South Korean actor Jung Eun-woo, known for his roles in Welcome to Waikiki 2 and Bride of the Sun, died suddenly on February 11 at the age of 40, leaving behind a cryptic social media post that has since gone viral amid speculation it was a final signal. His family confirmed his passing, but his cause of death has not been disclosed.
The actor’s funeral is set for February 13 at 12 p.m. KST at New Koryo Hospital Funeral Hall in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. Cremation will follow at Byeokje Seunghwawon.
Who Was Jung Eun-Woo?
Jung Eun-woo was born Jung Dong-jin on April 10, 1986, in Incheon, South Korea. Before becoming an actor, he was a basketball player at Songdo Middle and High Schools. He was forced to abandon the sport due to injury and his relatively short stature for a competitive player.
He pivoted to acting without formal academy training, learning entirely on set. He graduated from Dongguk University’s Department of Theater and Film and made his debut in 2006 with KBS2’s Rounding Off Season 3.
Jung once said in an interview: “I didn’t learn acting by going to an academy. I learned it on set. My appearance made me look older, so I was cast in roles that were older than my actual age.”
Jung Eun-Woo Career: Two Decades in Film and Television
Jung built a steady career across nearly 20 years, appearing in more than a dozen dramas and films. His breakthrough came in 2011 with SBS’s Bride of the Sun.
Notable Television Work:
- Five Fingers (2012) — Won SBS Drama Awards New Star Award
- One Well-Raised Daughter (2013)
- My Heart Twinkle Twinkle (2015)
- The Return of Hwang Geum-bok (2015)
- My Only One (2018)
- Welcome to Waikiki 2 (2019) — Guest role that reached international audiences
Film Credits:
- My Tutor Friend 2 (2007)
- Romantic Debtors (2010)
- Miss Change (2013)
- Memory: Manipulated Murder (2021) — His final film
Awards:
- 2012 SBS Drama Awards: New Star Award (Five Fingers, Bride of the Sun)
- 2013 SBS Drama Awards: Special Acting Award, One Act Special Drama Category (Stranger)
He also frequently walked in designer André Kim’s fashion shows.
Jung Eun-Woo Personal Life: Relationship & Family
Jung dated actress-model Park Han-byul in 2014. Their relationship was publicly confirmed before they separated after seven months in July 2015.
No further details about his marital status or survivors have been released. His family has remained private since his passing.
Jung Eun-Woo Cause of Death: What Is Known?
Jung Eun-woo died on the morning of February 11, 2026. His family has not disclosed the cause of death, and officials have released no additional information. No foul play is suspected as per recent reports.
His wake is being held in Special Room 2 at New Koryo Hospital Funeral Hall in Gimpo. His funeral will be attended by family and close colleagues.
What Was Jung Eun-Woo’s Final Post and Why Is It Viral?
On February 10, one day before his death, Jung posted a carousel on Instagram featuring three images: Hong Kong actor Leslie Cheung, British singer Amy Winehouse, and a photograph of himself.
The caption read: “Missed, envied, regretted.. PIR.BG.”
Fans and netizens saw the post as a possible suicide signal. The inclusion of Cheung, who committed suicide in 2003, and Winehouse, who died of accidental alcohol poisoning in 2011, prompted widespread conjecture that Jung was foreshadowing his own mortality.
Decoding ‘PIR.BG’:
Some readers noticed that when put upside down, “PIR.BG” looks like “GB.RIP” – a likely abbreviation for “Goodbye. Rest In Peace.” This interpretation has received tens of thousands of shares across social media platforms.
The post has since amassed over 50,000 comments from grieving fans. One wrote: “It was a signal, but no one noticed.” Prior to this post, Jung had also shared a photograph of a red moon with the caption: “Red moon. Whether hanging or hanging. It’s going to fall anyway.”
What Did Jung Eun-Woo’s Friends & Colleagues Say?
Nancy Lang (Pop Artist): Lang had commented “♥Ang!” on Jung’s Leslie Cheung post the day before his death. After learning of his passing, she returned to the post and wrote:
“Eun-woo! I just heard the news. I didn’t realize these photos were a signal the day before. My heart aches, and I feel sad and heavy. Why did you suffer so much? Rest in peace in heaven, Eun-woo. My deepest condolences.”
Byeon Gun-woo (Actor and Trainer): “Farewell, Eun-woo. You’ve worked hard. We worked out together, lived together, laughed, cried, and joked around. What was so urgent that you had to leave first? I hope you find happiness with your handsome face and great physique. You’ve done enough.”
So Jae-won (Novelist):Â “Eun-woo! My reply to your last message was too late. You must have wanted to talk about your struggles with me. What was I so busy with that I took so long to respond? Even though we lived so close, why was it so hard to meet? Amid regret, I’m finally on my way to see you.”
What Was Jung Eun-Woo’s Last Film?
Jung’s final film appearance was in Memory: Manipulated Murder, released in 2021. He did not appear in any film or drama productions after 2021. His last television role was a guest appearance in Welcome to Waikiki 2 in 2019.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
