Park Jin-young (박진영), known mononymously as Jinyoung, and formerly as Jr. and Junior, is a South Korean singer, actor, and songwriter. He's the lead vocalist, lead dancer and face of the boy band GOT7 and a member of the boy band duo JJ Project. He made his acting debut in the drama Dream High 2 (2012) followed by a series of supporting roles until he landed a main role in He Is Psychometric (2019). He made his film debut in the independent film A Stray Goat (2016).
Due to his shared name with his agency's founder, Jinyoung originally debuted with the stage name Jr., but he later changed the spelling to Junior due to widespread confusion about the correct pronunciation of his name. On August 16, 2016, Jinyoung announced that he would simply go by his given name.
Biography
Park is a native of Udo Island, Jinhae-gu, Changwon. He had childhood ambitions to be an entertainer and appear on TV since his fifth year of primary school. His mother was against it and, when Park was attending his sixth year, she sent him to an audition for SM Entertainment, agreeing that, if he failed, he would give up; however, he made it to the third and final preliminary round and won the popularity award. As the family's opposition diminished, the same year he started taking dance classes at Busan Dance School in Seomyeon, although he didn't take it seriously for the first three months until his father reproached him. After three months of intense practice, he was able to dance, and in 2009 he successfully auditioned for JYP Entertainment, winning first place at the open audition with Jay B over 10,000 applicants. At that time he only liked dancing, but, thinking seriously about his future, he realized that he loved music as a whole.
Career
2011–2013: Debut and career beginnings
In 2011, after six months of acting classes, Park was cast in the role of Jung Ui-bong in the television drama Dream High 2. The drama began airing on January 30, 2012 on KBS. On February 29, he released the song "We Are The B" for the drama's soundtrack, along with Jinwoon, Kang So-ra and Kim Ji-soo.
In May 2012, Park and fellow trainee JB debuted as the duo JJ Project with the single album Bounce. On March 11, 2013, it was announced that he would be appearing as Ddol-yi on MBC's new drama When a Man Falls in Love, which aired for twenty episodes beginning April 3.
On January 16, 2014, Park debuted as a vocalist in JYP Entertainment's new boy group GOT7. The group dropped their first EP Got It? on January 16, 2014 with successful charting and sales. Park also made the choreography for one of the singles, Follow Me.
2014–2017: Debut with Got7, hosting, and film debut
In 2015, he was cast in a supporting role in the drama This is My Love, which aired on JTBC from May 29 to July 18. The same year in March he was hired as official host for M Countdown alongside Shinee's Key, group member BamBam and CNBLUE's Jung-shin. Park left his position as MC in March 2016 to focus on activities with GOT7, including the group's first worldwide concert tour.
In 2016, Park was cast as the male lead in the independent film A Stray Goat, directed by Cho Jae-min: in the film, he played a high school student who moves to the town of Goseong where he meets a girl, who is an outcast because of rumors and suspicions about her father. The movie was theatrically released on March 1, 2017 and premiered at the 17th Jeonju International Film Festival.
In September 2016, Jinyoung was cast for a supporting role in the drama Legend of the Blue Sea, where he portrayed the teenage version of Lee Min-ho's character, the protagonist of the series.
In February 2017, SBS announced Jinyoung, NCT's Doyoung, and Black Pink's Jisoo as the new fixed MCs of Inkigayo.
2018–present: Transition to acting career
In December 2018, Park landed his first lead role in the fantasy rom-com drama He Is Psychometric alongside Kim Kwon, Kim Da-som and Shin Ye-eun.
In September 2019, he held his first solo fan meeting in Bangkok for promoting his drama He Is Psychometric. In 2020, Park starred in the television series When My Love Blooms alongside Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Bo-young and Jeon So-nee, and was cast in the movie Yaksha: Ruthless Operations as the youngest member of a team of spies in foreign countries dedicated to overseas missions.
In July, Park held the online fan meeting Hear, Here to commemorate the release of the photobook of the same name.
In August, he was confirmed as the main lead in the tvN legal drama The Devil Judge alongside Ji Sung as associate judge Kim Ga-on. The drama premiered in July 2021.
Throughout 2020, he collaborated with Tom Ford Beauty to promote Rose Prick Eau de Parfum, make-up line Shade and Illuminate, and the unisex perfume collection Private Blend. Rose Prick Eau de Parfum was sold out in a day.
2021–present: Departure from JYPE and solo activities
On January 28, 2021, it was announced that he signed an exclusive contract with BH Entertainment following his departure from JYP Entertainment.
In May, he attended Hugo Boss x Russell Athletic's capsule collection launch event with Shinee's Minho in Seoul.
On July 22, 2021, he was confirmed to appear in the tvN drama Yumi's Cells as Yoo Ba-bi alongside Kim Go-eun. The series based on the webtoon of the same title premiered in September 2021.
On July 29, 2021, he released the self-written, self-composed digital single "Dive" as a gift for fans, along with a special performance clip published on 1theK Originals official YouTube channel. The song, based on the sound of the band, debuted on Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart at number 12.
In September, he starred in New York Fashion Week's digital fashion short film, Concept Korea New York S/S 2022, for Nohant, a unisex casual brand based in Seoul. The film was released through the New York Fashion Week official website and Korea Creative Content Agency official YouTube channel. On September 29, 2021, he released "Dive (Japanese ver.)".
The following month, Park was confirmed to star as the lead in the crime thriller film A Christmas Carol, based on the novel of the same name, about a guy who goes to a juvenile detention center to avenge his twin brother's death; he will portray both roles. The film, which was selected by the Busan Asian Project Market (APM), began filming in February 2022.
In December, he featured in a 100-page special edition of TMRW magazine. In March 2022, he starred in a three-part cinematic advertisement for the virtual game KlayCity.
Discography
As lead artist
- "DIVE" (2021)
- "DIVE (Japanese ver.)" (2021)
Soundtrack appearances
- "We are the B" (B급 인생) (with Kang So-ra, 2AM's Jeong Jinwoon and Kim Ji-soo) from Dream High 2 OST (2012)
- "Hold Me" (이렇게) from Top Management OST (2018)
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sanctuary | Himself | Thai advertisement short film |
| 2017 | A Stray Goat | Jo Min-sik | Film debut |
| 2019 | Princess Aya | Prince Bari | Animated, Korean dubbed |
| 2021 | News From Nowhere: Freedom Village | Himself | MMCA Hyundai Motor Series 2021 short film |
| Concept Korea New York S/S 2022 | New York Fashion Week's digital fashion short film | ||
| 2022 | Yaksha: Ruthless Operations | Jeong-dae | Netflix original film |
| Hi.5 | |||
| TBA | A Christmas Carol | Joo Il-woo / Joo Wol-woo |
Television series
| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Dream High 2 | KBS2 | Jung Ui-bong | Under JYPE |
| 2013 | When a Man Falls in Love | MBC | Ddol-yi | - |
| 2015 | Dream Knight | Youku Tudou | Himself (Junior) | Korean-Chinese web series by JYPE and Youku Tudou |
| This Is My Love | JTBC | 17-year-old Ji Eun-ho / Park Hyun-soo | ||
| 2016 | The Legend of the Blue Sea | SBS | Teenage Heo Joon-jae / Kim Dam-ryung | |
| 2019 | He Is Psychometric | tvN | Lee Ahn | Main role |
| Melting Me Softly | Jang Woo-shin | Cameo (Episode 14) | ||
| 2020 | When My Love Blooms | Young Han Jae-hyun | 2nd male lead | |
| 2021 | The Devil Judge | Kim Ga-on / Kang Isaac | Lead role | |
| Yumi's Cells | Yoo Ba-bi / Bobby | Male lead for Season 2 |
Web series
| Year | Title | Channel | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | This is My Love: The Beginning | Naver TV | 17-year-old Ji Eun-ho / Park Hyun-soo | |
| 2017 | School of Magic | JTBC | Lee Nara | Lead role |
Hosting
| Year | Title | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2016 | M! Countdown | Mnet | With Lee Jung-shin, Key and BamBam |
| 2017-2018 | Inkigayo | SBS | With Jisoo (Blackpink) and Doyoung (NCT) |
| 2019 | KBS Song Festival | KBS | With Irene (Red Velvet) |
Variety shows
| Year | Title | TV Network | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Master Key | SBS | Recurring cast (Episodes 4 and 6) |
| 2018 | Living Together in Empty Room | MBC | Cast member with Han Hye-yeon and Block B's P.O |
| 2018 | King of Mask Singer | MBC | Contestant as Rabbit, episodes 179 and 180 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular - Actor (Film) | A Stray Goat | Nominated |
| 12th Max Movie Awards | Rising Star Award | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | StarHub Night of Stars | Favourite Korean Drama Male Character | He Is Psychometric | Won |
| 2020 | Asia Artist Awards | Popularity Award - Actor | Park Jinyoung | Won |
| Potential Award (TV/Film) | Won | |||
| APAN Music Awards | Male Entertainer Award | Nominated | ||
| 2021 | Asia Artist Awards | Popularity Award - Actor | Nominated | |
| U+Idol Live Popularity Award - Actor | Nominated |
Video Gallery
 | |
|---|---|
| Jay B • Mark • Jackson • Jinyoung • Youngjae • BamBam • Yugyeom | |
| Mini albums | |
| Albums | |
| Repackage albums | MAD: Winter Edition • Present: YOU&ME Edition |
| Digital singles | Home Run • One and Only You • Breath • ENCORE |
| Singles | |
| Albums | |
| Mini albums | Hey Yah • Turn Up • THE New Era • • Love Loop |
| World tours | 1st World Tour 'Fly' (2016) • World Tour 'EYES ON YOU' (2018) • World Tour 'KEEP SPINNING' (2019) |
| Japanese tours | 1st Showcase "IMPACT IN JAPAN" (2014) • 1st Japan Tour "AROUND THE WORLD" (2014) • Japan Tour "MORIAGATTEYO" (2016) • Japan Showcase Tour "MEET ME" (2017) • Japan Arena Special "MY SWAGGER" (2017) • Japan Tour "TURN UP" (2017) • Japan Connecting Hall Tour "THE NEW ERA" (2018) • Japan Arena Special "ROAD 2 U" (2018-2019) • Japan Tour "OUR LOOP" (2019) |
| Thailand tours | Thailand Tour "NESTIVAL" (2017) • Thailand Tour "NESTIVAL" (2018) • Fanfest "SEVEN SECRETS" (2019) |
| Tours/fanmeets | Asia Tour Showcase (2015) • 1st Fanmeeting Tour (2015) • Flight Log: Turbulence Fanmeet Tour (2016-2017) • Global Fanmeeting (2017) |
| Anniversary fanmeetings | 365+ 1st Fanmeeting • Amazing Got7 World 2nd Fanmeeting • We Under The Moonlight 3rd Fanmeeting • IGOT7 Research 4th Fanmeeting • Dreaming of Soccer King (Fly GOT7) 5th Fanmeeting (2019) • The Winter We Loved 6th Fanmeeting (2020) |
| Other | GOT7 2022 FANCON: HOMECOMING with I GOT 7 (2022) |
 | |
|---|---|
| JB • Jinyoung | |
| Mini albums | |
| Singles | |
| Other | Collaborations: MBC Music 'MM Choice' Part. 2 (with Robin, Kim Se Hwang, DJ Lip 2 Shot) (2012) |