Jo In-sung

Jo In-sung (; born July 28, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the television series What Happened in Bali (2004), That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013), and It's Okay, That's Love (2014), as well as the films The Classic (2003), A Dirty Carnival (2006), A Frozen Flower (2008), The King (2017) and The Great Battle (2018).

Early life 
Jo In-sung was born and raised in Gangdong District, Seoul, South Korea.

Career

1998–2002: Beginnings and rise to fame
Jo made his entertainment debut in 1998 as a model for clothing brand Ziozia. He began his acting career in 1999 through the MBC sitcom Jump, and in 2000, starred in the teen drama School 3 and in the second season of the sitcom Nonstop. 

Jo first drew notice with a supporting role in the 2001 television drama Piano, co-starring Go Soo and Kim Ha-neul. He was then cast in his first drama leading role in 2002, as an illiterate actor in Shoot for the Stars opposite Jeon Do-yeon. The same year, he made his film debut in the movie Public Toilet. He also starred in several music videos of popular boy band g.o.d, who were also managed by SidusHQ at that time, and was directed by actor Jung Woo-sung.

2003–2008: Mainstream popularity
In 2003, Jo starred in three romantic films, most notably Kwak Jae-yong's The Classic, with Son Ye-jin and Cho Seung-woo. 

In 2004, he returned to television in the melodrama What Happened in Bali, alongside Ha Ji-won and So Ji-sub. What Happened in Bali was a huge success, with its final episode reaching a peak rating of 39.7%. Jo won Best Actor awards at both the Baeksang Arts Awards and SBS Drama Awards. 

In 2005, he starred opposite Go Hyun-jung in her comeback drama Spring Day, a remake of the Japanese drama Hoshi no Kinka ("Heaven's Coins"). 

Jo collaborated with renowned director Yoo Ha in his next two films: 2006's A Dirty Carnival, in which he played a charismatic small-time gangster who seeks a happier life; and 2008's A Frozen Flower, a Goryeo-period film where his royal bodyguard character is caught in a love triangle between the king and the queen.

2009–2012: Enlistment
On April 7, 2009, Jo enlisted for his two-year mandatory military service; he reportedly wanted to join the Air Force to follow in the footsteps of his father, who served as a non-commissioned officer. He served 25 months in the Air Force and the Air Force military band, and was discharged on May 4, 2011.

Upon the expiry of his contract with talent agency SidusHQ, Jo joined IOK Company in March 2012.

2013–present
In 2013, he co-starred in the melodrama That Winter, the Wind Blows alongside Song Hye-kyo, a remake of the Japanese drama Ai Nante Irane Yo, Natsu ("I Don't Need Love, Summer"). The drama placed number one in its timeslot during most of its run, and Jo and Song were praised for their performances. A year later, Jo reunited with Winter's writer and director in SBS' medical melodrama It's Okay, That's Love opposite Gong Hyo-jin. Jo won the Daesang (Grand Prize), the highest honor for television at the APAN Star Awards.

In 2016, Jo was chosen as the ambassador of the National Tax Service alongside Choi Ji-woo.

In 2017, Jo starred in the crime thriller The King alongside Jung Woo-sung, directed by The Face Reader director Han Jae-rim. In 2018, he stars in the historical film The Great Battle

Personal life
Jo studied modeling and events management  at Chunnam Techno University. He later enrolled as a Theater and Film major at Dongguk University, but was expelled in 2007 due to inadequate class attendance.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Music video appearances

Awards and nominations

References

External links 
 Zo In-sung at IOK Company 
 
 
 

Category:1981 births
Category:Living people
Category:Male actors from Seoul
Category:Republic of Korea Air Force personnel
Category:South Korean male film actors
Category:South Korean male television actors
Category:South Korean male models
Category:21st-century South Korean male actors