Park Jin-young (born September 22, 1994), better known mononymously as Jinyoung,[1] and formerly as Jr.[2] and Junior,[3] is a South Korean singer, actor, and songwriter.[2][4] He is a member of the boy band Got7 and boy band duo JJ Project.[3]
Park Jin-young (born September 22, 1994), better known mononymously as Jinyoung,[1] and formerly as Jr.[2] and Junior,[3] is a South Korean singer, actor, and songwriter.[2][4] He is a member of the boy band Got7 and boy band duo JJ Project.[3]
Biography
Park is a native of Udo Island, Jinhae-gu, Changwon.[5][6][7] He had childhood ambitions to be an entertainer and appear on TV since his fifth year of primary school.[8][9] His mother was against it and, when Park was attending his sixth year,[10] she sent him to an audition for SM Entertainment, agreeing that, if he failed, he would give up;[9] however, he made it to the third and final preliminary round and won the popularity award.[9] As the family's opposition diminished,[9] the same year he started taking dance classes at Busan Dance School in Seomyeon,[11][12] although he didn't take it seriously for the first three months until his father reproached him.[8] After three months of intense practice, he was able to dance,[8] and in 2009 he successfully auditioned for JYP Entertainment, winning first place at the open audition with Jay B over 10,000 applicants.[9][13] At that time he only liked dancing, but, thinking seriously about his future, he realized that he loved music as a whole.[8][14]
Career
2011–2014: Acting, JJ Project and debut with Got7
In 2011, after six months of acting classes,[12] Park was cast in the role of Jung Ui-bong in the television drama Dream High 2.[15] The drama began airing on January 30, 2012 on KBS.[16] On February 29, he released the song "We Are The B" for the drama's soundtrack, along with Jinwoon, Kang So-ra and Kim Ji-soo.[17]
In May 2012, Park and fellow trainee JB debuted as the duo JJ Project with the single album Bounce.[18] On March 11, 2013, it was announced that he would be appearing as Ddol-yi on MBC's new drama When a Man Falls in Love,[19] which aired for twenty episodes beginning April 3.
On January 16, 2014, Park debuted as a vocalist in JYP Entertainment's new boy group Got7.[20] Their first EP was released soon after on January 20 and Park made the choreography for one of the songs, "Follow Me".[21]
2015–2017: Hosting and acting roles
In 2015, he was cast in a supporting role in the drama This is My Love, which aired on JTBC from May 29 to July 18.[22][23] The same year in March he was hired as official host for M Countdown alongside Shinee's Key, group member BamBam and CNBLUE's Jung-shin.[24] Park left his position as MC in March 2016 to focus on activities with Got7, including the group's first worldwide concert tour.[25]
In 2016, Park was cast as the male lead in the independent film A Stray Goat, directed by Cho Jae-min: in the film, he played a high school student who moves to the town of Goseong where he meets a girl, who is an outcast because of rumors and suspicions about her father.[26][27] The movie was theatrically released on March 1, 2017 and premiered at the 17th Jeonju International Film Festival.[28][29][26]
In September 2016, he was cast for a supporting role in the drama The Legend of the Blue Sea, where he portrayed the teenage version of Lee Min-ho's character, the protagonist of the series.[30][31]
In February 2017, SBS announced Park, NCT's Doyoung, and Blackpink's Jisoo as the new fixed MCs of Inkigayo.[32][33]
2018–2020: Transition to leading roles
He Is Psychometric cast at the press conference on March 5, 2019 (L-R): Kim Kwon, Kim Da-som, Shin Ye-eun & Jin-young
In December 2018, Park landed his first lead role in the fantasy rom-com drama He Is Psychometric alongside Kim Kwon, Kim Da-som and Shin Ye-eun.[34]
In September 2019, he held his first solo fan meeting in Bangkok for promoting his drama He Is Psychometric.[35]
In 2020, Park starred in the television series When My Love Blooms alongside Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Bo-young and Jeon So-nee,[36] and was cast in the movie Yaksha: Ruthless Operations as the youngest member of a team of spies in foreign countries dedicated to overseas missions.[37][38]
In February, he collaborated with Tom Ford Beauty and became the first artist to feature in the first campaign video of the newly released product, 'ROSE PRICK EAU DE PARFUM',[39] and the perfume was sold out in a day.[40] A month later, he collaborated again with Tom Ford Beauty and was featured in the video of the new product, 'Shade and Illuminate' with actress Chun Woo-hee.[41]
In July, Park held an online fan meeting, 'PARK JINYOUNG 2020 FAN MEETING: HEAR, HERE' that can be viewed through Bangya TV Live website and mobile app.[42]
In August, Park was confirmed as the main lead in the tvN legal drama The Devil Judge alongside Ji Sung as associate judge Kim Ga-on.[43][44][45] The drama premiered in July 2021.[46]
In November 2020, he was featured in the Tom Ford Beauty's holiday video campaign as a collaboration for signature gift wrapping paper and unisex perfume collection 'Private Blend'.[47]
2021–present: Departure from JYPE and solo activities
On January 28, 2021, it was announced that he signed an exclusive contract with BH Entertainment, an agency founded by actor Lee Byung-hun, following his departure from JYP Entertainment.[48]
In May, he has attended Hugo Boss x Russell Athletic's capsule collection launch event with Shinee's Minho in Seoul. The event was held to commemorate the collaboration between Hugo Boss and the iconic American brand Russell Athletic.[49]
On July 22, 2021, he was confirmed to appear in the tvN drama Yumi's Cells as Yoo Ba-bi alongside Kim Go-eun. The series based on the webtoon of the same title premiered in September 2021.[50]
On July 29, 2021, he released the self-written, self-composed digital single "Dive" as a gift for fans, along with a special performance clip published on 1theK Originals official YouTube channel.[51] The song, based on the sound of the band,[51] debuted on Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart at number 12.[52]
In September, he starred in New York Fashion Week's digital fashion short film, "Concept Korea New York S/S 2022" for Nohant, a unisex casual brand based in Seoul. The film was released through the New York Fashion Week official website and Korea Creative Content Agency official YouTube channel.[53][54]
On September 29, 2021, he released "Dive (Japanese ver.)" through all music platforms.[55]
The following month, Park was confirmed to star as the lead in the crime thriller film A Christmas Carol, based on the novel of the same name, about a guy who goes to a juvenile detention center to avenge his twin brother's death; he will portray both roles.[56] The film, which was selected by the Busan Asian Project Market (APM), began filming in February 2022.[56][57]
In December, he featured in a 100-page special edition of TMRW magazine.[58]
Personal life
He attended Gyeonggi High School and Howon University.[59][60]
Philanthropy
In February 2020, it was reported that Park had donated an undisclosed amount of money to wild animals affected by fires in Australia.[61] In August 2020, he donated 20 million won to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help flood victims in South Korea.[62]
Discography
Main article: Got7 discography
See also: JJ Project § Discography
Park Jin-young (born September 22, 1994), better known mononymously as Jinyoung,[1] and formerly as Jr.[2] and Junior,[3] is a South Korean singer, actor, and songwriter.[2][4] He is a member of the boy band Got7 and boy band duo JJ Project.[3]