Jang Geun-suk

Jang Geun Suk
Born August 4, 1987 (1987-08-04) (age 24)
Seoul, South Korea
Occupation Actor
singer, Dancer, Model
Years active 1998-present
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 12 in)
Korean name
Hangul 장근석
Hanja 張根碩
Revised Romanization Jang Geun-seok
McCune–Reischauer Chang Kŭnsŏk
Website
http://www.jangkeunsuk.co.kr

Jang Keun-Suk (장근석, romanization: Jang Geun Seok) is a South Korean actor, singer and model. He is best known for playing the role of band leader Hwang Tae Kyung in the hit 2009 drama You're Beautiful, with Lee Hong Ki, Jung Yong Hwa, Park Shin Hye and Kim Yoo Jin also known as UEE. His latest role was that of Kang Mu Gyul in the 2010 romantic comedy series Mary Stayed Out All Night, with Moon Geun Young.

Contents

Early life

Jang Keun-Suk was born on August 4, 1987 in Danyang Country, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. He is an only child. Keun-Suk started working as a child model at the age of five after he was discovered by a talent agent. At that time, Keun-Suk's parents were selling their house and the agent, who was a prospective buyer, saw Keun-Suk. Seeing his potential, the agent advised Keun-Suk's parents to allow him to try a career in modeling.

Names

Career

Jang Keun-Suk made his acting debut in the 1997 HBS sitcom "Selling Happiness" (Haengbokeul Pabmoda). He then continued to work in television as a child actor. In middle school, Keun-Suk heard the music of Japanese pop singer Ken Hirai. He was inspired enough by these bands to start learning Japanese by himself. In junior high school, Keun-Suk went to school in New Zealand to learn English and Japanese. Because of his studies in New Zealand, he can carry casual conversations in both languages. Even though Keun-Suk wanted to continue his studies in New Zealand, a job offer brought him back to South Korea, a role in the popular MBC sitcom Nonstop 4. After his work in Nonstop 4, Keun-Suk fell into a self-perceived slump and didn't think his acting was good enough. He decided then to re-devote himself to becoming a true actor. In 2005, Keun-Suk's portrayal of the president's son in the SBS drama Lovers In Prague became a hit and was well regarded by drama fans.

In 2006, Keun-Suk made the jump to the big screen in the Japanese horror film One Missed Call: Final where he played the role of a deaf boy. Using his past experience with the Japanese language, Keun-Suk was able to communicate with his Japanese co-stars with ease. He also learned sign language in preparation for his role.

Back on the small screen, he next played the role of Kim Eun-ho, Hwang Jin-yi's first love in the TV drama Hwang Jin-i. Keun-Suk's performance gained the attention of many female fans. He also starred in the KBS drama, Hong Gil Dong, as Prince Lee Changhwi. In 2007, Keun-Suk was cast in the rock music themed film The Happy Life. His portrayal of Hyeon-ju in The Happy Life allowed Keun-Suk to show off his masculine charms, as well as display his skills as a singer. Keun-Suk would go on to play in two more music inspired titles in 2008, with the feature film Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do and the hit MBC TV drama Beethoven Virus.

Keun-Suk's next role in the 2009 thriller The Case of Itaewon Homicide was his first villain role. The film is based on a true story of a murder that occurred at a Burger King restaurant in Itaewon, South Korea. Keun-Suk portrayed the role of Pearson, a disturbed, young Korean-American accused of stabbing a student to death. Keun-Suk had to speak his lines in English throughout the film, a job he did well, according to BeyondHollywood.com: "Jang Keun Suk performs very well as the sullen Pearson."[1]

Film critics and moviegoers also praised Keun-Suk for his acting. A movie review posted on LondonKoreanLinks.com said: "The casting is cleverly done with Jang Keun-suk as the ‘innocent’ accused, his popularity allowing the audience to feel some empathy and warmth to an otherwise unattractive character. He does well in this role, a break from his normal cheerful persona and, combined with the fact he has to speak English through most of the film, it’s quite impressive. Its not perfect American accent of course, but it plays a vital part in itself."[2]

In You're Beautiful, Keun-Suk played the role of Hwang Tae-Kyung, leader of pop band A.N.Jell, who falls in love with a fellow band member who is a female pretending to be a guy on behalf of her brother, played by Park Shin Hye. The show, which also starred Lee Hong Ki and Jung Yong Hwa.

Keun-Suk was also one of the actors who appeared in the photoshoot "Kolon Christmas Photo Shoot" in 2008, along with co-actors Joo Jin Mo, Song Il-gook, Ko Soo, and Park Jae-jung.[3] He also was a host on Tracking Your X Boyfriend. He's also known for his outspoken personality and tectonic dance.

Though he sings for some of his dramas, he has not released any music of his own except for a few songs done for advertisements: "Black Engine" for Mens cosmetics and skin care, and "Touch Holic" and "Magic Drag" for Saumsung's YP-M1 mp3 player from the YEPP line.

He will next be seen in the Korean movie adaptation of the Japanese drama Kimi wa Petto.

Keun-Suk did some advertisements in 2010–2011 such as Ole Beauty Candy, Zegda CF, Code Combines CF and Samsung Galaxy Player.[4]

His first single as a singer, "Let Me Cry", was released by Pony Canyon in Japan on April 27, 2011. "Let Me Cry" debuted at number 1 on Japan's Oricon single charts, making him the first non-Japanese act to have the debut single to debut at number 1 on the charts.[5]

On August 2011, Jang Keun Suk and Moon Geun Young went to Japan for their Mary Stayed Out All Night Tour. There were a total of 4 Mary Stayed Out All Night Fanmeetings in Japan, 2 Meetings in Tokyo and 2 meetings in Osaka. Their Fanmeeting is the largest FM to date which can accommodate in more than 60,000 people.

Jang Keun Suk released his first Chinese album, "The Lounge H vol. 1", in China and Southeast Asia.[6] On October 12, 2011, he opened his fanclub’s pre-order sales for the album’s special edition. Two days later, pre-orders for the regular and special edition were available to the general public. Jang Keun Suk worked with musician Big Brother to create the duo in Team H. Big Brother took part in writing, producing, re-making songs, and even rapping. "The Lounge H vol. 1" has 4 tracks with the leading song "Gotta Getcha." Jang Keun Suk has reportedly written the lyrics for this song himself. The track has a strong beat and powerful rap. The album also includes a music video and special backstage clips.

Jang Keun Suk has been casted on his new youth melodrama Love Rain alongside Girls' Generation's Yoona by famed season drama PD Yoon Seok Ho

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Broadcast
1998 Hug (포옹) Won Joo
2000 School3 (학교3) Kang Won Seok's younger brother
2001 Ladies Of The Palace / Women's World (여인천하) Young Jeong Ryeom SBS
Four Sisters' Story (네 자매 이야기) Yeong Hoon MBC
2002 Orange (오렌지) Jang Keun-Suk
The Great Ambition (대망) Young Park Shi-yeong SBS
2003 Nonstop 4 (논스톱4) Jang Keun-Suk MBC
2005 Lovers in Prague (프라하의 연인) Yoon Gun-hee SBS
2006 Alien Teacher (에일리언샘) Bong Saem (Luxurious) Tooniverse
Hwang Jin-i (황진이) Kim Eun Ho KBS2
2008 Hong Gil Dong (쾌도홍길동) Lee Chang Whee KBS2
Beethoven Virus (베토벤 바이러스) Kang Geon Woo (Trumpet) MBC
2009 You're Beautiful (미남이시네요) Hwang Tae Kyung SBS
2010 Mary Stayed Out All Night (매리는 외박중) Kang Mu-Kyul KBS2
2011 Ikemen desu ne Cameo (Guest Appearance, Episode 8) TBS
2012 Love Rain (사랑비) Seo In Ha/Seo Jun KBS2

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2006 One Missed Call: Final An Jin Woo Japanese film
2007 Happy Life (즐거운 인생) Park Hyeon-jun
2008 The Longest 24 Months (기다리다 미쳐) Park Won-Jae
Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do (film) (도레미파솔라시도) Shin Eun-gyu
Baby and I (아기와 나) Han Joon-Su
2009 The Case of Itaewon Homicide (이태원 살인사건) Pearson Korean American. English speaking role
2011 You're my Pet (너는팻) In Ho

Discography

Korean

(Korean) Full listing at jangkeunsuk.co.kr/music/music.asp

2012

[Drama]Love Rain OST[7]

2011

[Film]You're My Pet OST (Single)
  • You're My Pet Kiwobwassong / Jang Keun Suk & Kim Ha Neul

2010

[Drama]Mary Stayed Out All Night OST Part. 1
  • Take Care, My Bus! / Jang Keun Suk
  • My Precious / Jang Keun Suk
[Drama]Mary Stayed Out All Night OST
  • Hello, Hello / Jang Keun Suk
  • I Will Promise You / Jang Keun Suk
  • Hello, Hello (Ballad Ver.) / Jang Keun Suk

2009

[Drama]You’re Beautiful OST (Regular)
  • Still / A.N. Jell
  • Promise / A.N. Jell
[Drama]You’re Beautiful OST Part. 2 (Regular)
  • Without Words / Jang Keun Suk
  • Good Bye / Jang Keun Suk
[Drama]You’re Beautiful OST (Special Edition)
  • What should I Do? / Jang Keun Suk
[CF]Just Drag (Single)
  • Just Drag / Jang Keun Suk
[CF]Toucholic Yepptic & Haptic love (Single)
  • Toucholic Yepptic & Haptic love / Jang Keun Suk

2008

[CF]Black Engine (Single)
  • Black Engine / Jang Keun Suk
[Film]Doremifasolatido OST
  • Full of Sunshine / Jang Keun Suk
[Drama]Beethoven Virus OST (Single)
  • Can You Hear Me Part 2 / Jang Keun Suk

2007

[Film]The Happy Life OST (Regular)
  • The Happy Life (Radio Edit. Ver.) / Hwal Hwa San
  • It’ll Explode (Ver. 3) / Hwal Hwa San
  • It’ll Explode 2007 (Ver. 2) / Hwal Hwa San
  • Fireworks / Hwal Hwa San
  • The Happy Life (For Film) / Hwal Hwa San
[Film]The Happy Life OST (Single)
  • The Happy Life (Main Theme) / Hwal Hwa San (Active Volcano)
  • It’ll Explode / Hwal Hwa San

2004

[Sitcom]Non Stop 4 (Regular Edition)
  • Sky High / Non Stop Band
  • Non Band Song / Non Stop Band
  • Happy Happy Birthday / Non Stop Band
  • Let’s Get Down / Jang Keun Suk
  • We’re Here / Non Stop Band

Chinese

...

2011

The Lounge H Vol. 1 (Regular Edition)

by Team H (Jang Keun Suk x Big Brother)

  • Victory
  • Gotta Getcha
  • Shake It
  • Run Away

Japanese

2011

Let Me Cry (Single)
  • Let Me Cry
Let Me Cry
  • Let Me Cry
  • Bye Bye Bye
  • 一緒につくったメロディ
  • Let Me Cry (Inst.)
  • Bye Bye Bye (Inst.)
  • 一緒につくったメロディ (Inst.)

Awards

Product Endorsements

References

External links