Jang Keun-suk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jang Keun-suk
Jang in May 2023
Born	(1987-08-04) August 4, 1987 (age 37) Seoul, South Korea
Education	Hanyang University
Occupation	Singer actor director
Years active	1992–present
Agent	CRAFT_42 Entertainment (formerly Tree J Company)
Korean name
Hangul	장근석
Hanja	張根碩
RR	Jang Geunseok
MR	Chang Kŭnsŏk

Jang Keun-suk (Hangul: 장근석) is a famous South Korean singer, actor, and director. He was born on August 4, 1987. He is well-known for his roles in popular Korean TV shows. Some of these include Beethoven Virus (2008), You're Beautiful (2009), and Love Rain (2012). He has also starred in The Royal Gambler (2016) and Switch (2018).

Early Life and Education

Jang Keun-suk began his career as a child model when he was just five years old. A talent agent discovered him by chance. The agent saw Jang when his parents were selling their house. The agent thought Jang had great potential. He suggested that Jang's parents let him try modeling.

When he was in junior high school, Jang studied in New Zealand. He attended Nelson College in 2003. There, he worked on learning both English and Japanese.

Acting Career Highlights

Jang Keun-suk made his first acting appearance in 1997. It was in a TV show called Selling Happiness. He continued to act in many TV roles as a child. While studying in New Zealand, he got a part in the popular show Nonstop 4. This role brought him back to South Korea.

Early Roles and Big Screen Debut

In 2005, Jang played the president's son in the drama Lovers in Prague. The next year, 2006, he appeared in his first big movie. It was a Japanese horror film called One Missed Call: Final. He played a deaf boy in this movie. After that, he acted in the historical drama Hwang Jini. He played the first love of the main character.

In 2007, Jang starred in the movie The Happy Life. This film was about rock music. He also co-hosted a weekly music show called Inkigayo from February to October 2007.

In 2008, Jang continued with music-themed projects. He acted in the film Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do. He also starred in the drama Beethoven Virus. In this show, he played a trumpet player in an orchestra. He also appeared in the drama Hong Gil-dong. Later, he starred with Moon Mason in the movie Baby and I.

Becoming Popular Overseas

Jang became even more famous after starring in You're Beautiful in 2009. He played the leader of a fictional K-pop band. His character falls in love with a band member who is a girl pretending to be her twin brother. This show became very popular, especially in Japan.

In the same year, he played a villain for the first time. This was in the thriller The Case of Itaewon Homicide. Jang spoke all his lines in English for this movie.

Jang in April 2011

In 2010, he starred in the romantic comedy Mary Stayed Out All Night. He then appeared in another romantic comedy movie, You're My Pet. In this film, a younger man becomes the "pet" of a career woman. In 2011, Jang also starred in a short film called Budapest Diary. He helped write the story and choose the filming locations for it.

Jang then worked on the drama series Love Rain in 2012. He and his co-star played two different roles. They played characters in the 1970s and also in 2012. This drama gained a lot of interest from other countries. It was sold to Japan for a very high price. This was partly because Jang was so popular. In 2013, Jang starred in another series based on a comic book, Bel Ami.

Directing and Comeback

In 2015, Jang directed his first short film called Camp. He helped plan and direct the movie. It was filmed on Jeju Island. Camp showed events that happened when Jang tried to film wild animals. The film became very popular on a Japanese music chart.

Jang made a successful return to TV in 2016. He hosted and mentored on the music show Produce 101. On this show, 101 trainee girls competed to debut as a music group.

He then starred in the historical drama The Royal Gambler. He played a gambler who challenges the King. This role helped him show a different side of his acting. It helped him move past his "pretty boy" image. In the same year, Jang directed another short film, The Great Legacy. This film was shown at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.

In 2017, Jang was cast in the film Human, Space, Time and Human. In 2018, he returned to TV with the drama Switch - Change the World. In this show, he played two different roles: a prosecutor and a con artist.

Music Career

Jang Keun-suk released his first song as a singer in Japan. It was called "Let Me Cry" and came out on April 27, 2011. This song went straight to number 1 on Japan's music charts. He was the first non-Japanese artist to have a debut song reach number 1. This earned him the Best New Artist award in Japan.

In September 2011, Jang formed a group called Team H with Big Brother. They released their first album, The Lounge H Vol.1, in China and other parts of Asia. This album sold so well that it reached platinum sales. Team H later won awards for Best Selling Album and Best Korean Album in Hong Kong.

In March 2012, Team H released their second album, Lounge H (The First Impression), in Japan. It had ten rock and electronic songs. In May 2012, Jang released his first full Japanese album, Just Crazy. It also debuted at number 1 on the Japanese charts. Jang became the first male artist from another country to have a debut album top the weekly Oricon Chart.

In February 2013, Team H released their third album, I Just Wanna Have Fun. They also held their first concert tour in Japan and other countries. In May 2013, Jang released his second Japanese album, Nature Boy. This album also topped the Oricon Daily Chart. From 2013 to 2014, Jang went on his first Zepp tour in Japan. In 2014, Team H released another album, Driving to the Highway. They then went on a concert tour in Japan.

In February 2015, Jang released his third solo album, Monochrome. This was to celebrate his fifth anniversary in Japan. The album reached third place on the Japanese charts. He also went on a tour called "Jang Keun Suk The Cri Show 3" across Japan. All the tickets for his 16 concerts were sold out. In September 2015, Jang held his first solo concert in Korea in three years. He also had concerts in Shanghai and Japan later that year.

In August 2016, Jang released a new Japanese song called "Darling, Darling". He then started his Asia tour, "It's Show Time". He also released two more songs, "Endless Summer" and "Dakishimetai", that same year. In August 2017, Jang released his fourth full album, Voyage. It had 14 songs and reached second place on the Japanese charts.

More recently, in March and April 2021, Jang released two new songs, "Star" and "Emotion". In March 2022, he released a teaser for his new Japanese album Blooming. In August 2022, he released another teaser for his song "Beautiful".

In the Media

Jang Keun-suk calls himself the "Prince of Asia." He said he started using this title himself. He has been very popular in Asia, especially in China and Japan. In 2012, he was the first Korean star to be featured on a Japanese stamp. In 2013, he had over 10 million followers on the Chinese social media site Weibo. This was the most followers for a Korean celebrity at that time.

Personal Life

Military Service

Jang Keun-suk started his required military service on July 16, 2018. He served as a social service worker. This was because he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011. This condition meant he was not able to serve in active military duty. He completed his military service on May 29, 2020.

Social Activities and Giving Back

Ambassador Roles

In 2010, Jang became the youngest person to be named a PR Ambassador for Seoul. He was also named a promotional ambassador for the Nuclear Safety Summit in 2011. In 2015, he became one of the first "Sharing Professors" at Hanyang University. He gave his first special lectures in December 2015.

In 2016, Jang was appointed as a public ambassador for an art exhibition. In 2017, he was named an honorary ambassador for the PyeongChang Olympics. He received a special medal for his work for the Olympics.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Jang Keun-suk often donates money to help others. In 2011, he gave 10.1 million yen from a charity event to the Japanese Red Cross. This was to help victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. In 2012, he donated a large sum of money to his school. In 2013, he donated 100 million won through UNICEF. This was to help victims of a typhoon in the Philippines. In 2017, it was shared that he helped a teenager from Mongolia get medical treatment in South Korea. He helped pay for her trip and medical costs.

His fan club also often makes donations. They support organizations that help people with hearing problems. They also donate to an orphanage. In 2015, Jang volunteered at this orphanage with his fans.

In 2016, Jang said he wanted to create a charity foundation. This would help him do even more good work. In 2022, Jang donated 30 million won to help deaf children. He did this by donating with his fans. In February 2023, Jang donated 100 million won to help victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake. In March 2025, Jang donated another 100 million won. This was to help with recovery efforts from wildfires in South Korea.

Filmography

Movies

Television Series

Web Series

Variety Shows

Radio Shows

Discography

Book

• 2012: Jang Keun Suk Love Recipe

Awards and Recognition

Jang Keun-suk has won many awards for his acting and music.

• In 2006, he won the Best Couple Award at the KBS Drama Awards for Hwang Jini.
• In 2007, he won Best New Actor at the Director's Cut Awards for The Happy Life.
• In 2008, he won Best New Actor (Film) at the Baeksang Arts Awards for The Happy Life. He also won Best New Actor at the MBC Drama Awards for Beethoven Virus.
• In 2009, he won the Netizen Popularity Award and Top 10 Stars at the SBS Drama Awards for You're Beautiful.
• In 2010, he won Most Popular Actor (Film) at the Baeksang Arts Awards for The Case of Itaewon Homicide. He also won several awards at the KBS Drama Awards for Mary Stayed Out All Night.
• In 2011, he won Most Popular Korean Artist at the Global Chinese Music Awards.
• In 2012, he won Best 3 New Artists at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. His album The Lounge H Vol. 1 won Best Selling Korean Album in Hong Kong. He also won Most Popular Actor (Film) at the Baeksang Arts Awards for You're My Pet.
• In 2013, his album Just Crazy won Best 3 Albums at the Japan Gold Disc Awards.
• In 2016, he won the Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama and Top 10 Stars Award at the SBS Drama Awards for The Royal Gambler.
• In 2022, he received the Seoul Mayor's Award at the Seoul Social Welfare Contest.

State Honors

• In 2011, the South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism gave him a special commendation.

See also

In Spanish: Jang Keun-suk para niños