Kim Jaejoong Biography: Books, Awards, Height, Age, Movies, Girlfriend, Controversy, TikTok

Kim Jaejoong is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, and director who first became known as one of the original members of the boy band TVXQ.

Born in January 1986, he rose to prominence through his exceptional vocals and striking visuals, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in K-pop. Later, he joined the trio JYJ and subsequently embarked on a successful solo career, releasing acclaimed albums and starring in popular television dramas and films.

Beyond music, Jaejoong has established himself as a savvy entrepreneur, philanthropist, and global cultural ambassador, earning immense popularity across Korea, Japan, and the rest of Asia.

Profile

• Full name: Kim Jaejoong (김재중)
• Nickname: Hero Jaejoong, Jejung, J-Jun
• Date of birth: January 26, 1986
• Age: 39 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Profession: Singer-songwriter, actor, director, producer, entrepreneur
• Height: 178.6 cm (5 ft 10.3 in)
• Weight: 63 kg (139 lbs)
• Eye colour: Dark brown
• Hair colour: Black
• Parents: Adoptive parents – Mr. and Mrs. Kim; Biological mother – Oh Seo-jin, Biological father – Han Kyung-woo
• Siblings: Eight older sisters (adoptive)
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship status: Single
• Religion: Atheist
• Ethnicity: Korean
• Net worth: US$120 million

Early Life and Education

Kim Jaejoong was born Han Jae-joon in Gongju, South Korea, on January 26, 1986 and is now at the age of 39. Due to family circumstances, he was adopted by the Kim family, changing his surname and growing up as the youngest of nine children with eight older sisters. His adoptive mother has publicly discussed the financial challenges of raising a large family.

At 15, Jaejoong moved to Seoul alone to audition for SM Entertainment, supporting himself through part-time jobs such as delivering newspapers and working at convenience stores while training as a singer.

He attended Gongju Jungdong Elementary School, Kongju National University Middle School, and Kongju Information High School, before later enrolling in Hanam High School (2005).

Jaejoong also attended Kyung Hee Cyber University, majoring in Digital Media Engineering, and later pursued Film and Performing Arts studies at Baekseok University.

Personal Life

Kim Jaejoong keeps his private life largely confidential. He has not confirmed any romantic relationships or marriage as of 2025.

In 2006, his biological father filed a lawsuit claiming parental rights, which caused public attention due to incomplete adoption registration; the case was later resolved. His biological mother, Oh Seo-jin, and adoptive mother, Ms. Kim, have since publicly reconciled, and Jaejoong maintains relationships with both families.

He is also known for his philanthropy, having donated over ₩2 billion KRW (approx. $1.6 million USD) to causes including children’s hospitals, disaster relief, animal welfare, and scholarships for underprivileged students.

Career

Kim Jaejoong began training at SM Entertainment in his teens and debuted as a member of TVXQ in December 2003. His powerful vocals and distinct image helped the group achieve massive success across Asia, becoming one of the top K-pop acts of the early 2000s.

Following a lawsuit against SM Entertainment in 2009 over unfair contract terms, Jaejoong, alongside Yoochun and Junsu, left to form JYJ in 2010. The trio achieved international success, releasing albums such as The Beginning (2010) and In Heaven (2011), and conducting world tours that drew hundreds of thousands of fans.

In 2013, Jaejoong launched his solo career with the EP I/MINE, followed by his first full-length album WWW (2013), which topped charts in Korea and Japan. Subsequent albums, including No.X (2016), Born Gene (2022), and Flower Garden (2024), showcased his evolution as a rock-pop artist.

In 2023, he founded his own agency iNKODE Entertainment, where he serves as Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing artist management and production. He also formed a musical duo, JX, in 2024, expanding his creative scope.

Beyond music, Jaejoong has enjoyed a successful acting career, appearing in TV dramas such as Sunao ni Narenakute (2010), Protect the Boss (2011), Dr. Jin (2012), Triangle (2014), Spy (2015), Manhole (2017), and Bad Memory Eraser (2024). He has also starred in films like Heaven’s Postman (2009) and Jackal is Coming (2012).

Jaejoong has also directed music videos and concert tours for JYJ, and is recognized for his sharp eye for stage design and production.

Awards

• 2009: SBS Drama Awards – Best New Actor (Heaven’s Postman)
• 2011: SBS Drama Awards – Excellence Award (Special Drama, Protect the Boss)
• 2012: MBC Drama Awards – Excellence Award (Mini-Series, Dr. Jin)
• 2013: Golden Disk Awards – Rock Album of the Year (I/MINE)
• 2016: Asia Artist Awards – Best Asian Singer (Korea–Japan Division)
• 2022: Japan Gold Disc Award – Best 3 Asian Artists (Solo)
• 2024: Seoul International Drama Awards – Best Korean Actor (Bad Memory Eraser)

Net Worth

Kim Jaejoong’s estimated net worth is approximately US$120 million. His wealth stems from: music royalties, concert tours, acting contracts and drama appearances etc.

Controversy

• April 2020 COVID-19 Hoax: Jaejoong caused public backlash after falsely claiming on Instagram that he tested positive for COVID-19 as an April Fool’s prank. He apologized shortly after, stating it was intended to raise awareness about pandemic safety.
• 2006 Parental Lawsuit: His biological father filed a lawsuit to reclaim parental rights; this was dropped, and the issue was later peacefully resolved.

Social Media

• Instagram: @jj_1986_jj
• X (Twitter): @bornfreeonekiss
• TikTok: @bornfreeonekisst
• YouTube: KIM JAEJOONG

Filmography

Films

• Heaven’s Postman (2009) – Shin Jae-jun
• Jackal is Coming (2012) – Choi Hyun
• Jaejoong: On the Road (2021) – Documentary
• Life in Song (2023 – cameo)

Television Dramas

• Sunao ni Narenakute (2010, Fuji TV) – Doctor Park
• Protect the Boss (2011, SBS) – Cha Mu-won
• Dr. Jin (2012, MBC) – Kim Kyung-tak
• Triangle (2014, MBC) – Heo Young-dal
• Spy (2015, KBS2) – Kim Sun-woo
• Manhole (2017, KBS2) – Bong Pil
• Bad Memory Eraser (2024, MBC) – Lee Kun

Discography

• I (EP) (2013)
• Y (Repackage EP) (2013)
• WWW (2013)
• No.X (2016)
• Flawless Love (2019, Japanese)
• Love Covers (2019, Japanese)
• Love Covers II (2020, Japanese)
• Born Gene (2022)
• Flower Garden (2024)
• Beauty in Chaos (2025, EP)

Books

• Jaejoong: On the Road Photobook (2021)
• The Journey of Jaejoong (2024)