Jang Dong-gun

This is a Korean name; the family name is Jang.
Jang Dong-gun

Jang in an LG ad in 2011
Born (1972-03-07) March 7, 1972
Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
Occupation Actor
Years active 1992–present
Agent S.M. Culture & Contents[1]
Religion Buddhism
Spouse(s) Ko So-young (m. 2010)
Children 2
Website jangdonggun.co.kr
Korean name
Hangul 장동건
Hanja 張東健
Revised Romanization Jang Dong-geon
McCune–Reischauer Chang Tonggŏn

Jang Dong-gun (born March 7, 1972) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the films Friend (2001) and Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War (2004).

Jang is one of the highest paid actors and celebrity endorsers in Korea,[2] consistently topping surveys by industry insiders of most bankable stars.[3]

Early life

Jang Dong-gun spent his childhood in Yongsan District, Seoul, and later went on to study at the Korea National University of Arts School of Drama, though he dropped out before obtaining a degree.[4]

Career

Jang Dong-gun on April 16, 2009

Jang first entered the entertainment world in a talent contest in 1992. He began by acting in TV dramas such as The Last Match,[5] co-starring Shim Eun-ha, and he eventually made his film debut in Repechage (1997) together with Kim Hee-sun.[6]

By the late 1990s he had become quite popular in Korea, but he also became one of the very first Korean stars to garner a fan following in other parts of Asia, after several of his TV dramas were screened there in the late nineties. In 1999, after acting in the critically acclaimed Nowhere to Hide as Park Joong-hoon's younger partner, Jang moved on to star in a feature that was filmed on location in Shanghai. Titled Anarchists, this tale of five young terrorists from 1930s China helped to elevate his status even further.[6]

Jang's breakout came in early 2001 in Friend, which smashed the box office record set by Shiri to become (at the time) the biggest Korean film of all time. After playing the nice guy in almost all his previous roles, this portrayal of a tough-talking gangster from Busan led him to local stardom. The following year he also starred in the popular action blockbuster 2009 Lost Memories set in a futuristic Great Japan.[6]

After appearing in the low-budget film The Coast Guard by controversial director Kim Ki-duk, Jang then took the lead role in Kang Je-gyu's Taegukgi, an epic film about two brothers set during the Korean War. Sure enough, this film would beat Friend's record with an astounding 11 million tickets sold. By this time, Jang's name had become known widely throughout Asia.[6]

Jang followed this up with The Promise, a $30 million pan-Asian production by Chinese director Chen Kaige in which he played opposite Hong Kong star Cecilia Cheung. Meanwhile, he was cast in Typhoon as a modern-day pirate who has been betrayed by both North and South Korea. Directed by Friend's Kwak Kyung-taek, Typhoon set a new record in 2005 for the highest production budget in Korean film history at $15 million.[6]

For the next four years, Jang kept a low profile in the Korean entertainment sphere as he worked on his Hollywood debut The Warrior's Way, also starring Kate Bosworth and Geoffrey Rush. The film encountered problems with post-production and distribution, and was only released in 2010.[7][8][9]

He returned to the silver screen in 2009 as the nation's youngest (and most eligible) head of state in Jang Jin's comedy Good Morning, President.[10][11][12][13][14]

He reunited with director Kang Je-gyu in My Way, a film set during World War II based on the true story of a Korean soldier who is drafted by the Japanese army and eventually is present at the Battle of Normandy.[15][16][17] A large-scale, ambitious pan-Asian collaboration co-starring Japanese actor Joe Odagiri and Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, My Way was the most expensive Korean movie to date (with an estimated budget of ₩28 billion),[18] But despite being simultaneously released in Korea and Japan in December 2011,[19] the film flopped at the box office.

Jang made his highly anticipated return to television dramas in A Gentleman's Dignity, saying he was drawn to the romantic comedy tale of 40-something-year-old men struggling to grow up and mend and forge lasting relationships.[20][21][22][23] After the series ended, Jang and co-star Kim Min-jong visited refugees in the Republic of the Congo on a mission trip sponsored by UNICEF and UNHCR's World Food Programme. It was televised on SBS documentary program Hope TV.[24][25]

His 2012 film Dangerous Liaisons was a Chinese adaptation of the French literature classic set in 1930s Shanghai, directed by Hur Jin-ho and co-starring Zhang Ziyi and Cecilia Cheung.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]

Jang next starred in Crying Man (also known as No Tears for the Dead), an action thriller directed by Lee Jeong-beom. He played a Korean-born American hitman who feels conflicted about killing his last target (played by Kim Min-hee).[35][36][37][38][39]

In 2015, Jang was cast in the films 7 Years of Night, a revenge thriller based on the novel of the same name by Jung Yoo-jung. He plays a character who takes revenge on his daughter's murderer, by killing his son.[40]

In 2016, Jang was cast in his first Chinese drama, Once Loved You Distressed Forever alongside actress Tang Yixin. This was also his first drama in 4 years. After wrapping up filming, he was cast in the espionage noir thriller VIP, about the son of a high-ranking North Korean official who commits a murder in South Korea, thus inciting a heart-stopping chase involving North and South Korean police.

Personal life

Jang is a practicing Buddhist, having first explored Buddhist reading while hospitalized in high school, after undergoing chest surgery.[41]

He enjoys playing baseball and is a member of the celebrity amateur baseball team "Playboys" with Lee Jong-hyuk, Hyun Bin, Kim Seung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Ji Jin-hee, and other actors.[2][42]

The famously private actor surprised the country in November 2009 when he went public with his two-year romance with Ko So-young.[43][44] Since co-starring together in the 1999 film Love Wind Love Song, rumors about Jang and Ko had spread several times in the past, but both had consistently denied them. The announcement immediately sparked speculation of an impending marriage although it wasn't until March 2010 that Jang officially told his fans at a fan meeting that he would be marrying Ko in May.[45][46] After months of media frenzy leading up to their nuptials,[47][48][49][50] the two tied the knot on May 2, 2010 in an extravagant wedding ceremony at Seoul's Shilla Hotel which was attended by their A-list celebrity friends, swarms of reporters and fans from around the world.[51][52]

Their son Jang Min-joon was born on October 4, 2010.[53][54][55][56] Their second child, a daughter, was born on February 25, 2014.[57][58][59]

Filmography

Films

Jang Dong-gun in an LG ad in 2011
Year Title Role
1997 Repechage Min-gyu
Holiday In Seoul taxi driver
1998 First Kiss cameo
1999 Love Wind Love Song Tae-hee
Nowhere to Hide Detective Kim
2000 Anarchists Sergei
2001 Friend Lee Han Dong-su
2002 2009 Lost Memories Masayuki Sakamoto
The Coast Guard Private Kang
2004 Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War Lee Jin-tae
2005 Typhoon Sin
The Promise Kunlun, the slave
2009 Good Morning, President Cha Ji-wook
2010 The Warrior's Way Yang
2011 My Way Kim Jun-sik
2012 Dangerous Liaisons Xie Yifan
2014 No Tears for the Dead Gon
2017 7 Years of Night Young-je
VIP

Television dramas

Year Title Role Network
1992 Our Heaven MBC
1993 Il Ji Mae Iljimae MBC
1994 The Last Match Yoon Chul-jun MBC
1996 Icing Yoon Chan MBC
1997 Medical Brothers Kim Su-hyung MBC
Model Lee Jung SBS
Myth of a Hero Kim Tae-woo MBC
1998 Ready Go! Shin Ji-soo MBC
Love Jung In-ha MBC
1999 Springtime Kang Hyun-woo MBC
Ghost Jang Dae-hyup SBS
2000 All About Eve Yoon Hyung-chul MBC
2012 A Gentleman's Dignity Kim Do-jin SBS
TBA Once Loved You Distressed Forever Xu Zhi

Discography

Album information Track listing
너에게로 가는 길
  • Track from Our Heaven OST
  • Released: March 1, 1993
  • Label: 킹
With Justice And Peace For All
  • Album
  • Artist: Jang Dong-gun
  • Released: June 1993
  • Label: 킹
Friendship
  • Album
  • Artists: Jang Dong-gun and Jeon Cheol
  • Released: June 1994
  • Label: Asia (Shinchon Music)
飛翔 (Flying)
  • Album
  • Artist: Jang Dong-gun
  • Released: October 1995
  • Label: Seoul Records
Bon Seung & Dong Gun
  • Album
  • Artists: Goo Bon-seung and Jang Dong-gun
  • Released: February 12, 1998
  • Label: Doremi
정말 그러길 바랄께
  • Track from Dong Gam: Sympathy 1970~2001. June
  • Released: June 22, 2001
  • Label: One Entertainment (Sony Music Korea)
과거는 흘러갔다 (From Film)
We Online: Actor's Choice[60]
  • Single
  • Released: March 5, 2010
  • Label: A&G Modes
나보다 더 (More Than Me)

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1993 MBC Drama Awards Best New Actor Il Ji Mae Nominated
1994 30th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor (TV) The Last Match Won
1997 33rd Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actor (TV) Medical BrothersWon
18th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actor Repechage Won
MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Medical BrothersWon
1999 20th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Nowhere to HideWon
2000 37th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated
21st Blue Dragon Film Awards Popular Star Award Anarchists Won
MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor All About Eve Nominated
2001 46th Asia-Pacific Film Festival Best Supporting Actor Friend Won
22nd Blue Dragon Film Awards Popular Star Award Won
Best Actor Nominated
2002 23rd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actor The Coast Guard Nominated
2003 40th Grand Bell Awards Best Actor Nominated
2nd Korean Film Awards Best Actor Nominated
2004 40th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (Film) Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War Nominated
41st Grand Bell Awards Best Actor Nominated
25th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actor Won
2005 2nd Max Movie Awards Best Actor Won
2006 43rd Grand Bell Awards Best Actor Typhoon Nominated
2007 15th Chunsa Film Art Awards Hallyu Arts Award N/A Won
Korea TV Advertising Festival Best Couple Award Won
2009 46th Savings Day President's Commendation N/A Won
30th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actor Good Morning, PresidentNominated
2012 5th Style Icon Awards[61][62][63] Top 10 Style Icons N/A Won
Style Icon of the Year N/A Won
SBS Drama Awards Top 10 Stars A Gentleman's Dignity Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Weekend/Serial Drama Won

References

  1. ↑ "Jang Dong Gun talks about acting in a Chinese movie and joining SM Entertainment". Allkpop. 4 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 Rao, Anjali (24 October 2007). "Interview with Jang Dong-gun". CNN TalkAsia.
  3. ↑ "Jang Dong-gun Voted Korea's Most Bankable Star". The Chosun Ilbo. 20 October 2005.
  4. ↑ "Jang Dong-gun Profile". Jang Dong-gun official website. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
  5. ↑ Kim, Ji-yeon (1 July 2012). "Star Dictionary 2.0: Jang Dong Gun, From 'Beautiful' to 'Actor'". enewsWorld.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema: Jang Dong-gun". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  7. ↑ Min, Ines (10 October 2010). "Jang's Hollywood debut to bridge East and West". The Korea Times.
  8. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (23 November 2010). "Jang Dong-gun brings Asian vibe to Hollywood". The Korea Times.
  9. ↑ Lee, Seung-han (25 November 2010). "Interview: Actor Jang Dong-gun". 10Asia.
  10. ↑ "Jang Back to Silver Screen in 4 Years". The Korea Times. 20 July 2009.
  11. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (22 September 2009). "Actor Jang Dong-kun Returns as President". The Korea Times.
  12. ↑ Park, Sun-young (25 September 2009.). "Korean stars take turns playing president". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  13. ↑ Song, Woong-ki (26 September 2009). "Jang Dong-gun tired of being a bachelor". The Korea Herald.
  14. ↑ Lee, Ji-hye (8 October 2009). "Jang says not calling for a fight with President". 10Asia.
  15. ↑ "Jang Dong Gun: 'I Want to Film Movies That My Son Can Watch Later'". KBS Global. 17 May 2011.
  16. ↑ Kim, Jessica (1 July 2011). "Jang Dong-gun starrer My Way cranks up". 10Asia.
  17. ↑ "Actor JANG Dong-gun". Korean Cinema Today. 6 January 2012.
  18. ↑ "Korean Mega War Movie Targets Pan-Asian Audience". The Chosun Ilbo. 15 December 2011.
  19. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (20 January 2011). "Jang-Odagiri film set for release in Japan". The Korea Times.
  20. ↑ Hong, Lucia (8 February 2012). "Jang Dong-gun, Kim Ha-neul cast as leads in new SBS TV series". 10Asia.
  21. ↑ "Jang Dong-gun Excited About New Drama". The Chosun Ilbo. 25 May 2012.
  22. ↑ Oh, Jean (24 May 2012). "Jang Dong-gun gets first 'proper' kiss scene". The Korea Herald.
  23. ↑ Kim, Ji-yeon (26 August 2012). "Interview: Jang Dong Gun "I Just Wanted to Make My Fans Laugh"". enewsWorld.
  24. ↑ Jeon, Su-mi (18 November 2012). "Jang Dong Gun and Kim Min Jong Meet Children in Congo and Ask for Help". enewsWorld.
  25. ↑ Sunwoo, Carla (16 November 2012). "Gentlemen show a sensitive streak". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  26. ↑ Ko, Kyoung-seok (22 September 2011). "Jang Dong-gun set for Hur Jin-ho pic joined by Zhang Ziyi and Cecilia Cheung". 10Asia.
  27. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (23 September 2011). "Jang Dong-gun to co-star with Zhang Ziyi, Cecilia Cheung". The Korea Times.
  28. ↑ "Jang Dong Gun: 'I Am Glad to Work with Zhang Ziyi and Cecilia Cheung'". KBS Global. 28 September 2011.
  29. ↑ Son, Jin-ah (5 September 2012). "Dangerous Relationship Jang Dong-gun to return as a playboy". StarN News.
  30. ↑ Ho, Stewart (7 September 2012). "Jang Dong Gun Charms Zhang Zhiyi and Cecilia Cheung With His Bad Boy Ways in New Movie Stills". enewsWorld.
  31. ↑ Lee, Claire (5 October 2012). "Zhang, Cheung touched by Jang Dong-gun's professionalism". The Korea Herald.
  32. ↑ Lee, Jin-ho (7 October 2012). "Interview: Jang Dong Gun on Family and Who He is as an Actor". enewsWorld.
  33. ↑ Jung, Hyun-mok (8 October 2012). "Language no barrier to Jang's appeal". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  34. ↑ Ji, Yong-jin (18 October 2012). "JANG Dong-gun of DANGEROUS LIAISONS: I want to be more active in co-produced films". Korean Cinema Today.
  35. ↑ Baek, Byung-yeul (2 June 2014). "Unlikely hitman: After string of disastrous films, heartthrob Jang Dong-gun is back". The Korea Times.
  36. ↑ Jo, Yeon-kyung (31 May 2014). "Interview: Jang Dong Gun Confesses He Fell into a Slump for Years". enewsWorld.
  37. ↑ Jo, Yeon-kyung (31 May 2014). "Interview: Jang Dong Gun was Glad to Act Opposite Kim Min Hee in Crying Man". enewsWorld.
  38. ↑ Park, Jin-hai (11 May 2014). "Hallyu stars return to big screen". The Korea Times.
  39. ↑ Lee, Eun-sun (12 June 2014). "Jang rejects copycat claims over new film". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  40. ↑ http://www.hancinema.net/photos-jang-dong-gun-and-ryoo-seung-ryong-s-7-years-of-night-95098.html
  41. ↑ 组图：娱乐圈明星信佛知多少 (in Chinese). QQ News. 27 February 2007.
  42. ↑ "Japanese Fans Flock to See Korean Celebrities Play Baseball". The Chosun Ilbo. 4 January 2011.
  43. ↑ Kim, Tong-hyung (5 November 2009). "Guess What! They've Been Dating for 2 Years". The Korea Times.
  44. ↑ Park, Sun-young (12 November 2009). "Korea’s most eligible bachelor finds love". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  45. ↑ "Jang to Disclose Wedding Plans in March". The Korea Times. 1 February 2010.
  46. ↑ "Jang Dong-gun: 'Bless the Start of Our New Life'". KBS Global. 8 March 2010.
  47. ↑ "Star Couple to Marry Vast Assets". The Chosun Ilbo. 9 November 2009.
  48. ↑ Han, Jane (4 February 2010). "Jang-Ko Wedding Sets Off PR War". The Korea Times.
  49. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (22 April 2010). "Jang Dong-gun, Ko So-young Expecting Baby". The Korea Times.
  50. ↑ "Jang Dong-gun, Ko So-young 'Ecstatic' Over Pregnancy". The Chosun Ilbo. 23 April 2010.
  51. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (2 May 2010). "Jang, Ko tie knot". The Korea Times.
  52. ↑ Yim, Seung-hye (4 May 2010). "Jang-Ko fever doesn’t end with the wedding". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  53. ↑ Kim, Jessica (4 October 2010). "Jang Dong-gun wife gives birth". 10Asia.
  54. ↑ "Jang Dong-gun, Ko So-young Celebrate Birth of Son". The Chosun Ilbo. 5 October 2010.
  55. ↑ Min, Ines (5 October 2010). "Actors Jang, Ko become parents". The Korea Times.
  56. ↑ Kim, Hannah (14 October 2010). "Jang plays proud papa". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  57. ↑ Park, Jin-hai (25 February 2014). "Jang couple get newborn daughter". The Korea Times.
  58. ↑ Kim, Gwang-kuk (25 February 2014). "Jang Dong-gun and Wife Welcome Baby Girl". 10Asia.
  59. ↑ Jin, Eun-soo (26 February 2014). "Ko, Jang celebrate 2nd child". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  60. ↑ Kim, Hannah (4 March 2010). "WE are singing for charity". Korea JoongAng Daily.
  61. ↑ Lee, Nancy (25 October 2012). "LIVE BLOG/LIVE STREAM: Style Icon Awards 2012 Part II". enewsWorld.
  62. ↑ Lee, Nancy (25 October 2012). "Jang Dong Gun Wins Style Icon of the Year at 2012 SIA". enewsWorld.
  63. ↑ Oh, Mi-jung (26 October 2012). "Jang Dong Gun Talks About His Year at '2012 SIA'". enewsWorld.
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