Biography
Who is Kim Jae-joong?
Early life and real name
Kim Jae-joong was born Han Jae-joon in the city of Gongju, South Korea. During his early childhood, his biological mother placed him for adoption with the Kim family, which led to a legal name change. He attended several local schools in Gongju before leaving formal education in 2001 to pursue his ambitions.
At the age of fifteen, he relocated to Seoul on his own to audition for SM Entertainment. Living independently in the capital proved financially demanding, requiring him to take various odd jobs to cover living expenses and training costs while even working as a movie extra.
Music career and bands
Kim joined SM Entertainment after a 2001 audition and became the lead vocalist of the boy band TVXQ from 2003 until 2010. Following a group hiatus, he formed the trio JYJ alongside fellow members Yoochun and Junsu after filing a lawsuit against their agency. The group released projects such as the studio album In Heaven and toured globally.
As a solo artist, he released records including WWW and No.X, topping regional charts in South Korea. He also achieved significant commercial success in Japan with albums like Flawless Love and Love Covers. In 2023, he founded his own management agency called Inkode, serving as its Chief Strategy Officer.
Acting and television work
Kim expanded his career into television and film acting, appearing in numerous dramas. His credits include roles in Protect the Boss, Dr. Jin, Triangle, SPY, and Manhole. He also starred in cinematic releases such as Heaven's Postman and Jackal is Coming.
Beyond scripted acting, he took on hosting responsibilities for travel programs like Travel Buddies on Lifetime Korea and Jaejoong J! On BS SKY PerfecTV. A documentary film titled Jaejoong: On the Road explored his life and professional path.
Birthday and age
Kim Jae-joong was born on January 26, 1986, which makes Kim 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Kim shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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