Education
Jo graduated from Cheongju University with an undergraduate degree in Film Directing from the Department of Theatre and Film. He then pursued further education and earned a master's degree in acting from the Korea National University of Arts and Drama. For his graduation thesis, Jo focused on the topic of 'Research on Film Acting in relation to the unique characteristics of media in films, with a critical examination of American method acting'.Career
Jo debuted as a theater actor in 1998 in the play ''One Room'' ().A year later, he made his first appearance in a movie with a small role in '' Peppermint Candy''. He has appeared in various other films, including ''Theatrical Exhibition'', ''Ask the One Who Can'', ''The Most Beautiful Breakup in the World'', ''Moby Dick'', ''Yeonga City'', ''Scary Story'', ''Feng Shui'', ''48 Meters'', ''Wonderful Woman'', ''Scandal: A Very Shocking and Immoral Incident'', ''Hide and Seek'', and ''The Five''. In 2008, Lee joined the encore performance of Park Su-jin's play ''Applause for Juliet'', directed by Min Bok-ki. The play, which originally premiered in 2004, received acclaim for its vibrant dialogue and imaginative storytelling. Jo portrayed the character of Seok-dong (Hamlet), alongside Lee Jin-hee as Seon-jeong (Ophelia), Min-ho as Romeo, and Bok-soon as Juliet. The play explores a complex web of conflicting love in a contemporary setting that cleverly combines elements of ''Hamlet'' and ''Romeo and Juliet''. After two decades in the industry, Jo's breakthrough came with his portrayal of an afterlife prosecutor in the box office hit '' Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days''. He was not the first choice for this role, having replaced Oh Dal-su, who withdrew from the film. That same year, Jo also achieved a significant breakthrough in television dramas by playing the role of a king in '' 100 Days My Prince''. He was cast as a replacement for Yoon Tae-young. The 2018 tvN historical drama is ranked among the highest-rated Korean dramas on cable television.Other activity
He served as an instructor in applied acting classes at the Department of Theatre and Film at Dankook University. He was also an acting teacher and previously worked as an instructor at SM Entertainment.Personal life
In 2015, Jo revealed that he and his wife were celebrating their 15th year of marriage. They have a son in his first year of middle school and a daughter in the fifth grade of elementary school. Jo's wife is one year younger than him, and they had lived in the same neighborhood during their childhood. They reunited at the age of twenty-eight and decided to marry after just three months of dating. Jo noted that their frequent encounters brought him comfort and a sense of freshness, which influenced his decision to marry. While Jo pursued his acting career, his wife, known as Kang Ki-jeong, transitioned from a former fashion designer to a creator of stage costumes for various performances, including theater and musicals. She is actively involved in the vibrant theater scene of Daehangno.Filmography
Film
Television series
Web series
Television show
Music video appearances
Stage
Theater
Musical
Discography
Singles
Awards and nominations
References
External links
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