Jo Jung-suk

Jo Jung-suk
Born	December 26, 1980 Seoul, South Korea
Other names	Cho Jung-seok
Education	Seoul Institute of the Arts - Theater
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2004–present
Agent	Culture Depot
Korean name
Hangul	조정석
Hanja	曺政奭
Revised Romanization	Jo Jeong-seok
McCune–Reischauer	Cho Chŏngsŏk

Jo Jung-suk (born December 26, 1980) is a South Korean actor.^[1] He began his career in theater, starring in Spring Awakening, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and the stage adaptation of The Harmonium in My Memory, among many other musicals and plays. After nearly a decade on the stage, Jo made his film debut as a comedic supporting actor in the 2012 box office hit Architecture 101, which became his breakout role. His versatility was further showcased by the television series The King 2 Hearts (2012), You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin (2013) and Oh My Ghostess (2015), as well as films The Face Reader (2013) and My Love, My Bride (2014).

Career

Jo Jung-suk had always wanted to be on stage. He was admitted into the Theater department of Seoul Institute of the Arts on student loan, but after his father died in 2000, Jo's widowed mother became fully dependent on him. He was granted an exemption from military service due to family circumstances, and he quit school before graduating so he could start earning money by doing musicals. He made his professional acting debut in The Nutcracker in 2004.^[2]

Jo then became active and well known in musical theatre, acting in a total of 25 musicals during the first nine years of his career,^[3] including Organ in My Heart (musical adaptation of The Harmonium in My Memory),^[4] Janggeum the Great (musical adaptation of Jewel in the Palace),^[5][6] and Korean productions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch,^[7] Grease, The Island,^[8][9] and Spring Awakening.^[10][11]

In 2011 he landed his first television role on cable series What's Up as an awkward but talented music student. But 2012 would be his breakout year, starring in two high-profile projects. In his big screen debut, he played a supporting role in box office hit Architecture 101.^[12] As the young hero's best friend Nab-ddeuk, Jo's performance brimmed with personality and comic timing, and he won Best New Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards,^[13] as well as received nominations from the Grand Bell Awards and Buil Film Awards. He was once again a scene stealer in his third onscreen role as earnest soldier Eun Shi-kyung in the drama series The King 2 Hearts.^[14] Jo's display of versatility and screen presence in those projects caused a surge in mainstream popularity for the actor, resulting in close to twenty offers for films and TV series, not to mention commercials.^[15][16]

He next starred in big-screen comedy Almost Che, loosely based on a real-life incident from 1985, in which student activists forcibly occupied the US Cultural Center in Seoul and had a standoff with the police. After filming the period drama Song Kang-ho-starrer The Face Reader (for which he later won Best Supporting Actor at the Grand Bell Awards),^[17] Jo returned to television in his first onscreen leading role in the 2013 family drama You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin.^[18]

Jo appeared in two films in 2014: the period thriller The Fatal Encounter, where he played an assassin targeting King Jeongjo, and the romantic comedy My Love, My Bride, a remake of the same-titled 1990 hit in which he and Shin Min-ah played a newly married couple.^{[19][20][21][22]}

In 2015, Jo played an arrogant star chef who falls for his kitchen assistant who's been possessed by a virgin ghost in Oh My Ghostess.^[23] He also headlined The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo, in which he played a TV news reporter who gets a scoop, followed by the time-hopping thriller Time Renegade.^[24][25]

Personal life

Jo's agency confirmed in February 2015 that he has been dating singer Gummy since 2013.^[26][27]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role
2012	Architecture 101	Nabddeuki
	Almost Che	Hwang Young-min / Kang Moon-mo
2013	The Face Reader	Paeng-heon
2014	The Fatal Encounter	Sal-soo
	My Love, My Bride	Young-min
2015	The Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo	Heo Moo-hyuk
2016	Time Renegade	Ji-hwan
	Brother	Doo-sik

Television drama

Year	Title	Role	Network
2011	What's Up	Kim Byung-gun	MBN
2012	The King 2 Hearts	Eun Shi-kyung	MBC
2013	You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin	Shin Joon-ho	KBS2
2015	Oh My Ghostess	Kang Sun-woo	tvN

Variety show

Year	Title	Network	Notes
2008	Sang Sang Plus	KBS2	Guest, episode 188, with Jung Woong-in, Sung Ji-ru, Oh Man-seok[28]
2012	Radio Star	MBC	Guest, episode 301, with Kim In-kwon, Kwon Hyeon-sang[29]
2013	Happy Together	KBS2	Guest, episode 297, with IU, Yu In-Na, Son Tae-Young, and Jung Woo
2014	Radio Star	MBC	Guest, episode 384, with Song Chang-eui, Oh Jong-hyuk, Jang Seung-jo[30]
2014	Running Man	KBS2	Guest, episode 215, with Shin Min-ah
2015	Happy Together	KBS2	Guest, episode 419 (with Bae Seong-woo)
2016	Youth Over Flowers	tvN	Cast member

Theater

Year	Title	Role
2004	The Nutcracker
2005	Nunsense A-Men	Sister Mary Leo
2005-2006	Grease	Roger
2006	Kingdom of the Wind	Ho-dong
	Le Passe-Muraille	Newsvendor
	You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown	Charlie Brown
2006-2007	Hedwig and the Angry Inch	Hedwig
2007	All Shook Up	Chad
	First Love	Hae-soo
	Pump Boys and Dinettes	Jim
2007-2008	Le Passe-Muraille	Newsvendor
2008	Evil Dead	Ash
	Organ in My Heart	Kang Dong-soo
	Janggeum the Great	Jo Gwang-jo
	Hedwig and the Angry Inch	Hedwig
2009	The Island	John
2009-2010	Spring Awakening	Moritz
2010-2011	True West	Austin
2011	Hedwig and the Angry Inch	Hedwig
	The Vagina Monologues
2012	Cult Holrangjeok Show
2014	Blood Brothers	Mickey
2016	Hedwig and the Angry Inch	Hedwig

Discography

Year	Song Title	From the Album
2006	"Sugar Daddy" "Angry Inch"	Hedwig and the Angry Inch cast recording
2007	"첫사랑" "멋진키스" "아버지가 좋아요" "너의 바다는" "하지만 나는 안가" "해수의 바다" "아직 늦지 않았어" "사랑해 언제까지나"	First Love cast recording
2008	"내 마음의 풍금" "나의 사랑 수정(Love Thema)" "웃는이유" "나비의 꿈" "아가씨" "봄이다 그치" "커피향" "응급처치" "소풍" "때려쳐" "왜" "홍연이 안 왔어요" "Springtime"	Organ in My Heart cast recording
2011	"Tear Me Down" "Wig in a Box"	Hedwig and the Angry Inch cast recording
2012	"푸른옷소매"	Almost Che OST
	"Might Gonna" "이루어진다" "With You"	What's Up? Japanese edition OST
2013	"완전 사랑해요 (I Completely Love You)"	You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin OST
2015	"Gimme a Chocolate"	Gimme a Chocolate single

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref.
2008	14th Korea Musical Awards	Best New Actor	Organ in My Heart	Won	[31]
2009	15th Korea Musical Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Spring Awakening	Won	[32]
	3rd The Musical Awards	Best Actor	Janggeum the Great	Nominated
2010	4th The Musical Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Spring Awakening	Won
2012	6th Mnet 20's Choice Awards	20's Booming Actor	Architecture 101, The King 2 Hearts	Won	[33]
	21st Buil Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor	Architecture 101	Nominated
		Best New Actor		Nominated
	49th Grand Bell Awards	Best Supporting Actor		Nominated
		Best New Actor		Nominated
	5th Korea Drama Awards	Best New Actor	The King 2 Hearts	Nominated
	5th Style Icon Awards	New Icon	N/A	Won	[34]
	33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best New Actor	Architecture 101	Won	[35]
	20th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards	Best New Actor		Won	[36]
	MBC Drama Awards	Best New Actor	The King 2 Hearts	Nominated
		Best Couple Award with Lee Yoon-ji		Nominated
2013	4th KOFRA Film Awards	Best New Actor	Architecture 101	Won	[37]
	49th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Actor (TV)	The King 2 Hearts	Nominated	[38]
	50th Grand Bell Awards	Best Supporting Actor	The Face Reader	Won
	33rd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards	Best Supporting Actor		Won
	34th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Supporting Actor		Nominated
	KBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama	You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin	Won	[39]
		Best Couple Award with IU		Won
2014	9th Max Movie Awards	Best Supporting Actor	The Face Reader	Nominated
	14th Korea Youth Film Festival	Popularity Award		Won
2015	8th Korea Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actor	Oh My Ghostess	Nominated
	52nd Grand Bell Awards	Popularity Award	N/A	Nominated
	4th APAN Star Awards	Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries	Oh My Ghostess	Nominated

References

1. Jang, Kyung-jin (5 April 2012). 조정석 "카메라 연기, 너무 신난다". 10Asia (in Korean). Retrieved 2012-11-19.
2. "Jo Jung Suk, "I Had Family Issues, I’m Not Dodging Military Service"". Korea Portal. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
3. Lee, Jin-ho (3 June 2012). "Star Encyclopedia 2.0: Jo Jeong Seok, Prince of Musicals". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
4. Chung, Ah-young (8 July 2008). "'90s Film Reborn as Musical Rendition". Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
5. Chung, Ah-young (21 August 2008). "Royal Palaces Open Wide". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
6. Choi, Min-woo (20 December 2008). "High notes and discord in the musical world". Korea Joongang Daily. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
7. Kwon, Mee-yoo (30 March 2011). "Kim Dong-wan to perform in Hedwig". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
8. Chung, Ah-young (20 January 2009). "Play Island Goes on Stage After 30 Years". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
9. Chung, Ah-young (18 February 2009). "Adapted Island Blasts Control of Freedom". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
10. Chung, Ah-young (24 March 2009). "Spring Awakening Here in July". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
11. Chung, Ah-young (20 July 2009). "Spring Awakening Is Daring, Electrifying". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
12. Cho, Kyung-yi (22 March 2012). <건축학개론>의 '키스의 달인' 조정석...충무로 블루칩 부상. OhmyNews (in Korean). Retrieved 2012-11-19.
13. Ji, Yong-jin (4 December 2012). "PIETA Wins Best Picture at Blue Dragon Awards". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
14. Kim, Ji-yeon (31 May 2012). "Interview: ′The King 2Hearts′ Jo Jeong Seok is Screaming in Delight". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
15. Oh, Mi-jung (3 May 2012). "Jo Jeong Seok Has a Full Schedule Until October". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
16. Ho, Stewart (21 May 2012). "The King 2Hearts Jo Jeong Seok Received Over 20 Love Calls So Far". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
17. Ho, Stewart (27 March 2012). "Song Kang Ho Cast in His First Historic Movie Physiognomy". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
18. Ho, Stewart (25 January 2013). "IU, Jo Jeong Seok Confirmed as Leads of KBS Drama, You're The Best Lee Soon Shin". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
19. Conran, Pierce (19 February 2014). "SHIN Min-a, JO Jung-seok Board MY LOVE MY BRIDE Remake". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
20. "Shin Min-a stars in remake of 1990 hit film". The Korea Times. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
21. "Shin Min-a, Cho Jung-seok Make Lovely Couple in Remake of 1990 Rom-Com". The Chosun Ilbo. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-21.
22. Choi, Song-hee (21 October 2014). "My Love, My Bride Jo Jung Suk, the Dream Guy". BNTNews. Retrieved 2015-01-04.
23. Ghim, Sora (6 May 2015). "Park Bo Young And Jo Jung Suk To Act Together". BNTNews. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
24. Conran, Pierce (11 February 2015). "JO Jung-suk, LEE Ha-na Pair Up for ROH Deok's JOURNALIST". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
25. Jang, Sung-ran (20 October 2015). "On the verge of making it big time". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
26. Jones, Julie (3 February 2015). "K-Drama Couple: Jo Jung Suk And Gummy". KDramaStars. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
27. Sung, So-young (3 February 2015). "Cho Jung-suk, Gummy in relationship". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
28. "상상더하기". www.kbs.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
29. "다시보기 | 라디오스타". www.imbc.com. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
30. "다시보기 | 라디오스타". www.imbc.com. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
31. "The Harmonium in My Memory Wins 6 Korea Musical Awards". The Chosun Ilbo. 21 October 2008. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
32. Chung, Ah-young (27 October 2009). "Dreamgirls Sweeps Korea Musical Awards". Korea Times. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
33. Hong, Lucia (29 June 2012). "Winners announced at 6th Mnet 20's Choice Awards". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
34. Lee, Nancy (25 October 2012). "LIVE BLOG/LIVE STREAM: Style Icon Awards 2012 Part II". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-11-19.
35. 남우신인상 조정석 "송강호가 신인상 관상이라고...". Blue Dragon Film Awards (in Korean). 29 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
36. "Winners - Film category". 20th KCEA Awards. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
37. Ji, Yong-jin (1 February 2013). "PIETA Regarded as the Best Film in 2012 by Reporters". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
38. Hicap, Jonathan M. (5 April 2013). "49th Baeksang Arts Awards nominees revealed". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2013-04-11.
39. Lee, Cory (2 January 2014). "Kim Hye-soo Reclaims Glory, Good Doctor, Secret Love Win Big at the 2013 KBS Drama Awards". TenAsia. Retrieved 2014-01-05.

External links

• Cho Jung-seok on Twitter (Korean)
• Cho Jung-seok at Culture Depot (Korean)
• Jo Jung-suk at HanCinema
• Jo Jung-suk at the Korean Movie Database
• Jo Jung-suk at the Internet Movie Database