HA Jung-woo, born KIM Sung-hoon in 1978, has always dreamed of becoming an actor to follow in the footsteps of his father KIM Yong-gun, an actor best known for his TV works. While majoring in dramatic arts at Chung-Ang University, he gained experience playing in dozens of performances such as “Carmen”, “Othello”, and “The Glass Menagerie”. Having made a first screen appearance in 2002 in the sitcom <Honest Living>, he was cast in his first film role later th...More

HA Jung-woo, born KIM Sung-hoon in 1978, has always dreamed of becoming an actor to follow in the footsteps of his father KIM Yong-gun, an actor best known for his TV works. While majoring in dramatic arts at Chung-Ang University, he gained experience playing in dozens of performances such as “Carmen”, “Othello”, and “The Glass Menagerie”. Having made a first screen appearance in 2002 in the sitcom <Honest Living>, he was cast in his first film role later that year for <Madeleine> (2002). After playing supporting roles in <Mr. Gam’s Victory> (2004) and <She’s on Duty> (2005), he first caught the attention of the public with his portrayal of a witty bodyguard in TV series <Lovers in Prague> (2005) and gained further recognition for the maturity of acting skills he displayed in YOON Jong-bin’s debut film <The Unforgiven> (2005), which led him to be named Best New Actor by the Korean Association of Film Critics. This allowed him to diversify his roles in the following years, playing a nine-tailed fox from the Korean myths trying to lure human victims in the musical comedy <The Fox Family> (2006) as well as a young man who, unbeknownst to him, is being seduced again by his ex-girlfriend after she had plastic surgery in arthouse film <Time> (2006), directed by KIM Ki-duk. In 2008, he joined the ranks of Korea’s most promising actors after starring in NA Hong-jin’s hit debut <The Chaser> as a psychopath serial killer, receiving wide acclaim from critics and audiences alike. He confirmed his pedigree later that year with another highly praised performance as a cocky yet somewhat charming womanizer in LEE Yoon-ki’s <My Dear Enemy>. Since then, almost all of the films in which he appeared have become hits. Among them, sports comedy <Take Off> (2009) holds a special significance as it gave him the opportunity to share the screen with his father. Having established a good relationship with all the directors he worked with, he has often been cast again for their next projects. Most notably, he starred in the three movies that YOON Jong-bin directed after <The Unforgiven>, which include <Nameless Gangster : Rules of the Time> (2011) and <KUNDO : Age of the Rampant> (2013). He was also reunited with NA Hong-jin for <The Yellow Sea> (2010), this time playing the protagonist, an ethnic Korean from China compelled to kill a businessman in Korea. Currently one of the busiest working actors in the Korean film industry, in 2011 he starred in courtroom drama <The Client> as well as <Love Fiction> and <Nameless Gangster>. He was next seen in the large-scale spy thriller <The Berlin File> (2012) by RYU Seung-wan and as an anchorman in <The Terror Live> (2013). In addition, 2013 was also the year he released his directorial debut <Fasten Your Seatbelt> (2013). He racked up just one credit in 2014, as one of the leads in the period action romp <Kundo: Age of the Rampant> (2013) alongside GANG Dong-won. He began 2015 with his second directing gig, the period drama <Chronicle of a Blood Merchant> (2014), which he also starred in, adapted from a famous Chinese novel by YU Hua. Later that year, he was seen in the ensemble cast of CHOI Dong-hoon’s thriller <Assassination> (2015). He was also cast in PARK Chan-wook’s award-winning thriller <The Handmaiden> (2016), and proved once again his box office power by pulling in 7.2 million viewers with his star vehicle <Tunnel> (2016). In 2017, he starred in two of the biggest films released that year, accumulating 20 million viewers between <Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds> and <1987: When the Day Comes>.Less