Jang Wooyoung

Jang Woo-young (Korean: 장우영; born on April 30, 1989),^[1] better known mononymously as Wooyoung, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. In 2008, he debuted as a member of 2PM, a boy band currently managed by JYP Entertainment. He debuted as a solo artist with his first extended play, 23, Male, Single, in July 2012. As of 2023, he has released two EPs and one single album in South Korea and three Japanese EPs and one single album in Japan. He has also composed several songs for 2PM and other artists.

Wooyoung has hosted SBS's music show Inkigayo from July 2009 to July 2010. Following his return from mandatory military enlistment in 2020, Wooyoung has worked as an entertainment personality on various variety programs such as Beat Coin, I Can See Your Voice, and Street Man Fighter. He is currently a cast member for the variety show Screwballs. He is also known for his role as Jason in the 2011 South Korean drama Dream High.

Born and raised in Busan, Wooyoung enjoyed dancing from a young age but was forced to hide his interest from his father, who had strongly disapproved of his ambitions to become a dancer due to the lack of job stability. In 2007, he secretly applied for JYP Entertainment's first open audition and uploaded clips himself dancing on the website mgoon, an early domestic predecessor of YouTube. He eventually beat thousands of applicants and placed first, with future Highlight member Yoon Doo-joon placing second.^[2][3]

Upon moving to Seoul to begin training under JYP Entertainment, he attended Seoul Arts College as a dance major.^[4] In 2009, he began an undergraduate degree in broadcasting at Howon University, the same university his bandmates Lee Jun-ho and Hwang Chan-sung were attending.^[5]

In 2008, he participated in Mnet's Hot Blood Men, a program that chronicles the rigorous training of thirteen aspiring trainees, all vying for a coveted spot in the boy band One Day.^[6][7] This initiative ultimately led to the formation of two distinct boy bands, namely 2AM and 2PM.

Half a year following the televised airing of Hot Blood, the group 2PM made their debut with the release of their inaugural single "10 Out of 10" from their first EP titled Hottest Time of the Day.^[8] However it was their second EP, 2:00PM Time For Change, that propelled them to mainstream success in Korean music, solidifying their meteoric rise. As of 2021, the group has released seven studio albums in Korea and five studio albums in Japan.

On May 24, 2012, it was revealed that Wooyoung would have released a solo album in early July.^[9] On June 28, he performed the title track "Sexy Lady" at the Mnet 20's Choice awards.^[10] His first solo mini-album 23, Male, Single was released on July 8^[11] and included two self-composed songs by fellow 2PM members, Junho and Jun.K.^[12]

In September 2012, Wooyoung, along with JY Park, Taecyeon and miss A's Suzy, promoted the clothing line Reebok's Classic Campaign with a collaboration song named "Classic".^[13] On June 9, 2014, Wooyoung released two duets: "Two Hands Intertwined" (깍지 낀 두 손) with Park Se-young,^[14] and "Fireflies' Glow" with lel.^[15]

On March 4, 2015, he made his solo debut in Japan with the single R.O.S.E, preceded by a tour of concerts in Tokyo, Osaka, and Aichi in February.^[16][17] He released music videos for tracks "R.O.S.E" and "Happy Birthday", and, in April, the music video for the Korean version of "R.O.S.E".

In 2017, he released two EPs in Japan: Party Shots in April and Mada Boku Wa... (まだ僕は・・・; Still Here...) in October.

Wooyoung, along with fellow 2PM member Taecyeon, hosted SBS's music show Inkigayo from July 2009 to July 2010.^[18][19] From February 2, 2010 to August 3, 2010, he starred as an assistant-MC for Kim Seung-woo's KBS talk show Win Win alongside Girls' Generation's Taeyeon.^[20][21]

In 2023, he was a mentor of the reality show My Teenage Boy: Fantasy Boys which aired from March 30 to June 8.^[22]

Wooyoung debuted as an actor in the 2011 KBS drama series Dream High, in which he played the role of Jason, a Korean-American.^[23] His performance gained recognition due to his delivery of the English line "Is it my turn already?"; he had help from fellow 2PM members Taecyeon and Nichkhun with his English due to their both being experienced in the language.^[24][25]

In September 2011, Wooyoung and Dream High co-star Suzy made a cameo appearance in an ending credits scene of the KBS drama special Human Casino.^[26] The two idols played the role of a couple caught up in gambling scandals. In 2013, Wooyoung appeared in the 2013 short film The Miracle, a parody of popular TV series at the time starring Korean idols that was aired during the 2013 SBS Gayo Daejeon.^[27]

In 2024, Wooyoung revealed that despite passing casting auditions for more acting opportunities since Dream High, he chose to turn them down in order to focus on his music career instead.^[28]

In 2011, Taecyeon and Wooyoung modelled for the fall collection of the clothing brand Evisu,^[29] and in 2012 for the spring-summer collection.^[30] In September he modeled for Reebok's Classic Campaign.^[31][32] In August 2014, Wooyoung was announced as new face of Recipe Cosmetics.^[33]

Wooyoung enlisted in the Army for his mandatory military service on July 9, 2018.^[34] He was supposed to be discharged on February 28, 2020.^[35] However, on February 25, a representative from JYP Entertainment confirmed that Wooyoung was already discharged, a few days earlier than his scheduled discharge date, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.^[36]

From June 26, 2020 to July 15, 2020, Wooyoung collaborated with BOX337, an organization which hosts donation campaigns with celebrities who donate personal items to be sold. The proceeds of Wooyoung's donation campaign went to the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation.^[37]

On March 31, 2025, Wooyoung donated 100 million won to help those recovering damage from the 2025 South Korea wildfires through The Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.^[38]

• Official website (in Korean)