Despite being new in the k-entertainment scene, there have been many interviews with Lee Min Jung to give her fans a better chance to know her. However, unlike the female half of SooIn, not much is known about the male half, Jung Kyung Ho, besides what is revealed in his official profile. In order to change that, through weeks of researching various sources, I present to you a more intimate look at the man, Jung Kyung Ho. Aptly titled the “Intimate Series,” Part 1 will feature his pre-debut life.

Warning: Shhhh! Proceed with caution. This post is rated PG-13.

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Jung Kyung Ho was born on August 31, 1983.

Here he is wearing his birthday suit (!).

Source: Film The Most Beautiful Week of My Life (English title: All for Love)

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From left to right: JKH’s jr high graduation photo and JKH’s h.s. graduation photo.

Upon entering junior high, Jung Kyung Ho had to face bullies who’d steal his shoes and supplies. In order to defend for himself, he joined his school’s wrestling team where he force-fed himself to gain weight (at his maximum weight, he weighed around 90 kg, or almost 200 lb). Thus, not only was he able to stop the bullies, but he was also able to retrieve his stolen stuff back. However, once he quit wrestling in high school, he quickly lost the weight.

Source: SBS Ya Shim Man Man (Smile, You cast episode)







Jung Kyung Ho in high school

Despite self-claiming that his IQ score is only 90, he must have done extremely well in school for he gained admission to the prestigious Jinsung High School. Located in Gwangmyeong-si in Gyeonggi province, just south of Seoul, it is a boarding high school known for its selective admission with many of its students aiming to attend the elite universities in Korea. To gain admission, the student must have generally ranked among the top 20 students of the entire student body during his three years of junior high.

So what kind of student was Jung Kyung Ho in high school? He admitted that he did some fighting and drinking in high school. (Source: “The Interview” with Jung Kyung Ho) But his fellow classmate from Jinsung High School also testified that Jung Kyung Ho was the “king of dating” in high school. (Source: DC gallery) The “king of dating” experienced his first kiss in high school on the New Year’s Eve of 2000 with his then drunk girlfriend. (Source: SBS Ya Shim Man Man – Smile, You cast episode) Perhaps there is some truth to the stereotype that men with mismatched eyes are players?

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Jung Kyung Ho is known to be a huge baseball fan, and specifically a huge fan of the SK Wyverns team. He has been spotted numerous times cheering for his favorite team at the baseball stadium. Perhaps it’s not a mere coincidence that he lives just a walking distance from Jamshil Stadium. Interestingly, unlike the many other Seoul residents who are fans of Doosan Bears (the Seoul-based team), Sk Wyverns is an Incheon-based team. Is this the influence of having attended a high school in Gyeonggi province? (Note: Incheon was part of Gyeonggi province until it earned its current status as an independent Metropolitan City in 1981.)

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Jung Kyung Ho at Ha Jung Woo’s Gallery Exhibition, March 2010

It is unclear when Jung Kyung Ho first met Ha Jung Woo, but it is evident that Ha Jung Woo had a huge influence in Jung Kyung Ho’s life. Jung Kyung Ho had said many times that he decided to pursue acting after seeing Ha Jung Woo perform on stage. Despite his father’s disapproval, Jung Kyung Ho decided to study theater in college, applying for and getting accepted to Joong Ang University’s theater department where Ha Jung Woo was a student. (Note: Joong Ang University is known for its broadcasting department and its theater department. In fact, its theater department is regarded by many as the best in the country, and thus Joong Ang University is the dream college for many aspiring actors.) For defying his father’s wishes, Jung Kyung Ho did not see his own father for the next three years. Jung Kyung Ho moved out from his home, and were roommates with Ha Jung Woo his freshmen year.

(Source: “The Interview” with Jung Kyung Ho)

Ha Jung Woo also persuaded Jung Kyung Ho to try out for the upcoming KBS actors’ audition. But there may have been another reason why Jung Kyung Ho so easily complied. On a November 2006 episode of Ya Shim Man Man, Jung Kyung Ho explained that his “first love” was a rich girl. (Is she a different girl from whom he shared his first kiss?) In order to be more equal to her, Jung Kyung Ho decided that he needed to make something of himself and started to prepare for his acting debut. He spent his own money to take actor portfolio photos, and took these photos with him to his girlfriend’s house to announce that he was planning to take the actors audition. But to his shock, his girlfriend was with another man. That man had on an expensive watch and was driving a luxury car. Jung Kyung Ho became determined to succeed above and beyond his cheating girlfriend and her new boyfriend, and this motivated him to work hard to succeed as an actor.

(Source: Sports Korea)

Perhaps his experience of having been cheated on by his “first love” explains his obsessive boyfriend behaviors, such as checking his gf’s cellphone history and checking the hood of his gf’s car to see when she last left the house.

(Source: “The Interview” with Jung Kyung Ho)

Jung Kyung Ho passed the KBS actors’ audition, and finally made his debut with the mobile drama, 5 Stars.



Jung Kyung Ho in “5 Stars”



But it was not until his supporting role as the cute mama’s boy, Choi Yoon, in KBS I’m Sorry, I Love You that he got his name out to the public.



Jung Kyung Ho in “I’m Sorry, I Love You”

And that concludes Part 1 of the “Intimate Series.”



Jung Kyung Ho lounging around at what looks like to be his own home

Please look forward to Part 2 (“Jung Kyung Ho and his Men”) and Part 3 (“Jung Kyung Ho and his Ladies”). In the meantime, perhaps you’d like to snack on some 붕어싸만코 (Goldfish Ice Cream) or potato chips, Jung Kyung Ho’s favorite snacks!

(Source: InStyle Interview)



JKH’s favorite ice cream snack