Jo Jung-suk | |
---|---|
Born |
Seoul, South Korea |
December 26, 1980
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 | |
Revised Romanization | Jo Jeong-seok |
McCune–Reischauer | Cho Chŏngsŏk |
Jo Jung-suk (born December 26, 1980) is a South Korean actor. 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 You're the Best, Lee Soon-shin (2013), Oh My Ghostess (2015), and Jealousy Incarnate (2016), as well as films The Face Reader (2013), My Love, My Bride (2014) and My Annoying Brother (2016).
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.
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, including Organ in My Heart (musical adaptation of The Harmonium in My Memory),Janggeum the Great (musical adaptation of Jewel in the Palace), and Korean productions of Hedwig and the Angry Inch,Grease, The Island, and Spring Awakening.