Jung Woo-sung’s life began in a challenging environment in one of Seoul’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. At a young age, he left high school to work and support his family. His strikingly tall stature, which initially drew unwanted attention in his youth, eventually led him to a career in modeling, which served as his entry point into the entertainment industry. He made his acting debut in the 1994 film The Fox with Nine Tails and rose to stardom with the gangster film Beat in 1997. His unwavering presence, both on and off-screen, has made him a household name.
Profile
- Real Name: Jung Woo-sung (정우성)
- Birthday: April 22, 1973
- Zodiac: Taurus
- Nationality: Korean
- Height: Approx. 6′1–2″
- Weight: Approx. 78–80 kg
- MBTI: ENFJ
- Blood Type: 0
- Occupation: Actor, Director, Producer, Model
- Years Active: 1994–present
- Spouse: A close source told MyDaily on August 5 that Jung Woo-sung and his longtime girlfriend recently registered their marriage and are now legally husband and wife.
- Children: 1 child (With model Moon Ga-bi)
- Agency: Artist Company
- Instagram: @tojws
Fun Facts
- Jung Woo-sung was born in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, South Korea to a family consisting of himself, his parents, as well as an older brother and older sister.
- The actor is said to have spent his childhood in extreme poverty, leading to him working at part-time jobs more than focusing on his studies. As Jung Woo-sung was often mistaken for an adult due to his height, he often took advantage of this and lied about his age to get work. He even dropped out of high school after the 1st year to support his family.
- After dropping out of Gyeonggi Commercial High School and not taking the GED, Jung Woo-sung’s highest level of education remains middle school, which led to his exemption from military service.
- Due to being told that he was too tall to become an actor, he first worked as a model.
- He is also known as a celebrity with hair loss.
- In Japanese dubs of foreign films, he is frequently voiced by renowned seiyuu Shinichiro Miki.
- Choi Sung-hyuk, a member of the group Snuper, took the stage name “Woosung” after Jung Woo-sung, whom he admired.
- Jung Woo-sung, along with Song Kang-ho, Kim Hye-soo, and Park Myung-soo, was listed on the Park Geun-hye administration’s cultural blacklist.
- On June 20, 2019, he published the book If You Could See What I’ve Seen, reflecting on his experiences with refugees.
- He appeared as the democratic Mongolian leader in the Hearts of Iron IV mod The Road to 56.
- Actor Joo Ji-hoon revealed that Jung Woo-sung rarely keeps food at home and usually only serves alcohol to guests. So when visiting Jung Woo-sung’s home, one must bring their own food.
- Jung Woo-sung has said he doesn’t care much for maintaining his looks, believing that aging naturally and acquiring philosophical depth is the real form of beauty.
- He is known to thoroughly clean his hotel rooms after long stays, making sure no trace of him remains.
- On Knee Drop Guru, Jung Woo-sung hinted that he once had feelings for Go So-young, whom he often starred opposite early in his career.
- Jung Woo-sung is extremely close with actor Lee Jung-jae, whom he met while filming City of the Rising Sun.
- He lives in the high-end La Terrasse villa complex, in the same 18th unit as his best friend Lee Jung-jae, making them next-door neighbors.
- On September 13, 1999, Jung Woo-sung was in the same car when Lee Jung-jae got into his first DUI accident.
Career
As an Actor
Jung Woo-sung’s career has been a testament to his ability to adapt and grow as an artist.
His early career was defined by tough and rebellious roles that captured the angst of his generation. Films like Beat (1997) and City of the Rising Sun (1999) established him as a major star.
He expanded his range with his role in the timeless romantic tragedy A Moment to Remember (2004), which became a massive commercial success and solidified his appeal to a wider audience.
Jung has been a constant presence in high-concept action and thriller films. He earned critical acclaim for his performances in films like the “kimchi western” The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), the surveillance thriller Cold Eyes (2013), and the political crime films The King (2017) and Steel Rain (2017). His performance in the 2023 historical film 12.12: The Day was a major critical and commercial success, earning him praise for his stoic and powerful portrayal of a military commander.
His television work includes notable roles in the popular dramas Padam Padam (2011) and the recent romantic drama Tell Me That You Love Me (2023), where he played a deaf painter. He is also set to star in the highly anticipated Disney+ drama Made in Korea (2025), a spy thriller.
As a Director
Alongside his acting projects, Jung Woo-sung also ventured into directing, having tried his hand in this field since 2000. His first works include MVs for the legendary 1st gen K-pop group G.o.d.
He also directed several commercials, including one for the Samsung Galaxy S4.
The actor was also behind projects such as a short film for the omnibus “Three Charm Lives” and the movie “A Man of Reason”, the latter of which was invited to the Special Presentations section at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
As a CEO
In October 2012, Jung Woo-sung departed from his agency since 2009 and established a new talent agency called “Red Brick House”, where he appointed his manager of 10 years to be a CEO. In 2016, however, he co-founded Artist Company alongside actor Lee Jung-jae and became a CEO himself,
Artist Company currently represents many artists, including Ha Jung-woo, Go Ara, Nam Ji-hyun, and Yeom Jung-ah.
Personal Life
Early Life
Jung Woo-sung was born on April 22, 1973, in Sadang-dong, Seoul, as the youngest of three siblings. He spent a childhood marked by extreme poverty, living in a shantytown in a redevelopment area—his home often the last to be vacated. He recalled returning to find doors or walls torn down, sometimes entering through holes in the wall. Because of this unstable life, he worked part-time jobs from a young age.
Despite not having enough to eat, his tall stature led people to mistake him for an adult. In his third year of middle school, he pretended to be a college exam retaker and worked at a burger shop near Seomun Girls’ High School, where he became popular among female students. The shop walls were covered in love notes, and his boss even raised his wages.
Though he didn’t enjoy studying, he enrolled at Kyunggi Commercial High School hoping to become a bank clerk but dropped out in his first year. He then fully entered the workforce. While he didn’t feel unhappy about being poor, he resented how teachers discriminated based on background. This may have influenced his later interest in marginalized communities. Around this time, he also met Lee Jung-jae, who would become his closest friend.
Relationships
Jung Woo-sung had a short-lived relationship with actress Lee Ji-ah, but the two broke up after Lee Ji-ah’s previous marriage with famous singer Seo Taiji was exposed.
In November 2024, it was revealed that he had fathered a son with model Moon Ga-bi. The news caused a public stir, with Jung’s agency confirming the paternity. At the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards, Jung Woo-sung publicly apologized for disappointing his fans and vowed to “take full responsibility” for his son. Moon Ga-bi later clarified that she had not asked him for marriage and that the decision to have the child was mutual.
As of August 2025, several media outlets have reported that Jung Woo-sung has legally registered his marriage to a long-time non-celebrity girlfriend. His agency, Artist Company, has not officially confirmed the reports, stating that it concerns the actor’s “extremely private domain” and asking for respect.
Net Worth
Jung Woo-sung is one of the most successful and financially stable actors in South Korea. While official net worth figures are not public, a report from November 2024 estimated his wealth at approximately ₩60 billion (approximately $43.3 million USD).
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