Uhm Jung-hwa

This is a Korean name; the family name is Uhm.
Uhm Jung-hwa
Background information
Born (1969-08-17) August 17, 1969
Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea
Origin South Korea
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active 1993–present
Labels
Website ilovejunghwa.com
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised Romanization Eom Jeong-hwa
McCune–Reischauer Ŏm Chŏnghwa

Uhm Jung-hwa (Hangul: 엄정화; Hanja: 嚴正化; born August 17, 1969) is a South Korean actress, singer, and lingerie designer. Uhm began her career as a chorus member of MBC, one of the three major South Korean broadcasting companies, from 1987 until 1990. She made her film debut in a 1991 to 1994 film Marriage Story, and released her first studio album Sorrowful Secret the same year.

Considered to be one of the most influential women and the evergreen in the Korean entertainment industry, many of Korean female artists recognise her as their role model.[1]

Biography

Early life

Uhm was born in Jecheon, North Chungcheong, South Korea. She is the second child of Yoo Gyeong-sook and Uhm Jin-ok, a music teacher who died in a motorcycle accident when she was six. Her younger and only brother Uhm Tae-woong is an actor. Following her father's death, her family struggled with financial difficulties.[2]

Music career

1990s

Uhm Jung-hwa officially debuted as a singer in 1993 with her first studio album Sorrowful Secret. By the mid-90s she established herself as one of the top Korean female singers and entertainers, with a series of hit singles: "Sad Expectation" (Hangul: 슬픈 기대; RR: Seulpeun Gidae), "A Love Only Heaven Permits" (Hangul: 하늘만 허락한 사랑; RR: Haneulman Heorakan Sarang), "Rose of Betrayal" (Hangul: 배반의 장미; RR: Baeban-ui Jangmi), and "Tell Me" (Hangul: 말해 줘; RR: Malhae Jwo).

Uhm's fourth studio album, Invitation, introduced a new mature side of the singer. The music video for its title track caused a lot of controversy due to its suggestive nature. Invitation quickly became one of the highest selling albums of the year and received positive reviews from critics and fans.

She released two of her most recognizable singles of her career, "Poison" and "Invitation" (Hangul: 초대; RR: Chodae). She remained successful the following year, in 1999, with her fifth studio album 005.1999.06

2000s–present

During the 2000s, Uhm Jung-hwa began to focus more on her acting career and committed herself to taking a variety of acting roles. She also began to pursue and experiment with different musical genres, in particular electronica. In 2004, she released her double album Self Control, which featured songs composed by Jung Jae-hyung, Fractal and Roller Coaster. Music critics praised Uhm for her ability to reinvent her image and sound.

After a two-year break from the music scene, she released her ninth studio album Prestige. Throughout the year she released two singles, "Come 2 Me" and "Song of the Wind" (Hangul: 바람의 노래; RR: Baram-ui Norae), each enjoyed positive critical reception. In early 2007, she won a Korean Music Award for Best Electronic Dance Record.

In the summer of 2008, she released her first EP titled D.I.S.C.O with help from her longtime friend Yang Hyun-suk of YG Entertainment. The lead single "D.I.S.C.O" featured T.O.P, a member from the popular boy band Big Bang. The EP was one of the best-selling albums by a female artist in 2008, and was further promoted by the digital single "D.I.S.C.O Part 2" which was a remix version of "D.I.S.C.O" and featured G-Dragon, the leader of Big Bang.

Acting career

Uhm Jung-hwa has established herself as one of South Korea's top actresses. She is known for her roles in the films Marriage Is a Crazy Thing, Singles, Princess Aurora, Dancing Queen and Haeundae, which became one of the highest-grossing movies in Korea. She has won two Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Actress, in 2002 for Marriage Is a Crazy Thing and again in 2012 for Dancing Queen.

Fashion line

Uhm launched her new clothing and lingerie line, "Corner Suite" and "ZHUM in New York", which made $10M USD within 3 months of its release. "Corner Suite" became an instant hit when the line debuted on online markets. The line immediately sold out. Future plans include putting her line of clothes on more home shopping channels, as the demand for it is great.[3]

Health

Uhm Jung-hwa was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but fully recovered after surgery in May 2010.[4] Uhm said she felt a little afraid leading up to the surgery, but rather than being discouraged by the pain she was experiencing, she made up her mind to dedicate herself to helping others by inspiring them. "I want to use my talent and influence in a meaningful way," she said.[5]

Discography

Studio albums

  • Sorrowful Secret (1993)
  • Uhm Jung Hwa 2 (1995)
  • Afterlove (1997)
  • Invitation (1998)
  • 005.1999.06 (1999)
  • Queen of Charisma (2000)
  • Hwa (2001)
  • Self Control (2004)
  • Prestige (2006)

Extended plays

  • D.I.S.C.O (2008)

Compilations

  • Best... My Songs (1998)
  • All Details (1999)

Digital singles

  • "tvN Remix Version" (2006)
  • "Come 2 Me New Remix" (2006)
  • "D.I.S.C.O Part 2" (2008)

Filmography

Television series

1990s

  • "Yoon Sa-rang" (1990)
  • "The Wild" (1992)
  • Good Morning Youngdong (1993)
  • Sisters (1993)
  • "The rich people also cry" (1994)
  • Police (1994)
  • Close One Eye (1994)
  • Mystery Melodrama (1994)
  • Human Theater (1995)
  • Angel Inside the Mask (1995)
  • Remember to Love (1995)
  • Intimacy Between Father and Son (1996)
  • "Seol Yu-ri" (1997)
  • Star (1997)
  • Beautiful Sin (1997)

2000s

2010s

Variety show

Running man eps 146 guest with Kim Sang-kyung

Films

1990s

  • Marriage Story (1993)
  • On a Windy Day We Must Go to Apgujeong (1993)
  • Blue Seagull (1994)
  • How to Top My Wife (1994)

2000s

2010s

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
1995 16th Blue Dragon Film Award Best Supporting Actress "How to Top My Wife" Nominated
2003 39th Paeksang Arts Awards Best Actress "Marriage is a Crazy Thing" Won
2006 27th Blue Dragon Film Award Best Actress "For Horowitz" Nominated
2009 46th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actress "Tidal Wave/Haeundae" Nominated
2012 48th Paeksang Arts Awards Best Actress "Dancing Queen" Won
33rd Blue Dragon Film Award Best Actress "Dancing Queen" Nominated
2013 50th Grand Bell Awards Best Actress "Montage" Won
34th Blue Dragon Film Award Best Actress "Montage" Nominated

Mnet Asian Music Awards

Year Category Work Result
1999 Best Female Solo "I Don't Know"
(005.1999.06)[6][7]
Won
Best Dance Performance Nominated
2000 Best Female Artist "Cross"[8]Nominated
2001 "Crack" (틈)[9]Nominated
2008 Best House & Electronic "Disco" ft. T.O.P[10] Nominated
Best Female Artist Nominated
Best Music Video Nominated

Golden Disk Awards

Year Category Work Result
1998 Bonsang Awardee (Song Division) "Poison" Won
1999 "I Don't Know" Won
2000 "Escape" Won

References

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