Zo In-sung

Biography

Zo In-sung (Korean: 조인성, born July 28, 1981), previously known as Cho In-sung, and occasionally referred to as Jo In-sung, is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the television series Something Happened in Bali (2004), Spring Day (2005), That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013), It's Okay, That's Love (2014), and Moving (2023). In film, he is known for his roles in The Classic (2003), A Dirty Carnival (2006), A Frozen Flower (2008), The King (2017), The Great Battle (2018), and Escape from Mogadishu (2021). He also starred in the reality show Unexpected Business (2021–2024).

== Early life and education == Zo In-sung was born and raised in Gangdong District, Seoul. He studied modeling and events management at Chunnam Techno University. He later enrolled as a Theater and Film major at Dongguk University, but was expelled in 2007 due to inadequate class attendance.

== Career ==

=== 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. He was then cast in his first drama leading role in 2002, as an illiterate actor in Shoot for the Stars opposite Jeon Do-yeon. The same year, he made his film debut in the movie Public Toilet. He also starred in several music videos of popular boy band g.o.d, a fellow SidusHQ artiste at that time, and was directed by actor Jung Woo-sung.

=== 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. Something Happened was a huge success, with its final episode reaching a peak rating of 39.7%. Zo won Best Actor awards at both the Baeksang Arts Awards and SBS Drama Awards. 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 Forget Love (愛なんていらねえよ、夏, Ai nante Irane yo, Natsu). 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 2016, Zo was chosen as the ambassador of the National Tax Service alongside Choi Ji-woo. 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.