Cho Jae-hyun

Cho Jae-hyun (born June 30, 1965) is a South Korean film, stage, and TV actor. He is commonly dubbed "director Kim Ki-duk's persona" since Cho has starred as leading and supporting characters in a number of films directed by Kim.

Early years and education Cho Jae-hyun was born in Gyeongju on June 30, 1965. He and his family lived in a poor neighborhood on the slopes of a hill until his father became successful with his restaurant business in the Jongno area, Seoul. In a 2002 interview with the film magazine Cine21, Cho said he was a rebellious boy wandering outside the home. He aspired to be a painter, so tried to enter an art high school but failed. When he entered another high school, Cho ran away from home to Busan. Cho worked as a waiter there, and studied on his own to pass a qualification exam equivalent to obtaining a high school diploma. However, Cho failed it, so returned to Seoul to finish his high school year.

Cho was admitted to study theater and film at Kyungsung University. Cho recollected he indulged himself in Busan's culture as a freshman and sophomore, then focused on theater for the rest of his university years. Cho said a question from his junior in school during his third summer break shook him to rethink about his future; "What would you do after the graduation from the school?" Cho said he felt shame at the time because he could not clearly answer the question. Therefore, Cho started dedicating himself to acting. This was part of the highly successful Yeongeuk Yeoljeon ("A Series of the Best Plays"), of which Cho was the programmer in 2008–2009. Cho was praised for reinvigorating the faltering local theater scene in Daehangno by coming up with the series and its star-studded casting, promotion and marketing.

In 2018, Cho starred as a doctor and head of an organ transplant centre in the medical TV series Cross opposite Ko Kyung-pyo. However, on February 24, 2018, while the TV series was still being shot and aired, he was removed from the cast list following his admission of committing sexual harassment.

Other activities Cho is also the chairman of the Gyeonggi Film Council since 2009, executive festival director of the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival (DMZ Docs) since 2009, chairman of the Gyeonggi Arts Center since 2010, an associate professor at Sungshin Women's University's College of Convergence Culture and Arts since 2012, and an associate professor at Kyungsung University's Department of Theater and Film since 2014.

Personal life When Cho Jae-hyun was 24 years old in 1989, he married his college sweetheart who was an anchor for the campus channel. His son Cho Soo-hoon is a short track speed skater who won a gold medal in the 500 meter competition for male university students at the 2008 Korean National Winter Sports Festival, while his daughter Cho Hye-jung, who attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, is also an actress.

Sexual assault On February 23, 2018, Cho Jae-hyun was accused of sexual misconduct by actress Choi Yul, who claimed that Cho had sexually assaulted her in the past. On February 24, Cho acknowledged the allegations.

In July 2018, a woman only known as "miss A" filed a lawsuit against Cho for 300 million ₩ as damages from an alleged sexual assault. The Seoul Central District Court ruled against her in January 2021.

Filmography Film As actor

As director Year Title Notes 2006 "Standing in the Shade of a Tree-lined Road" by Yim Jae-beom Music video2013 5th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival Film festival trailer His Special Day Documentary short 2014 6th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival Film festival trailer 2015 A Break Alone Feature film; also credited as screenwriter

Television series

Theater Year Title Role 1991 Equus Alan Strang 2004 Equus Alan Strang 2007 Kyung-sook, Kyung-sook's Father Jo Jae-soo 2008 Educating Rita Frank 2008–2009 Dandelions in the Wind Ahn Jung-ki 2009–2010 Equus Jeong-min 2014–2015 Educating Rita Frank 2016 Blackbird Ray

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1991 Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor (Theater) Equus 1992 Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actor Sorrow Like a Withdrawn Dagger, Left My Heart 1993 Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor 1998 Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Girls' Night Out 1999 SBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actor Happy Together KBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actor 2001 Busan Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actor Address Unknown SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Piano Top 10 Stars 2002 Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor Bad Guy 2003 MBC Drama Awards Special Acting Award Snowman 2008 Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (TV) New Heart Korea Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor PCG Awards Communicator of the Year 2011 A Series of the Best Plays 3 Awards Award for Excellence Equus (as director) 2013 Fantasia International Film Festival Best Actor The Weight Sydney Intercultural Film Festival Best Actor Grimae Awards Best Actor The Scandal MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama Golden Acting Award, Actor 2014 Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (TV) Jeong Do-jeon Korea Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) APAN Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama PD Award 2015 Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (TV) Punch Gwangju International Film Festival Grand Prize (Daesang) SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special Top 10 Stars 2016 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama The Master of Revenge