Jung Ga-ram

The Swimmer Who Didn't Want to Lose

Jung Ga-ram took the stage at the Grand Bell Awards in 2016 to accept the trophy for Best New Actor. At 23 years old, he had just starred in 4th Place. In that film, he played the younger version of a swimmer who was physically punished by his coach.

This was the moment when the South Korean industry stopped seeing him as just another supporting face.

His real debut came in 2012 with the comedy Standby. But that first role went largely unnoticed by the general public. He spent four years bouncing between minor characters until director Jung Ji-woo gave him the chance to shine in the pool. He won the KOFRA Award that same year, confirming that his physique suited roles with heavy dramatic demands.

The Phenomenon of the Streaming Platforms

In 2019, Love Alarm premiered and everything changed in scale. He played Lee Hye-yeong, a character who broke with the mold of the aggressive lead found in traditional Korean dramas.

And he pulled it off without raising his voice.

The series became a global hit on Netflix. During the filming of the second season in 2020, he had to balance promoting the show with his military enlistment. In South Korea, mandatory service spares no rising star. He enlisted in the army on October 12, 2020 to fulfill his duties as a citizen.

Before leaving, he recorded his participation in Beasts Clawing at Straws. In this 2020 film, he shared the screen with Jeon Do-yeon and Jung Woo-sung. The movie earned more than $4 million despite opening just weeks before the global theater shutdown.

Maturity Beyond the Uniform

He returned to the screen in 2022 with The Interest of Love. Here, he brings to life a security guard who studies to become a police officer while dealing with a suffocating romantic relationship. The tone of the story was gray and realistic.

Critics praised his ability to convey class frustration.

In 2024, his participation in the period drama Hong Rang was confirmed. It is a mystery production for Netflix set in the Joseon era. Filming involved travel to rural locations and specific training in traditional arts.

The gamble paid off.

His contract with the agency Management SOOP remains in effect following the ratings for his most recent international projects. Principal photography for Hong Rang wrapped up production in the first quarter of 2024.