Joo Won

This is a Korean name; the family name is Moon.
Joo Won
Born Moon Jun-won
September 30, 1987
Seoul, South Korea
Education Kaywon High School of Arts
Sungkyunkwan University (Film and Television)
Graduate School of Mass Communications at Konkuk University
Occupation Actor, Singer
Years active 2007-present
Agent Sim Entertainment
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Korean name
Hangul 주원
Hanja 周元
Revised Romanization Ju-won
McCune–Reischauer Chu-wŏn
Birth name
Hangul 문준원
Hanja 文晙原
Revised Romanization Mun Jun-won
McCune–Reischauer Mun Chun-wŏn
Website
www.joowon508.com

Joo Won (Hangul: 주원; born Moon Jun-won, September 30, 1987) is a South Korean actor.[1] He is best known for starring in King of Baking, Kim Takgu, Ojakgyo Family, Bridal Mask and Good Doctor.

Early life

Moon Jun-won was born in Seoul, South Korea. The youngest in the family, he takes after his father in terms of personality while his physical appearance mirrored that of his mother. His mother has tried out for a talent search during her younger days, passing two out of three examinations.[2]

When he was eight, his parents sent him and his brother abroad to study in the U.S. However, they came back to Korea after just six months. Joo Won revealed, "If I'd known, I would have stayed a little longer".[3]

Due to his introvert nature, his parents encouraged him to join plays in the third year of middle school.[4] He joined an Arts and Drama high school - later revealed to be Kaywon High School of Arts[5] - and continued his education on Theatre and Arts in Sungkyunkwan University.[4] In 2013, Joo Won announced that he will be furthering his studies at Konkuk University.[6]

Career

2006-2009: Debut as a musical actor

Upon making it into college, Joo Won's father came up with the stage name "Joo Won" for him as the Hangul pronunciation of the name sounds similar to "God-willing".[2][7]

With his love for singing, he became involved in Frees, a co-ed television performance group formed by SBS as part of a children's TV program. The show premiered in 2006, but Joo Won left the show quickly thereafter.[8] Joo Won later auditioned for the stage musical Altar Boyz, based on the American musical of the same name.[4] This musical role was a first of many to come, as he later appeared in other musicals, namely Singles, Grease, Sinsangnam, and most notably, Spring Awakening.

Originally, Joo Won was the understudy for Melchior in Spring Awakening. However, the original actor who played Melchior left the musical midway through the production, thus allowing Joo Won to perform later on in the production.[9] His performance in Spring Awakening caught the attention of his future agency, Sim Entertainment.[10]

2010-2013: Appearance in the small screen

Joo Won first appeared in the 2010 television drama King of Baking, Kim Takgu (also known as Bread, Love and Dreams) as the antagonist to the titular character. King of Baking, Kim Takgu recorded high viewership ratings of over 50%,[11] earning a "national drama" status. He went on to star in the KBS2 weekend family drama Ojakgyo Family in 2011, opposite Uee. The drama revolves around four brothers and the Ojakgyo farm, and both Joo Won and UEE have been praised for their convincing performances as rookie actors.[12] For his portrayal as Hwang Tae-hee, Joo Won took home the Best New Actor award at the 2011 KBS Drama Awards.[13]

However, it was Joo Won's third small screen project Bridal Mask that truly propelled him to rising popularity. His excellent portrayal of the complex Lee Kang-to - a pro-Japanese Korean police officer by day and a masked vigilante who fights for Korean independence by night - earned him much praises from critics and audiences.[14] For his role in Bridal Mask, Joo Won took home the Popularity Award and Excellence Award at the 2012 KBS Drama Awards.[15] Just as Joo Won began filming Bridal Mask, he also joined the second season of Korea's popular variety program 1 Night 2 Days.[16] Among many other traits, he has revealed himself to be an avid A Pink fan, and a man who gets stressed out by quizzes.[17][18][19] In the spring of 2013, he starred in the MBC television series 7th Grade Civil Servant, alongside Choi Kang-hee who is 10 years his senior. The drama is based on the action-romance movie My Girlfriend Is an Agent.[20] At the 2013 MBC Drama Awards, Joo Won was awarded the Excellence Award for an Actor in the Miniseries category.[21]

In May 2013, Joo Won was offered his most challenging role to date - the role of Park Shi-on, an autistic savant who becomes a genius pediatric surgeon - for the KBS television series Good Doctor.[22] At the 2013 KBS Drama Awards, he swept four awards for his portrayal, namely Top Excellence Award for an Actor, Netizens' Award, PD Award (chosen by TV directors from KBS, SBS & MBC), and Best Couple Award with Moon Chae-won.[23]

Late 2013-2014: Return to musical, and film and drama works

After four years of absence from the musical scene, Joo Won returned to the musical stage with the Korean version of Ghost the Musical.[24] Due to schedule conflicts, he has since stepped down from 1 Night 2 Days to concentrate on his acting career.[25] In late 2013, Joo Won starred in the romantic comedy movie Steal My Heart (also known as Catch Me) opposite Kim Ah-joong.[26][27]

In early 2014, Joo Won confirmed that he would be starring in Fashion King.[28] The film, based on a popular webtoon of the same title, tells of a male student who tries to win the heart of the most popular girl in school by becoming the most handsome and best dressed.[29] Sulli of f(x), Park Se-young and Ahn Jae-hyun complete the line-up of the movie.[30] The film premiered in theaters on 6th November 2014.[31]

In the middle of the year, Joo Won went back and forth between Korea and China for the filming of the Chinese film Passion Heaven, signalling an entry into the Chinese market following the revelation of his increasing popularity in the country.[32]

Joo Won returned to the small screen in the fall of 2014 with Cantabile Tomorrow, the Korean adaptation of Nodame Cantabile, playing an arrogant and aloof genius musician.[33][34][35][36] Nodame Cantabile being one of the best-selling Japanese manga of all time, was adapted as a live-action television drama in Japan with mostly positive reviews.[37]

Filmography

Television drama

Year Title Role Network
2010 King of Baking, Kim Takgu Gu Ma-jun / Seo Tae-jo KBS2
2011 Ojakgyo Family Hwang Tae-hee
2012
2012 Bridal Mask Lee Kang-to / Sato Hiroshi / Gaksital
2013 7th Grade Civil Servant Han Gil-ro / Han Pil-hoon MBC
Good Doctor Park Si-on KBS2
2014 Cantabile Tomorrow Cha Yoo-jin

Film

Year Title Role Note
2011 S.I.U. Kim Ho-ryong
2012 Don't Click Joon-hyuk
Niko 2 : Little Brother, Big Trouble Niko Korean dubbing
2013 Steal My Heart Lee Ho-tae
2014 Fashion King Woo Ki-myung
Passion Heaven Qu Wei Ran
2015 That's Guy Jang-woo

Musical theatre

Year Title Role
2007 Altar Boyz Matthew
2008 Singles ensemble
Grease Doody
2009 Sinsangnam Yeon Ha-nam
Spring Awakening Melchior
2013-2014 Ghost the Musical Sam Wheat

Narration

Year Title Note
2012 Memories of civilization - Map Four-part series documentary

Variety shows

Year Title Role Notes Network
2006 Frees Himself Permanent member SBS
2010 Night Star Himself Episode 16, 17 (King of Baking, Kim Takgu special Part 1 & 2) KBS2
Chuseok Special King of Baking, Kim Takgu Himself
Happy Together Himself Episode 166 (King of Baking, Kim Takgu special)
2011 Win Win Himself Episode 46, secret guest for Jeon In-hwa
Himself Episode 87, secret guest for Uhm Tae-woong
Come To Play Himself Episode 363 MBC
2012 Happy Together Himself Episode 236 (Ojakgyo Family special) KBS2
Gag Concert Himself Guest for episode 647 (Sensibility segment)
1 Night & 2 Days Season 2 Himself Permanent member (episode 233 - 317)
Lee Seung-yeon & 100 Women Himself Episode 101 Story on
Win Win Himself Episode 137 KBS2
2013 Happy Together Himself Episode 310 (Good Doctor cast - Handsome Guy Special) KBS2
Entertainment Weekly Himself 21 September 2013 Episode (Guerrilla Date) KBS2
TV Entertainment Tonight Himself 16 October 2013 Episode (with Kim Ah-joong) SBS
Section TV Himself 10 November 2013 Episode MBC
You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook Himself 15 November 2013 Episode (with Ivy) KBS2
Section TV Himself 24 November 2013 Episode MBC
Gag Concert Himself 1 December 2013 Episode (Guest for Nom Nom Nom segment) KBS2
Witch Hunt Himself 13 December 2013 Episode 19 (with Kim Ah-joong) JTBC
Taxi Himself 16 December 2013 Episode 315 TVN (South Korea)
2014 Global Request Show: A Song For You Himself Episode 15 KBS World
Joo Won's Life Log Himself Regular cast KNTV Japan
Running Man[38] Himself Guest SBS
Happy Together Himself Episode 370 (Fashion King (film) - Fashion People) KBS2
Witch Hunt Himself Episode 64 (with Ahn Jae-hyun) JTBC

MC

Year Title
2011 KBS Drama Awards
2013 49th Baeksang Arts Awards

Discography

Music Video Appearances

Year Title Artist
2010 "Miss You" S.M. THE BALLAD
2012 "I Made Another Woman Cry"[39] 2BiC

Soundtrack

Year Title Track Artist
2010 King of Baking, Kim Takgu OST (Part 7) "내 사랑 (My Love)"
2012 Bridal Mask OST Track 5 - "심판의 날 (Judgment Day)"
Track 7 - "사랑 그리고 사랑 (Love and Love)"
2013 7th Grade Civil Servant OST "사랑할 줄 몰라서 (I Don't Know Love)"
2013 Good Doctor OST "소독약 (Love Medicine)"
"내가 만일 (If I Were)"
2014 Cantabile Tomorrow OST "이노센트 (Innocente)"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2009 15th Korean Musical Awards Best New Actor Spring Awakening Nominated
2010 4th The Musical Awards Best New Actor Nominated
KBS Drama Awards Best New Actor King of Baking, Kim Takgu Nominated
2011 Asia Model Festival Awards Special Award - Best New Model Won
KBS Drama Awards Best New Actor Ojakgyo Family Won
2012 48th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor in TV Won
Best New Actor in Film S.I.U. Nominated
21st Buil Film Awards Best New Actor Nominated
6th Mnet 20's Choice Awards 20's Drama Star (Male) Bridal Mask Nominated
KBS Entertainment Awards Best Newcomer in Show/Variety 2 Days & 1 Night Won
KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Bridal Mask Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Won
Best Couple Award with Park Ki-woong Nominated
Best Couple Award with Jin Se-yeon Nominated
Popularity Award Won
20th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards[40] Top Excellence Award, Actor Nominated
1st K-Drama Star Awards[41] Excellence Award, Actor Won
Drama Fever Awards Best Bromance Award Won
2013 49th Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actor in TV Nominated
Most Popular Actor in Film Don't Click Nominated
6th Korea Drama Awards[42] Male Top Excellence (Best Actor) Good Doctor Nominated
2nd APAN Star Awards[43] Male Top Excellence Award / Best Leading Actor Nominated
KBS Drama Awards[44] Best Couple Award with Moon Chae-won Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor Won
Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Nominated
PD Award (chosen by PDs from KBS, SBS & MBC) Won
Netizens' Award Won
MBC Drama Awards[45] Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries 7th Grade Civil Servant Won
2014 26th Korea Producers & Directors (PD) Awards[46] Best Performer Good Doctor Won
50th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor in TV Nominated
Most Popular Actor in TV Nominated
Most Popular Actor in Film Steal My Heart Nominated
9th Seoul International Drama Awards Outstanding Korean Actor Good Doctor Nominated
People's Choice Award (Korea) Nominated
KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Cantabile Tomorrow Nominated
Popularity Award, Actor Won

Endorsements

Year Commercial Note
2010 KFC Zinger S
Real Company ASK
2012 Lotte Chilsung Cantanta Stick Coffee With UEE
Nong Shim Doongji Cold Noodles
SK Telecom T-Store
2012–present BLACK YAK MOUNTIA
Edwin With Jin Se-yeon and Ha Yeon-joo
2014 McCOL[47]
LAB SERIES Age Rescue + Water-Charged Gel Cream[48]

References

  1. ↑ "Naver 영화 주원" (KOREAN LANGUAGE). Biography. Naver. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "[INTERVIEW] Actor Joo Won". 29 September 2010. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  3. ↑ "Joo Won Reveals Moon Joon Won's Secrets (30 Questions 30 Answers)". 26 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Joo Won, the Genuine Instrument, Becoming the Uprising Lucky Star". 2 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  5. ↑ "Ju Won Makes His Own Luck with His Sincerity". 9 September 2012. Retrieved 2014-08-30.
  6. ↑ "Joo Won to further his studies at Konkuk University". 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
  7. ↑ "[Engtrans] Joo Won's Interview - PPTV Taiwan (Part 1 to 3)". 8 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  8. ↑ "Actor Joo Won Used to be an Idol?". 8 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  9. ↑ "Interview with Movist, November 2011:Part 1". 14 August 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  10. ↑ "Sim Entertainment CEO mentions Joo Won". 30 August 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  11. ↑ "Joo Won: 'I Achieved My Dream with Rookie Male Actor Award'". 11 January 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
  12. ↑ "'Ojakgyo Brothers' adds eight more episodes to series". 30 December 2011. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
  13. ↑ "2011 KBS Drama Awards : Winners List @ HanCinema :: The Korean Movie and Drama Database". Hancinema.net. 2011-12-31. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  14. ↑ "'Kim Ung Soo "Joo Won is the key of Gaksital’s success, he is a great actor".
  15. ↑ "2012 KBS Drama Awards (Winners List)". 1 January 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  16. ↑ "Thoughts on 1 Night 2 Days Season 2". 24 January 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  17. ↑ "1 night 2 days Joo Won is really an actor: "How can he's so different with his character?"". 5 June 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  18. ↑ "Joo Won confesses his love for A Pink on '1 Night 2 Days'". 6 October 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  19. ↑ "Joo Won confesses he gets stressed out by quizzes on '1 Night 2 Days'". 11 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  20. ↑ "[Level 7 Civil Servant]". 15 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  21. ↑ "Winners from the 2013 MBC Drama Awards". 30 December 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
  22. ↑ "Joo won, offered to be the lead actor in upcoming KBS2 drama "Green Scalpel"". 21 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  23. ↑ "Joo Won sweeps off multiple awards at the 2013 KBS Drama Awards". 4 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
  24. ↑ "Korea's Busiest Entertainer Joo Won to Headline Stage Musical Ghost". 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  25. ↑ "Joo Won to leave "1 Night, 2 Days" Due to Schedule Issues". 30 September 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  26. ↑ "Kim Ah Joong reveals a kiss scene with Joo Won felt like kissing a baby". 7 December 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  27. ↑ "Joo Won Promises to Sing While Eating Chicken on "Cultwo Show"". 17 December 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
  28. ↑ "Joo Won Becomes A Student For "Fashion King"". 29 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  29. ↑ "Joo-won, Sulli take on Fashion King adaptation". 28 December 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  30. ↑ "Park Se-young joins Joo-won in Fashion King". 5 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  31. ↑ "'Fashion King' releases BTS photos of its fashion-forward cast". 11 November 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
  32. ↑ "Joo Won to act alongside Hangeng in new Chinese film 'Xiao You Qiao Mu'". 5 May 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  33. ↑ "Joo Won confirmed for 'Nodame Cantabile' + Shim Eun Kyung in talks to join as female lead". 29 April 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  34. ↑ http://www.dramafever.com/news/joo-won-confirms-he-will-play-chiaki-senpai-in-korean-version-of-nodame-cantabile/
  35. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2014/04/29/joo-won-cast-as-male-lead-for-korean-version-of-nodame-cantabile/
  36. ↑ http://www.kpopstarz.com/articles/89809/20140429/joo-won-confirmed-as-cast-for-nodame-cantabile.htm
  37. ↑ "Joo Won confirms he will play Chiaki-senpai in Korean version of Nodame Cantabile". 30 April 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  38. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2014/07/06/joo-won-to-make-guest-appearance-on-running-man/
  39. ↑ http://www.soompi.com/2012/03/13/lee-min-ho-and-joo-won-costar-in-mv-for-2bics-made-yet-another-woman-cry/
  40. ↑ "대한민국문화연예대상 > 제20회 대한민국문화연예대상 수상자명단 [드라마부문] 1 페이지". Awards.emn.kr. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  41. ↑ "배우 중심의 시상식 'K드라마스타어워즈', 8일 대전서 열린다 - TVREPORT:: 방송전문인터넷미디어". Tvreport. 2012-12-08. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  42. ↑ "Korea Drama Awards 2013 Nominees". 24 September 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  43. ↑ "2013 APAN Star Awards - Nominees List". 16 November 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  44. ↑ "2013 KBS Drama Awards - Winners List". 31 December 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
  45. ↑ "[Live Updates] Winners of the 2013 MBC Drama Awards". Soompi. 30 December 2013.
  46. ↑ "한국PD대상 수상자들, 세월호 실종자 무사 귀환 기도 배우 주원 "진도에서 기적이 일어나길 바란다"". nalava@pdjournal.com. 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  47. ↑ "Joo Won for McCOL". 5 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  48. ↑ "Joo Won graces the pages of 'InStyle Men' as the model for male skin care brand 'LAB SERIES'". 25 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-31.

External links