| Jang Hyuk | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jeong Yong-joon 20 December 1976 Busan, South Korea |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Spouse(s) | Kim Yeo-jin (m. 2008) |
| Children | 2 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 장혁 |
| Hanja | 張赫 |
| Revised Romanization | Jang Hyeok |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chang Hyŏk |
| Birth name | |
| Hangul | 정용준 |
| Hanja | 鄭鏞俊 |
| Revised Romanization | Jeong Yong-jun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chŏng Yong-jun |
Jang Hyuk (born Jeong Yong-joon on December 20, 1976) is a South Korean actor.
Contents |
Career[edit]
As a child, Jang Hyuk spent most of his life in his birthplace Busan, before making his drama debut in the SBS drama Model in 1997. Besides the TV drama School and a minor role in the little-seen film Zzang, Jang appeared in the music video To My Mother, the 1999 debut single of popular boyband g.o.d.. He also acted in several music videos from his rap album, released in 2000 under the name TJ Project. His career first began to take off in 2001 when he was cast in the lead role of the special-effects extravaganza Volcano High together with actress Shin Min-ah. His acting in the eccentric role drew praise from fans and critics.[1]
In 2002 he continued to make a name for himself, starring in the sleeper hit Jungle Juice, which made the top of the weekly box-office, and especially in the hugely popular TV drama Successful Story of a Bright Girl with actress Jang Nara. He also took a role in Public Toilet, the HK-Korea co-production by acclaimed Hong Kong director Fruit Chan which won a Special Mention in the Upstream section of the 2002 Venice film festival.[1]
In 2003 Jang appeared with actress Lee Na-young in the comedy Please Teach Me English, by director Kim Sung-soo. His next project was even more high-profile, opposite top star Jeon Ji-hyun in Kwak Jae-yong's Windstruck. Although this film was generally not well received in Korea, it went on to beat Shiri and become one of the best-selling Korean films in Japan.[1]
In late 2004, together with fellow actors Song Seung-heon and Han Jae-suk, Jang was found to have illegally avoided his mandatory military service.[1] Amid widespread public condemnation, Jang apologized to his fans, then began to serve his two-year term.[2][3]
After his discharge from the army in 2006,[4] Jang rejoined the entertainment scene through the MBC drama Thank You.[5] A heartwarming story about a young single mother (played by Gong Hyo-jin) with an HIV-positive daughter and the cynical doctor who enters their lives, Thank You surprisingly became a modest hit, and with it Jang left the stigma of his draft dodging scandal behind him.
He then signed up for the international movie production Dance of the Dragon, a love story that mixes ballroom dancing with martial arts action that costarred Singaporean actress Fann Wong.[6][7] He won the Best Actor award at the inaugural West Hollywood International Film Festival for his role.[8][9]
Jang made a cameo in Japanese drama Ryokiteki na Kanojo, a remake of the 2001 Korean film My Sassy Girl. After his earlier guesting on star Tsuyoshi Kusanagi's talk show, the director of the drama reportedly added new scenes for Jang that were not included in the original script.[10] Jang then appeared as the love interest in three music videos of Taiwanese singer Elva Hsiao.[11]
More dramas and movies followed, including Robber (in Korean, Bulhandang or "con artist"), Tazza opposite Han Ye-seul adapted from the 2006 gambling film,[12] the short film His Concern in the omnibus Five Senses of Eros, the risque thriller Searching for the Elephant (also known as Penthouse Elephant) with Jo Dong-hyuk and Lee Sang-woo, and the melodrama Maybe (also known as The Rabbit and the Lizard) opposite Sung Yu-ri.[13][14]
In 2010, he received the best reviews of his career for his leading role as the slave hunter ("chuno") Dae-gil in the hit fusion historical drama The Slave Hunters.[15][16] His acting coach of 14 years described Jang as being relentless in his analysis of a character. According to Jang, "It is easy to fail if you don’t understand the steps one has to take to be famous."[17] He won several acting awards, most significantly the Grand Prize ("Daesang") at the KBS Drama Awards,[18] and a Best Actor nomination at the 2011 International Emmy Awards.[19][20][21]
Shortly afterward he starred in Ai Shang Nu Zhu Bo ("Fall in Love with Anchor Beauty"), the Chinese remake of 2000 Korean drama All About Eve.[22] The drama posted high ratings in China during its run.[23]
Back in Korea, Jang played a fund manager-turned-lawyer in Midas, also starring Lee Min-jung and Kim Hee-ae. Jang's character nabs the job of a lifetime working for a chaebol household, but it involves him in a high stakes game of power that threatens to transform him into a money-hungry monster.[24]
He next starred in the legal thriller The Client with Ha Jung-woo and Park Hee-soon, saying the film satisfied his wish to play a more emotionally complex persona. Playing a man accused of murdering his wife, Jang said he had to find "the right balance" between appearing "as someone who can appear at times like a criminal or at other times like an innocent man."[25]
Initially reluctant to sign on to historical drama Deep Rooted Tree because he found the role of low-level royal guard Kang Chae-yoon uninteresting in the original novel, Jang changed his mind upon reading that the character had been dramatized and made richer in the TV script. It tells the story of Kang investigating a case involving the serial murders of Jiphyeonjeon scholars in Gyeongbok Palace while King Sejong the Great (played by Han Suk-kyu) is developing the Korean alphabet.[26][27]
In 2013, he headlined Iris II: New Generation, sequel to the 2009 spy action series.[28][29][30] This was his third acting collaboration with actress Lee Da-hae, after Robber and The Slave Hunters.[31][32]
To the surprise of many given his past draft-dodging scandal, he then joined Real Men, a weekly show in which six male celebrities are filmed documentary-style as they enter army boot camp. This was Jang's first regular appearance on a reality/variety show in his 17-year acting career. He said, "I'd like to use this opportunity to reflect on myself through Real Men and to experience army life again."[33]
Jang returned to the big screen in 2013 disaster blockbuster film The Flu, in which he and Soo Ae play a firefighter and a doctor racing against time to find the cure for a deadly strain of the cold virus that's spreading like wildfire.[34][35]
Personal life[edit]
On June 2, 2008, Jang tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Kim Yeo-jin. The couple have been together since 2002; she was his Pilates instructor.[36] His close friends singer Kim Jong-kook and actor Cha Tae-hyun participated in the wedding ceremony.
The couple have two children (born in 2008 and 2009).[37]
Jang has practiced Jeet Kune Do for more than 10 years and is a former professional Taekwondo athlete.
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
- The Flu (2013)
- The Client (2011)
- Searching for the Elephant (2009)
- Maybe (2009)
- Five Senses of Eros (2009)
- Dance of the Dragon (2008)
- S Diary (2004) (cameo)
- Windstruck (2004)
- Please Teach Me English (2003)
- Public Toilet (2002)
- Jungle Juice (2002)
- Volcano High (2001)
- Zzang (1998)
Television Drama[edit]
- Iris II: New Generation (KBS2, 2013)
- Deep Rooted Tree (SBS, 2011)
- Midas (SBS, 2011)
- Fall in Love with Anchor Beauty (ZJSTV, 2010)
- The Slave Hunters (KBS2, 2010)
- Tazza (SBS, 2008)
- Ryokiteki na Kanojo (TBS, 2008) (cameo, episode 1)
- Robber (aka Bulhandang) (SBS, 2007)
- Thank You (MBC, 2007)
- Great Ambition (aka Daemang) (SBS, 2002-2003)
- Successful Story of a Bright Girl (SBS, 2002)
- Wang Rung's Land (SBS, 2000)
- Into the Sunlight (MBC, 1999)
- School (KBS2, 1999)
- Model (SBS, 1997)
Variety Show[edit]
- Real Men (MBC, 2013)
Music Video[edit]
- Is There Love? (Kim Yong-jin, 2008)
- Loneliness of Two People (Elva Hsiao, 2008)
- Impulsive (Elva Hsiao, 2008)
- Love of Sun and Moon <2 parts> (TJ Project, 2000)
- Hey Girl (TJ Project, 2000)
- Rain (TJ Project, 2000)
- Take the Life of You (TJ Project, 2000)
- TJ's Love Story (TJ Project, 2000)
- Money (TJ Project, 2000)
- g.o.d. Bless TJ (TJ Project, 2000)
- To My Mother (g.o.d., 1999)
Discography[edit]
| Album information | Tracklisting |
|---|---|
T.J PROJECT
|
Tracklisting
|
Awards[edit]
- 2011 SBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Production (Deep Rooted Tree)
- 2011 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars (Midas)
- 2010 KBS Drama Awards: Grand Prize (The Slave Hunters)
- 2010 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Award with Lee Da-hae (The Slave Hunters)
- 2010 Seoul International Drama Awards: Outstanding Korean Drama Prize Category - Best Actor (The Slave Hunters)
- 2008 SBS Drama Awards: Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Production (Tazza)
- 2008 West Hollywood International Film Festival: Best Actor (Dance of the Dragon)
- 2007 Asia Model Festival Awards: BBF Popular Star Award
- 2007 MBC Drama Awards: Golden Acting Award, Actor in a Miniseries (Thank You)
- 2002 SBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Award, actor (Great Ambition, Successful Story of a Bright Girl)
- 2002 SBS Drama Awards: Top 10 Stars
- 2000 SBS Drama Awards: Best New Actor (Wang Rung's Land)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema: Jang Hyuk". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
- ^ "More Actors Come Forward on Draft Dodging". The Chosun Ilbo. September 19, 2004.
- ^ "Song Seung-heon Appointed as Artilleryman, Jang Hyuk as Rifleman". KBS Global. December 17, 2004.
- ^ "Yellow Ribbons Time for Song Seung-hun". The Chosun Ilbo. November 16, 2006.
- ^ "First Script In Three Yrs: Like When I first Started...". The Dong-a Ilbo. March 15, 2007.
- ^ "I am a dandy boy". The New Paper. September 28, 2007.
- ^ "JANG Hyuk enters the world stage impressively". Korean Film Biz Zone. April 24, 2008.
- ^ "2008 Winners". West Hollywood International Film Festival. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
- ^ "Korean hunk gives interview in English". The New Paper. January 21, 2011.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk Makes Cameo Appearance in Japanese Drama". KBS Global. April 23, 2008.
- ^ "Actor Jang Hyuk Stars in Taiwanese Singer Elva's New Music Video". KBS Global. June 25, 2008.
- ^ "Dramas Bring Hero, Gamblers and Orchestra". The Korea Times. September 9, 2008.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk praises big screen newcomer Sung Yu-ri". 10Asia. October 5, 2009.
- ^ "Maybe set out to mend hearts". 10Asia. October 14, 2009.
- ^ "Interview: Actor Jang Hyuk - Part 1". 10Asia. March 11, 2010.
- ^ "Interview: Actor Jang Hyuk - Part 2". 10Asia. March 11, 2010.
- ^ "Acting coach tells what it takes to be a star". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 25, 2010.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk scores top prize at KBS Drama Awards". 10Asia. January 3, 2011.
- ^ "Korea gets 2 International Emmy nominations". The Korea Herald. October 4, 2011.
- ^ "Korea represented at Intl. Emmys". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 5, 2011.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk, KBS The Master Show nominated for International Emmy Awards". 10Asia. October 6, 2011.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk to star in Chinese remake of All About Eve". 10Asia. March 26, 2010.
- ^ "Chinese remake of All About Eve No. 1 show in China". 10Asia. October 15, 2010.
- ^ "Will Jang score another success with Midas?". The Korea Herald. February 21, 2011.
- ^ "Ha Jung-woo confident about Korean-style legal thriller". The Korea Times. August 31, 2011.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk said did not want to take the role in Tree at first". 10Asia. September 29, 2011.
- ^ "Actor Jang Hyuk's Soundtrack Picks". 10Asia. December 2, 2011.
- ^ "Will IRIS sequel deliver?". The Korea Herald. November 14, 2012.
- ^ "Interview: Jang Hyuk, Lead Actor of IRIS 2, an Epitome of Sincerity and Style". 10Asia. January 19, 2013.
- ^ "IRIS II set to explode onto the small screen". The Korea Herald. February 7, 2013.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk, Lee Da-hae Confirm Roles in IRIS Sequel". 10Asia. September 20, 2012.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk and Lee Da-hae to star in Iris 2". Korea JoongAng Daily. September 21, 2012.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk to Join MBC Variety Show Real Man". 10Asia. May 21, 2013.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk to play male lead in Kim Sung-soo film". 10Asia. February 21, 2012.
- ^ "Jang Hyuk catches cinematic Flu". Korea JoongAng Daily. February 22, 2012.
- ^ "Actor Jang Hyuk to Marry in June". The Korea Times. December 30, 2007.
- ^ "Actor Jang Hyuk Becomes Father". The Korea Times. February 10, 2008.
External links[edit]
- Jang Hyuk at SidusHQ
- Jang Hyuk at HanCinema
- Jang Hyuk at the Korean Movie Database
- Jang Hyuk at the Internet Movie Database
- Jang Hyuk fansite Hyukbest
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