Jung applied for and got accepted in the theater department of Chung-Ang University. During his freshman year, he became roommates with an older theater major named Ha Jung-woo.[2] Ha became a huge influence in Jung's life, and Jung later said he decided to become an actor after seeing Ha perform onstage. It was Ha who persuaded Jung to try out for the KBS actors' audition in 2003.[3][4]
Career
Early Career and breakthrough
Jung passed the KBS audition, and was soon signed by leading talent agency SidusHQ.[5] Along with four other newcomers from the agency, he made his acting debut in 5 Stars, a mobile drama produced by SidusHQ and broadcast over SK Telecom.[6] A few minor roles on KBS followed.
Jung's first major break came in 2004 melodrama series I'm Sorry, I Love You, playing the supporting role of an actor who belatedly falls for his childhood friend (Im Soo-jung) and has an unusually close relationship with his mother.[7][8] It was a critical and commercial hit, which led to his being cast in two films in 2005: he played the pop singer crush of a novice nun (Yoon Jin-seo) in the ensemble romantic comedy All for Love,[9] and the more proactive assistant of a shy photographer (Kim Joo-hyuk) in When Romance Meets Destiny.[10]
For his first role in a historical drama, Jung played a Goguryeo prince torn between love and duty in Ja Myung Go (2009), based on the folktale Prince Hodong and the Princess of Nakrang (Princess Jamyung was played by Jung Ryeo-won).[18] After Ja Myung Go's lackluster ratings, Jung bounced back with popular family drama Smile, You, in which he and Lee Min-jung stars as a couple from different backgrounds. Of playing an endearing "beta male," Jung said, "I am glad to be able to play a fun character and work on a fun script."[19][20]
After that, Jung chose the low-key The Great Gye Choon-bin (2010), a one-act Drama Special episode where he played an art therapist who meets a quirky kindergarten teacher who helps him get over his fear of the dark.[1][21][22]
He next starred as an arrogant Hallyu star on a rough flight from Tokyo to Seoul in the comedy Rollercoaster (released internationally as Fasten Your Seatbelt). It was the directorial debut of actor Ha Jung-woo, Jung's friend and fellow college alumni/agency mate in Fantagio.[27][28]
In 2016, he starred in the romantic comedy series One More Happy Ending.[32] Jung played a single father who worked as reporter-photographer of gossip magazine "Masspunch", Song Soo-hyuk, love interest of main lead Han Mi-mo, acted by Jang Na-ra.
Wise Series and other projects (2017-2020)
In 2017, Jung starred in disaster drama Missing Nine,[33] followed by the critically acclaimed Shin Won-ho's black comedy series Prison Playbook.[34][35] Jung acted as Lee Joon-ho, an elite prison guard and Je-hyuk's best friend. He used to play baseball with Je-hyuk in high school but had to quit because of injuries sustained in a car accident. Other prisoners and guards believe that he is just an avid fan of Kim Je-hyuk. The series was a commercial hit and became one of the highest rated Korean series on cable television history.[36]
In 2018, Jung was cast as the lead role in Korean remake of British crime drama Life on Mars.[37][38] Directed by Lee Jung-hyo, the series received acclaim from viewers, and Jung was praised for his convincing portrayal of a dazed detective.[39]
In 2019, Jung starred in the occult melodrama When the Devil Calls Your Name.[40] Jung acted as Ha Rip (Seo Dong-cheon), a star composer who has sold his soul to a titular devil. He has enjoyed youth and success with numerous hits to his name.[41] In December, Jung was making a special appearance in drama Crash Landing on You as the ex-boyfriend of Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin). His appearance was made possible by his connection with production director Lee Jung-hyo.
In 2020, Jung reunited with director Shin Won-ho in hit and critically acclaimed medical drama Hospital Playlist as Kim Jun-wan, an associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery who became chief of the CS department later on. He has a relationship with Ik-jun's younger sister, Ik-sun (played by Kwak Sun-young).[42] He reprised his role in season 2 in 2021.[43]
In 2021, Jung challenged himself with his first theater play. He was cast as Prior Walter in Korean premiere of award winning Tony Kushner's play Angels in America. The National Theater Company of Korea's premiere of Angels in America - Part One: The Millennium Approaches was held from November 26 to December 26 at the Myeongdong Arts Theater.[45] He reprised his role as Prior Walter in The National Theater Company of Korea's premiere of Angels in America - Part Two: Perestroika.[46] His performance gained critical recognition and nomination for Best Actor in Theater in 2022 Baeksang Arts Award.[47][48]
He then starred alongside Jeon Do-yeon in Yoo Je-won's romantic-comedy drama Crash Course in Romance which premiered on tvN in January 2023.[52] According to Good Data Corporation,[a] series Crash Course in Romance ranked first with a topical share of 23.8% in Top 10 of TV Topicality Ranking in drama division category in four weeks in a row. Jung Kyung-ho ranked first in the performer category for five consecutive weeks.[54]
Personal life
In April 2008, he and actor Yoo Ha-jun became business partners and launched the internet shopping mall Double Bill,[55] which sold vintage and trendy clothes for men.
Military service
Jung enlisted on November 30, 2010, to serve his mandatory military service as an active-duty soldier with the 306th draft.[56] He was later transferred to the military band in Yongin, then discharged on September 4, 2012, with a commendation from the ArmyChief of Staff.[57][58][59]
Relationship
Jung Kyung-ho's agency confirmed in January 2014 that Jung has been dating actress and singer Choi Soo-young of Girls' Generation since early 2013. The couple became closer after attending the same university and church.[60]
^Good Data Corporation (굿데이터코퍼레이션은) is an online public opinion analysis service. It analyzes online information and public opinion by field, and provides TV topical broadcasting program, online topic ranking, and quality evaluation of performers and marketing effect analysis. TV topicality survey target series that were being aired or scheduled to be broadcast. Unlike the audience rating, which measures only the viewing time for the broadcast time, TV topicality is to diagnose the evaluation by examining, indexing, and analyzing the netizens' reactions that appeared in online news, blogs, communities, social media, and videos for one week after each program was broadcast.[53]
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^"정경호 "선후배들의 '연예인 병', '롤러코스터'로 꼬집었죠"" [Jung Kyung-ho "I pinched my seniors and juniors with 'celebrity bottles' and 'roller coasters'"]. OhmyStar (in Korean). 2013-10-23. Archived from the original on 2023-01-31. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
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^"8시간 대작 연극 '엔젤스 인 아메리카'...정경호 출연" [The 8-hour masterpiece play ‘Angels in America’... Appearance of Jung Kyung-ho]. 종합일간지 : 신문/웹/모바일 등 멀티 채널로 국내외 실시간 뉴스와 수준 높은 정보를 제공 (in Korean). 2021-11-24. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
^Kang Min-kyung (September 7, 2022). ""이 구역의 미친 X" 정경호, 50억 노리는 극악무도 빌런('대무가')" [Crazy X in this area" Jung Kyung-ho, a villain in a tragic dance aiming at 5 billion won ('Great Dancer')] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022 – via Naver.
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^"'일타 스캔들' 4주 연속 TV·OTT 통합 드라마 화제성 1위" ['Crash Course in Romance' No. 1 on TV and OTT integrated drama for 4 weeks in a row]. Star Today (in Korean). February 20, 2023. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
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^Choi Hee-jae (July 11, 2023). "정경호X김히어라, '나를 쏘다' 카메오 출연…특급 존재감 (오프닝 2023)" [Jung Kyung-ho X Kim Hee-ra, 'Shoot Me' cameo appearance... Express Presence (Opening 2023)] (in Korean). Xports News. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023 – via Naver.
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^"재개막을 고대하게 만든 "엔젤스 인 아메리카-파트 투:페레스트로이카"" ["Angels in America-Part Two: Perestroika" looking forward to reopening]. 뉴스프리존 (in Korean). 2022-03-30. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
^"[포토뉴스]아쉬운 안녕…연극'엔젤스 인 아메리카 파트 투'" [[Photo News] Awice Hello...Theatre 'Angels in America Part Two']. 뉴스컬처 (NEWSCULTURE) (in Korean). 2022-03-25. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
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^Cho, Yeon-kyung (April 7, 2023). "제59회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 최종 후보 공개" [59th Baeksang Arts Awards, TV/Film/Play Finalists Revealed] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Naver.
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