Joo Woo-jae

Joo Woo-jae (; born November 28, 1986) is a South Korean model, entertainer and actor. Best known for his roles in Come and Hug Me and Strong Girl Nam-soon (2023), he currently stars as a regular cast member of Hangout with Yoo (since 2023) and Screwballs (since 2025).

Life and career 1986–2011: Early life Joo Woo-jae was born on November 28, 1986, in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, as the youngest of two sons. In , he received "A+" grades in solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics, and was tested to have an IQ of 137 at the time. For his tertiary education, he studied at Hongik University in Seoul for mechanical engineering with an academic scholarship for ranking within the top 5%, following his father who worked in the automobile industry and older brother who completed his studies in the same department. With one semester left, Joo requested a leave of absence to enjoy life before graduating and preparing for a job at Samsung. He started an online clothing store for which he modelled and scavenged the styles himself from the Dongdaemun Market, SSRL (에스에스알엘) (formerly Siesta). Stemmed from his love for music evoked by the radio since childhood, Joo also bought equipment which included a stereo mix and microphone to broadcast his own radio show through Winamp. Joo worked on his online store during the day, and broadcast his radio show titled "You, Give Me All the Burden" (그대, 모든 짐을 내게), for two hours at midnight. With 1,200 concurrent listeners per broadcast, he was offered to host an offline concert; accepting its offer, Joo programmed the show and invited musicians to guest, including Acoustic Collabo, Cheez, Giriboy, and Nucksal, amidst others,

Other ventures Philanthropy Joo participated in a retro-themed flea market organized by YG KPlus with models including Kang Seung-hyun, Hwang Seung-eon, Lee Ho-jung, Lee Jin-i, and Shim So-young, for the 2017 Pohang earthquake. Its entire proceed of ₩11.32 million was donated to its respective cause through the National Disaster Relief Association.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 2016 Can't Hide Woo-jae 2019 Miss & Mrs. Cops Lee Phillip

Television series Year Title Role Notes 2016 Wanted Kiss & Talk Guest Cameo (Episode 1) 2018 Come and Hug Me Kang Yoon-sung Love Alert Sung-hoon 2019 Best Chicken Andrew Kang School Strange Stories: 8th Anniversary Kang Min-gu 2020 Please Don't Date Him Han Yoo-jin 2023 Strong Girl Nam-soon Ji Hyun-soo My Dearest Farmer Cameo (Episode 12)

Web series Year Title Role Notes 2015 We Broke Up Radio DJ Cameo (Episode 8) 2016 I'm Not a Girl Anymore Han Seung-joon 2017 Part-Time Idol Inkigayo MC Cameo (Episode 5) 2021 Peng Ki Seon-je

Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2016 Travel Without Manager Regular cast Season 2 (Episodes 3–8) Tribe of Hip Hop Contestant Season 2 King of Mask Singer Episode 89 2018–2021 Host Seasons 1–4 2019 Regular cast Episode 9–20 2019–2020 Problematic Men Guest (Episodes 66, 68–69, 77)Regular (Episodes 212–224) 2020 Contestant 2021–2022 Magic Wardrobe Host Seasons 1–2 2022 Regular cast Young and Rich Boss Host Season 4 2022–2024 Beat Coin Regular cast 2023 Host Hangout with Yoo Regular cast Guest (Episodes 183–184)Regular (Episodes 191–present) 2025–present Screwballs Regular cast Problem Child in House Season 2 Regular cast

Web shows Year Title Role Notes 2021 Host 2022 Season 4 Scene Catchers 2023 Ripped from a Manga Regular cast Bbam Bbam Social Club YouTube series; 7 episodes

Hosting Year Title Notes 2023 KBS Entertainment Awards with Shin Dong-yup and Cho Yi-hyun

Music video appearances Year Song title Artist 2015 "We Fought" Yoo Se-yoon "Middle School Sick" 2016 "Y.O.U" Johan Kim "First" Yoon Jong-shin

Radio shows Year Title Role 2014–2015 Yoo In-na's Volume Up Panelist

Discography

Singles TitleYearAlbum"Never" (with Kim Sook, Hong Jin-kyung, Cho Sae-ho, and Jang Wooyoung, together as Unbalance) 2023Beat Coin OST"Flower Brain" (feat. Kim Sook, Hong Jin-kyung, Cho Sae-ho, and Jang Wooyoung) 2026Screwballs OST

Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Asia Model Awards 2019 Rookie of the Year Award Joo Woo-jae 2020 Fashionista Award Blue Dragon Series Awards 2024 Best New Male Entertainer Witch Hunt 2023 2026Best Male Entertainer (Excellence Award)Screwballs Brand of the Year Awards 2022 Model-tainer Joo Woo-jae KBS Entertainment Awards 2022 Best Couple Award with Jo Se-ho (Beat Coin) Rookie Award in Show and Variety Category Beat Coin 2023 Excellence Award in Show and Variety Category 2025 Top Excellence Award in Show and Variety KCA Culture and Entertainment Awards 2023 Popular Star of the Year (Selected by Viewers) Hangout with Yoo Korea First Brand Awards 2020 Model-tainer Joo Woo-jae 2024 Most Anticipated Model-Entertainer MBC Entertainment Awards 2023 Best Couple Award with Mijoo (Hangout with Yoo) Popularity Award One Top Excellence Award — Variety Shows Hangout with Yoo 2024 Best Entertainer Award — Show / Variety Hangout with YooSave Me! Holmes