Jo Bo-ah is a South Korean actress who has quietly grown from a hopeful newcomer into one of the most dependable leading ladies of Korean television.
She was born on August 22, 1991 (34 years old) in Seongnae-dong, Seoul, South Korea.
She works mainly in television dramas and has also built a warm reputation through variety shows and hosting stages.
Jo made her acting debut in 2011 with a small part in the sitcom I Live in Cheongdam-dong. She found her first real breakthrough a year later as a rich girl who falls for a rocker in Shut Up Flower Boy Band (2012).
Her name became truly familiar with the fantasy hit Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020), followed by Military Prosecutor Doberman (2022) and Destined With You (2023).
Along the way, she picked up honours such as the Best New Actress award at the 2016 MBC Drama Awards and the Best Couple prize at the 2020 KBS Drama Awards.
Quick Facts of Jo Bo-ah
| Full Name | Jo Bo-ah (Cho Bo-ah) |
| Birth Name | Jo Bo-yoon |
| Profession | Actress |
| Age | 34 years old |
| Date of Birth | August 22, 1991 |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Leo |
| Birthplace | Seongnae-dong, Seoul, South Korea |
| Current Address | Seoul, South Korea |
| Gender | Female |
Jo Bo-ah Early Life and Education
Jo Bo-ah was born as Jo Bo-yoon in Seongnae-dong, Gangdong District, Seoul. Her mother gave birth in Seoul, but the family soon moved to Daejeon, where Jo actually grew up in the Noeun-dong area of Yuseong District.
Jo belongs to the Changnyeong Jo clan.
Education
Jo attended Daejeon Banseok High School in her hometown. She was a strong, ambitious student who first dreamed of becoming a flight attendant.
With that goal in mind, she enrolled in the Aviation Tourism department at Hanseo University and even took part in an Asiana Airlines cabin crew experience programme.
Her plans changed when acting caught her heart. In 2012, she transferred to Sungkyunkwan University to major in Performing Arts, the path that shaped her career.
| School | Daejeon Banseok High School |
| Alma Mater | Sungkyunkwan University |
| Highest Qualification | Graduate (Performing Arts) |
Jo Bo-ah Personal Life
Jo Bo-ah has long been known for keeping her private life away from the spotlight, choosing to let her work speak for her.
That quiet approach continued even into the biggest personal chapter of her life.
Husband
Jo Bo-ah is married to a non-celebrity partner whose identity has been kept private out of respect for him and both families. They tied the knot on October 12, 2024, at the Aston House of the Grand Walkerhill Hotel in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.
Her agency shared that the couple had built deep trust and affection over a long time before deciding to marry. The intimate ceremony was attended by close friends and colleagues, including Kim Soo-hyun, Chae Si-ra, and her variety show co-stars Baek Jong-won and Kim Sung-joo.
She had earlier spoken about wanting to marry in her early thirties and start a family, a wish she went on to fulfil.
Children
On February 20, 2026, Jo Bo-ah gave birth to a baby boy, her first child. Her agency confirmed that both mother and baby were healthy and resting with the family.
Previous Relationship
Before her marriage, Jo dated actor On Joo-wan. The two met on the set of the 2014 drama The Idle Mermaid, also known as Surplus Princess, and their agencies confirmed the relationship in March 2015.
After nearly two years together, they were reported to have parted ways in January 2017, with both sides saying they had naturally grown apart.
Parents
Jo Bo-ah frequently talks about her upbringing in a loving and close-knit family. She credits her parents for helping her develop the warm, grounded image she has today. She has kept their names out of the public eye.
Father
Her father’s name is Jo Dae-seong. He is a dentist who runs a well-known practice in Daejeon. He is respected locally as a devoted, easy-going doctor who focuses on his patients, and he famously keeps no photos or signs of his celebrity daughter in his clinic to avoid trading on her fame.
Interestingly, though he is a dentist, he chose not to give Jo braces as a child because he did not want to alter her natural face shape, a decision fans link to her “natural beauty” reputation.
Mother
Her mother is a homemaker whose youthful photos, once shown on Baek Jong-won’s Alley Restaurant, revealed a striking resemblance to Jo. Many viewers felt this proved that the actress inherited her looks from her mother. Her name is yet to be updated.
Siblings
Jo Bo-ah is the elder of two daughters and has one younger sister, Jo Yoo-ah, who is four years her junior. Jo has spoken warmly about the strong bond and unity in her all-daughter household.
Her sister is not a public figure, so further details about her are yet to be updated.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Husband | Yet to be updated (Non-celebrity partner) |
| Children | One son |
| Parents | Father: Jo Dae-seong Mother: Yet to be updated |
| Siblings | Sister: Jo Yoo-ah |
Jo Bo-ah Career
Jo Bo-ah has spent well over a decade in Korean entertainment, moving steadily from bright supporting roles to full leading-lady status across television, film, and variety.
Debut and Early Roles (2011 to 2013)
Jo made her screen debut in 2011 with a small part in the JTBC daily sitcom I Live in Cheongdam-dong. She soon hosted the audition programme Made in U and appeared in the Korean-Japanese production Koisuru Maison Rainbow Rose.
Her first major role came in 2012 with tvN’s coming-of-age series Shut Up Flower Boy Band, where she played a former rich girl alongside Sung Joon and L (Kim Myung-soo). Later that year she took a supporting part in the MBC period drama The King’s Doctor.
In 2013, she and Kim Woo-bin hosted Mnet’s music show M Countdown for two weeks.
Film Debut and Leading Turns (2014 to 2015)
Jo stepped into film in 2014 with the thriller Innocent Thing, playing an obsessive student opposite Jang Hyuk. The same year, she led the fantasy romantic comedy The Idle Mermaid with Song Jae-rim and On Joo-wan.
In 2015, she tried the crime genre with the OCN drama Missing Noir M, sharing the screen with Kim Kang-woo and Park Hee-soon. She then joined the ensemble of the KBS weekend family drama All About My Mom, working with Choi Tae-joon, and starred in the web series Love Cells 2.
Building a Name (2016 to 2017)
In 2016, Jo starred in the revenge melodrama Monster with Kang Ji-hwan and Sung Yu-ri, and the romantic comedy Sweet Stranger and Me opposite Kim Young-kwang.
In 2017, she led the romance drama Temperature of Love with Seo Hyun-jin, Yang Se-jong, and Kim Jae-wook. She also featured in the KBS drama special Let Us Meet, Joo-oh with Son Ho-jun.
Breakout Years (2018 to 2020)
In 2018, Jo starred in the MBC weekend drama Goodbye to Goodbye, playing a young single mother. The same year she headlined the SBS romantic comedy My Strange Hero opposite Yoo Seung-ho and Kwak Dong-yeon.
In 2020, she played a doctor in the KBS romance drama Forest alongside Park Hae-jin. Later that year came her biggest hit, the tvN fantasy Tale of the Nine Tailed, where she played producer Nam Ji-ah with Lee Dong-wook and Kim Bum.
Established Leading Lady (2022 to 2024)
In 2022, Jo led the tvN legal drama Military Prosecutor Doberman as prosecutor Cha Woo-in, sharing the screen with Ahn Bo-hyun, Oh Yeon-soo, and Kim Woo-seok.
In 2023, she starred in Destined With You with Rowoon, Ha Joon, and Yura, and made a cameo in Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938. In 2024, she joined the travel variety show Europe Outside the Tent 4.
Recent Work (2025 to 2026)
In 2025, Jo returned to historical drama for the first time in years with Netflix’s mystery period series Dear Hongrang, playing Jae-yi opposite Lee Jae-wook. She also made a cameo in the tvN series The Divorce Insurance.
Her upcoming project is the Disney+ black comedy series Knock-Off, in which she stars opposite Kim Soo-hyun.
Jo Bo-ah Awards and Achievements
Jo Bo-ah has earned steady recognition across the major Korean broadcast awards, with wins spread over KBS, MBC, and other ceremonies. Her honours reflect both jury praise for her acting and strong public affection through popularity awards.
Her Major Wins
- Grimae Awards (2015): Won Best New Actress for All About My Mom (2015).
- KBS Drama Awards (2015): Won Popularity Award, Actress, for All About My Mom (2015).
- MBC Drama Awards (2016): Won Best New Actress for Monster (2016).
- APAN Star Awards (2018): Won Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama, for Goodbye to Goodbye (2018).
- MBC Drama Awards (2018): Won Excellence Award, Actress in a Weekend Drama, for Goodbye to Goodbye (2018).
- The Seoul Awards (2018): Won Best New Actress (Drama) for Goodbye to Goodbye (2018).
- SBS Entertainment Awards (2017): Won Best Challenge Award for Law of the Jungle (2017).
- SBS Entertainment Awards (2018): Won Excellence Award in the Variety Category for Baek Jong-won’s Alley Restaurant (2018).
- KBS Drama Awards (2020): Won Best Couple Award with Park Hae-jin for Forest (2020).
- KBS Drama Awards (2020): Won Netizen Award, Actress, for Forest (2020).
Her Key Nominations
- KBS Drama Awards (2016): Nominated for Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries, for Sweet Stranger and Me (2016).
- SBS Drama Awards (2017): Nominated for Best New Actress and Excellence Award for Temperature of Love (2017).
- SBS Drama Awards (2019): Nominated for Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries, for My Strange Hero (2018).
- APAN Star Awards (2021): Nominated for Popular Star Award, Actress, for Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020).
Other Recognitions
- Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 (2019): Ranked 29th on the list.
- National Tax Service (2022): Received a Presidential Commendation as an exemplary taxpayer.
Jo Bo-ah Controversies
Jo Bo-ah has largely maintained a clean and drama-free public image throughout her career. No major personal controversies have been confirmed by reliable sources.
Pre-marital pregnancy rumours (2024): When Jo suddenly announced her wedding in August 2024, some online users speculated about a pre-marital pregnancy. Her agency firmly denied the talk and clarified that she planned to continue acting after marriage.
Jo Bo-ah Net Worth
Jo Bo-ah’s net worth has not been officially declared by her or her agency. Because of this, most figures online are estimates.
Her net worth is estimated to be in the range of around $1 million to $5 million (approx. ₹8 crore to ₹42 crore). Her main income comes from acting, hosting, and brand endorsements.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $1 million to $5 million (approx. ₹8 crore to ₹42 crore) |
| Salary (Approx.) | Yet to be updated |
Jo Bo-ah Height, Weight and Physical Stats
| Height | In centimetres: 165 cm In meters: 1.65 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 5 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 49 kg In lbs: 108 lbs |
| Body Measurements | 32-25-35 inches |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
Jo Bo-ah Social media
 @xxadoraa |
Interesting Facts about Jo Bo-ah
- Her birth name is Jo Bo-yoon, and she performs under the stage name Jo Bo-ah.
- Before acting, she once considered a career in the airline field and had a brush with a flight attendant training experience before switching to performing arts.
- In 2020, she was appointed an Honorary Firefighter by South Korea’s National Fire Agency.
- She built a loving and friendly public image through variety shows, especially as a co-host on Baek Jong-won’s Alley Restaurant.
- Her wedding was held at the same Grand Walkerhill venue that hosted the weddings of stars like Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin.
- She lent her presence to music videos too, appearing in visuals for songs by BtoB and Chungha.
FAQs
How old is Jo Bo-ah?
She is 34 years old. She was born on August 22, 1991, in Seongnae-dong, Seoul, South Korea.
What is Jo Bo-ah famous for?
She is best known for K-dramas like Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020), Military Prosecutor Doberman (2022), Destined With You (2023), and Dear Hongrang (2025).
Who is Jo Bo-ah married to?
She is married to a non-celebrity partner. They wed on October 12, 2024, in a private ceremony in Seoul.
Does Jo Bo-ah have children?
Yes. She gave birth to her first child, a baby boy, on February 20, 2026.
Who did Jo Bo-ah date before marriage?
She dated actor On Joo-wan from 2015 to 2017 after meeting on the set of The Idle Mermaid.
What is Jo Bo-ah education?
She graduated from Sungkyunkwan University, where she majored in Performing Arts.
What is Jo Bo-ah next project?
She is set to star opposite Kim Soo-hyun in the Disney+ black comedy series Knock-Off.
