The year he turned 24, he debuted in the musical The Nutcracker. On the recommendation of an agency head who had seen a university club’s Grease, he auditioned. In 2006, he first appeared in the musical Hedwig.
In 2007, he appeared in All Shook Up and First Love in succession, and was ranked No. 1 as the “musical actor with the most potential to grow” in a poll by The Musical. In 2009, he won Best Supporting Actor at the Korea Musical Awards for Spring Awakening. A year later, he won Best Supporting Actor at The Musical Awards.
The breakthrough yearIn March 2012, the year he turned 32, the film Architecture 101 was released. He became known as Nab-ddeuk, and that November he won Best New Actor at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
In 2013, The Face Reader drew 9.13 million viewers, and he won the KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award for You Are the Best! In 2014, his first main lead, My Love, My Bride, was released. In 2015, he appeared in tvN’s Oh My Ghost. In 2016, he won the SBS Drama Awards Best Actor in the romantic comedy category for Don’t Dare to Dream.
In 2018, he held a pledge ceremony with the singer Gummy. In 2019, Exit drew 9.42 million viewers, and he won the SBS Drama Awards Best Actor in the mid-length drama category for Nokdu Flower. In 2020, he played Lee Ik-jun in tvN’s Hospital Playlist, and the OST song “Aloha” reached No. 1 on the music charts. His first daughter was born that August.
In 2021, Hospital Playlist season 2 began with a first-episode rating of 10%. In 2022, he held the solo concert Jo Jung-suk SHOW. In 2024, he returned to the musical stage after eight years in Hedwig, and in summer Pilot and Land of Happiness were released one after the other. That fall he released the first studio album Jo Jung-suk and debuted as a singer.
In 2025, he won the Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor in the film category for Pilot, and My Daughter Is a Zombie was released. In 2026, his second daughter was born and he released a new single.
Jo Jung-suk (born Dec 26, 1980) debuted in the musical The Nutcracker in 2004, the year he turned 24, and became known as Nab-ddeuk in the film Architecture 101, released on Mar 22, 2012, the year he turned 32. His first main lead was My Love, My Bride in 2014, the year he turned 34.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
It began with a university club’s production of Grease. On the recommendation of the head of an agency, he auditioned and passed on the spot.
Source 01 · Hankyoreh (Korean) · A second Cho Seung-woo? No, just the actor Jo Jung-suk · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Sports Donga (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk interview · opens in a new tab The month of the debut was not confirmed.Played Hedwig for the first time in season 3. He later took part in seasons 4, 6, 10 and 14, five seasons in all.
Source 03 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Leads of the musical All Shook Up · opens in a new tabSource 04 · TV Report (Korean) · Returns in Hedwig · opens in a new tabSource 36 · OSEN (Korean) · Hedwig season 14 ends · opens in a new tab The date of the first performance was not confirmed.Played the lead in a double cast with Kim Woo-hyung.
Source 03 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Leads of the musical All Shook Up · opens in a new tab In a Dec. 8, 2006 article, Yonhap reported that performances would begin the following January. The date of the first performance was not confirmed.Played Hae-su, a young man from a seaside village. That year he was nominated for Best New Actor at the 13th Korea Musical Awards.
Source 01 · Hankyoreh (Korean) · A second Cho Seung-woo? No, just the actor Jo Jung-suk · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Nominees for Best New Actor at the 13th Korea Musical Awards · opens in a new tabIn a poll by the musical magazine The Musical, he was chosen No. 1 as the “musical actor with the most potential to grow.” It was less than three years after his debut.
Source 05 · Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk, lead of the musical Pump Boys · opens in a new tabPlayed Hedwig again, after 2006.
Source 04 · TV Report (Korean) · Returns in Hedwig · opens in a new tabSource 36 · OSEN (Korean) · Hedwig season 14 ends · opens in a new tab The date of the performances was not confirmed.Played Moritz in the Korean premiere at Yeongang Hall, Doosan Art Center.
Source 07 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Performance briefs · opens in a new tab Segye Ilbo reported in November 2008 that it would open the following June. The opening date was not confirmed.Won for Spring Awakening. The ceremony was held at KBS Hall in Yeouido.
Source 08 · Asia Economy (Korean) · Korea Musical Awards Best Supporting Actor · opens in a new tabReceived it at the ceremony held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
Source 09 · Edaily (Korean) · 4th The Musical Awards · opens in a new tab The articles do not name the work he won for.Played Hedwig again, after 2006 and 2008.
Source 04 · TV Report (Korean) · Returns in Hedwig · opens in a new tabSource 36 · OSEN (Korean) · Hedwig season 14 ends · opens in a new tab The date of the performances was not confirmed.Played Eun Shi-kyung, a royal guard company commander. Seoul Shinmun reports that Architecture 101’s release date and this drama’s first broadcast were only one day apart.
Source 10 · Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk interview · opens in a new tabSource 11 · TV Daily (Korean) · The King 2 Hearts’ Jo Jung-suk · opens in a new tab The date of the first broadcast was not confirmed in an article.Appeared as Nab-ddeuk, the friend of Seung-min (Lee Je-hoon), a 20-year-old suffering from first love. He says he put on weight on purpose for the role.
Won for Architecture 101. The ceremony was held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
Source 13 · Edaily (Korean) · 33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actor · opens in a new tabIt drew 373,645 viewers on its first day and ranked No. 1 at the box office, and went on to draw 9.13 million viewers.
Source 14 · Asia Economy (Korean) · The Face Reader’s opening day · opens in a new tabSource 15 · My Daily (Korean) · The Face Reader’s Jo Jung-suk as Paeng-heon · opens in a new tabSource 16 · OhmyNews (Korean) · IU and Jo Jung-suk’s lead debut · opens in a new tabIn the KBS2 weekend drama You Are the Best!, he played Shin Joon-ho, IU’s counterpart.
Source 16 · OhmyNews (Korean) · IU and Jo Jung-suk’s lead debut · opens in a new tabSource 17 · MBN (Korean) · 2013 KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award in a serial drama · opens in a new tabIn a remake of the 1991 film, he played Yeong-min, the role Park Joong-hoon played, and Shin Min-ah played Mi-yeong. It drew 2.14 million viewers.
Source 16 · OhmyNews (Korean) · IU and Jo Jung-suk’s lead debut · opens in a new tabSource 50 · Newsis (Korean) · My Love, My Bride No. 1 on opening day · opens in a new tabAppeared with Park Bo-young and played the star chef Kang Sun-woo.
Source 16 · OhmyNews (Korean) · IU and Jo Jung-suk’s lead debut · opens in a new tabSource 18 · MBN (Korean) · Oh My Ghost poster released · opens in a new tabAppeared with Doh Kyung-soo and drew 2.98 million viewers.
Source 16 · OhmyNews (Korean) · IU and Jo Jung-suk’s lead debut · opens in a new tab The release date was not confirmed in an article.Appeared with Gong Hyo-jin, and the first episode’s nationwide rating was 7.3%.
Source 19 · Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Don’t Dare to Dream peak rating · opens in a new tabShared the award with Namgoong Min for Don’t Dare to Dream.
Source 20 · My Daily (Korean) · 2016 SBS Drama Awards · opens in a new tabPlayed a dual role, the violent crimes detective Cha Dong-tak and the swindler Gong Su-chang.
Source 21 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · Two Cops, first broadcast · opens in a new tabSource 22 · Sports Donga (Korean) · Two Cops: Jo Jung-suk and Hyeri · opens in a new tabBoth their agencies announced it in press releases that day. They held a pledge ceremony instead of a wedding and did not disclose the wedding date.
Source 23 · Donga Ilbo (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk and Gummy’s pledge ceremony · opens in a new tabA Friday–Saturday drama set during the 1894 Donghak Peasant Revolution.
Source 24 · TV Report (Korean) · Expectations for Nokdu Flower · opens in a new tabStarred with Im Yoon-ah. It was No. 1 at the box office on its first day with 490,112 viewers and drew 9.42 million.
Source 25 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Exit’s opening day · opens in a new tabSource 44 · bnt News (Korean) · My Daughter Is a Zombie’s opening day · opens in a new tabSource 51 · OSEN (Korean) · Exit opens · opens in a new tabWon for Nokdu Flower.
Source 26 · Edaily (Korean) · 2019 SBS Drama Awards · opens in a new tabThe first episode averaged 6.3% on pay platforms.
Source 27 · Nocut News (Korean) · Hospital Playlist, first broadcast · opens in a new tabSource 28 · MBC Entertainment (Korean) · “Aloha” released · opens in a new tabSang a song by Cool for the Hospital Playlist OST. It reached No. 1 on the music charts 20 days after release.
Source 28 · MBC Entertainment (Korean) · “Aloha” released · opens in a new tabSource 29 · Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · “Aloha” tops the music charts · opens in a new tabHis first daughter was born.
Source 30 · Star News (Korean) · Gummy’s nationwide tour · opens in a new tab The articles do not give the date.The first episode averaged 10% nationwide, the highest first episode of any tvN drama at the time.
Source 31 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Hospital Playlist season 2, first broadcast · opens in a new tabReleased it for the Hospital Playlist season 2 OST.
Source 32 · MBC Entertainment (Korean) · “I Like You” released · opens in a new tabIt ran for two days at Mastercard Hall at Blue Square in Seoul. It was his first solo stage in five years since a 2017 fan meeting, and every show sold out.
Source 33 · TV Report (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk SHOW wraps · opens in a new tabWas confirmed with Shin Se-kyung, Lee Shin-young and Park Ye-young. He plays the king, Yi In.
Source 34 · Sports Hankook (Korean) · Cast in Captivating the King · opens in a new tabPlayed the king, Yi In. The final episode’s nationwide household average rating was 7.8%.
Source 35 · Edaily (Korean) · Captivating the King ends · opens in a new tabIt was his first stage appearance in eight years, since season 10 in 2016. He finished his fifth run as Hedwig at the Charlotte Theater.
Source 36 · OSEN (Korean) · Hedwig season 14 ends · opens in a new tabIt drew 373,557 viewers on its first day and 4.71 million in all.
Source 37 · Star News (Korean) · Pilot’s opening day · opens in a new tabSource 38 · SBS Entertainment News (Korean) · My Daughter Is a Zombie opens July 30 · opens in a new tabIn director Choo Chang-min’s film, he played the lawyer Jeong In-hu. He appeared with Lee Sun-kyun and Yoo Jae-myung.
Source 39 · MBC Entertainment (Korean) · Land of Happiness event · opens in a new tabSource 40 · The Fact (Korean) · Land of Happiness: Jo Jung-suk interview · opens in a new tabA variety show about the process of his debut as a singer.
Source 49 · SBS Entertainment News (Korean) · A-list to Playlist release date confirmed · opens in a new tabSource 41 · Newsis (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk’s new song · opens in a new tabReleased his first studio album and made his formal debut as a singer.
Source 42 · MK Sports (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk’s comeback as a singer · opens in a new tab The articles do not give the release date.Won for Pilot. It was his first Baeksang Best Actor award, on his third nomination.
Source 43 · Xportsnews (Korean) · 61st Baeksang Arts Awards · opens in a new tabIt drew 430,000 viewers on its first day, the highest opening of any film released that year.
Source 38 · SBS Entertainment News (Korean) · My Daughter Is a Zombie opens July 30 · opens in a new tabSource 44 · bnt News (Korean) · My Daughter Is a Zombie’s opening day · opens in a new tabIt ran for two days at the Seongnam Arts Center Opera House. Gummy appeared as a surprise guest and sang a duet from the first studio album with him.
Source 47 · Sports Donga (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk’s nationwide tour in Seongnam · opens in a new tabHis agency, JAM Entertainment, announced it that day.
Source 45 · bnt News (Korean) · Second daughter born · opens in a new tabSource 30 · Star News (Korean) · Gummy’s nationwide tour · opens in a new tabHis first new song in about 1 year 9 months since the first studio album. The title means that meeting you in an ordinary world made everything good.
Source 41 · Newsis (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk’s new song · opens in a new tabAppeared as a guest in episode 4.
Source 48 · MHN Sports (Korean) · Eonnine Fresh off the Sea 3, episode 4 · opens in a new tabSource 46 · OSEN (Korean) · Jo Jung-suk on Eonnine Fresh off the Sea 3 · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2004–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.
Film & TV · South Korea
Dec 26, 1980 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1980: the year of the event minus 1980, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.22 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.