Jang Keun Suk was born in Danyang County, Chungcheongbuk Province, South Korea, on September 26, 1987. He is an only child and made his acting debut at the age of five.
As a child, Jang was discovered by a talent agent and began modeling, representing various companies such as Coca-Cola, Daewoo, Kellogg's, Samsung YEPP, and SK Telecom. He made his acting debut in 1997 on the HBS sitcom "Selling Happiness" and later appeared in the 1998 drama "Hug."
In his teenage years, Jang was greatly inspired by Japanese pop singer Ken Hirai and the Japanese rock band 'L'Arc-en-Ciel', and decided to pursue his career as a singer. He joined a music class, began teaching himself Japanese, and moved to New Zealand to attend Nelson College to formally learn both Japanese and English.
Jang's acting career took off in the early 2000s, with roles in various dramas and films, including "The Great Ambition," "High School Season 3," "Orange," and "Lucky Ten." He also began to take on voice acting roles, including Disney's "Treasure Planet" and the animated film "Niko and the Way to the Stars."
In the late 2000s, Jang's popularity soared with his role as Hyun-Joon in the rock music-themed film "The Happy Life" and his portrayal of Lee Chang Hwi in the KBS historical drama "Hong Gil Dong, the Hero." He continued to appear in numerous dramas and films throughout the 2000s and 2010s, including "Crazy Waiting," "Baby and I," "Beethoven Virus," and "Where the Truth Lies."
Jang's breakthrough role came in 2009 with his portrayal of Hwang Tae Kyung in the popular drama "You Are Beautiful." He then starred opposite Moon Geun-young in the romantic comedy series "Mary Stayed Out All Night" and took on dual roles in the KBS2 melodrama series "Love Rain."
In the 2010s, Jang continued to appear in numerous dramas and films, including "Pretty Boy," "The Royal Gambler," and "Switch: Change the World." He also pursued his music career, releasing several singles and albums, including "Let Me Cry," "Just Crazy," and "Voyage."
In 2018, Jang began his mandatory military service commitment, which will be completed in 2020.
