Ok Taecyeon

Ok Taec-yeon, known mononymously as Taecyeon, is a South Korean rapper, singer, actor, and entrepreneur. Born in Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea, he emigrated with his family at age 10 to Boston, Massachusetts, where he lived for seven years and attended Bedford High School. After returning to Korea, he studied at Young Dong High School, earned a degree in Business Administration from Dankook University, and studied International Business at Korea University Graduate School of International Studies. In 2005, he auditioned for JYP Entertainment in New York City, which led to him competing on the show Superstar Survival and eventually signing a trainee contract.

In 2008, Ok participated in Mnet's Hot Blooded Men, culminating in his debut as a rapper for the South Korean boy band 2PM. The group achieved mainstream success following the release of their second single album, 2:00PM Time For Change. As a member of 2PM, Ok has written and composed multiple tracks for the group, including the title track Promise (I'll Be). Over his career with 2PM, the group released several studio albums in both Korea and Japan.

Ok made his acting debut in the 2010 Korean drama Cinderella's Stepsister and earned further recognition in the high school drama Dream High in 2011. He subsequently expanded into Japanese television with Boku to Star no 99 Nichi and made his film debut in the 2013 romantic comedy Marriage Blue, for which he also composed music. His early television roles spanned various genres, including Who Are You?, Wonderful Days, Assembly, Bring It On, Ghost, and Save Me, as well as the mystery-thriller film House of the Disappeared.

Following his military service, Ok continued his acting career with prominent roles in television and film. He starred as an antagonist in the high-rated 2021 drama Vincenzo and took on historical roles in Secret Royal Inspector & Joy and the war film Hansan: Rising Dragon. He later appeared in Heartbeat, made an American cameo in XO, Kitty, and made his Japanese film debut in La Grande Maison Paris. In 2025, he starred in The First Night with the Duke, winning an Excellence in Acting Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries at the 2025 KBS Drama Awards.

Beyond acting and group activities, Ok has pursued solo music and business ventures. In 2017, he released his debut Japanese solo album Taecyeon Special: Winter Hitori and held solo concerts. He also created the green cat character OKCAT in 2013, launching a product line and hosting annual fan meetings centered around the brand. Additionally, he hosted music programs like Inkigayo, appeared in variety programs such as Family Outing 2, We Got Married, and Three Meals a Day, and conducted multiple Asian fan meeting tours.

In September 2017, Ok enlisted in active-duty military service after voluntarily relinquishing his American permanent residence visa and undergoing multiple surgeries to qualify for active duty. During his service, he served as a military instruction assistant, participated in 2018 Winter Olympics events, and was recognized as a Special Class Warrior and Model Soldier before his discharge in May 2019. In his personal life, Ok married his non-celebrity partner of ten years in April 2026.