Ahn Jae-wook

Ahn Jae-wook (Template:Korean; born October 30, 1971) is a South Korean actor and singer.

Career

Ahn Jae-wook spent most of his childhood in his hometown, the district of Donam-dong in Seoul, before graduating from Seoul Institute of the Arts, where he majored in theater. After graduating in 1994, Ahn made his acting debut in Song of a Blind Bird, which was based on a real-life story, followed by supporting roles in several 1995–96 television series such as Hotel and Their Embrace.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1997 he and costar Choi Jin-sil shot to stardom in the highly popular trendy drama Star in My Heart, which reached ratings of over 49%. It not only ignited trends in hairstyle, fashion and products featured in the series,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ahn also became a Korean Wave star, extending his popularity to China, Japan and Southeast Asian countries.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Star in My Heart likewise kick-started Ahn's music career. Forever, which was featured in the series' ending during the concert of his character Kang Min, sold over 700,000 copies, and became the title song of his debut album.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He continued to compose and sing over the years, holding numerous concerts in Japan and China, and releasing albums such as Memories and Reds in Ahn Jae-wook.

In 1998, he played lead roles in three films – Rub Love with Lee Ji-eun, Tie a Yellow Ribbon with Kim Hye-soo, and First Kiss with Choi Ji-woo—but did not meet with box office success despite his popularity at the time. He also starred in Garden of Heaven with Lee Eun-ju in 2003, and the Korea-Japan telecinema project Triangle in 2009.

Instead, Ahn focused on the small screen, appearing in over 10 television series from the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s. Among these were Goodbye My Love with Kim Hee-sun, Oh Pil-seung and Bong Soon-young (also known as Oh Feel Young) with Chae Rim, and I Love You (also known as Saranghae) with Seo Ji-hye.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As he entered his forties and his matinee idol status gave way to younger actors, Ahn returned to his stage roots.<ref>Kwon, Mee-yoo (July 5, 2011). "Ahn Jae-wook returns with Jack the Ripper" Template:Webarchive. The Korea Times. Retrieved 3 April 2012.</ref> He played Daniel in Jack the Ripper (a Korean adaptation of the Czech musical Template:Ill) from 2009 to 2011,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Park, Min-young (July 11, 2011). "Musical fans get star-studded bonanza" Template:Webarchive. The Korea Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2012.</ref> then reprised the role in the musical's run in Tokyo, Japan in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of broadcaster MBC, Ahn headlined Lights and Shadows in 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The sprawling drama, which spotlights Korean show business against the backdrop of history in the 1960s to the 1980s, was number one in its timeslot for 20 consecutive weeks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ahn then played the title role in the 2012 Korean staging of Rudolf, a musical about the 1889 Mayerling Incident involving the Crown Prince of Austria.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In February 2013 Ahn underwent brain surgery in the U.S. for a subarachnoid hemorrhage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After resting for a year, Ahn returned to work in April 2014 via the musical Le Roi Soleil.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He celebrated his 20th anniversary in entertainment by holding a concert titled One Fine Day in October 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In September 2017, It was confirmed that Ahn will be a fixed cast member in Netflix's variety show Busted!.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ahn's involvement in a drunk driving incident in February 2019 caused him to be omitted in the promotions of Busted's second season - including removal from the opening credits and promotional posters, as well as to skip the already-scheduled musical "Hero".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Ahn married musical theatre actress Choi Hyun-joo on June 1, 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The couple met in 2014 when they were cast as lovers in the stage musical Rudolf.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The couple have a daughter and a son.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Filmography

Television series

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1994	Traveler in Heaven
	Song of a Blind Bird	Kang Young Woo
1994–1997	Partner	Oh Min Soo
1995	Make A Song
	Hotel	Yeong Pal
	Love and War
1996	Their Embrace	Ji Yun Woo
	Salted Mackerel	Sang Woo
1997	Star in My Heart	Kang Min Hee
1997–1998	Revenge and Passion	Kang Joon Ho
1998–1999	Sunflower	Dr. Jang Hyun Woo
1999	Goodbye My Love	Chang Min Soo
2000	Bad Friends	Kim Kang Seok
2000–2001	Mothers and Sisters	Kong Su Chul
2003	The Fairy and The Swindler	Jung Jae Kyung
2004	Match Made in Heaven	Kim Suk Koo
	Oh Feel Young	Oh Pil Seung
2006	Mr. Goodbye	Yoon Hyun Suh
2008	I Love You	Suk Chul Soo
2011–2012	Lights and Shadows	Kang Ki Tae
2012	Faith	Eun Soo's ex-boyfriend	ep 1 cameo
2016	Five Enough	Lee Sang Tae
2021	Mouse	Han Seo-joon	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2022	The Driver	Ha Tae-joon	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	The Empire	Na Geun-woo	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023	Not Others	Jin-hong	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	For Eagle Brothers	Han Dong-seok	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Film

Year	Title	Role
1998	Rub Love	Jo Han
	Tie a Yellow Ribbon	Joon Hyuk
	First Kiss	Han Kyeong Hyeon
2003	Garden of Heaven	Choi Oh Sung
2009	Triangle	Ryu Sang Woo

Variety shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2017	Pot Stand	Host
2018–2019	Busted!	Cast member	Season 1–2
2023	Oh Eun-young Game	Judge	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Radio program

• 2007–2008: Mr. Radio (KBS Cool FM)

Theater

• 1995: Baby
• 1996: 한평 반짜리 혁명
• 1997: Butterflies Are Free
• 1998: Guys and Dolls
• 2009: Jack the Ripper
• 2010: Jack the Ripper
• 2010: Rock of Ages
• 2011: Jack the Ripper
• 2012: Jack the Ripper
• 2012–2013: Rudolf
• 2014: Le Roi Soleil
• 2014–2015: Rudolf
• 2022–2023: Dracula as Dracula<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2023: Harlan County as John<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Discography

Album information	Track listing
Forever 1st album Released: April 24, 1997	Template:Hidden
Memories 2nd album Released: April 17, 1998	Template:Hidden
Yesterday 3rd album Released: November 1, 1999	Template:Hidden
Reds in Ahn Jae-wook 4th album Released: March 17, 2003	Template:Hidden
사랑,이별 그리고... Track from Garden of Heaven OST Released: April 8, 2003	Template:Hidden
Sounds Like You 5th album Released: November 11, 2005	Template:Hidden
사랑의 향기는 설레임을 타고 온다 Track from All That Love Released: March 2, 2006	Template:Hidden
그녀에게 EP Released: April 1, 2008	Template:Hidden
Best Album Compilation album Released: December 18, 2008	Template:Hidden
사랑에 살다 EP Released: August 5, 2009	Template:Hidden
청춘 Track from 다섯남자의 다섯번째 이야기 Released: January 13, 2010	Template:Hidden
Jack the Ripper Cast recording Released: August 9, 2010	Template:Hidden
At This Moment EP Released: March 28, 2012	Template:Hidden
하늘아 제발 / 바람 Tracks from Lights and Shadows OST Released: July 6, 2012	Template:Hidden
너라는 하늘 Single Released: November 13, 2012	Template:Hidden

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
1994	13th MBC Drama Awards	Best New Actor		Template:Won
1996	8th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best New Actor in TV	Love and War	Template:Won
	15th MBC Drama Awards	Excellence Award, actor		Template:Won
1997	KBS Song Festival	Top 10 Singers	Template:NA	Template:Won
		Best New Singer	Template:NA	Template:Won
	16th MBC Drama Awards	Best Couple Award with Choi Jin-sil	Star in My Heart	Template:Won
		Popularity Award		Template:Won
1998	19th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best New Actor	Tie a Yellow Ribbon	Template:Won
2000	19th MBC Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, actor	Bad Friends	Template:Won
			Mothers and Sisters	Template:Won
2001	Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism	Today's Young Artist Award	Template:NA	Template:Won
2004	18th KBS Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, actor	Oh Feel Young	Template:Won
		Best Couple Award with Park Sun-young		Template:Won
	Grimae Awards	Best Actor		Template:Won
2007	6th KBS Entertainment Awards	Best Radio DJ	Mr. Radio	Template:Won
2010	Seoul Art and Culture Awards	World Star Award	Template:NA	Template:Won
2016	5th APAN Star Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama	Five Enough	Template:Won
	30th KBS Drama Awards	Daesang (Grand Prize)		Template:Nom
		Top Excellence Award, actor		Template:Nom
		Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama		Template:Won

External links

• Template:Official website Template:In lang

See also

• Template:Commons category-inline
• Contemporary culture of South Korea
• Korean music