The South Korean entertainment industry is mourning the sudden loss of actor Jung Eun-woo, who passed away on February 11, 2026. He was 39 years old.
News of his death broke early on the morning of February 11, confirmed by multiple Korean media outlets including Star News and The Chosun Daily. The actor, known for his steady presence in television dramas for nearly two decades, was found deceased, leaving colleagues and viewers in shock. His family has requested privacy, and the specific cause of death has not been released to the public.
A memorial service is currently being held at New Koryo Hospital Funeral Hall in Gimpo. The funeral procession is scheduled for noon on February 13, followed by burial at Byeokje Seunghawon.
Who Was Jung Eun-woo? From Basketball Dreams to Screen Star
Born Jung Dong-jin on April 10, 1986 in Incheon, South Korea, Jung Eun-woo did not originally plan to become an actor. He was a promising basketball player during his school years at Incheon Songdo Middle and High Schools. However, a career-ending injury forced him off the court. Scouts also reportedly viewed his height as a limitation for professional basketball.
Rather than giving up on the spotlight, Jung changed directions. He enrolled at Dongguk University, where he studied Theater and Film, building the foundation for his second act.
He officially debuted in 2006 through the KBS2 youth drama Sharp 3. While he started small, he quickly proved his versatility, taking on roles ranging from romantic leads to intense supporting characters.
A Career of Consistency: Key Roles and Recognition
Jung Eun-woo built his reputation not through overnight fame, but through steady, reliable work. Over 20 years, he appeared in more than 15 drama series and several films.
Notable Television Dramas
He became a familiar face to Korean drama fans through major network productions. Some of his most recognized works include H.I.T from 2007 which marked his first major supporting role in a crime drama. In 2011 he starred in Bride of the Sun as Choi Jin-hyuk also known as James, a role that raised his profile. He appeared in the 2012 SBS weekend drama Five Fingers portraying Hong Woo-jin. The 2013 drama One Well-Raised Daughter featured him as Seol Do-hyun. He took the lead role of Kang Moon-hyuk in The Return of Hwang Geum-bok from 2015. In 2018 he played Wang Yi-ryook in the long-running KBS family drama My Only One.
International Recognition with Welcome to Waikiki 2
For global audiences, his most familiar role came in 2019. He joined the cast of the hit jTBC comedy Welcome to Waikiki 2 as Min-seok. Though a guest role, it introduced him to a wider international fanbase who appreciated his comedic timing.
His Final Work
Jung Eun-woo’s last on-screen appearance was in the 2021 film Memory: Manipulated Murder. He had not taken on new acting projects since then.
Awards and Accolades
His peers recognized his skill early on. He won the Andre Kim Best Star Awards New Star Award in 2007. In 2012, he received the SBS Drama Awards New Star Award for his performances in Five Fingers and Bride of the Sun. He followed this with the Special Acting Award for a Drama Short at the 2013 SBS Drama Awards for Stranger.
The Final Instagram Post: Missing, Envying, Regretting
In the hours after the news broke, attention turned to Jung Eun-woo’s Instagram account. On February 10, just one day before his passing, he uploaded a carousel post that fans and friends now view differently.
The post contained three images: a photo of himself, a picture of Hong Kong superstar Leslie Cheung, and a photo of British singer Amy Winehouse. Both Cheung and Winehouse are iconic figures who died young, Cheung in 2003 and Winehouse in 2011.
The caption read in Korean: “Missing, envying, regretting.” He also added the letters “PIR.BG” at the end.
Nancy Lang’s Emotional Response
Pop artist and broadcaster Nancy Lang publicly expressed deep regret over the post. She had commented on the photo with a heart emoji and the word Ahng just hours before his death, not realizing its weight.
“Eun-woo! I just heard the news. I didn’t realize these photos from the day before were signals… My heart aches, I’m so sad and overwhelmed. Why did you have to suffer so much? Rest in peace in heaven, Eun-woo.”
— Nancy Lang, via social media
Novelist So Jae-won also shared feelings of regret, wishing he had responded differently to the post.
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Park Seul-gi’s Personal Tribute: You Always Laughed
Among the many tributes from colleagues, broadcaster Park Seul-gi shared a particularly personal memory. Having worked with Jung during his busy morning drama schedule, she recalled his professionalism and warmth.
“Eun-woo, I’m sorry I couldn’t keep in touch because I was busy with my family life. I vividly remember how you diligently held onto your script amidst your busy morning drama schedule and how you always laughed at my trivial stories, enjoying the set. I hope you forget the bad memories and find happiness there.”
— Park Seul-gi, via social media
What Happens Now: Funeral Arrangements
The actor’s funeral hall is set up in Room 2 of the Special Section at the New Koryo Hospital Funeral Hall. The service will remain private, honoring the family’s wishes for a quiet farewell.
The burial will take place at Byeokje Sunhwa Cemetery on February 13 at 12:00 PM KST.
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