Ji Hyeon-u

Ji Hyun-woo (; born 29 November 1984), birth name Joo Hyung-tae , is a South Korean actor and musician. He was formerly the lead guitarist for Korean indie rock band and is best known for his leading roles in the cable TV series Queen and I and KBS2 weekend drama Young Lady and Gentleman (2021–22).

Early life Ji Hyun-woo was born in Seong-dong gu, Seoul, the younger of two brothers. His brother, Yoon-chae , is also a musician; he is a keyboardist and music producer. Ji hyun-woo remembers his childhood was full of practicing guitar, up to eight hours a day while his brother was practicing piano because their father had wished for them become star musicians in the future.

Career 2003–2012: Beginnings and rising popularity Ji Hyun-woo officially made his debut as an actor in 2003. His popularity increased in 2004 with the youth drama You Will Know, and sitcom-turned movie Old Miss Diary. He was named the "Nation's Little Brother" due to his popularity.

Besides acting, Ji is also talented musically. He started as a session guitarist for the second album of Korean band . Then in 2004, he along with Park Joon-shik (vocals) and Kim Hyun-joong (bass) formed rock band .

In 2005 Ji played Danny Zuko in a Korean staging of the musical Grease, which released its cast recording. He has also contributed to the soundtracks of several of his films and television series. The same year, he became a host of the music program Music Bank.

Ji made his big screen debut in the film Fly High (2006).

Ji continued to star on the small and big screen, among them the TV dramas Golden Apple (2005), Over the Rainbow (2006), Merry Mary (2007), My Sweet Seoul (2008), My Precious You (2008), Becoming a Billionaire (2010), and A Thousand Kisses (2011). He also appeared in the films Attack the Gas Station 2 (2009), and Mr. Idol (2011).

In 2011 Ji released his first solo single Crescendo, comprising three songs which Ji wrote and composed, and which was produced by his older brother Ji Hyun-soo who is also a member of rock band N.EX.T.

He was one of the season 2 hosts of Invincible Youth, a variety program based on members of popular girl groups experiencing the rural countryside of Korea.

In 2012, he starred in the fantasy romance Queen and I on cable channel tvN, in which he played a time-traveling Joseon scholar who falls in love with an actress in the 21st century (played by Yoo In-na).

2012–2014: Military service Ji enlisted for his mandatory military service on 7 August 2012, with the Chuncheon 102nd Reserve Forces. He was due to enlist in July but it was delayed for one month while he recovered from a back injury suffered during the filming of Queen and I.

In January 2013, Ji starred in the military musical The Promise. It was co-produced by the Ministry of National Defense and Korea Musical Theatre Association, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the armistice. Running from 9 to 20 January at the National Theater of Korea, the musical is centered around a group of soldiers who keeps a promise made to each other during the 6.25 war.

He was discharged on 6 May 2014.

2014–2019: Return to entertainment For his first post-army project, Ji was cast as a genius songwriter/musician who helps the heroine become a trot singer despite his distaste for the musical genre, in the romantic comedy series Lovers of Music. Then in 2015, he played a naive, idealistic homeroom teacher who helps a housewife masquerading as a high school student put an end to school violence in Angry Mom. A major turning point in Ji's career followed as the protagonist of the critically acclaimed cable series Songgot: The Piercer, a webtoon adaptation that tackled social injustice when temps are laid off by a big-box store.

In 2016, Ji signed with Dream Tea Entertainment. He next starred in SBS' thriller Wanted.

In 2017, Ji starred in MBC's weekend drama Bad Thief, Good Thief alongside Seohyun, playing multiple roles in the drama.

In 2018, Ji starred in True Fiction, a black comedy that satirizes politicians. The same year, Ji starred in the medical drama Risky Romance.

In 2019, Ji starred in the romance melodrama Love in Sadness.

In October 2019, Ji Hyun-woo changed his agency from Dream T Entertainment to Lion Heart Entertainment to pursue his musical career as well as his acting career.

2020–present: Pursuing music as well as acting

In January 2020, Ji Hyun-woo releases the first mini album of the band 사거리 그오빠(SGO). Ji Hyun-woo is the band's leader, vocalist and guitarist.

After that, he filmed the movie Everglow produced by Myung Film. Everglow was screened at BIFF 2020. In August 2020, he appeared in MBC Every1 drama Lonely enough to love.

During COVID-19 pandemic the band ended their contract with Lion Heart Entertainment. Ji Hyun-woo as an actor still maintains a contract with the agency.

On 10 February 2021, the band SGO's new single album Freesia was released. This single album and even the music video were produced by themselves. In this single, Ji Hyun-woo decided to use his real name, Hyeong-tae, to distinguish between Hyeong-tae who plays music and Hyun-woo, who is an actor.

On 30 April 2021, SGO released their second single 'You Are so beautiful'. On 10 May 2021, SGO started their official YouTube channel and an Instagram account to promote their music all by themselves.

Later in 2021, Ji joined KBS2 weekend drama Young Lady and Gentleman as the main lead. His performance earned him Grand Prize (Daesang) at 2021 KBS Drama Awards.

Personal life At the press conference for the last episode of Queen and I on 7 June 2012, Ji made the surprise public declaration: "I wanted to make this confession in front of the fans who enjoyed our drama. I sincerely love Yoo In-na." After days of media frenzy and speculation, the couple were spotted on a date on 17 June 2012. Yoo confirmed their relationship on her radio show on 18 June 2012, saying the two had developed feelings for each other while filming the drama. On 14 May 2014, their respective agencies confirmed in a press release that the couple had broken up.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 2004 The Hotel Venus Detective 2006 Fly High Kang Min-hyuk Old Miss Diary – Movie PD Ji Hyun-woo 2009 Attack the Gas Station 2 One Punch 2011 Mr. Idol Lee Yoo-jin 2018 True Fiction Sun-Tae 2021 Everglow Kyung-Hun

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2002 School Stories 2003 Merry Go Round 2004 You Will Know Jang Sun-il Old Miss Diary PD Ji Hyun-woo 2005 Banjun Drama Episode "My Heart Goes Pit-a-Pat" Episode "Bad Student" Golden Apple Kyung-min 2006 Over the Rainbow Kwon Hyuk-ju 2007 Merry Mary Kang Dae-gu 2008 My Sweet Seoul Yoon Tae-oh 2008 My Precious You Jang Shin-ho 2009 Invincible Lee Pyung Kang Woo On-dal 2010 Becoming a Billionaire Choi Seok-bong 2011 A Thousand Kisses Jang Woo-bin 2012 Queen and I Kim Boong-do 2014 Lovers of Music Jang Joon-hyun 2015 Angry Mom Park No-ah Songgot: The Piercer Lee Soo-in 2016 Wanted Cha Seung In 2017 Bad Thief, Good Thief Jang Dol-mok / Kim Soo-yeon 2018 Risky Romance Han Seung-joo 2019 Love in Sadness Seo Jung-won 2020 Lonely Enough to Love Cha Kang-woo 2021 Young Lady and Gentleman Lee Yong-guk 2023 Woman in a Veil Journalist Cameo (episode 77) 2024 Beauty and Mr. Romantic Go Pil-seung KBS weekend drama 2025 First Lady Hyun Min-cheol

Television show Year Title Role Notes 2003 요리조리팡팡 2005 Music Bank Host 2008–2009 I Love Movie 2011–2012 Invincible Youth Season 2 2022 Hot Singers Daily audio coach With the Silk of Dohpo Flying Cast Member with Kim Jong-kook, Noh Sang-hyun, Joo Woo-jae and Hwang Dae-heon 2023 Big Brother Era Host

Radio programs Year Title Notes 2007–2008 Our Happy Days of Youth with Ji Hyun-woo DJ 2008–2009 Mr. Radio with Lee Hoon and Ji Hyun-woo 2022 Noon's Hope Song, Kim Shin-young Special DJ

Musical theatre Year Title Role Notes 2005 Grease Danny Zuko 2013 The Promise Ji-hoon 2014–2015 Kinky Boots Charlie Price

Discography

The Nuts Albums The Nuts (2004) Whispers of Love (2006) Could've Been (2008) Crazy Love (2008) Truth J (2009)

Singles 추억여행 "Travel Memories" (2007) 졸업여행 "Graduation Trip" (2008) 바다에 입맞춤 "Kissing in the Sea" (2009) Compilation 2008 Ivy Mega Mix Single Collection Vol.1

Solo artist Cast recording Grease (musical, 2005)

Soundtrack Ji Hyun-woo's Love Letter (From "Over the Rainbow" OST, 2006) 외눈박이 물고기 "One Eyed Fish" 애인을 구합니다 눈물의 크리스마스 "Christmas Tears" (duet with Park Joon-shik, from Old Miss Diary – Movie OST, 2006) "One&One" (from Merry Mary OST, 2007) 달콤한 나의 도시 "My Sweet City" (from My Sweet Seoul OST, 2008) 본능적으로 "Instinctively" (from tvN Show Show Show Part 1, 2011) 하루종일 "All Day" (from Lovers of Music OST, 2014) 나는 행복한 사람 I'm a Happy Person (from "Bad Thief, Good Thief" OST, 2017) "Please Don't Go" (From "Lonely Enough to Love" OST, 2020)

Singles Crescendo (2011) 아기 코끼리 "Baby Elephant" 좋은 중독 "Good Addiction" 아이야 "Kid"

SGO

Mini Album NEWS (2020) Make up "화장" Waiting for you "누가 나 좀" Lie "거짓말" La ventana "창문"

Single Freesia (2021) Freesia Freesia (Inst.)

Single You Are so beautiful (2021) You Are so beautiful You Are so beautiful (Inst.)

Mini Album Love Line (2022) Shake it Boom You are so Beautiful Tic Tic Tic Freesia Love Line

Single Album Walk Today (2023) Walk Today Sunshine

Single how are you (2023) how are you

Awards and nominations + Year presented, name of the award ceremony, award category, nominated work and the result of the nomination Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2005 KBS Entertainment Awards Netizen Popularity Award Old Miss Diary 2006 MBC Drama Awards PD Award Over the Rainbow 2007 Korean Entertainment and Arts Awards Best Male Radio Host Our Happy Days of Youth MBC Drama Awards Best Couple Award Merry Mary 2008 SBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Drama Special My Sweet Seoul Best Couple Award New Star Award KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama My Precious You 2009 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Invincible Lee Pyung Kang 2010 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama Becoming a Billionaire 2011 MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama A Thousand Kisses 2014 APAN Star Awards Best Dressed 2015 Korea Lifestyle Awards Best Style JTBC Life Awards Best Actor Songgot: The Piercer 2017 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Weekend Drama Bad Thief, Good Thief 2018 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Miniseries Risky Romance 2019 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Weekend/Daily Drama Love in Sadness 2021 KBS Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Young Lady and Gentleman Top Excellence Award, Actor Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Best Couple Award 2022 APAN Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama 2024 Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Beauty and Mr. Romantic 2024 KBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor Best Couple Award Grand Prize (Daesang) Popularity Award, Actor