Jung Woo made his acting debut in 2006, and began his career appearing in minor roles on film and television.

He drew attention in 2008 for his turn as a morally challenged but lovable villain in action film Spare, the directorial debut of Lee Seong-han.

[5] Jung Woo was praised for his performance, and won Best New Actor at the prestigious Grand Bell Awards in 2010.

[6] In 2013, Jung Woo played a supporting role as a baker who falls for a divorced single mother in the family drama You Are the Best!.

[7] His mainstream popularity further increased when he was cast as one of the main characters of Reply 1994, a cable drama about a group of young students from different regions in Korea living together in a boarding house while going to college in 1990s Seoul.