2006–2010: Beginnings and rising popularity Jung made his acting debut in 2006 with a minor role in the thriller
The World of Silence, but he first rose to fame playing a rebellious teen and motorcycle fanatic with a crush on his teacher in daytime family
sitcom Unstoppable High Kick. He then joined the ensemble cast of 2007 romantic comedy film
My Love. In 2009, Jung starred in his first leading role as a young warrior battling injustice in historical drama
The Return of Iljimae. This was followed by a supporting role in romantic comedy
My Fair Lady, as an idealistic, upper-class lawyer. He further challenged himself when he made his stage debut in 2010 as an
HIV-positive
gay man in the sold-out play
Beautiful Sunday, written by Japanese playwright Mayumi Nakatani.
2011–present: Breakout and overseas popularity Jung's breakout role was in 2011 tearjerker
49 Days, in which he portrayed the Scheduler, a witty modern-day
Grim Reaper. His popularity increased with his leading man turn in 2011 cable romantic comedy
Cool Guys, Hot Ramen, in which he played an arrogant, immature yet lovable
chaebol heir. A supporting role in hit 2012 historical drama
Moon Embracing the Sun followed; Jung played a prince who becomes his half-brother's rival in love and for the throne. Following the success of
Cool Guys, Hot Ramen and
Moon Embracing the Sun, Jung was launched to stardom as a
Hallyu star. He won the Asia Male Actor award at
Beijing's
Huading Awards, the first non-Chinese entertainer to be nominated at the awards show since it began in 2005. From 2013 to 2014, he played a prosecutor who falls in love with a girl from a family of orphans in
Golden Rainbow. This was followed by a leading role as a prince turned ghost-seeing night watchman who patrols the palace after curfew and keeps the king and his citizens safe, in the supernatural period drama
Diary of a Night Watchman. In 2015, Jung starred in the Korean-Chinese web drama
High-End Crush opposite
Jin Se-yeon. In less than a month, the drama series recorded over 200 million views. Jung then starred in the Chinese romantic comedy film
Rise of a Tomboy, where he plays the
CEO of an
IT firm who helps a girl develop a love formula for a
mobile app. In January 2016, Jung signed with a new management agency, HB Entertainment. Jung made his return to Korean television in
tvN's romantic comedy
Cinderella with Four Knights, playing a lonely and wild-child rebel who is not yet used to being a member of a rich family, having lived most of his life as an orphan. In 2017, Jung starred in
Gon Rak Game Ma Ya (also known as
Love and Lies), making him the first Korean actor to land a leading role in a Thailand drama. The drama emerged as a local sensation, and led to a rise of popularity for Jung in the country. In 2019, Jung starred in the historical action drama
Haechi. This marks his first project after enlistment. In 2021, Jung played the lead role in the
MBN historical drama
Bossam: Steal the Fate. In 2022, Jung joins the ENA drama
Good Job, which is the second reunion with
Kwon Yu-ri, In February 2023, he attended the Milan Fashion Week 2023 FW collection Onitsuka Tiger fashion show. ==Personal life==