Jung Jin-young

Jung Jin-young is a South Korean actor respected for his smart, deep performances in films and dramas. He is famous for playing King Yeonsan in the classic film The King and the Clown (2005) and for working many times with director Lee Joon-ik. On television, a new generation knows him as a strong father figure in Queen of Tears (2024).

Jung Jin-young is 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) tall, according to his published profile.

Early life

Jung Jin-young was born on October 16, 1964, in Seoul, South Korea. He studied Korean literature at Seoul National University and acted in theatre during his student years. Books, history and the stage shaped the thoughtful style he brings to his roles.

Career and breakthrough

He began acting on stage in the late 1980s and moved into films in the 1990s. His work with director Lee Joon-ik made him famous, starting with Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield (2003). The King and the Clown became one of the most loved Korean films of its time, and his sad, proud king stayed in viewers' hearts.

Popular roles

He played the prison chief Jang Min-hwan in Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013) and Reporter Lee in A Taxi Driver (2017). In Queen of Tears, he plays Hong Beom-joon, a quiet father in the rich Hong family. His calm acting gave the family story much of its heart.

Recent work

In 2026 he appears in Four Hands, Two Sonatas as Kang Seung-woon and in Sacred Jewel as Baek Cha-seung. Jung Jin-young also writes and directs, and he is known for choosing meaningful stories. Fans love his warm voice, his wisdom on screen and the trust he builds in every scene.