Jang Hyuk is a talented and award-winning actor from South Korea, renowned for his leading roles in films like ‘Windstruck’ and ‘Volcano High,’ as well as in television series such as ‘The Slave Hunters’ and ‘Successful Story of a Bright Girl.’ He began his acting career with the South Korean TV series ‘Model,’ using the stage name “Jang Hyuk.” His major breakthrough occurred with the film ‘Volcano High,’ which garnered acclaim from critics and audiences alike, establishing him as a prominent figure in South Korea. His career soared to new levels when he portrayed ‘Go Myung-woo’ in the film ‘Windstruck,’ which became one of the top-grossing Korean films ever released in Japan. He made his entry into Hollywood with the movie ‘Dance of the Dragon.’ Jang has also made a significant impact on television, delivering award-winning performances in series like ‘Successful Story of a Bright Girl,’ ‘Tazza,’ ‘The Slave Hunters,’ ‘Fated to Love You,’ and ‘Money Flower.’ Additionally, Jang released an album titled ‘TJ Project,’ which was showcased on programs like ‘Real Men’ and in music videos, including ‘To Mother.’ He has also published a collection of essays called ‘Jang Hyuk, Hot-Blooded Man.’
Childhood & Early Life
Jung Yong-joon was born on December 20, 1976, in Busan, South Korea. He attended the ‘Seoul Institute of the Arts’ and later pursued studies in theater and film at ‘Dankook University.’
Career of Jang Hyuk
He began his acting career under the name “Jang Hyuk” in 1997, portraying ‘Joon-ho’ in the TV drama ‘Model’ aired by ‘SBS.’
In 1999, he appeared in the music video for the debut single of the South Korean pop group ‘g.o.d,’ titled ‘To Mother,’ while being a housemate of the band’s members at that time.
Alongside acting, he briefly attempted rapping, featuring in numerous music videos for his rap album, ‘TJ Project,’ which was launched by ‘LOEN Entertainment’ on August 8, 2000. His role as ‘Bong-pil’ in the series ‘Wang Rung’s Land’ that same year earned him the ‘Best New Actor’ award at the ‘SBS Drama Awards.’
He gained significant recognition when he played ‘Kim Kyung-soo,’ a rebellious high-school student, in the South Korean martial arts action comedy ‘Volcano High’ in 2001. The film ranked as the 9th-highest-grossing Korean film that year and Jang’s outstanding performance in the quirky role garnered him critical acclaim, establishing him as a well-known figure in South Korea.
He solidified his fame with the lead role of ‘Han Gi-tae,’ a spoiled and conceited head of a cosmetics company, opposite Jang Na-ra, in the South Korean TV series ‘Successful Story of a Bright Girl.’ The series aired on ‘SBS’ from March 13, 2002, to May 2, 2002, earning him the ‘Top Excellence Award’ for best actor at the 2002 ‘SBS Drama Awards.’
In 2002, he gained further recognition for his roles as ‘Ki-tae’ in the sleeper hit ‘Jungle Juice’ and ‘Kim Seon-bak’ in the acclaimed film ‘Public Toilet’ directed by Hong Kong’s Fruit Chan.
His popularity spiked across Asia after he played ‘Go Myung-woo’ alongside ‘Jun Ji-hyun’ in the romantic comedy ‘Windstruck.’ This film was notable for being the first Korean movie to premiere in Hong Kong, making its debut on May 28, 2004, and was subsequently released by ‘CJ Entertainment’ on June 3 that year. It became the 8th-bestselling Korean film of 2004, grossing over US$17 million in Japan, marking it as one of the biggest-selling Korean films in that country’s history.
In late 2004, he faced a scandal involving draft evasion, illegally avoiding the mandatory military service along with fellow actors Song Seung-heon and Han Jae-suk. After public backlash, Jang issued an apology to his fans and completed his two-year military service.
He made his return to the entertainment industry in 2006 after fulfilling his military obligation. His comeback role as a cynical doctor named ‘Min Gi-seo’ in the South Korean TV series ‘Thank You’ (2007) earned him the ‘Golden Acting Award’ for best actor in a miniseries at the 2007 ‘MBC Drama Awards.’
‘Dance of the Dragon,’ a collaboration among Korea, Singapore, and the United States, marked Jang’s first venture into Hollywood. The romantic drama featured him as ‘Kwon Tae-san,’ alongside Singaporean actor Fann Wong. The film debuted on May 15, 2008, and earned him the ‘Best Actor’ award at the 2008 ‘West Hollywood International Film Festival.’ In that same year, he also appeared in the TV series ‘Robber’ and ‘Tazza,’ with the latter earning him two ‘SBS Drama Awards.’
One of Jang’s most notable performances was as ‘Lee Dae-gil’ in the South Korean historical drama series ‘The Slave Hunters,’ which aired on ‘KBS2’ from January 6, 2010, until March 25 that year. He received numerous accolades for his role in the series, including the ‘Daesang’ for Best Actor at the 2010 ‘KBS Drama Awards,’ and an ‘Emmy’ nomination for ‘Best Actor’ in 2011.
In the years that followed, Jang showcased his versatility and acting talent through a series of award-winning roles in various television series. He played ‘Kim Do-hyun,’ a fund manager-turned-lawyer, in ‘Midas’ (2011), ‘Kang Chae-yoon,’ a low-level royal guard, in ‘Deep Rooted Tree’ (2011), ‘Lee Gun,’ the heir of a large corporation, in ‘Fated to Love You’ (2014), ‘Chun Bong-sam,’ a man of humble means, in ‘The Merchant: Gaekju 2015’ (2015), a detective in ‘Voice’ (2017), and ‘Kang Pil-joo,’ a lawyer seeking revenge, in ‘Money Flower’ (2017).
He took on roles across different genres in South Korean films. These include the 2011 legal thriller ‘The Client,’ the 2013 disaster movie ‘The Flu,’ the romantic thriller ‘Innocent Thing’ (2014), the period film ‘Empire of Lust’ (2015), and the crime-action drama ‘Ordinary Person’ (2017). He also featured in the 2016 Chinese action thriller ‘Inside or Outside.’ He is set to play the character ‘Tae-yul’ in the upcoming South Korean historical action film ‘The Swordsman’ (2019).
His role in the documentary-style South Korean variety show ‘Real Men,’ which aired from June 2013 to February 2014, marked his first regular participation in a variety/reality show and earned him the ‘Popularity Award’ at the 2013 ‘MBC Entertainment Awards’ ceremony. He subsequently appeared in the variety shows ‘Ding Ge Long Dong Qiang’ (2015), ‘The Friends in Croatia’ (2015), and ‘Dragon’s Club: Overgrown Bromance’ (2017).
On August 6, 2013, he released a collection of essays titled ‘Jang Hyuk, Hot-Blooded Man,’ which is based on his life experiences.
Family & Personal Life
In 2002, he began a relationship with Kim Yeo-jin. They registered their marriage in January 2008 and celebrated their ceremony in June of that year. The couple has two sons and a daughter.
Jang is a former Taekwondo professional and has practiced Jeet Kune Do for more than ten years.
Net worth of Jang Hyuk
Jang Hyuk is an actor from South Korea with an estimated net worth of $6 million. Born Jung Yong-joon in Busan, South Korea, in December 1976, he is most recognized for his prominent roles in the movies Windstruck, Deep Rooted Tree, The Slave Hunters, and Fated to Love You. He made his acting debut in the film The Best in 1998. In addition to his film work, he appeared in music videos and released a rap album under the name TJ Project in 2000.