Ju Ji-hoon (주지훈; 朱智勳), whose real name is Ju Young-hoon, is a South Korean actor and model born on May 16, 1982, in Seoul. He began his career in 2003 as a model for major international brands such as Calvin Klein, Levi’s and Reebok, before gaining recognition for her elegance and charismatic presence, which have earned her several awards in the fashion world.
He rose to fame in 2006 with his role as Crown Prince Lee Shin in Princess Hours (Goong), a huge hit in Korea and throughout Asia. The following year, he demonstrated his talent in the psychological thriller The Devil, before making his film debut in Antique, screened at the Berlin International Film Festival.
After completing his mandatory military service between 2010 and 2011, Ju Ji-hoon is back in the spotlight with Five Fingers, Medical Top Team and Mask. He went on to establish himself as one of the most respected figures in Korean cinema thanks to films such as Asura: The City of Madness, The Spy Gone North, Dark Figure of Crime and especially the fantasy saga Along With the Gods, a huge box-office hit.
In 2019, he made a triumphant return to television with Kingdom, the first major historical zombie series produced by Netflix, in which he plays Crown Prince Lee Chang. He followed that up with the legal drama Hyenathen Jirisan, Light Shop and The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, confirming his reputation as an actor capable of excelling in thrillers as well as in medical and fantasy dramas.
In 2025, he made a notable appearance in The Witch before being cast as Emperor Sovieshu in the highly anticipated adaptation of the webtoon The Remarried Empress. In 2026, he also starred in the thriller Climax, appears in How to Become a Building Owner in Korea, then reunites with the headliner of Barons and Buy King, scheduled for 2027, respectively.
Thanks to his charisma, dramatic intensity, and remarkable ability to portray both heroes and complex characters, Ju Ji-hoon is now considered one of the most influential and talented actors in the South Korean entertainment industry.
