Park Ji-yoon (Korean: 박지윤; Hanja: 朴志胤; born January 3, 1982) is a South Korean singer, actress, and model. As a teen model, she gained wide exposure after starring in a Haitai biscuit commercial in 1994, and held a minor role in the television drama Dinosaur Teacher that same year. Her debut studio album, Skyblue Dream, was released in 1997. Park's early career under Taewon Entertainment saw the hit singles "Skyblue Dream", "Steal Away", "Precious Love" and "Don't Know Anything", and she was associated with a charming and fresh image.[1][2]
In 2000, Park signed with JYP Entertainment and released her fourth album, Coming-of-Age Ceremony. She attracted attention for her provocative transformation, and the album's lead single of the same name became a defining hit for her. She released two further albums with JYP before going on a six-year hiatus in 2003.
Career
After debuting as a commercial model at the age of 13, Park released her first studio album in 1997, titled Skyblue Dream. Her hit singles "Skyblue Dream" (Korean: 하늘색 꿈; RR: Haneulsaek Kkum) from her debut album, "Coming-of-Age Ceremony" (Korean: 성인식; RR: Seonginshik) from her fourth full-length album, and "I'm a Man" (Korean: 난 남자야; RR: Nan Namjaya) from Man, received a lot of love from fans.[3][4]
However, due to creative differences, Park left JYP Entertainment after her sixth studio album Woo~ Twenty One; she felt that instead of showing her true self as an artist, she was being controlled by producer Park Jin-young.[5] Park then took an extended break from singing and entered the film and musical fields.[6]
Six years later, Park returned with her seventh studio album, Flower, Again for the First Time. Leaving behind her sexy image from "Coming-of-Age Ceremony", Park attempted to put her experiences of being in her 20s into this album,[4] writing three of the songs on it[6] and having creative input in producing the album as well as providing her own photography for the album design.[7] She made her comeback with the song "In My Fading Memory" (Korean: 바래진 기억에; RR: Baraejin Kieoge) on MBC's Show! Music Core, and SBS's Inkigayo.[8] The song was written and produced by Kim Yong-rin from Dear Cloud.[9]
Park's eighth studio album, Tree of Life was released on February 16, 2012. Receiving positive reviews, Park collaborated again with Kim Yong-rin. She also worked with Mate's Jung Jun-il, and No Reply's Kwon Soon-kwan. Park wrote many tracks on this album; "At That Time" (Korean: 그땐; RR: Geuddaen), "Afternoon" (Korean: 오후; RR: Ohu), "The Road to You" (Korean: 너에게 가는 길; RR: Neoege Ganeun Gil), "Star" (Korean: 별; RR: Byeol), and "Quiet Dream".[10] As with her previous work, Park contributed artistically through the photography on Tree of Life, collaborating on the album art once again with her older sister, who is a graphic designer.[11] The song "The Road to You" was featured on the Korean trailer for the Hollywood movie, My Week with Marilyn starring Michelle Williams.[citation needed]
Park joined entertainment company Mystic89, and made her comeback in late October 2013. Her first digital singles released through Mystic89 is Mr., which was produced by Primary and "Witness", which was produced by Yoon Jong-shin.[12] Mystic89 and Park plan to release several mini albums, collaborating with top producers and writers. The music will be a varying blend of several genres.[13] Her new album was Mystic company was commercially successful. The title song ranked No. 1 on Korean music release chart such as Naver Music and Daum Music when it was released.[14]
After the minialbum with Mystic company, Park came back to her own "Park Ji Yoon Creative" to focus more on her career as a songwriter instead of as a dance singer. She released her ninth album "Park Ji Yoon 9" on March 2, 2017. The album contains ten songs, eight of them composed by herself. This album is more in line with her seventh and eighth album and uses classic instruments.
Personal life
Park graduated from Kyung Hee University with a BA in postmodern music in 2004.[15] She received an MA in popular arts from Kyung Hee University in 2010.[16]
Park married Kakao co-CEO Jo Su-yong in March 2019.[17]
Philanthropy
On September 6, 2022, Park donated ₩10 million to help those affected by the due to heavy rain and typhoon through The Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association.[18]
On October 26, 2022, Park donated 20 million worth of women's products through the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association.[19]
"—" denotes release did not chart. The Recording Industry Association of Korea album ranking was published from 1999 to 2008. The Gaon Music Chart was established in 2010.
"—" denotes release did not chart. The Recording Industry Association of Korea album ranking was published from 1999 to 2008. The Gaon Music Chart was established in 2010.
^"[연예]가수 박지윤 경희대 학부졸업생 대표로 학위 받아" [[Entertainment] Singer Park Ji-yoon receives a degree as a representative of Kyung Hee University's undergraduates]. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). August 22, 2004. Retrieved June 11, 2023 – via Naver News.
^"가수 박지윤ㆍ최유나 경희대 대학원 졸업" [Singers Park Ji-yoon and Choi Yoo-na graduate from Kung Hee University grad school]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). February 16, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2023 – via Naver News.
^Ahn, Eun-jae (September 6, 2022). "박지윤, 힌남노 태풍 피해 이재민 위해 성금 1000만원 기부" [Jiyoon Park donates 10 million won to victims of Hinnamno typhoon] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved September 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Myung-mi (October 27, 2022). "박지윤, 2천만원 상당 여성용품 기부 "중학생 아이 생일 맞아"[공식]" [Park Ji Yoon, 20 million won worth of feminine products donated "for a middle school child's birthday" [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved September 13, 2023 – via Naver.
^1999년 10월 가요음반판매량 [October 1999 Music Record Sales Volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. June 15, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
^2000년 가요 판매량 순위집계 [2000 Total Sales Ranking] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on March 16, 2005. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
^2002년 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2002 – Music Record Sales Volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on September 2, 2004. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
^2003년 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2003 – Music Record Sales Volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on July 17, 2004. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
^2012년 02월 Album Chart (국내_ [February 2012 Album Chart (Domestic)]. Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
^2014년 7월 Download Chart [July 2014 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
"2012년 24주차 Download Chart" [Week 24 of 2012 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 28, 2020.
^Park So-young (September 14, 2022). "조수용♥' 박지윤, 카톡 대신 책 읽는 삶..남편 없이 떠난 오두막" [Jo Soo-yong ♥' Park Ji-yoon, reading a book instead of Kakao Talk... A cabin left without a husband] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved September 14, 2022 – via Naver.
^"제17회 골든디스크상 대상에 그룹 쿨" [Cool wins 17th Golden Disc Awards grand prize]. SBS News (in Korean). December 14, 2002. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
^"KBS '올해의 가수상' 20팀 결정" [KBS selects 20 artists for 'Singer of the Year Award']. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). December 3, 1999. Retrieved June 11, 2023 – via Naver News.
^"연말 가요대상 천편일률..'폐지론' 대두" [Rise of calls to 'abolish' one-size-fits-all year-end music awards]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). December 27, 2002. Retrieved June 11, 2023 – via Naver News.
^"연예예술대상에 원로가수 현인" [Veteran singer Hyeon In wins at Korean Entertainment Arts Awards]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). March 12, 1999. Retrieved June 11, 2023 – via Naver News.
^"SBS 올해의 10대가수 선정" [SBS's Top 10 Singers of the Year Award]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). December 18, 2000. Retrieved June 11, 2023 – via Naver News.