Best known for his starring role in the KBS series Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin, he also appeared in several films, winning 2009 Grand Bell and Blue Dragon awards for his role in Closer to Heaven. He also became their for playing the doctor Jang Joon Hyuk in the MBC series White Tower.
After winning the 1996 SBS acting contest, he appeared in episodes of such television series as Look Back in Anger and KAIST before making his film debut in the 2001 horror movie Sorum.
To prepare for his role as conductor Kang Ma-e in the television series Beethoven Virus, he spent four months studying orchestral conducting techniques. His training paid off: in 2008, his performance in Beethoven Virus earned him both MBC and Korea Drama Awards.
Born and raised in South Korea, he attended the Seoul Institute of the Arts. In 2004, he and his wife, Lee Kyung Mi, welcomed a son named Jae Ha.
He was born in the same year as fellow South Korean screen actor John Cho.