21]
In 2011 Ha published Ha Jeong-woo, Good Feeling, a compilation of his essays. Besides his musings on life, Ha also wrote his thoughts on famous artists such as Pablo Picasso. The book also included about 60 of his own drawings.[22]
Ha has been dating fashion model Gu Eun-ae since 2008.[23][24]
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