Ji Hyun-woo

Ji Hyun-woo (born Joo Hyung-tae on 29 November 1984) is a South Korean actor and musician. He was formerly the lead guitarist for Korean indie rock band The Nuts and is best known for his leading role in the cable TV drama Queen In-hyun's Man.

2003–2004: Rock band and acting debut

Ji Hyun-woo officially made his debut as an actor in 2003. His popularity increased in 2004 with the sitcom-turned movie Old Miss Diary.

Besides acting, Ji is also talented musically. He started as a session guitarist for the second album of Korean band Moonchild. Then in 2004, he along with Park Joon-shik (vocals) and Kim Hyun-joong (bass) formed rock band The Nuts.

2005–2011: Musical theatre, television dramas and films

In 2005 Ji played Danny Zuko in a Korean staging of the musical Grease, which released its cast recording. He has also contributed to the soundtracks of several of his films and television series.

Ji continued to star on the small and big screen, among them the TV dramas Over the Rainbow (2006), Merry Mary (2007), My Sweet Seoul (2008), My Precious You (2008), Invincible Lee Pyung Kang (2009), Becoming a Billionaire (2010), and A Thousand Kisses (2011). He also appeared in the films Attack the Gas Station 2 (2009), and Mr. Idol (2011).

2011–2012: Variety show and solo artist

In 2011 Ji released his first solo single Crescendo, comprising three songs which Ji wrote and composed, and which was produced by his older brother Ji Hyun-soo who is also a member of rock band N.EX.T.

He was one of the season 2 hosts of Invincible Youth, a variety program based on members of popular girl groups experiencing the rural countryside of Korea.

In 2012, he starred in the fantasy romance Queen In-hyun's Man on cable channel tvN, in which he played a time-traveling Joseon scholar who falls in love with an actress in the 21st century (played by Yoo In-na).

2012–2014: Military service

Ji enlisted for his mandatory military service on 7 August 2012 with the Chuncheon 102nd Reserve Forces. He was due to enlist in July but it was delayed for one month while he recovered from a back injury suffered during the filming of Queen In-hyun's Man.

In January 2013, Ji starred in military musical The Promise. It was co-produced by the Ministry of National Defense and Korea Musical Theatre Association, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the armistice. It ran from 9 to 20 January at the National Theater of Korea, with a cast composed of actors Kim Mu-yeol and Jung Tae-woo, as well as singers Leeteuk of Super Junior, Yoon Hak of Supernova, and Lee Hyun of 8Eight. The musical is centered around a group of soldiers who keeps a promise made to each other during the 6.25 war.

He was discharged on 6 May 2014.

2014–present: Return to entertainment

For his first post-army project, Ji was cast as a genius songwriter/musician who helps the heroine become a trot singer despite his distaste for the musical genre, in the romantic comedy series Trot Lovers. Then in 2015, he played a naive, idealistic homeroom teacher who helps a housewife masquerading as a high school student put an end to school violence in Angry Mom. A major turning point in Ji's career followed as the protagonist of the critically acclaimed cable series The Awl, a webtoon adaptation that tackled social injustice when temps are laid off by a big-box store.

In 2016, Ji signed with Dream Tea Entertainment.

At the press conference for the last episode of Queen In-hyun's Man on 7 June 2012, Ji made the surprise public declaration: "I wanted to make this confession in front of the fans who enjoyed our drama. I sincerely love Yoo In-Na. After days of media frenzy and speculation, the couple were spotted on a date on 17 June 2012. Yoo confirmed their relationship on her radio show on 18 June 2012, saying the two had developed feelings for each other while filming the drama. On 14 May 2014, their respective agencies confirmed in a press release that the couple had broken up.

Television drama

Film

Variety show

Radio program

*Note: the whole list below is referenced.

The Nuts

Albums

1. The Nuts (2004)
2. Whispers of Love (2006)
3. Could've Been (2008)
4. Crazy Love (2008)
5. Truth J (2009)

Singles

1. 추억여행 "Travel Memories" (2007)
2. 졸업여행 "Graduation Trip" (2008)
3. 바다에 입맞춤 "Kissing in the Sea" (2009)

Compilation

1. 2008 Ivy Mega Mix Single Collection Vol.1

Solo artist

Cast recording

1. Grease (musical, 2005)

Soundtrack

1. Ji Hyun-woo's Love Letter (2006)
   1. 외눈박이 물고기
   2. 애인을 구합니다
2. 눈물의 크리스마스 "Christmas Tears" (duet with Park Joon-shik, from Old Miss Diary – Movie OST, 2006)
3. "One&One" (from Merry Mary OST, 2007)
4. 달콤한 나의 도시 "My Sweet City" (from My Sweet Seoul OST, 2008)
5. 본능적으로 "Instinctively" (from tvN Show Show Show Part 1, 2011)
6. 하루종일 "All Day" (from Trot Lovers OST, 2014)

Singles

1. Crescendo (2011)
   1. 아기 코끼리 "Baby Elephant"
   2. 좋은 중독 "Good Addiction"
   3. 아이야 "Kid"

• "Ji Hyun-woo's Discography". Bugs.co.kr. Retrieved 2012-11-18.