The year he turned 24, he debuted in a bit part in the film No. 3. He says he was unknown for ten years, from 1997 until The Legend came out. In 2005, he appeared in the film Mr. Socrates.
The year he turned 34, he played Jumuchi in MBC’s The Legend. The Fact wrote that it made his face known after about ten years of obscurity. In 2008, he married Shin Eun-jung, an actress who had appeared with him in The Legend. In 2010, a son was born.
In 2011, he played Kim Yu-sin in MBC’s Gyebaek. In 2012, he appeared as Dong-jin in KBS2’s Bridal Mask.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 40, he appeared as Lee Joong-gu in the film New World. It passed 4.5 million admissions in 39 days, and The Fact and YTN wrote that the role made his name known to the public.
In 2014, he played Hong Guk-yeong in the film The Fatal Encounter. In 2015, Office and The Shameless, both starring him, were invited to the Cannes Film Festival, and at the end of the year he began SBS’s Remember. In 2016, he performed in the musical The Bodyguard and, on the last day of the year, won the Special Acting Award at the SBS Drama Awards.
In 2017, he appeared in the film The Swindlers. In 2018, he played Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, in The Great Battle. In 2019, he won best actor in a film at the Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards for The Dude in Me. In 2020, he appeared with Uhm Jung-hwa in the film Okay! Madam.
In 2022, he played Kwon Do-hoon in the film Gentleman. In 2023, he appeared in Netflix’s Bloodhounds and, at the year-end SBS Drama Awards, won the Top Excellence Award. In 2024, he returned to the stage in the play Rendezvous.
In 2025, he appeared in MBC’s A Head Coach’s Turnover and took part in the first script reading of KBS’s epic drama The Great King Munmu. In 2026, he met audiences with KBS2’s Cabbage Your Life and the film Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage.
Park Sung-woong (born Jan 9, 1973) debuted in 1997, the year he turned 24, in a bit part in the film No. 3, and became known as Lee Joong-gu in the film New World, released on Feb 21, 2013, the year he turned 40. In between, in 2007, the year he turned 34, he came out of ten years of obscurity as Jumuchi in MBC’s The Legend.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Debuted in a bit part. He says he was unknown for ten years, from 1997 until The Legend came out.
Source 01 · The Fact (Korean) · Interview on Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage · opens in a new tabSource 05 · TV Report (Korean) · Appears on the YouTube channel Tzuyang · opens in a new tab The debut year was confirmed in news reports; the month and day were not.YTN wrote that after more than ten years in bit parts, he built acting experience and recognition through this film and The Legend, among others.
Source 03 · YTN (Korean) · Culture Inside · opens in a new tabSource 33 · Wikipedia (Korean) · Park Sung-woong · opens in a new tab The release year is from Wikipedia and was not confirmed in news reports.Played Jumuchi. The Fact wrote that he got through about ten years of obscurity and made his face known with this drama.
Source 02 · Newsen (Korean) · The Legend trailer and schedule · opens in a new tabSource 01 · The Fact (Korean) · Interview on Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage · opens in a new tab After a special on Sept. 10, episodes 1 to 3 aired from the 11th.They held the wedding at Vivaldi Park in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province. They had met through appearing together in The Legend.
Source 06 · MyDaily (Korean) · Wedding day · opens in a new tabA son was born.
Source 07 · TV Report (Korean) · First child born · opens in a new tabThe first episode opened with the Battle of Hwangsanbeol, and he played Kim Yu-sin. The first episode drew 10.6%.
Source 08 · The Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Gyebaek first-episode ratings · opens in a new tabPlayed Dong-jin in a Wednesday-Thursday drama set during the Japanese colonial period.
Source 09 · Newsen (Korean) · Bridal Mask episode 26 · opens in a new tab His appearance was confirmed through an article on the Aug. 30, 2012 episode; the first broadcast date was not confirmed.Played Lee Joong-gu, and the film passed 4.5 million admissions in 39 days. The Fact and YTN wrote that this role made his name known to the public.
A 12-episode drama in which he and Oh Hyun-kyung played a married couple. He played the announcer Gong Jung-han.
Source 11 · TV Report (Korean) · She Is Wow! blessing ceremony · opens in a new tabHis agency said it was his first solo talk show, 17 years after his debut.
Source 12 · Newsen (Korean) · Appears on The Knee-Drop Guru · opens in a new tab The 17 years is his agency’s wording; counting from his 1997 debut it is 16 years.Played Hong Guk-yeong in a film about the plot to assassinate King Jeongjo.
Source 13 · OhmyNews (Korean) · The Fatal Encounter press conference · opens in a new tab The release date follows the “opens on the 30th” in the OhmyNews article on the press conference.Office, in which he starred, was invited to the Midnight Screenings and The Shameless to Un Certain Regard.
Source 14 · Star News (Korean) · Invited to the 68th Cannes Film Festival · opens in a new tabPlayed the gangster lawyer Park Dong-ho.
Source 15 · OhmyNews (Korean) · Remember production presentation · opens in a new tabPerformed with Jung Sun-ah, and the show opened at LG Arts Center.
Source 16 · Star Today (Korean) · The musical The Bodyguard · opens in a new tabWon for playing Park Dong-ho in Remember.
Source 17 · MyDaily (Korean) · 2016 SBS Drama Awards · opens in a new tabSource 15 · OhmyNews (Korean) · Remember production presentation · opens in a new tabA crime caper film in which he appeared with Hyun Bin, Yoo Ji-tae and Bae Sung-woo.
Source 18 · Newsen (Korean) · The Swindlers release confirmed · opens in a new tab The release month was confirmed in news reports; the day was not.Played Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang. His agency said he studied Chinese for more than three months for the shoot.
Source 19 · Star News (Korean) · The Great Battle released · opens in a new tabWon for playing Jang Pan-soo in the film The Dude in Me. The ceremony was held at 63 Building in Yeouido, Seoul.
Source 20 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · 27th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards · opens in a new tabHe and Uhm Jung-hwa played a married couple. It drew 1.22 million admissions in total.
Source 21 · The Fact (Korean) · Okay! Madam released · opens in a new tabSource 01 · The Fact (Korean) · Interview on Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage · opens in a new tabAppeared in a drama set in Seoul in 1987.
Source 22 · JTBC (Korean) · Snowdrop first airs · opens in a new tabPlayed the law firm chaebol Kwon Do-hoon. He says he first turned it down because he felt he was being used up in the same image, and then decided to take it.
Source 23 · Ilgan Sports (Korean) · Interview on Gentleman · opens in a new tabPlayed the illegal loan shark Kim Myung-gil. After release it ranked No. 2 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) list.
Source 24 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Bloodhounds · opens in a new tabWon for The Killing Vote.
Source 25 · Dailian (Korean) · 2023 SBS Drama Awards · opens in a new tabPerformed a two-person play at the U+ Stage of LG Arts Center Seoul. Sports Hankook wrote that it was his first stage appearance in 24 years.
Source 26 · Sports Hankook (Korean) · First performance of the play Rendezvous · opens in a new tabA two-episode drama in which he played the pro basketball coach Maeng Gong.
Source 27 · MBC Entertainment (Korean) · A Head Coach’s Turnover first airs · opens in a new tabThe production team said it was discussing his appearance as Kim Yu-sin. It would be his second time as Kim Yu-sin, after Gyebaek in 2011.
Source 28 · Newsen (Korean) · The Great King Munmu casting · opens in a new tabSource 08 · The Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Gyebaek first-episode ratings · opens in a new tabPlayed Sung Tae-hoon, a department head at a large company reassigned to the countryside. The first episode drew 2.9%.
Source 29 · The Fact (Korean) · Cabbage Your Life first airs · opens in a new tabLost to Yurisa in the final and finished second.
Source 30 · TV Daily (Korean) · Death Game: The Last Winner ends · opens in a new tabPlayed Seok-hwan again in the sequel six years later and also took part as a co-producer. He says he lowered his fee first because of the production cost.
Source 31 · bnt News (Korean) · Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage · opens in a new tabSource 01 · The Fact (Korean) · Interview on Okay! Madam: Bon Voyage · opens in a new tabStills of four main actors were released ahead of the first broadcast in November.
Source 32 · ize (Korean) · Stills released for Munmu · opens in a new tab The article gives the title as Munmu.END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1997–2026 · 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?
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Film & TV · South Korea
Jan 9, 1973 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1973: the year of the event minus 1973, 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.