Jang Ki-yong

Biography

Biography

Jang Ki-young is a South Korean actor and former fashion model known for his strong screen presence, deep voice, and versatile acting. He began his career on the runway before transitioning into acting, gradually gaining attention through supporting roles. His breakthrough came with Come and Hug Me, which established him as a leading actor. Since then, he has built a diverse filmography spanning romance, thriller, fantasy, and noir, with notable works including Kill It, Search: WWW, My Roommate Is a Gumiho, and The Worst of Evil. After completing his military service, Jang continues to expand his range and remains a prominent figure in Korean dramas.

Career

Modeling

Jang Ki-yong’s career officially commenced during the 2012 S/S General Idea Collection Show at Seoul Fashion Week. His debut was not an overnight success but rather a methodical accumulation of professional credits. During his first years, he was a fixture on the runways of esteemed Korean designers, including Kolon, Caruso, Loriet, and Unbounded Avenue. By 2014, he was recognized as the premier fashion model in the region, winning the Fashion Model Award at the Asia Model Awards. This accolade coincided with a period of high commercial demand, where he became the face of brands such as Guess Korea, TBJ, Jill By Jillstuart, and Philips.

A significant bridge between his modeling and acting careers was his participation in music videos for the global superstar IU. In 2013, he appeared in the videos for “The Red Shoes” and “Friday,” where his chemistry with the singer and his natural comfort in front of a narrative camera caught the attention of both fans and industry casting directors. These appearances created an early “viral” presence, with audiences frequently inquiring about the identity of the “man in IU’s videos”.

Acting

Jang Ki-young’s debut occurred in the 2014 SBS drama It’s Okay, That’s Love, where he made a brief, non-speaking appearance as the character Sam. This appearance, though lasting only seconds, became known as the “One Second Cameo” due to the significant impact it made on social media.

The year 2017 marked a definitive shift in Jang Ki-yong’s career trajectory with the airing of the KBS2 drama Go Back Couple (also known as Confession Couple). Portraying Jung Nam-gil, a wealthy and seemingly cold college senior who is the first love of the female lead, Jang Ki-young became a central figure in the “second lead syndrome” that frequently captures K-drama audiences.

Following the momentum of 2017, Jang Ki-yong entered a phase of intense productivity and professional recognition. In 2018, he delivered two contrasting performances that demonstrated his dramatic range. In the critically acclaimed My Mister (also known as My Ajusshi), he portrayed Lee Kwang-il, a ruthless and complex loan shark. His portrayal of a man trapped in a cycle of domestic trauma and misplaced aggression was lauded for its intensity and depth, proving that he could handle dark, anti-heroic roles as effectively as romantic leads. Simultaneously, he secured his first leading role in the MBC melodrama Come and Hug Me, playing Chae Do-jin, a police officer and the son of a serial killer.

In 2019, Jang Ki-young further solidified his “romantic lead” status with the tvN drama Search: WWW, playing Park Morgan, a talented composer and CEO who falls for an older, career-driven woman. He balanced this romantic image with the OCN action thriller Kill It (2019), where he played Kim Soo-hyun, a veterinarian by day and a highly skilled assassin by night. By 2021, Jang Ki-young was a premier figure in the fantasy genre, starring as a 999-year-old gumiho (mythological fox) in My Roommate Is a Gumiho. The drama was a major international success, particularly on global streaming platforms, further elevating his profile as a global Hallyu representative.

As of December 2025, Jang Ki-yong is currently at the center of a cultural resurgence for the romantic comedy genre. The SBS drama Dynamite Kiss has become the most-watched Thursday miniseries, consistently dominating the weekday viewership slots.

Relationship Speculation

In May 2021, Jang Ki-young’s agency was forced to deny rumors linking him to former Olympic gymnast Son Yeon-jae after netizens pointed to “lovestagram” evidence (similar photos of a beach in Busan). The agency clarified that the two did not know each other and that Jang Ki-young was in Busan strictly for filming purposes.