Jung Jae-il

Biography:

Jung Jae-il ( born May 7, 1982) is a South Korean composer known for his work on acclaimed productions. He composed the score for Parasite (2019), the Academy Award-winning film directed by Bong Joon-ho, as well as the television series Squid Game, for which he received a nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music at the 74th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Jung began playing the piano at the age of three, picked up the guitar at nine, and by 13, he was already seeking band members through an ad in Hot Music magazine, expressing his interest in forming a group influenced by the British heavy metal band Carcass. He later studied at Seoul Jazz Academy.

His music career began in November 1999 as the bassist for the band Gigs, alongside Jung Won-yong, vocalist Lee Juck, and guitarist Han Sang-won. He released his debut solo album, Tear Flower (눈물꽃), in 2003. In 2007, he also contributed to the second album of the band Puri.

Jung enlisted for military service around 2012 or 2013, at the age of 30. In April 2018, he performed on the piano during the inter-Korean summit.

In 2021, he won the Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Score in a TV Show for Squid Game.