Jang Hyuk

This is a Korean name; the family name is Jung. In stage/pen name, the surname is Jang.
Jang Hyuk
Born Jung Yong-joon
December 20, 1976
Busan, South Korea
Education Seoul Institute of the Arts - Film
Dankook University - Theater and Film
Occupation Actor
Years active 1996–present
Agent SidusHQ
Spouse(s) Kim Yeo-jin (m. 2008)
Children 2 sons
Korean name
Hangul 장혁
Hanja 張赫
Revised Romanization Jang Hyeok
McCune–Reischauer Chang Hyŏk
Birth name
Hangul 정용준
Hanja 鄭鏞俊
Revised Romanization Jeong Yong-jun
McCune–Reischauer Chŏng Yong-jun

Jang Hyuk (born Jung Yong-joon on December 20, 1976) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films Volcano High (2001) and Windstruck (2004), and the television dramas Successful Story of a Bright Girl (2002), The Slave Hunters (2010), Deep Rooted Tree (2011), and Fated to Love You (2014).

Career

As a child, Jung Yong-joon spent most of his life in his birthplace Busan, before making his acting debut in 1997 in the television drama Model under the stage name Jang Hyuk. Besides the teen series School and a minor role in the little-seen film Zzang (The Best), Jang appeared in the music video To My Mother, the 1999 debut single of popular boyband g.o.d. He also acted in several music videos from his rap album, released in 2000 under the name TJ Project. His career first began to take off in 2001 when he was cast in the lead role of the special-effects extravaganza Volcano High together with actress Shin Min-ah. His acting in the eccentric role drew praise from fans and critics.[1]

In 2002 he continued to make a name for himself, starring in the sleeper hit Jungle Juice, which made the top of the weekly box-office, and especially in the hugely popular TV drama Successful Story of a Bright Girl with actress Jang Na-ra. He also took a role in Public Toilet, the HK-Korea co-production by acclaimed Hong Kong director Fruit Chan which won a Special Mention in the Upstream section of the 2002 Venice Film Festival.[1]

In 2003 Jang appeared with actress Lee Na-young in the comedy Please Teach Me English, by director Kim Sung-su. His next project was even more high-profile, opposite top star Jun Ji-hyun in Kwak Jae-yong's Windstruck. Although this film was generally not well received in Korea, it went on to beat Shiri and become one of the best-selling Korean films in Japan.[1]

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.[1] Amid widespread public condemnation, Jang apologized to his fans, then began to serve his two-year term.[2][3]

After his discharge from the army in 2006,[4] Jang rejoined the entertainment scene through the drama series Thank You.[5] A heartwarming story about a young single mother (played by Gong Hyo-jin) with an HIV-positive daughter and the cynical doctor who enters their lives, Thank You surprisingly became a modest hit, and with it Jang left the stigma of his draft-dodging scandal behind him.

He then signed up for the international movie production Dance of the Dragon, a love story that mixed ballroom dancing with martial arts action and costarred Singaporean actress Fann Wong.[6][7] He won the Best Actor award at the inaugural West Hollywood International Film Festival for his role.[8][9]

Jang made a cameo 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.[10] Jang then appeared as the love interest in three music videos of Taiwanese singer Elva Hsiao.[11]

More TV dramas and movies followed, including Robber, Tazza opposite Han Ye-seul adapted from the gambling manhwa,[12] the short film His Concern in the omnibus Five Senses of Eros, the risque thriller Searching for the Elephant (also known as Penthouse Elephant) with Jo Dong-hyuk and Lee Sang-woo, and the melodrama Maybe (also known as The Rabbit and the Lizard) opposite Sung Yu-ri.[13][14]

In 2010, he received the best reviews of his career for his leading role as the slave hunter ("chuno") Dae-gil in the hit fusion period drama The Slave Hunters.[15][16] His acting coach of 14 years described Jang as being relentless in his analysis of a character. According to Jang, "It is easy to fail if you don’t understand the steps one has to take to be famous."[17] He won several acting awards, most significantly the Grand Prize ("Daesang") at the KBS Drama Awards,[18] and a Best Actor nomination at the 2011 International Emmy Awards.[19][20][21]

Shortly afterward he starred in Ai Shang Nu Zhu Bo ("Fall in Love with Anchor Beauty"), the Chinese remake of 2000 Korean drama All About Eve.[22] Fall in Love with Anchor Beauty received high ratings in China during its run.[23]

Back in Korea, Jang played a fund manager-turned-lawyer in 2011's Midas, also starring Lee Min-jung and Kim Hee-ae. Jang's character nabs the job of a lifetime working for a chaebol household, but it involves him in a high-stakes game of power that threatens to transform him into a money-hungry monster.[24][25]

He next starred in legal thriller The Client 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."[26]

Initially reluctant to sign on to period drama Deep Rooted Tree 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 Gyeongbok Palace while King Sejong (played by Han Suk-kyu) is developing the Korean alphabet.[27][28]

In 2013, he headlined Iris II, sequel to the 2009 spy action series.[29][30][31][32] This was his third acting collaboration with actress Lee Da-hae, after Robber and The Slave Hunters.[33][34]

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 boot camp. 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."[35] He appeared on Real Men from June 2013 to February 2014.[36]

Jang 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.[37][38] He then wrote a collection of essays on his life experiences titled Jang Hyuk, Hot-Blooded Man, published on August 6, 2013.[39][40]

In 2014, he reunited with Volcano High director Kim Tae-kyun in Innocent Thing, a thriller about a high school girl who becomes obsessed with her married gym teacher.[41][42] He also teamed up again with Successful Story of a Bright Girl costar Jang Na-ra in Fated to Love You, a Korean remake of the same-titled 2008 Taiwanese drama.[43][44][45] Shortly after, he and Jang starred together for the third time in Old Farewell, about a boxer who travels into the past and re-encounters his recently deceased wife. It was part of the single-episode anthology Drama Festival, and helmed by one of their directors on Fated.[46]

Jang returned to the milieu of period dramas in 2015 with Shine or Go Crazy, a fictional romance between a cursed Goryeo prince and the last princess of Balhae.[47] 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.[48][49]

Personal life

On June 2, 2008, Jang tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Kim Yeo-jin. The couple had been together since 2002; she was his Pilates instructor.[50] His close friends singer Kim Jong-kook and actor Cha Tae-hyun participated in the wedding ceremony.

The couple has two sons (born in February 2008 and November 2009).[51]

Jang has practiced Jeet Kune Do for more than 10 years and is a former professional Taekwondo athlete.

On April 16, 2015 Jang Hyuk had a healthy baby girl.[52] [53][54][55][56]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Zzang Im Se-bin
2001 Volcano High Kim Kyung-soo
2002 Jungle Juice Ki-tae
Public Toilet Kim Seon-bak
2003 Please Teach Me English Park Mun-su
2004 Windstruck Go Myung-woo
S Diary Im Chan (cameo)
2008 Dance of the Dragon Kwon Tae-san
2009 Five Senses of Eros Jung Min-soo segment: "His Concern"
Maybe Eun-seol
Searching for the Elephant Hyun-woo
2011 The Client Han Chul-min
2013 The Flu Kang Ji-goo
2014 Innocent Thing Kim Joon-ki
2015 Empire of Lust Prince Yi Bang-won

Television drama

Year Title Role Network
1997 Model Chool-yeon SBS
1999 School Kang Woo-hyuk KBS2
Into the Sunlight Han Myung-ha MBC
2000 Wang Rung's Land Bong-pil SBS
2002 Successful Story of a Bright Girl Han Gi-tae SBS
Daemang (The Great Ambition) Park Jae-young SBS
2007 Thank You Min Gi-seo MBC
2008 Robber Kwon Oh-joon SBS
Ryokiteki na Kanojo Hallyu star "Jang Hyuk"
(cameo, episode 1) 		TBS
Tazza Kim Goni SBS
2010 The Slave Hunters Lee Dae-gil KBS2
Fall in Love with Anchor Beauty Chen Yi Po ZJSTV
2011 Midas Kim Do-hyun SBS
Deep Rooted Tree Kang Chae-yoon/Ddol-bok SBS
2013 Iris II Jung Yoo-gun KBS2
2014 Fated to Love You Lee Gun MBC
Drama Festival "Old Farewell" Kang Soo-hyuk MBC
Love Cells Neighbor (cameo) Naver TV Cast
2015 Shine or Go Crazy Wang So MBC

Variety show

Year Title Network Notes
2004 Heroine 5 KBS2 Guest
2007 ZipiZigi MBC Guest, episode 1
Heart to Heart Arirang
2008 Family Outing SBS Guest, episodes 27-29
2009 Happy Together - Season 3 KBS2 Guest, episode 117
Family Outing SBS Guest, episodes 66-67
2010 Happy Together - Season 3 KBS2 Guest, episodes 130-131
Talk Show Rock KBS1 Guest, episode 11
Baek Ji-yeon's People Inside tvN Guest, episode 42
연대기 100인의 전설 KBS1 Guest
Kim Seung-woo's Win Win KBS2 Guest, episode 9
Danbi MBC Guest
It Travel: Jang Hyuk in U.S.A. Trend E
2011 Brunch tvN Guest, episode 26
Baek Ji-yeon's People Inside tvN Guest, episode 100
Running Man SBS Guest, episodes 44-45
Secret Asia: Story of Osaka Fashion N
Talent Sharing Project DREAM tvN
Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy SBS Guest, episode 13
2012 Taxi tvN Guest, episode 232
2013 Hwasin – Controller of the Heart SBS Guest, episode 15
Real Men MBC Cast member (until 2014)

Music video

Year Song Title Artist
1997 "A Request" Lee Seung-hwan
1999 "To My Mother" g.o.d
2000 "God Bless TJ" TJ Project
"Money"
"TJ's Love Story"
"Take the Life of You"
"Rain"
"Hey Girl"
"Love of Sun and Moon"
2001 "A Better Day" JTL
2006 "그저 흐르는 대로" UTO
2008 "Impulse" Elva Hsiao
"The Loneliness of Two People"
"Is There Love?" Kim Yong-jin

Discography

Album information Tracklisting
T.J Project

Book

Year Title Publisher ISBN
2013 Jang Hyuk, Hot-Blooded Man Paper Book ISBN 9788997148325

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2000 SBS Drama Awards Best New Actor Wang Rung's Land Won
2002 SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Successful Story of a Bright Girl,
Daemang		 Won
Top 10 Stars Won
2007 MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor Thank You Nominated
Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Miniseries Won
2008 3rd Asia Model Festival Awards BBF Popular Star Award N/A Won
2nd West Hollywood International Film Festival Best Actor Dance of the Dragon Won
SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Tazza Won
Top 10 Stars Won
2010 46th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (TV) The Slave Hunters Nominated
5th Seoul International Drama Awards Outstanding Korean Actor Won
3rd Korea Drama Awards Best Actor Won
17th Han Il Culture Awards Acting Award, Cultural Diplomacy category N/A Won
2nd Jewelry Awards Ruby Award N/A Won
5th A-Awards Passion Award N/A Won
23rd Grimae Awards Best Actor The Slave Hunters Won
KBS Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor Nominated
Best Couple Award with Lee Da-hae Won
2011 International Emmy Awards Best Actor Nominated
23rd Korea PD Awards Best Performer, TV Actor category Won
SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Planning Drama Midas, Deep Rooted Tree Won
Top 10 Stars Won
2012 46th Taxpayer's Day Presidential Commendation N/A Won
2013 MBC Entertainment Awards Popularity Award in a Variety Show Real Men Won
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Iris II Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actor Nominated
2014 3rd APAN Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Fated to Love You Nominated
7th Herald Donga Lifestyle Awards[57] Best Dressed of the Year N/A Won
MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Fated to Love You Won
Best Couple Award with Jang Na-ra Won
Best Actor in a Drama Short Old Farewell Nominated

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema: Jang Hyuk". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  2. ↑ "More Actors Come Forward on Draft Dodging". The Chosun Ilbo. September 19, 2004.
  3. ↑ "Song Seung-heon Appointed as Artilleryman, Jang Hyuk as Rifleman". KBS Global. December 17, 2004.
  4. ↑ "Yellow Ribbons Time for Song Seung-hun". The Chosun Ilbo. November 16, 2006.
  5. ↑ "First Script In Three Yrs: Like When I first Started...". The Dong-a Ilbo. March 15, 2007.
  6. ↑ "I am a dandy boy". The New Paper. September 28, 2007.
  7. ↑ "JANG Hyuk enters the world stage impressively". Korean Film Biz Zone. April 24, 2008.
  8. ↑ "2008 Winners". West Hollywood International Film Festival. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  9. ↑ "Korean hunk gives interview in English". The New Paper. January 21, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Jang Hyuk Makes Cameo Appearance in Japanese Drama". KBS Global. April 23, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Actor Jang Hyuk Stars in Taiwanese Singer Elva's New Music Video". KBS Global. June 25, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Dramas Bring Hero, Gamblers and Orchestra". The Korea Times. September 9, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Jang Hyuk praises big screen newcomer Sung Yu-ri". 10Asia. October 5, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Maybe set out to mend hearts". 10Asia. October 14, 2009.
  15. ↑ "Interview: Actor Jang Hyuk - Part 1". 10Asia. March 11, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Interview: Actor Jang Hyuk - Part 2". 10Asia. March 11, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Acting coach tells what it takes to be a star". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 25, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Jang Hyuk scores top prize at KBS Drama Awards". 10Asia. January 3, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Korea gets 2 International Emmy nominations". The Korea Herald. October 4, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Korea represented at Intl. Emmys". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 5, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Jang Hyuk, KBS The Master Show nominated for International Emmy Awards". 10Asia. October 6, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Jang Hyuk to star in Chinese remake of All About Eve". 10Asia. March 26, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Chinese remake of All About Eve No. 1 show in China". 10Asia. October 15, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Will Jang score another success with Midas?". The Korea Herald. February 21, 2011.
  25. ↑ "PREVIEW: SBS TV series Midas". 10Asia. February 22, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Ha Jung-woo confident about Korean-style legal thriller". The Korea Times. August 31, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Jang Hyuk said did not want to take the role in Tree at first". 10Asia. September 29, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Actor Jang Hyuk's Soundtrack Picks". 10Asia. December 2, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Will IRIS sequel deliver?". The Korea Herald. November 14, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Interview: Jang Hyuk, Lead Actor of IRIS 2, an Epitome of Sincerity and Style". 10Asia. January 19, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Interview: Jang Hyuk, Lead Actor of IRIS 2, an Epitome of Sincerity and Style – Part. 2". 10Asia. January 27, 2013.
  32. ↑ "IRIS II set to explode onto the small screen". The Korea Herald. February 7, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Jang Hyuk, Lee Da-hae Confirm Roles in IRIS Sequel". 10Asia. September 20, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Jang Hyuk and Lee Da-hae to star in Iris 2". Korea JoongAng Daily. September 21, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Jang Hyuk to Join MBC Variety Show Real Man". 10Asia. May 21, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Real Men reshuffling cast". Korea JoongAng Daily. February 8, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Flu spreads horror throughout Seoul suburb". Korea JoongAng Daily. August 9, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Interview: Jang Hyuk Shows His Trust in Director Kim Sung Soo and Soo Ae". enewsWorld. August 17, 2013.
  39. ↑ "Book of Essays Shows Life Behind the Scenes for Actor Jang Hyuk". The Chosun Ilbo. August 7, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Jang Hyuk Publishes Autobiography Today". 10Asia. August 6, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Emotions prickle, limits tested in Innocent Thing". Korea JoongAng Daily. April 4, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Jang Hyuk Talks About His Affinity for Melodramas". The Chosun Ilbo. May 10, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Jang Hyuk says Jang Na-ra looks the same as 12 years ago". The Korea Herald. June 30, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Chinese are loving latest MBC drama". Korea JoongAng Daily. September 22, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Interview: Jang Hyuk Talks 17 Years of His Hot and Cold Acting Career". enewsWorld. September 28, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Snail couple back in new short drama". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 31, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Jang Hyuk & Oh Yeon Seo coming back with a new drama called Shine or Go Crazy". StarN News. January 16, 2015.
  48. ↑ "Empire of Lust sheds light on love in battle for Joseon throne". The Korea Herald. February 25, 2015.
  49. ↑ "New 'Yi Bang-won' film focuses on love for a change". The Korea Times. March 2, 2015.
  50. ↑ "Actor Jang Hyuk to Marry in June". The Korea Times. December 30, 2007.
  51. ↑ "Actor Jang Hyuk Becomes Father". The Korea Times. February 10, 2008.
  52. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2015/04/01/jang-hyuk-and-his-wife-reported-to-be-expecting-their-third-child/
  53. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2015/04/30/jang-hyuk-becomes-a-father-of-three/
  54. ↑ http://www.kdramastars.com/articles/83007/20150430/jang-hyuk-and-his-wife-welcome-a-daughter.htm
  55. ↑ http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/91995/jang-hyuk-welcomes-new-baby-daughter-into-the-world
  56. ↑ http://kpopherald.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=201504301751156557476_2
  57. ↑ "Jang Hyuk, Cha Ye-ryun named best dressed at Herald Donga awards". The Korea Herald. December 10, 2014.

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