How Kim Jeong-guk Became Jung Woo: “It’s the Name My Mom Got From a Naming Center”

Actor Jung Woo opened up about the story behind his stage name.

In an interview held on the afternoon of the 20th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to mark the release of his film “AUDITION 109,” Jung Woo talked about using his stage name instead of his legal name, Kim Jeong-guk. “It’s a name my mom got from a naming center. Back when I was unknown, auditions weren’t going well and I wasn’t getting my name out there, so I tried everything. I even changed my name twice. Then around 2004, I started using Jung Woo, the name my mom brought me from the naming center,” he said.

“AUDITION 109” is an autobiographical film about Jjangu (Jung Woo’s childhood nickname), who chases his dream of becoming an actor. It can be seen as a follow-up to the 2009 film “Wish.” The story is based on what Jung Woo went through during his unknown years, blending real experiences with fictional characters and events.

“AUDITION 109” centers on the time when Jung Woo was living as Kim Jeong-guk. The film also includes episodes and mentions of his mother and father.

In the film, Jjangu says he started dreaming of acting because his father once dreamed of becoming an actor, too. In the interview, Jung Woo also spoke about the influence of his late father.

“In the movie, Jjangu does an impression of Choi Min-soo from The Sandglass as his audition piece, and that drama was the only one my father and I watched together from start to finish. My father supported my dream. He’d tell me, if you’re going to be an actor, learn standard Korean and move to Seoul to attend an acting academy. As a kid, I didn’t realize how precious it was to share the same dream with my father. Now, that in itself feels incredibly special,” he said.

“AUDITION 109,” packed with Jung Woo’s dreams and passion, hits theaters on the 22nd.

 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)