The second of three children, Jung Ryeo-won was born in 1981, and emigrated to Brisbane, Australia in 1992 with her family. She encountered discrimination in grade school, which made her determined to become fluent in English. By junior high school, she had adapted to the Australian way of life. After attending MacGregor State High School, she graduated from Griffith University with a major in international business.[2]
Career
2000–2004: Debut with Chakra
While she was an exchange student at Korea University from Griffith University in the 2000s, Jung was discovered on the streets of Apgujeong by Lee Sang-min, thereby changing her life and career path. She was placed in the K-popgirl groupChakra, along with Eeni, Eun and Hwangbo; their first album was released in 2000. Jung's morale was at a low in 2002, saying she sometimes felt alienated from her fellow Koreans, and was uncomfortable with the sexy clothes she was made to wear as a singer.[2][3]
2005–2012: Transitioning to acting
Chakra disbanded in 2004, and Jung pursued acting full-time.[4] After undergoing 11 unsuccessful auditions that year, she said she began doubting her decision to become an actress. In 2005, she gained recognition in the cult vampire sitcomHello Franceska,[5] then made her breakthrough in the romantic comedy My Name Is Kim Sam-soon.[6] The series was a massive success with average ratings of over 37%, and 50.5% for the finale.[7][8] Jung was praised for her portrayal of a fragile but good-natured character who fights for the hero's love,[3] and eventually became one of the few successful singer-turned-actresses in the country.[9]
Both her 2011 big screen projects had elements of romance. She played a teacher in a small South Korean village who meets a North Korean officer in the Korean War comedy/drama In Love and War,[22][23] and in Kwak Kyung-taek's melodrama Pained, she played a hemophiliac who falls for her opposite, a man with analgesia, the inability to sense physical pain.[24]
Jung began 2012 by starring as the heroine in quirky series History of a Salaryman.[25][26] Playing one of the most unusual female characters in Korean drama history, she delivered a fun, no-holds-barred performance as a red-haired, constantly swearing, selfish, reckless rich snob, but injected heart and raw emotion into a character that could've otherwise been very unlikable. Critics and audiences were impressed with her performance, and her series nabbed the top spot on the Monday and Tuesday primetime ratings lineup while she later won a Top Excellence Award at the SBS Drama Awards.[27][28][29]
She then starred in Never Ending Story, a romantic comedy about two people diagnosed with terminal illness who decide to spend their remaining time together preparing for death.[30][31] In June 2012, Jung's contract with Won Entertainment expired and she signed with Bae Yong-joon's agency, KeyEast.[32][33] Later that year, she played an idealistic screenwriter in The King of Dramas.[34][35]
2013–2017: Acting setback
In January 2013, Jung unveiled her official website, through which she hopes to connect with her fans. Messages from the actress are uploaded in the "From rw" section.[36] She then reunited with Pained costar Kwon Sang-woo in the medical dramaMedical Top Team, playing a charismatic and ambitious thoracic surgeon.[37]
Jung next played an impatient and careless radio producer in the cable series Bubble Gum in 2015; she and co-star Lee Dong-wook previously appeared together in the 2003 sitcom Do the Right Thing.[38] In 2017, she starred in the legal procedural drama, Witch at Court, playing a highly ambitious prosecutor who speaks her mind and is known for her aggressive investigation tactics.[39] For her portrayal, she received the Top Excellence Award at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards.[citation needed]
2018–present: Return to television and continued work
In 2018, Jung starred in the black comedy film Gate.[40] She then starred in the SBS' gastronomy drama Wok of Love.[41]
In September 2020, Jung's contract with KeyEast expired. She subsequently signed with H & Entertainment.[43] In July 2022, Jung renewed her contract with H & Entertainment.[44]
Other activities
Art
Jung published Ryeo-won's Sketchbook in 2007, which contained her drawings and writings about her Christian faith.[45] Though she hasn't received formal instruction in fine arts, Jung likes to express herself through drawing in her spare time. Two of her artwork pieces were sold at a charity auction in 2012.[46]
Hosting
In March 2014, Jung began hosting Art Star Korea on cable channel StoryOn, an audition program/reality show featuring contemporary artists.[47][48] She also participated in the program '살아보니 어때'.
Philanthropy
On February 10, 2023, Jung donated 50 million won to help 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, by donating money through World Vision.[49]
^Jung Han-byul (July 12, 2022). "정려원, 10년 동행 H&엔터와 재계약...하반기 열일 예고" [Ryeo-Won Jung renews contract with H&Enter for 10 years... 2nd half day notice] (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang, Seo-jeong (February 10, 2023). "1억 기부" MC몽·NCT 도영, 튀르키예·시리아 지진피해 도움 손길..3일째 기부행렬[Oh!쎈 이슈]" ["Donation of 100 million" MC Mong, NCT Doyoung, helping the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria... Day 3 of the donation procession [Oh!sen issue]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023 – via Naver.
^Park Jung-min (December 23, 2021). "정려원 측 "'하얀 차를 탄 여자' 출연 긍정 검토 중" [공식]" [Jung Ryeo-won's side "Considering positive review for 'Woman in a White Car'" [Official]] (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via Newsen.
^Kim Hyun-sook (July 15, 2022). "정려원, '하얀 차를 탄 여자' 2022 BIFAN 배우상 수상" [Jung Ryeo-won, 'Woman in a White Car' wins the 2022 BIFAN Actor Award] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022 – via Naver.
^Moon Ji-yeon (October 19, 2023). "[공식] 정려원·위하준 '사제 커플' 탄생..안판석 감독 신작 '졸업' 호흡" [[Official] Jeong Ryeo-won and Wi Ha-joon's 'priest couple' born...Director Ahn Pan-seok's new film 'Graduation'] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on November 26, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee Yu-na (May 17, 2022). "정려원 측 " '부부가 둘다 놀고 있습니다' 제안 받고 검토중" (공식)" [Jung Ryeo-won's side "We are considering 'The couple are playing' proposal" (Official)] (in Korean). YTN. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Ye-eun (May 17, 2022). "[단독] 정려원, 드라마화 '부부가 둘다 놀고 있습니다' 주인공" [[Exclusive] Jung Ryeo-won, the main character of the drama 'The couple are playing'] (in Korean). xportsnews. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Seung-mi (December 3, 2021). "[공식]정려원X이규형, 드라마 '변론을 시작하겠습니다'로 호흡...OTT 편성 논의中" [[Official] Ryeo-Won Jeong X Kyu-Hyeong Lee, breathing through the drama 'I'll Start Arguing'... OTT program under discussion] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021 – via Naver.
^Choi Yun-na (August 17, 2022). "정려원X이규형X정진영 '변론을 시작하겠습니다', 디즈니+ 공개 확정[공식]" [Ryeo-Won Jung X Kyu-Hyeong Lee X Jin-Young Jung 'I'll Start Arguing', Disney+ Release Confirmed [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Naver.
^정려원의 스케치북. Dreamhy (in Korean). January 25, 2012. Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
^정려원, '영어 수상소감' 눈길. Stoo.com (in Korean). October 5, 2008. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
^걸리시 정려원, 패션 아이콘 다워~. Newsen (in Korean). October 30, 2008. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
^제48회 백상예술대상 4월 26일 개최...최고의 별 가린다. IS Plus (in Korean). March 27, 2012. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Kim, Soo-hyung (January 1, 2019). "베스트커플→대상" 감우성♥김선아, 노련美로 완성한 '무진커플'의 위력 [2018 SBS 연기대상]" [Best Couple → Daesang" Gam Woo-sung ♥ Kim Seon-ah, the power of 'Mujin Couple' completed with expert beauty [2018 SBS Drama Awards]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Mi-hwa (July 15, 2022). "정려원, '하얀차를 탄 여자'로 2022 BIFAN 배우상 수상 쾌거" [Ryeo-Won Jung won the 2022 BIFAN Actor Award for 'Woman in a White Car']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
^Jeong Seung-min (June 26, 2023). "'제2회 청룡시리즈어워즈' 후보 선정...더 글로리-SNL 코리아3 강세" [Selected as a candidate for the '2nd Blue Dragon Series Awards'...The Glory-SNL Korea 3 strong]. MHN Sports (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
External links
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