Jo Jung-suk had always wanted to be on stage. He was admitted into the Theater department ofSeoul Institute of the Arts onstudent loan, but after his father died in 2000, Jo'swidowed mother became fully dependent on him. He was granted an exemption frommilitary 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 inThe Nutcracker in 2004.[4][unreliable source?]
In 2011, he landed his first television role on cable seriesWhat's Up, playing an awkward but talented music student.[15] However, 2012 proved to be his breakout year with two high-profile projects. In his big-screen debut, he played a supporting role as Nab-ddeuk, the young hero's best friend, in the box-office hitArchitecture 101.[16] Jo's performance, which brimmed with personality and comic timing, earned him the Best New Actor award at theBlue Dragon Film Awards,[17] along with nominations from theGrand Bell Awards andBuil Film Awards. He was once again ascene stealer in his third onscreen role as earnest soldier Eun Shi-kyung in thedrama seriesThe King 2 Hearts.[18] Jo's display of versatility and screen presence in these projects caused a surge in his mainstream prominence, resulting in close to twenty offers for films and TV series, in addition to commercial endorsements.[19][20]
He next starred in big-screen comedyAlmost Che, which was loosely based on a real-life 1985 incident where student activists forcibly occupied the US Cultural Center in Seoul and had a standoff with the police.[21][22]
I felt that he is an exceptionally talented actor. Jo Jung-suk made a strong impression on many throughArchitecture 101, but he also expressed a wide range of emotions in our film (The Face Reader). I believe he is a naturally gifted actor capable of deeply emotional performances rather than just comedic ones. As a result, I felt very comfortable working with him on set, as he conveyed a lot and actively contributed to creating a wonderful ensemble. He often sang for us on set. I knew he could sing well, but he would sing whenever he had the chance, so it made working together enjoyable. Whenever I see him, I always look forward to it and feel delighted.
In 2013, Jo starred in his first historical film,The Face Reader, directed byHan Jae-rim. He portrayed Paeng-heon, the brother-in-law and assistant of the protagonist Nae-gyeong (portrayed bySong Kang-ho). This character wanders the eight provinces and holds the key to a significant plot reversal in the film. He received favorable reviews from critics for his performance and further established himself as an actor by winning the Best Supporting Actor award at both theGrand Bell Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards.[24]
At the same year, Jo returned to television in his first onscreen leading role in the 2013 family dramaYou Are the Best!, co-starringIU.[25] The series aired onKBS2 from March 9 to August 25, 2013, on weekends. Jo also lent his voice to the drama'soriginal soundtrack, titled "I Completely Love You." Ratings peaked at 29.3% for the final episode. At the2013 KBS Drama Awards, Jo won the Best Couple Award alongside IU for their on-screen chemistry, in addition to the Excellence Award for Actor in a Serial Drama.[26]
In 2015, Jo starred intvN dramaOh My Ghost, directed byYoo Je-won. He acted as Kang Sun-woo, the owner and head chef of Sun Restaurant, an arrogant star chef specializing in pasta, who falls for his kitchen assistant Na Bong-sun (Park Bo-young) who's been possessed by a lustfulvirgin ghost named Shin Soon-ae (Kim Seul-gi). The drama was a commercial and critical hit.[32][33] He also headlinedThe Exclusive: Beat the Devil's Tattoo, in which he played a TV news reporter who gets ascoop,[34][35] followed by the time-hopping thrillerTime Renegades.[36]
In 2016, Jo played an announcer inSBS's romantic comedyDon't Dare to Dream who falls for a weather announcer (played byGong Hyo-jin).[37] The series was a hit and led to increased prominence for Jo, who then became one of the most in-demand actors in the industry.[38] He then headlined the comedy-drama filmMy Annoying Brother alongsidePark Shin-hye andDoh Kyung-soo ofExo.[39] The film topped box office charts and earned positive reviews for Jo, who was praised for his comedic timing and chemistry with co-star Do.[40]
In 2017, Jo was cast in the gangster thrillerThe Drug King, directed byWoo Min-ho.[41] The same year, he made his small-screen comeback in MBC's fantasy comedy dramaTwo Cops.[42][43] In 2018, Jo was cast in the action thriller filmHit-and-Run Squad in which he took a role as an antagonist.[44]
2019–2023: New agency, box office filmExit andHospital Playlist
After the contract with Cultural Depot was terminated in February 2018, Jo Jung-suk worked as a free agent for a while.[45] In March 2019, he signed an exclusive contract with Jam Entertainment, a new agency. Later, he took on the role of Baek Yi-gang, the eldest son of the notorious stranger Baekga in the historical dramaNokdu Flower.[46][47]
In 2019, Jo starred alongsideIm Yoon-ah indisasteraction comedy film written and directed by Lee Sang-geun,Exit. The film follows the story of Yongnam, a young unemployed man, who attempts to reconnect with an old crush, but following a chain of events, they end up trying to escape from a mysterious white gas that threatens to engulf the entireSeoul district.[48]Exit first premiered in South Korea on July 31, 2019.[49] It was considered a box office success earning over US$69.5 million worldwide, becoming South Korea's third highest-grossing domestic film for 2019.[50][51] Jo established himself as a box office actor with his acting skills and ticket power combined. He was nominated for the Best Actor Award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.[52]
In 2020, Jo starred as an assistant professor of general surgery, Lee Ik-jun, in themedical dramaHospital Playlist.[53] The television series was created by directorShin Won-ho and writerLee Woo-jung of theReply series. It recorded an audience rating of 14.1% in the final episode, and received positive reviews throughout its run. In 2021, Jo reprised the role in thesecond season.[54] Jo hosted theJo Jung-suk Show at Mastercard Hall in Blue Square, Seoul, for two days on September 3 to 4, 2022.[55]
2024–present: Television, film, and music endeavors
Several projects featuring Jo were released in 2024. Jo starred in theperiod dramaCaptivating the King, which aired ontvN from January 21 to March 3, 2024.[56][57] Jo portrays Yi In, a king caught up in political power struggles that falls in love with the spy Kang Hee-soo, played byShin Se-kyung.[58] From March until June, Jo made a comeback the musicalHedwig, appearing after an eight-year hiatus. The musical ran at the Charlotte Theater, Seoul, and Jo's opening performance received positive reviews.[59]
His return to film after five years was withPilot, a comedy film released theatrically on July 31, 2024.Pilot is a remake of the 2012 Swedish filmCockpit, directed by Kim Han-gyul and also starringLee Ju-myoung,Han Sun-hwa, andShin Seung-ho. The film follows Han Jung-woo, a star pilot who becomes unemployed and succeeds in getting re-employed after assuming his sister identity.[60] The legal drama filmLand of Happiness, directed by Choo Chang-min, was released theatrically on August 14, 2024. Jo starred alongsideLee Sun-kyun andYoo Jae-myung. The film is inspired by real-life figureTae Yoon-ki [ko], who served as the defense attorney for an Army colonelPark Heung-ju [ko] in the aftermath of theassassination of Park Chung Hee.[61] It was released theatrically on August 14, 2024.[62]
His Netflix original showPlaylist to A-list (awordplay referencing his dramaHospital Playlist) premiered on August 30. The project marked Jo's debut as a singer in his 20th year in the entertainment industry. The show followed Jo's songwriting journey, collaborations with various artists, and evaluations by a panel. It was directed by Yang Jung-woo, marking their first reunion sinceYouth Over Flowers Iceland (2016). The project was produced by his best friend, CEO Jeong Sang-hoon, with assistance from comedian Moon Sang-hoon. Several celebrity guests appeared, includingIU,Dynamic Duo, and Jo's wife, the singerGummy, marking Jo and Gummy's first TV collaboration. The show also featured his best friends,Jung Kyung-ho, who directed Jo's music video, which starredKim Dae-myung andGong Hyo-jin. The series concluded with a showcase on March 27, 2024, at Blue Square in Seoul, where Jo presented his songs and the album's concept.[63]
In 2025, Jo returned to the silver screen withMy Daughter Is a Zombie, adaptation ofmanhwa of thesame name by Yun-chang Lee. Directed by Pil Gam-sung, the film starred Jo alongsideLee Jung-eun,Cho Yeo-jeong,Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Yu-ri. The plot depicts a father's struggle to protect his daughter, who has been infected with a zombie virus, as he seeks refuge in his mother's rural home.[64] It was released theatrically on July 30, 2025 in South Korea.[65] The film was commercially successful, grossing $38 million worldwide and becoming thehighest-grossing South Korean film of 2025.
Following the success ofArchitecture 101 and the dramaThe King 2 Hearts in 2012, Jo began receiving numerous advertising offers. His first television commercial was for LG U+.[66] After the success of the filmMy Annoying Brother, Jo's prominence in the entertainment industry continued to grow. In 2016, he became the brand ambassador for an online English learning platform,and his promotional video for the platform gainedsignificant attention on social media.[67][68] Another notable commercial featuring Jo was his tuna advertisement alongsideSon Na-eun.[69]
In 2021, Jo served as the face of 12 different brands, promoting a diverse range of products, including mobile communications, credit cards, beverages, ramen, reading platforms, and masks.[70] He ranked fourth in a CF revenue chart for that year.[71]
In 2019, newlyweds Jo and Gummy donated 30 million won to the Korea National Disaster Relief Association to aid in the recovery from theGoseong forest fire.[72]
Jo has been in a relationship with singerGummy since 2013.[73] In June 2018, it was announced that the couple would marry in the fall.[74] On October 8, 2018, it was revealed that the couple had already gotten married in a private ceremony with their families.[75] On January 6, 2020, Gummy's agency confirmed that she was seven weeks pregnant with the couple's first child.[76] On August 6, 2020, Jo and Gummy welcomed their first daughter.[77] In July 2025, it was reported that Gummy was pregnant with the couple's second child.[78] On January 14, 2026, the couple welcomed their second daughter.[79]
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^<버자이너 모놀로그> 쉽진 않지만 아름답고 당당한 여성 이야기 [<Vagina Monologue> It's not easy, but it's a beautiful and dignified woman's story.].www.playdb.co.kr. December 5, 2011.Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. RetrievedMay 6, 2024.
^Circle Digital Chart (formerly known as Gaon Digital Chart):
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