The Korean drama "Our Golden Days" starring Jung Il Woo and Jung In Sun is attracting attention with impressive ratings. In the latest episode, the work achieved a rating of 16.8%, the most watched program of all the films broadcast at the weekend.
The main actor Jung Il Woo also became a hot topic of discussion when he revealed his family background on a TV show.
According to Jung Il Woo, his mother is a member of the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Korean Cultural Heritage Management Agency. At the same time, she received her PhD in China and is researching ancient textiles in Korea.
She is currently the Director of a research institute, and is one of 7 experts in assessing intangible cultural heritage artisans in Korea.
The actor confessed that his mother's influence has shaped his artistic feelings, even contributing to Jung Il Woo's acting career.
When I was filming Diary of a Night Watchman, my mother personally designed the patterns on my hanbok. When I went audition for the movie High kick! (Family is number 1), I wore a leather jacket that my mother bought me and I passed it on. My mother always prepares clothes for me every time I audition, the actor shared.
After that, the revelations about his father also surprised the audience. Jung Il Woo said that his parents were college friends and were both student association chairmen. His father was the captain of the football team in high school, he is known for being strict.
The actor said: "When I make mistakes, you always give me 3 chances. Then, he would say, Put in your clothes and get out here, implying that I would be fined. Once I almost fainted from being beaten by a wooden sword.
Jung Il Woo's father was a reporter at KBS, later became a visiting professor at a university, with a career spanning from journalism to academics.
Although strict, his parents are also very warm and affectionate. Jung Il Woo describes himself as a boy living as a girl. He recalled: "I used to go to 2NE1's concert and often traveled abroad with my mother."
The actor born in 1987 said that the relationship between him and his mother became increasingly close because his mother spent many years in China studying for a doctorate when he was young.
Unlike everyone else who will live separately as an adult, Jung Il Woo is currently living with his parents. The actor explained, We are very compatible. They are getting old and I felt this could be the last chance to live together. I want to spend more time with them.
Jung Il Woo's family background is also surprising when he was revealed to be a descendant of Jung Yak Yong (nickname Dasan) - one of the greatest thinkers of the late Joseon Dynasty, a powerful assistant to the 22nd generation king Jeong Jo.
The actor's extended family also has an equal family background. Jung Il Woo's grandfather was the director of a general hospital, consolidating the image of a family of many generations working in high-professional fields from cultural heritage, academics, journalism and medicine.
The audience expressed their admiration: "It's not uncommon for him to live up to standards", "The situation is more terrible than imagined", "Slowing down a tablespoon of gold but never showing off"...
With these revelations, Jung Il Woo's long-standing reputation as a calm and hard-working actor has been viewed from a new perspective - a career formed from a knowledgeable, elite family background.
