Jung Hae In has been on a roll these past few years. Top-billing one project after another, it’s clear he’s at the top of his game, and we can’t wait to see where this uphill climb leads the actor. If you’re a new fan who’s intent on following Hae In’s forward ascent into Hallyu star greatness, then it’s only right that you get to know more about the man behind the screen.
Here are 10 things you need to know about Korean actor Jung Hae In.
1. He’s an Aries.
Hae In was born on April 1, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea.
2. He decided to pursue acting after his military enlistment.
Taking up Broadcasting Entertainment in university, Hae In had the opportunity to immerse himself in musicals before he joined the military at 21. In a past interview with the actor, he revealed having mulled the thought of pursuing acting during his two-year service in the Korean army. Convinced he was on the right path, Hae In wasted no time in looking for a company right after graduating college.
3. He debuted in his mid-20s.
Hae In was 26 years old when he made his official acting debut. He played an idol singer in the 2014 romantic fantasy drama Bride of the Century. More supporting roles in both TV and film came the actor’s way soon after, including a guest appearance in the now iconic 2016 drama Goblin. Riding off his memorable role as Kim Go Eun’s first love in the aforementioned show, Hae In garnered national recognition just a year later for his role in While You Were Sleeping, where he starred alongside Bae Suzy and Lee Jong Suk.
4. He earned his first leading man role in 2018.
Hae In’s popularity only skyrocketed from there. 2018 found the actor at a pivotal point in his career when he finally landed his first project as the male lead opposite Son Ye Jin in the JTBC romantic drama Something in the Rain. The series famously took on taboo topics in Korea, such as an older woman dating a younger man—Hae In played a 31-year-old animation designer who falls in love with a 35-year-old supervisor. You can also find the actor in Prison Playbook, One Spring Night, A Piece of Your Mind, Snowdrop, and the romance film Tune in for Love.
5. He has a swoon-worthy singing voice.
Having participated in musicals during his university days, you can bet this sweet-faced charmer also has equally sweet vocal chops. He especially loves singing songs by Korean artist and balladeer Paul Kim. In 2020, Hae In even got to sing a duet with the singer on a track titled But I Will Miss You.
We dare you not to fall in love with him all over again after he serenades you in the video below.
6. He’s also a skilled painter.
Hae In’s talents don’t just stop at acting and singing. ICYDK, he’s quite the visual artist, too. Just last year, Hae In shared his hobby on Instagram by posting a painting he made, titled One Autumn Day, Han River and Sunset. A number of his celebrity friends complimented his artwork, including his While You Were Sleeping co-stars Shin Jae Ha and Go Sung Hee.
7. He underwent boxing training for three months for his role in “D.P.”.
Hae In has always been dedicated to any role he takes on. In 2021, the actor landed yet another starring role in D.P., a webtoon-based military drama that has Hae In playing Private Ahn Joon Ho, a rookie soldier who’s soon tasked to catch Korean men who’ve deserted the military. The action-packed series required Hae In to take up boxing for three months in preparation for the grueling filming process required by the K-drama. “The director and martial arts director wanted to make sure there were no cuts between the action scenes and that we can do it at once. The acting has to be very realistic. The director didn’t call out any cuts so I wanted to do boxing well,” explained the actor during a press interview for the show.
8. He hosts his own travel variety show.
True fans of Hae In will have no qualms about watching his work beyond movies and K-dramas. They’ll especially get a kick at getting a peak at his personal life through his variety travel show, Jung Hae In’s Travel Log. Inspired by a KBS cultural program called Backpack Travels, the show’s first season followed Hae In while he toured New York City in 2019, alongside his fellow actors Eun Jong Gun, and Lim Hyun Soo.
Jung Hae In’s Travel Log is available for streaming on Viu.
9. He often gets attached to the characters he plays.
In a 2019 interview, Hae In admitted that he finds it difficult to separate his professional life from his personal life. When asked if he was dating anyone during filming for his movie Tune in for Love, Hae In jokingly responded that he’d been dating Kim Go Eun, his co-star and love interest in the project. “I tend to focus as much as I can on my co-star, and I’m focusing on Kim Go Eun now,” he said. “Whenever [filming ends], I feel empty, and my heart aches; it feels like a breakup every time. I try hard to separate actor Jung Hae In and human Jung Hae In, but honestly, it’s hard. That’s why the emptiness that comes after projects is really big.”
10. You can follow him on Instagram.
For more personal snaps and BTS photos of Hae In’s works, make sure to follow him on Instagram @holyhaein.
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