# Seo Ji-seok

Seo Ji-seok (born Seo Jong-wook, 9 September 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for playing in the long-running TV series, notably in the 167-episode KBS1 daily drama Hearts of Nineteen (Pure 19), which brought him to win Best New Actor at the 2006 KBS Drama Awards.

## Early life and education

Seo was an athlete specializing in 100 metres and 200 metres sprint in middle school. He won four gold medals in a variety of sports when he was 16 years old and was also chosen to be the member of the national team. However, in 1999, he was hit by a vehicle while he was crossing the street, and was hospitalized for 6 months. He was then scouted on the street, while working part-time, by a talent manager who liked his refined appearance, henceforth choosing acting as his career. Seo graduated from Seoul Institute of the Arts, majoring in Bachelor of Film and Television.

## Career

Seo has appeared in two films directed by renowned South Korean movie director Kim Ki-duk. In Kim's 2005 film The Bow, he played a college student involved in a mysterious and dangerous relationship between an old man and a 16-year-old girl.
Seo appeared for the second time in Kim's movie Time as a guest star, and participated in the film May I Cry? in 2006. That same year, Seo was cast as the smart and cold Park Yoon-hoo in the 167-episode daily drama Hearts of Nineteen, leading the series alongside Ku Hye-sun. For his performance in the series, he won Best New Actor award at the 2006 KBS Drama Awards.
In 2007, Seo reported for his mandatory military service and was assigned to the 12th Infantry Division located in Inje, Gangwon-do. He was discharged on May 3, 2009, and subsequently held a fan meeting on May 10, 2009. Seo returned to acting by playing in an independent film The Inside Story of Him and Her and appearing as a cameo in High Kick Through The Roof.
In 2010, Seo was cast as a lead role in the series OB & GY, followed by weekend drama Gloria opposite Bae Doona. He next joined a variety show Sunday Night for six months as one of the MCs.
In 2011, Seo starred in the 16-episode romantic-comedy drama Manny. He also starred in High Kick Through The Roof's spin-off; a 123-episode sitcom High Kick: Revenge of the Short Legged. In addition to acting, Seo also appeared in figure skater Kim Yuna's variety show Kim Yuna's Kiss & Cry.
In 2012, Seo participated in the 3-episode of MBC Music cable TV variety program Music and Lyrics Season 2 with composer Kim Wi Yong, actress Lee Chung-ah, and singer Heo Young-saeng to collaborate on OST "Gazing (바라본다)" for MBC's weekend drama The Sons. The following year, Seo played as a lead actor in the film Mango Tree, a cameo in the series Potato Star 2013QR3, and also starred in the 50-episode weekend drama A Little Love Never Hurts from 2013 to 2014.
From 2013 to 2015, Seo appeared in two long-running variety programs; Cool Kiz on the Block, and Law of the Jungle which was shot in Costa Rica. He returned to daily dramas, playing in the 120-episode The Three Witches (Witch Castle) in 2015, followed by 100-episode Unknown Woman in 2017.
In July 2019, Seo replaced Kang Ji-hwan in a period drama Joseon Survival Period, starting from episode 11 to 16.
In october 2021 Seo has signed with Management Redwoods.

## Personal life

Seo married a florist in 2013. Singer IU and R&B group 4Men sang celebratory songs in their wedding.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | English Title | Original title | Role | Director(s) |
| 2005 | The Bow | 활 | The Student | Kim Ki-duk |
| 2006 | May I Cry? | 울어도 좋습니까? | | |
| 2006 | Time | Time | Guy 1 | Kim Ki-duk |
| 2013 | The Inside Story about Him & Her | 그 여자 그 남자의 속사정 | Jung-soo | |
| 2013 | Mango Tree | 연애의 기술, 망고트리 | Tae-hoon | |

### Television series

| Year | English title | Original title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Ireland | 아일랜드 | | |
| 2006 | Mr. Goodbye | 미스터 굿바이 | | |
| 2006-2007 | Hearts of Nineteen | 열아홉 순정 | Park Yoon-hoo | |
| 2009 | High Kick Through the Roof | 지붕 뚫고 하이킥 | Seo Ji-seok | cameo in episode 18 |
| 2010 | Gloria | 글로리아 | Lee Kang-suk | |
| 2010 | Obstetrics and Gynecology Doctors | 산부인과 | Wang Jae-suk | |
| 2011 | Manny | 매니 | Kim Min-han | |
| 2011-2012 | High Kick: Revenge of the Short Legged | 하이킥! 짧은 다리의 역습 | Yoon Ji-seok | |
| 2013 | Potato Star 2013QR3 | 감자별 | Basketball teammate | cameo in episode 38 |
| 2013-2014 | A Little Love Never Hurts | 사랑해서 남주나 | Eun Ha-rim | |
| 2015-2016 | The Three Witches | 마녀의 성 | Shin Kang-hyun | |
| 2017 | Unknown Woman | 이름 없는 여자 | Kim Moo-yeol | |
| 2019 | Joseon Survival Period | 조선생존기 | Han Jung-rok | replaced Kang Ji-hwan from episode 11 to 16 |
| 2021 | Somehow Family | 어쩌다 가족 | Kim Ji-seok | |
| 2021 | The Penthouse: War in Life 3 | 펜트하우스 3 | | Cameo |

### Music video appearance

| Year | Song title | Artist | Note |
| 2002 | "Snow is Falling Down" (눈이 내리네) | Taemu | |
| 2005 | "I am without You" (그대없이 난) | Lee Ji-hye | directed by Kim Ki-duk |
| 2010 | "I Love You & Thank You" (고마워 그리고 사랑해) | Yu Hoon-min | directed by Park Ji-ho |
| 2013 | The Art of Seduction | Heo Young-saeng | |
| 2013 | "My Student Teacher" (교생쌤) | NC.A | |

### Variety shows

| Year | English title | Original title | Notes |
| 2010 | Sunday Night | 일밤 | Episode Enjoy Today |
| 2010 | Cooking Olympic Gochujang | 쿠킹 올림픽 고추장 | |
| 2011 | Kim Yuna's Kiss & Cry | 김연아의 키스 & 크라이 | |
| 2012 | Music and Lyrics - Season 2 | 그여자 작사 그남자 작곡 시즌2 | He composed "Gazing" (바라본다) |
| 2013 | Miracle Korea | 미라클 코리아 | |
| 2013-2015 | Cool Kiz on the Block | 우리동네 예체능 | Basketball, Taekwondo, Soccer, Foot Volleyball, Cycling & Swimming Chapters |
| 2014-2015 | Law of the Jungle | 정글의 법칙 in 코스타리카 | Episode Costarica |
| 2018 | Running Man | 아일랜드 | Episode 401 |
| 2020 | Handsome Tigers | 진짜 농구 핸섬타이거즈 | Cast member (Episode 1-present) |

## Theater

| Year | English title | Korean title | Role | Ref. |
| 2022–2023 | Misery | 미저리 | Paul Sheldon | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2006 | KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actor in a Serial Drama | Hearts of Nineteen | Won |
| 2012 | The 46th Annual Taxpayer's Day | President Award | — | Won |
| 2013 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Teamwork | Cool Kiz on the Block | Won |