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Ok Taec-yeon
South Korean singer and actor (born 1988) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ok Taec-yeon (Korean: 옥택연; born December 27, 1988),[1] known mononymously as Taecyeon, is a South Korean rapper, singer, actor, and entrepreneur. In 2008, he debuted as the rapper of the South Korean boy band 2PM. In 2010, Ok debuted as an actor in the Korean drama Cinderella's Stepsister and has since starred in notable television series such as Dream High (2011), Let's Fight, Ghost (2016), Vincenzo (2021), and The First Night with the Duke (2025), as well as films such as Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022). As a solo artist, he has released one studio album in Japan titled Taecyeon Special: Winter Hitori.
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Early life and education
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Ok Taecyeon was born in Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea,[2] but emigrated at the age of 10 with his family to Boston, Massachusetts, where he lived for seven years.[3] He attended Bedford High School where he was a member of the Chess Club, Jazz Band, JV Soccer Team, and National Honor Society, before returning to pursue his career in Korea. Ok transferred to Young Dong High School in Seoul, studied Business Administration at Dankook University, and studied International Business at Korea University Graduate School of International Studies.[4]
In 2005, Ok's older sister Jihyen persuaded him to participate in a JYP Entertainment audition she had noticed via Internet promotions. After his reluctant agreement, both headed for New York City on his 17th birthday. A week later, he was amongst the final 35 chosen to go further in the competition and received a call to move to South Korea. Ok originally applied to become a model, but the judges suggested he try dancing and singing. Eventually, he was named one of the dozen finalists (including his future members, Lee Junho and Hwang Chan-sung) to compete in the show Superstar Survival, but was the first contestant to leave the show.[5] Despite this, JYP Entertainment still offered him a trainee contract.[6]
Ok is fluent in English, Korean, and Japanese.[7] He is also familiar with the Busan dialect, which he used in the KBS2 drama Wonderful Days.[8][unreliable source?]
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Career
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2PM
In 2008, he participated in Mnet's Hot Blood Men, a program that chronicles the rigorous training of thirteen aspiring trainees, all vying for a coveted spot in the boy band One Day.[9][10] This initiative ultimately led to the formation of two distinct boy bands, namely 2AM and 2PM.
Half a year following the televised airing of Hot Blood Men, the group 2PM made their debut with the release of their inaugural single "10 Out of 10" from their first single album titled Hottest Time of the Day.[11] However, it was their second single album, 2:00PM Time For Change, that propelled them to mainstream success in Korean music, solidifying their meteoric rise. As of 2021, the group has released seven studio albums in Korea and five studio albums in Japan. Taecyeon has written and composed several tracks for the group, including "Promise (I'll Be)", the title track of their sixth Korean studio album, Gentlemen's Game.[12]
Solo activities
Ok was featured in Baek Ji-young's 2009 hit song "My Ear's Candy". Baek revealed that she asked Ok to feature on the song after listening to his rap on 2PM's single "10 Out of 10".[13]
In 2012, Ok teamed up with his fellow Dankook University alumni students to produce a digital single album titled Share (with Taecyeon). The album was performed live at Dankook University for the matriculation ceremony. The title song "Wings" featured penned rap lyrics written by Ok. The album also included a remake of Lee Gwangjo's "A Night Like Tonight", with an original rap written by Ok himself.[14] The album went on sale in February 2012, with all proceeds donated back the University.[15]
Ok released his first solo Japanese album Taecyeon Special: Winter Hitori in January 2017.[16] As part of the solo project, he held his first solo concert, Taecyeon (From 2PM) Premium Solo Concert "Winter Hitori", at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Japan on January 2–3.[17]
In July 2018, it was announced that Ok had signed an exclusive contract with 51K, an agency founded by actor So Ji-sub, following the end of his contract with JYP Entertainment.[18] His former agency reported that he will remain a member of 2PM despite the move.[19] On February 23, 2023, 51K announced that Ok had signed a contract with WME for his activities in the United States.[20]
Since 2013, Ok has regularly held fan meetings in South Korea.[21] From September 16, 2023, to October 21, 2023, Ok held his first solo fan meeting tour titled SpecialTY with stops in five Asian cities: Taipei, Manila, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Jakarta.[22] On March 8, 2025, Ok held a solo fan meeting in Yokohama titled SweeTY.[23] On June 24, 2025, Ok held a joint fan meeting in Taipei with his agency's founder So Ji-sub titled SONICe ParTY.[24]
Acting career
In 2010, Ok made his acting debut in the KBS drama series Cinderella's Sister alongside Moon Geun-young and Chun Jung-myung.[25][26] In 2011, he and his bandmate Wooyoung starred in the high school drama Dream High,[27] which received high domestic ratings as well as international popularity, winning awards abroad.[28][29][30] Ok collaborated with his bandmates and other artists on two songs for the show's soundtrack.[31] In September 2011, FujiTV announced that Ok was cast on the Sunday drama Boku to Star no 99 Nichi, along with Japanese actor Nishijima Hidetoshi and South Korean actress Kim Tae-hee, his first regular role in a Japanese drama.[32]
In 2013, Ok made his film debut in the romantic comedy Marriage Blue.[33] He wrote and composed the opening and ending tracks of the film.[34] Also in 2013, he starred in OCN's police drama Who Are You? as a detective.[35] In 2014, he starred in KBS's weekend drama Wonderful Days, playing a tough-fisted bodyguard.[36] In 2015, Ok was cast in KBS's political drama Assembly, playing an aspiring police officer who studies at the library to pass his entrance exams by day and works as an official's chauffeur by night.[37] In 2016, he starred in tvN's horror-comedy Bring It On, Ghost alongside Kim So-hyun,[38] as well as the web series Touching You alongside Song Ha-yoon.[39] That same year, he also featured in the web drama 7 First Kisses by Lotte Duty Free.[40] In 2017, he starred in the mystery-thriller film House of the Disappeared with Yunjin Kim.[41] He then starred in OCN's thriller drama Save Me alongside Seo Yea-ji later that year.[42]
In 2020, he starred in MBC's mystery drama The Game: Towards Zero as a prophet helping the police with their investigation of a serial killer, reuniting with Lee Yeon-hee with whom he starred in the 2013 film Marriage Blue.[43] It was his first acting role since his military discharge.[44]
In 2021, he starred in the tvN drama Vincenzo as Jang Jun-woo, his first major antagonistic role since his acting debut.[45][46] Vincenzo became one of the highest-rated series on South Korean cable television,[47] as well as one of the most internationally-viewed Korean series on Netflix in 2021.[48] In the same year, Ok also starred alongside Kim Hye-yoon in the historical drama Secret Royal Inspector & Joy, which premiered on both tvN and iQiyi in November 2021.[49][50]
In 2022, Ok played the role of Lim Jun-young, a Joseon spy who sneaks into the Japanese army camp, in the war action film Hansan: Rising Dragon, the second instalment of Kim Han-min's Yi Sun-sin trilogy.[51][52] The film became the the second highest-grossing Korean film of 2022.[53] In the same year, he starred in tvN's crime drama Blind.[54]
In 2023, he played the role of Seon Woo-hyul, a half-human half-vampire who falls in love with a human, in KBS's romantic comedy Heartbeat.[55] Also in 2023, he made a cameo appearance in the first season of the Netflix series XO, Kitty, his first acting credit in an American work.[56] In 2024, Ok made his Japanese film debut with La Grande Maison Paris, playing a Korean-Canadian pastry chef.[57] In 2025, he starred alongside Girls' Generation's Seohyun in KBS's isekai romance drama, The First Night with the Duke, as Lee Beon, a prince in a fantasy world.[58]
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Other activities
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Variety television and hosting
Ok and his bandmate Wooyoung hosted SBS's music show Inkigayo with actress Ha Yeon-joo from July 2009 to January 2010[59] and with f(x)'s Sulli from February 2010 to July 2010.[60][61] In 2010, Ok was cast for SBS's short-lived variety program Family Outing 2, a sequel to the popular show Family Outing, alongside entertainment personalities such as Shin Bong-sun and other Korean idols such as Girls' Generation's Im Yoon-ah and 2AM's Jo Kwon.[62]
In 2013, it was announced that Ok would form an on-screen couple with Taiwanese actress Emma Wu, in the global version of the celebrity dating show We Got Married.[63] As part of the show, the couple composed and recorded the song "I Love You", which was released on domestic music streaming sites on June 16.[64]
In 2014, Ok and actor Lee Seo-jin, whom he previously co-starred on the weekend drama Wonderful Days with, were the main cast members of the debut season of tvN's popular cooking variety show Three Meals a Day, directed by producer Na Young-seok.[65] The two later rejoined for a second season in 2015, joined by actor Kim Kwang-kyu.[66] Ok was praised for his hardworking image and easygoing personality on the show.[67]
OKCAT
On October 11, 2013, Ok hosted a 30-minute press conference on Ustream to introduce "Okcat", a green cat character to the public. Okcat emoticons had previously been released on the chat application KakaoTalk. During the conference, Ok told the history of his development of the character and released his sketches to the public. The "Okcat" shop was opened on the same day and featured a line of products with the image of the Okcat.[68][69]
Every year from 2013 to 2016, Ok held a series of Okcat-themed fan meetings around Christmastime in South Korea titled Lonely Okcat's Christmas.[70] Upon returning from his military service, Ok continued these fan meetings in 2019,[71] 2022,[72] and 2023.[73] Ok was unable to hold in-person Okcat fan meetings in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, but he held an online fan event titled I'm OK on December 12, 2020.[74] Instead of a Christmas Okcat-themed fan meeting in 2024, Ok held a series of four fan meetings titled SweeTY Okcat's Happy Valentine's Day on February 15–16, 2025.[21]
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Military enlistment
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On December 9, 2010, a JYP spokesperson revealed that Ok planned on giving up his American permanent residence visa and already received his official confirmation for his permanent residence cancellation on December 1.[75] In 2008, Ok had a physical examination for the military draft, but found he would only be able to enlist for public service personnel due to his poor vision and a dislocated shoulder. In 2010, 2012, and 2013, he underwent surgeries to correct the disk and to remove pins in his upper arm from a serious break in 2013. He was cleared for active duty in December 2013 after a second physical examination, but delayed his enlistment due to a busy workload.[76]
On September 4, 2017, Ok enlisted as an active-duty soldier and began his mandatory military service.[77][78] On October 18, he completed his basic military training and was placed at 9th Infantry Division in Gyeonggi Province as a military instruction assistant.[79]
In February 2018, Ok participated in various 2018 Winter Olympics events as one of the volunteers under the command of the Ministry of National Defense. He hosted many cultural shows and concerts and performed as a member of 2PM alongside his bandmates at the Olympic Headliner Show.[80][81] On June 20, 2018, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon recognized and praised Ok's efforts to enlist in active duty during his congratulatory speech at the 15th Exemplary Military Servicemen Awards, which Ok was hosting.[82]
On October 1, 2018, Ok led the future combat system demonstration in the 70th Armed Forces Day Celebration. The demonstration introduced the Warrior Platform program, which includes new and improved combat gear and equipment.[83] Ok ranked first on real-time search engines as he led the final salute to President Moon Jae-in.[84]
In February 2019, Ok received an early promotion as a Sergeant for his exceptional conduct while serving as a military instruction assistant at the 9th Armed Forces Division in Gyeonggi Province.[85] Due to his superb records, exemplary character, and great performance, Ok was appointed as a Special Class Warrior by his division commander and was awarded as a "Model Soldier" by the Ministry of National Defense.[86] He also earned the nickname "Captain Korea" from Korean netizens because of his physique that mirrored the famous Marvel superhero, Captain America; the nickname has been used in headlines on several news portals and broadcasts.[87] In an interview, Ok expressed the pressure of having the nickname, "It was a nickname that brought a lot of pressure, but it also made me want to work that much harder. I'll continue to work hard to fit that nickname."[88] Ok completed his military service and was discharged on May 16, 2019.[89][90]
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Filmography
Film
Television series
Television film
Web series
Variety and reality shows
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Discography
Studio albums
Singles and covers
Soundtrack appearances
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Awards and nominations
 | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (January 2025) |
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References
External links
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