1998–2002: Beginnings and rise to fame Zo made his entertainment debut in 1998 as a
model for clothing brand Ziozia. He began his acting career in 1999 through the
MBC sitcom Jump and, in 2000, starred in the teen drama
School 3 and in the second season of the
sitcom Nonstop. Zo first drew notice with a supporting role in the 2001
television drama Piano, co-starring
Go Soo and
Kim Ha-neul.
2003–2008: Mainstream popularity In 2003, Zo starred in three romantic films, most notably
Kwak Jae-yong's
The Classic, with
Son Ye-jin and
Cho Seung-woo. In 2004, he returned to television in the melodrama
Something Happened in Bali, alongside
Ha Ji-won and
So Ji-sub. In 2005, he starred opposite
Go Hyun-jung in her comeback drama
Spring Day, a
remake of the
Japanese drama ''
Heaven's Coin''. Zo collaborated with renowned director
Yoo Ha in his next two films: 2006's
A Dirty Carnival, in which he played a charismatic small-time gangster who seeks a happier life, and 2008's
A Frozen Flower, a
Goryeo-period film where his royal bodyguard character is caught in a love triangle between the king and the queen.
2009–2012: Enlistment On April 7, 2009, Zo enlisted for his two-year
mandatory military service; he reportedly wanted to join the
Air Force to follow in the footsteps of his father, who served as a
non-commissioned officer. He served 25 months in the Air Force and the Air Force military band, and was discharged on May 4, 2011. Upon the expiry of his contract with talent agency
SidusHQ, Zo joined IOK Company in March 2012.
2013–present: Return to television and international recognition In 2013, he co-starred in the melodrama
That Winter, the Wind Blows alongside
Song Hye-kyo, a remake of the Japanese drama . The drama placed number one in its time slot during most of its run, and Zo and Song were praised for their performances. A year later, Zo reunited with
That Winter's
teleplay writer and director in SBS's medical melodrama ''
It's Okay, That's Love'' opposite
Gong Hyo-jin. Zo won the Daesang (Grand Prize), the highest honor for television at the
APAN Star Awards. In 2017, Zo starred in the crime thriller
The King alongside
Jung Woo-sung, directed by
The Face Reader director
Han Jae-rim. In 2018, he starred in the historical film
The Great Battle. In March 2025, Zo decided not to renew his exclusive contract with IOK Company after 13 years. On March 4, it was reported that he will establish a new company with
Cha Tae-hyun, which was later named as Basecamp Company. == Other works ==