Jo Kwon ( born on August 28, 1989) is a South Korean singer, television host, actor, entertainer and the leader of South Korean boy band 2AM. He has starred in multiple musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar playing the role of King Herod and Everybody's Talking About Jamie as Jamie New.
Predebut Jo trained at JYP Entertainment for seven years after joining the company. He was chosen as the last member of Park Jin-young's "99% Challenge Project" along with Sunye of Wonder Girls.
2AM career
In 2008, he appeared on Mnet's Hot Blood. The program showed the intense physical training that thirteen male trainees go through to acquire the opportunity to debut in either a four-member ballad group or a seven-member dance group.열혈남아 JYP 13조, 쌓아온 실력 첫 공개! . Newent. March 25, 2008. After several elimination steps, Jo was chosen for a position in the four-member ballad group 2AM. He became the group's leader.
2AM's first single "This Song" was released on July 21, 2008.2AM '이노래', 질러차트 2주째 1위 . Paran. September 25, 2008. In March 2015, Jo renewed his contract with JYP Entertainment, while three other members of 2AM signed with other agencies. JYP Entertainment assured that the departures did not mean 2AM was disbanding, however 2AM is currently on temporarily break from any group activities. He left JYP Entertainment on September 22, 2017. On November 3, 2017, he signed with Cube Entertainment.
Solo career
2008–2009: Variety entertainment and popularity as Adam Couple Jo has appeared as a regular panel member on variety shows such as Star King. He was part of "Dirty Eyed Girls" in an episode of 2PM's variety show Wild Bunny, performing a parody of popular Brown Eyed Girls song "Abracadabra". The music video became popular. ‘드러운아이드걸스'의 '다불어때 다불었다'? 패러디 화제 . Mydaily. August 26, 2009. In September 2009, he was one of the main MCs for SBS' environmental variety show Find it! Green Gold with Super Junior member Shindong, SS501 member Kim Hyung-jun, and Fly To The Sky member Brian Joo. He also replaced Jay Park on historical culture variety show Nodaji.
He joined the cast of We Got Married on October 3, 2009, coupled with Brown Eyed Girls member Ga-In. Although he was initially only supposed to be featured in the Chuseok special, his appearance brought in the highest ratings yet for Season 2, so he was announced as a permanent couple.브아걸 가인-2AM 조권, 신혼 첫 날은 어떨까? ‘기대만발’ . Newsen. October 1, 2009. Jo was diagnosed with H1N1 on October 28, 2009, causing them to postpone filming We Got Married. He recovered quickly after treatment.
During his appearance in We Got Married, Jo and Ga-in were donned the nickname “Adam Couple” () by fans. Together he released the digital single, "I Happen to Love You" (우리 사랑하게 됐어요), on December 17, 2009,듀엣 결성 ‘우리 사랑하게 됐어요’ 발표 "수익금은 기부"". Nate.com. December 16, 2009. which topped variety online music charts and won two awards on Music Bank's K-Charts and the "Most Popular Background Phone Music" on the Gaon Charts."사이좋은 2AM-가인 ‘모두 합쳐 상 5개’" . Newsen. February 23, 2010. 50 million won from the profits of the song were donated for rebuilding after the 2010 Haiti earthquake."조권, 가인과 진짜 사귀냐고 물으니‥" . Yahoo!Korea. March 17, 2010.
In 2010, he became a permanent cast member of Family Outing 2.'패떴2' 일곱 번째 멤버...'깝권' 조권 확정 ETODAY. January 19, 2010. He made his fifth appearance on the TV show "Happy Together" in June 2012. He made several appearances on Star King, Invincible Youth S2, Come To Play, Radio Star, Star Dance Battle, and many other shows. He is known for his kkab (깝) dance and often danced on variety shows. "Kkab" can be translated as hyperactive.
2010–2012: Screen debut and first solo album On June 30, 2010, Jo released his first solo digital single titled, 고백하던 날 (The Day I Confessed), a song he partially composed during the We Got Married broadcast for Ga-in. The song came first on Cyworld real-time charts the day after release."조권 이사송 ‘고백하던 날’ 출시직후 실시간 차트 1위 ‘기염’". MSN News. July 2, 2010.
The same year, he was cast in the sitcom All My Love for You with co-stars Park Mi-sun, Kim Kap-soo and fellow idol and former 'wife' from We Got Married Ga-in.
On June 25, 2012, he released his solo album, I'm Da One, along with a music video.
2013: Musical and drama debut In 2013, Jo joined the cast of a Korean Jesus Christ Superstar musical production, where he played the role of King Herod.
In the same year, on February 27, 2013, he was confirmed as one of the cast for the KBS2 drama Queen of the Office. The drama is about a talented contract worker, and the work and relationships that surround her.
2016–2017: Second solo album, fourth musical casting, Golden Tambourine, and departure from JYP Entertainment Jo's new album Crosswalk included three tracks, two of which he wrote ― the lead single, "Crosswalk," and the third track, "Flutter." The second track, "It's Okay," was written by Ryan S. Jhun and Denzil "DR" Remedios, the music producers of SM Entertainment's Shinee and f(x). Popular songwriters Esna and Aev produced the title song.
On March 17, 2016, it was announced by JYP Entertainment that Jo would be participating in the musical On The Starry Night as the role "Choi Sung-keun. The musical Ran from May 7 to May 15, 2016.
On November 10, 2016, it was announced that Jo Kwon would be co-starring on Golden Tambourine, a karaoke variety program broadcast by Mnet, which ran from December 15, 2016, until February 23, 2017.
On September 21, 2017, it was announced that Jo had officially left JYP Entertainment after 16 years. However, 2AM never announced that they were disbanding and it is presumed that the group is on hiatus.
On November 2, 2017, it was announced that Jo had signed with Cube Entertainment.
2018–present: Lonely On January 10, 2018, Jo released the digital single 새벽 (Lonely), his first release after joining Cube Entertainment. Jo was set to enlist in the Korean Army in August 2018, for his mandatory military service. On July 24, 2019, it was confirmed that he would release a special single new theme song for the ROK Army with collaboration of Shinee's Onew and Key, Exo's Xiumin, Infinite's Kim Sung-kyu, BtoB's Lee Chang-sub, 2AM's Jinwoon, Yoon Ji-sung and actors Kim Minseok, and Lee Jae-kyoon in mid-August.
As part of South Korea's effort to combat COVID-19, Jo officially discharged from the military early on March 24, 2020. He also made his first variety show appearance after being discharged on JTBC's Knowing Bros alongside 2PM's Wooyoung, Block B's P.O & WINNER's Mino on April 4, 2020. In July 2020, Jo Kwon starred in the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie, playing the role of Jamie New, a 16-year-old high school student, who dreams to be a drag queen, and deals with prejudice and bullies.
On August 25, 2022, it was announced that Jo Kwon will be releasing "My Regards", a remake of the Ribbon Project in collaboration with Sunye, It will be released on August 28.
On 4 September 2026, he hosted Korea's Next Wave.
Personal life Education As of 2013, Jo was attending Kyung Hee University. He entered Kyung Hee University without taking the entrance examination, with rumors alleging favouritism, because he was an entertainer. The rumors were refuted by his performance at the top of his class in his major. In 2015, he enrolled in the Performing Arts Department of Kyunghee University's Graduate Program.
Business venture Jo is the president of the cereal cafe franchise Midnight in Seoul, which was founded and owned by actor-singer Yoon Kye-sang and three friends. The cafe-cereal-bar was the first of its kind in Seoul and gained popularity amongst K-pop idol singers through word-of-mouth. In May 2017, it was announced that the venture would become a franchise and that Jo would be named its president, while Yoon and others would remain official owners.
Discography
Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR I'm Da One Released: June 25, 2012 Label: JYP Entertainment, Big Hit Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 1 KOR: 17,547
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR
As lead artist "The Day I Confessed" (고백하던 날) 2010 3 rowspan="2" "I'm Da One" 22 I'm Da One "Crosswalk" (횡단보도) 2016 15 KOR: 88,076 rowspan="3" "Lonely" (새벽) 2018 — rowspan="2" "Like I Do" 2026 —Collaborations "Graduation" (졸업) 2009 rowspan="2" rowspan="2" rowspan="5" "Dunk Shoot" (덩크슛) "I Happen to Love You" (우리 사랑하게 됐어요) 1 KOR: 2,085,894 "Perfect Christmas" 2013 45 KOR: 64,789Cumulative sales of "Perfect Christmas":
"On A Good Day Like This" (이렇게 좋은 날에) 2015 — KOR: 14,251 "Born to Be Wild" 2016 — rowspan="4" SM Station Season 1 "Upgrade" 2018 — 2018 United Cube: ONE "First Page" (첫 페이지) 2020 — rowspan="2" "Greetings" (안부) 2022 139
Soundtrack appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR "One Summer Night" 2014 49 KOR: 42,302 Temptation OST "Heaven" 2015 44 KOR: 78,644Cumulative sales of "Heaven":
Two Yoo Project Sugar Man OST "Rise and Fall" (흥망성쇠) 2017 — rowspan="4" Golden Tambourine OST "Holding on to the End of Tonight" (이 밤의 끝을 잡고) 2018 — Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend (Composer Kim Hyeong-seok) "Twist King" 2020 — Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend (Kim Jong-guk x Turbo Part 1) "I Happen to Love You (2025)" (우리 사랑하게 됐어요 (2025))with Gain 2025 162 Even If This Love Disappears Tonight OST
Filmography Music videos
YearTitle2012 "I'm Da One"
Film
Year Title Role 2013 Pinocchio Pinocchio (Dubbing)
Television series YearTitleRole 2010 All My Love for You Hwang Ok-yub 2013 The Dramatic "Flower Boys Corporation" Jo Kwon The Queen of Office Kye Kyung-woo 2015 The Producers Himself (ep.3) Drinking Solo Kwon (fellow student at Noryangjin) (ep. 11)
Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2009 We Got Married Himself Season 2 (60 episodes) with Gain2010 Family Outing 2 Member Season 2 Star King Himself Episodes 147–149, 152–158, 162, 177, 179, 184 2013 A Song For You Host Season 2 (16 episodes) 2015 King of Mask Singer Contestant Episode 1 2016 Golden Tambourine Host Season 1 2021 Overseas Korean Song Festival Judge 2023 Boys Planet Star master Episodes 10–11 R U Next? Coaches 2026Korea's Next WaveHost
Web shows Year Title Role 2022 Born This Way Narrator
Hosting Year TitleNotes 2010M CountdownRotating host; with Nichkhun, Lee Jun-ho, Hwang Chan-sung, Jeong Jin-woon, Kang Min-hyuk, Lee Joon, and G.O2013MBC Korean Music Wave in Bangkokwith Nichkhun, Choi Min-ho, Park Ji-yeon, and Bae Suzy 2020 (G)I-dle's I Trust media showcase
Musicals Year Title Role 2013 Jesus Christ Superstar King Herod 2014 Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Adam 2015 Chess Anatoly Sergievsky 2016 On A Starry Night Choi Sung Keun 2019 Shinheung Military Academy Paldo 2020 Everybody's Talking About Jamie Jamie New
Ambassadorship Year Title Notes 2017
Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult2009Cyworld Digital Music Awards Song of the Month (December)"I Happen to Love You" (with Gain) 2010 Song of the Month (January) Gaon Chart Grand Opening Awards January Week 1 Digital Chart Overall #1 January Week 2 Digital Chart Overall #1 January Week 3 Digital Chart Overall #1 January Week 4 Ringback tone #1 4th Mnet 20's Choice Awards Most Influential Top 20 StarsJo Kwon 3rd Korea Sharing Awards The National Assembly standing Committee's Chairman Award Melon Music Awards Song of the Year"I Happen to Love You" (with Gain) Netizen Popularity Song 12th Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Collaboration Bugs Music Awards Song of the Year Best Duet (Gold) Best Variety Star (Bronze) We Got Married MBC Entertainment Awards Show, Variety Male Rookie AwardWe Got Married Best Couple Award with Ga-in SBS Entertainment Awards New Star Award Inkigayo 2011 MBC Entertainment Awards Comedy / Sitcom Popularity Award All My Love
Notes
References
External links