Yoo Gun

This is a Korean name; the family name is Jo. In stage/pen name, the surname is Yoo.
Yoo Gun
Born Jo Jeong-ik
January 21, 1983
Arizona, United States
Other names U Gun
Citizenship South Korea
Education Seoul Institute of the Arts - Broadcasting Entertainment
Konkuk University - Film Art
Occupation Actor, singer
Korean name
Hangul 유건
Hanja 劉健
Revised Romanization Yu Geon
McCune–Reischauer Yu Kŏn
Birth name
Hangul 조정익
Hanja 趙廷翼
Revised Romanization Jo Jeong-ik
McCune–Reischauer Cho Chŏng'ik

Jo Jeong-ik (born 21 January 1983), better known by his stage name Yoo Gun, is an American-born South Korean actor.

Early life

Jo Jeong-ik was born in Arizona, United States to Korean American parents. He came to South Korea in the 1990s as a teenager. He is distantly related to coloratura soprano Sumi Jo.[1][2]

Career

Under the stage name Yoo Gun, he began his entertainment career in 1997 as a singer in South Korean boy band Oppa.[3] Yoo rose to popularity through his first leading role in the 2006 television drama Hello, God! (안녕하세요 하느님); he played a mentally challenged character based on "Charlie" in the novel Flowers for Algernon. Supporting roles followed in the comedy films Dasepo Naughty Girls, Project Makeover, Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K, and My Mighty Princess.[4][3] Yoo underwent six months of martial arts training for his next leading role in the action drama Fight, which aired on cable in 2008.[5] Besides appearing in the TV series Bad Couple, Can't Stop Now, and Prosecutor Princess, he also made his theater debut in 2010 in the stage play Thief's Diary.

In 2011, he renounced his U.S. citizenship in order to serve in the South Korean army.[3][6] Yoo enlisted as an ordinary soldier in March 2011, and was later transferred to the Defense Media Agency in October 2011, where he took over as DJ of the military radio program This is Friends FM Yoo Gun.[7][8] He also appeared on the KFN (Korean Forces Network) TV program March in 2012.

After his discharge in December 2012, Yoo quickly resumed his career, appearing on the travel program The World is Delicious (오감만족 세상은 맛있다) in an episode about Brazil,[9] followed by a cameo on the melodrama That Winter, The Wind Blows.[10] Yoo then headlined the KBS1 daily drama Sincerity Moves Heaven in 2013.[11]

Filmography

Note: the whole section is referenced.[12]

Television drama

Film

Variety show

Music video

Theater

References

  1. ↑ 유건, "소프라노 조수미가 내 5촌 고모" [Yu Geon: "Soprano Jo Sumi is my cousin's father's sister"]. Osen (in Korean). 1 June 2007. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  2. ↑ 유건 "성악가 조수미가 오촌고모" [Yu Geon: "Vocalist Jo Sumi is my cousin's father's sister"]. Star News/Money Today (in Korean). 17 June 2008. Retrieved 2013-02-15.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 유건, 오늘(2일) 미국시민권 포기 현역 군입대 [Yu Geon today gave up U.S. citizenship and enlisted in the army]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  4. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (26 June 2008). "Princess Flies High, Dips Low". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  5. ↑ "It's Real Action on Cable with 맞짱 (Road Fighter)". Twitch Film. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  6. ↑ Lee, Jin-ho (27 April 2013). "Yoo Gun Talks about His Enlistment and His American Citizenship". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
  7. ↑ Oh, Mi-jung (5 January 2012). "Yoo Gun Hosts Military Radio Show". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  8. ↑ "Today's Photo: September 30, 2011". The Chosun Ilbo. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  9. ↑ 유건 식스팩 공개하며…제대 후 첫 방송 복귀 ′이목 집중′ [Yu Geon shows off his six-pack; first program since discharge, goes back to 'grabbing eyes and ears']. Newspim (in Korean). 5 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  10. ↑ "Song Hye Kyo Meets Her First Love, Yoo Gun On That Winter, The Wind Blows, and He Has A Surprise For Her". Hi! K-Pop. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  11. ↑ Choi, Eun-hwa (5 April 2013). "Yoo Gun to Return to Acting with Sweet Springs". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  12. ↑ 유건. Nate (in Korean). Retrieved 2013-04-25.
  13. ↑ http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/thedrama/vod/preview/?idx=25
  14. ↑ http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/dramacity/view/1507094_1355.html
  15. ↑ Hong, Grace Danbi (8 January 2013). "Lee Seok Hoon Releases Last MV Teaser Before Army". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-04-06.

External links