įrom 2013 to 2014, he played a prosecutor who falls in love with a girl from a family of orphans in Golden Rainbow. He won the Asia Male Actor award at Beijing's Huading Awards, the first non-Chinese entertainer to be nominated at the awards show since it began in 2005. įollowing the success of Cool Guys, Hot Ramen and Moon Embracing the Sun, Jung was launched to stardom as a Hallyu star. A supporting role in hit 2012 historical drama Moon Embracing the Sun followed Jung played a prince who becomes his half-brother's rival in love and for the throne. His popularity increased with his leading man turn in 2011 cable romantic comedy Cool Guys, Hot Ramen, in which he played an arrogant, immature yet lovable chaebol heir. Jung's breakout role was in 2011 tearjerker 49 Days, in which he portrayed the Scheduler, a witty modern-day Grim Reaper. 2011–present: Breakout and overseas popularity He further challenged himself when he made his stage debut in 2010 as an HIV-positive gay man in the sold-out play Beautiful Sunday, written by Japanese playwright Mayumi Nakatani. This was followed by a supporting role in romantic comedy My Fair Lady, as an idealistic, upper-class lawyer. In 2009, Jung starred in his first leading role as a young warrior battling injustice in historical drama The Return of Iljimae. He then joined the ensemble cast of 2007 romantic comedy film My Love. Jung made his acting debut in 2006 with a minor role in the thriller The World of Silence, but he first rose to fame playing a rebellious teen and motorcycle fanatic with a crush on his teacher in daytime family sitcom Unstoppable High Kick. Career 2006–2010: Beginnings and rising popularity The son of a former television news anchorman, Jung Il-woo studied Broadcasting at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, then later dropped out and transferred to the Theater and Film department of Hanyang University, graduating on 20 February 2014.
2.2 2011–present: Breakout and overseas popularity.2.1 2006–2010: Beginnings and rising popularity.