{{Short description|South Korean actor (born 1983)}} {{family name hatnote|Jo|Yoo|lang=Korean}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Yoo Gun | image = Yoo Gun.jpg | birth_name = Jo Jeong-ik | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|01|21}} | birth_place = Arizona, United States | citizenship = South Korea | other_names = U Gun | education = Seoul Institute of the Arts – Broadcasting Entertainment <br /> Konkuk University – Film Art | agent = L&Company | occupation = Actor, singer | module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto | hangul = %조정익 | hanja = | hangulstage = %유건 | hanjastage = 劉建 | child = yes }} }}
'''Jo Jeong-ik''' (born 21 January 1983), better known by his stage name '''Yoo Gun''', is an American-born South Korean actor.
==Early life== Jo Jeong-ik was born in Arizona, United States to Korean American parents. He came to South Korea in the 1990s as a teenager. He is a first cousin of coloratura soprano Sumi Jo.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G0706010015|script-title=ko:유건, "소프라노 조수미가 내 5촌 고모"|trans-title=Yu Geon: "Soprano Jo Sumi is my cousin's father's sister"|work=Osen|date=1 June 2007|access-date=2013-02-05|language=ko}}</ref><ref name="StarNews20080617">{{cite news|url = http://star.mt.co.kr/view/stview.php?type=1&no=2008061709271262018|script-title=ko:유건 "성악가 조수미가 오촌고모"|trans-title=Yu Geon: "Vocalist Jo Sumi is my cousin's father's sister"|work=Star News/Money Today|date=17 June 2008|access-date=2013-02-15|language=ko}}</ref>
==Career== Under the stage name Yoo Gun, he began his entertainment career in 1997 as a singer in South Korean boy band Oppa.<ref name="JoongAngIlbo20110302">{{cite news|url=http://article.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=5127975&ctg=1502|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411052945/http://article.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=5127975&ctg=1502|url-status=usurped|archive-date=11 April 2013|script-title=ko:유건, 오늘(2일) 미국시민권 포기 현역 군입대|trans-title=Yu Geon today gave up U.S. citizenship and enlisted in the army|work=JoongAng Ilbo|date=2 March 2011|access-date=2013-02-25|language=ko}}</ref> Yoo rose to popularity through his first leading role in the 2006 television drama ''Hello, God!'' (안녕하세요 하느님); he played a mentally challenged character based on "Charlie" in the novel ''Flowers for Algernon''. Supporting roles followed in the comedy films ''Dasepo Naughty Girls'', ''Project Makeover'', ''Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K'', and ''My Mighty Princess''.<ref name="JoongAngIlbo20110302"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Hyo-won|title=Princess Flies High, Dips Low|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/06/141_26559.html|website=The Korea Times|access-date=2013-04-06|date=26 June 2008}}</ref> Yoo underwent six months of martial arts training for his next leading role in the action drama ''Fight'', which aired on cable in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=It's Real Action on Cable with 맞짱 (Road Fighter)|url=http://twitchfilm.com/2008/10/its-real-action-on-cable-with-fight-master.html|work=Twitch Film|access-date=2013-04-06|date=2 October 2008}}</ref> Besides appearing in the TV series ''Bad Couple'', ''Can't Stop Now'', and ''Prosecutor Princess'', he also made his theater debut in 2010 in the stage play ''Thief's Diary''.
In 2011, he renounced his U.S. citizenship in order to serve in the South Korean army.<ref name="JoongAngIlbo20110302"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Jin-ho|title=Yoo Gun Talks about His Enlistment and His American Citizenship|url=http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=34906|work=enewsWorld|publisher=CJ E&M|access-date=2013-04-30|date=27 April 2013}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Yoo enlisted as an ordinary soldier in March 2011, and was later transferred to the Defense Media Agency in October 2011, where he took over as DJ of the military radio program ''This is Friends FM Yoo Gun''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Oh|first=Mi-jung|title=Yoo Gun Hosts Military Radio Show|url=http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=2579|work=enewsWorld|publisher=CJ E&M|access-date=2013-04-06|date=5 January 2012}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Today's Photo: September 30, 2011|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/09/30/2011093000420.html|work=The Chosun Ilbo|access-date=2013-04-06|date=30 September 2011}}</ref> He also appeared on the KFN (Korean Forces Network) TV program ''March'' in 2012.
After his discharge in December 2012, Yoo quickly resumed his career, appearing on the travel program ''The World is Delicious'' (오감만족 세상은 맛있다) in an episode about Brazil,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newspim.com/view.jsp?newsId=20130205000178|script-title=ko:유건 식스팩 공개하며...제대 후 첫 방송 복귀 '이목 집중'|trans-title=Yu Geon shows off his six-pack; first program since discharge, goes back to 'grabbing eyes and ears'|work=NewsPim|date=5 February 2013|access-date=2013-02-13|language=ko}}</ref> followed by a cameo on the melodrama ''That Winter, the Wind Blows''.<ref>{{cite web|work=Hi! K-Pop|url=http://en.hikpop.com/?p=5397|title=Song Hye Kyo Meets Her First Love, Yoo Gun On ''That Winter, The Wind Blows'', and He Has A Surprise For Her|access-date=2013-04-06|date=21 February 2013}}</ref> Yoo then headlined the KBS1 daily drama ''A Tale Of Two Sisters'' in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Choi|first=Eun-hwa|title=Yoo Gun to Return to Acting with ''Sweet Springs''|url=http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=33318|work=enewsWorld|publisher=CJ E&M|access-date=2013-04-06|date=5 April 2013}}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
==Filmography== <small>Note: the whole section is referenced.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ko:유건|url=http://people.nate.com/people/info/yo/ug/yougun/|work=Nate|language=ko|access-date=2013-04-25|archive-date=2 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002200623/http://people.nate.com/people/info/yo/ug/yougun/|url-status=dead}}</ref></small>
===Television series=== * ''Graceful Friends'' (JTBC, 2020) * ''365: Repeat the Year'' (MBC, 2020) (cameo, ep. 1–2)<ref>{{cite web|first=Se-yeon|last=Park|url=https://www.mk.co.kr/star/broadcasting-service/view/2020/03/305136/|title=이준혁X유건 '365' 밝힌 비주얼 형사님들|date=24 March 2020|website=Star News|access-date=24 March 2020|language=ko}}</ref> *''I Wanna Hear Your Song'' (KBS2, 2019) *''The Last Empress'' (SBS, 2018–2019) *''Sweet Enemy'' (SBS, 2017) *''Dr. Frost'' (OCN, 2014) *''Hotel King'' (MBC, 2014) *''Steal Heart'' (jTBC, 2014) *''A Tale of Two Sisters'' (KBS1, 2013) *''That Winter, the Wind Blows'' (SBS, 2013) (cameo, ep. 4) *''KBS Drama Special'' – "Texas Hit" (KBS2, 2010) *''Prosecutor Princess'' (SBS, 2010) *''Can't Stop Now'' (MBC, 2009) *''Drama City'' – "LoveForSale.com" (KBS2, 2008) *''Fight'' (tvN, 2008) *''Here He Comes'' (MBC, 2008) *''Bad Couple'' (SBS, 2007) *''Hello, God!'' (KBS2, 2006) *''Something About 1%'' (MBC, 2004)
===Film=== * ''Insane'' (2016) *''Where are To Go?'' (2013) *''My Mighty Princess'' (2008) *''Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K'' (2007) *''Project Makeover'' (2007) *''Dasepo Naughty Girls'' (2006)
===Variety show=== *''Buy Together'' (MBC Every 1, 2009) *''Yoo Gun's Love Fighter'' (Mnet, 2007–2008)
===Music video=== *''As a Man, Not a Friend'' (Lee Seok-hoon, 2013)<ref>{{cite web|last=Hong|first=Grace Danbi|title=Lee Seok Hoon Releases Last MV Teaser Before Army|url=http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=25859|work=enewsWorld|publisher=CJ E&M|access-date=2013-04-06|date=8 January 2013}}</ref> *''Love Actually'' (JJ, 2007) *''Handkerchief'' (Kim Dong-wan, 2007)
==Theater== *''Crash Course in Love'' (2010) *''Thief's Diary'' (2009)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://archive.today/20130630094137/http://www.starfoxmedia.com/starhome/home/index.php?starno=11 Yoo Gun] at Star Fox Entertainment {{in lang|ko}} *[http://cafe.daum.net/UGUN Yoo Gun Fan Cafe] at Daum {{in lang|ko}} *{{HanCinema person}} *{{kmdb person|00042730}} *{{IMDb name|2489485}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yoo, Gun}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Arizona Category:Seoul Institute of the Arts alumni Category:South Korean male television actors Category:South Korean male film actors Category:South Korean male stage actors Category:L&Holdings artists Category:People who renounced United States citizenship