Biography of Jun Ji-hyun
South Korean actress and model, Jun Ji-hyun, known as the Queen of the K-drama screen has had a whirlwind of a career. Popular by her English name, Gianna Jun rose to fame for her role in the romantic comedy film, ‘My Sassy Girl‘, which became a huge sensation worldwide.
Her notable works, include, ‘Assassination’, ‘My Love From the Star’, ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’, ‘Windstruck’, ‘The Thieves’, ‘The Berlin File’ and ‘Jirisan’ and Netflix series, ‘Kingdom’.
Ji-hyun received several awards, including the Baeksang Art Awards and the Grand Bell Awards.
Early Life and Education
Jun Ji-hyun was born in Seoul, South Korea. She spent her childhood with her elder brother and mother. After completing her schooling, she enrolled in her name at Dongguk University in 2004 and graduated in Theatre. From the same university, she mastered Digital Media and Content in 2011.
In her childhood, she dreamed of becoming a flight attendant, but when she grew a little older, seeing her height and slim figure, her mother and mother’s friend motivated her to be a model or an actress.
Career
At the age of 16 in 1997, Jun Ji-hyun began her career in the entertainment industry as a model for Ecole Magazine. Next year, she made her debut as an actress in the little-watched ‘White Valentine’.
She made her first well-publicized film appearance in late 2000 with the film, ‘Il Mare’ as Eun-joo. However, the film was not a commercial success.
Jun Ji-hyun’s breakthrough role came with the South Korean comedy film, ‘My Sassy Girl’ with Cha Tae-hyun in 2001.
Soon after the huge success of ‘My Sassy Girl’, she was given the title of the ‘Nation’s First Love’.
In 2003, Ji-hyun starred in the psychological thriller film, ‘The Uninvited’, with Park Shin-yang, directed by Lee Soo-yeon. Next year, Jun Ji-hyun appeared as a policewoman in a 2004 South Korean romantic drama, ‘Windstruck’, co-starring Jang Hyuk.
After three years, she made her Hollywood jump in a lead role in ‘Blood: The Last Vampire’. In order to achieve perfection in playing the sword-wielding martial arts heroine in the film, she went through three months of hard training. She adopted the Western name Gianna Jun during the promotion, prior to its release.
In 2008, she appeared in the South Korean film, ‘A Man Who Was Superman’, with Hwang Jung-min, directed by Jeong Yoon-chul. After two years, she played opposite Chinese actress Li Bingbing in the English-language film, ‘Snow Flower and the Secret Fan’, which was based on Lisa See’s bestselling novel of the same name, directed by Wayne Wang.
In 2010, Ji-hyun played a lead role in the 2009 action horror film, ‘Blood: The Last Vampire’ with Allison Miller, Liam Cunningham, Masiela Lusha, and Koyuki. Next year, she appeared in the historical drama film, ‘Snow Flower and the Secret Fan’, starring Archie Kao, Gianna Jun, Li Bingbing, Vivian Wu, Hugh Jackman and Archie Kao.
In 2012, she was cast in the South Korean heist action comedy film, ‘The Thieves’, with Kim Yoon-seok, Seo Young-joo, Kim Hye-soo and Lee Jung-jae. In the next year, she played the role of a wife and a translator at the North Korean embassy in Berlin in the South Korean action thriller film, ‘The Berlin File’ directed by Ryoo Seung-wan.
Jun Ji-hyun made her highly anticipated come back to television series, 14 years after the K-drama, ‘Happy Together’, she played a lead role in the 2013 South Korean fantasy romantic comedy television series, ‘My Love from the Star’, co-starring Kim Soo-hyun, Park Hae-jin, Yoo In-na, Shin Sung-rok, and Ahn Jae-hyun.
In 2015, Ji-hyun played a prominent role in the 2015 South Korean period action spy film, ‘Assassination’, directed by Choi Dong-hoon. It was a box office success film in the career of Ji-hyun.
She made her small-screen comeback in the fantasy romance drama, ‘The Legend of the Blue Sea’ in 2016, with Lee Min-ho. After four years, she made a short appearance in Netflix’s season two-period 2020 zombie thriller, ‘Kingdom’. Later she confirmed to repeat her lead role in the series sequel ‘Kingdom: Ashin of the North’, starring alongside Park Byung-eun.
Achievements
The South Korean actress and model Jun Ji-hyun, popular for her television and film roles has achieved reasonably well in her career so far. Some of her notable achievements are:-
- Ji-hyun was featured in a commercial for the Samsung My Jet Printer and became a popular sensation.
- Ji-hyun won the Grand Bell Award Popularity Award in 2002.
- Jun Ji-hyun launched her own luxury jeans brand in 2008 and named her first celebrity line, ‘Gianna by True Religion’.
- Jun Ji-hyun the Baeksang Arts Award for InStyle Best Style in 2014.
- Ji-hyun won the SBS Drama Award Idol Academy Award in 2016.
Endorsements
Actress Jun Ji-hyun is one of the most demanded endorsement celebrities in South Korea. She earns more than 60 billion won from advertising and endorsement fees. In 2020, she became the first Korean ambassador of Alexander McQueen.
After two years, she became the first South Korean female artist to become the Global Ambassador for British luxury fashion house Burberry. She became the first Brand Ambassador for American super-premium skincare brand La Mer in September 2023.
Personal Life
Jun Ji-hyun, popularly known by her English name Gianna Jun, married Choi Joon-hyuk on 13 April 2012 in a private ceremony with the blessings of their friends, celebrities and family at Shilla Hotel in Jangchung-dong, central Seoul. The couple’s first baby boy arrived on 10 February 2016 and gave birth to their second son on 26 January 2018.
Choi Joon-hyuk is a banker. Famous fashion designer Lee Jung-woo is his father and his grandfather Lee Young-hee is a popular hanbok designer.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Jun Ji-hyun is one of the highest-paid actresses in South Korea. The estimated net worth as of 2023 is around 28 million US dollars. Her major source of income comes from her acting projects, high-paying endorsements and collaborations and her earnings are predicted to grow in the coming years.
Philanthropy
The richest South Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun is active in the field of philanthropy as well. She donated 100 million won to the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster via the Korean Red Cross Society in 2014.
Through Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association, she donated 100 million won to help the COVID-19 pandemic victims in 2020. Also donated to the wildfire victims in Uljin, Gyeongbuk in 2022.
Awards
- 11th Max Movie Awards 2016
Best Actress – ‘Assassination’ (2016)
- 16th Korea World Youth Film Festival 2016
Favourite Actress- ‘Assassination’ (2016) - SBS Drama Awards 2016
Best Couple Award with Lee Min-ho – ‘The Legend of the Blue Sea’ (2016) - SBS Drama Awards 2016
Top 10 Stars Award – ‘The Legend of the Blue Sea’ (2016) - SBS Drama Awards 2016
Idol Academy Award – Best Eating (Meokbang) – ‘The Legend of the Blue Sea’ (2016) - 13th Sichuan Television Festival 2015
Best Actress – ‘My Love from the Star’ (2015) - 6th Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards 2015
President’s Award (2015)
- 52nd Grand Bell Awards 2015
Best Actress – ‘Assassination’ (2015) - 50th Baeksang Arts Awards 2014
Grand Prize (Daesang) for TV –
Interesting Facts about Jun Ji-hyun
- Jun Ji-hyun dreamed of becoming a flight attendant before his film debut.
- Ji-hyun made her acting debut in 1999.
- South Korean actress Ji-hyun is fluent in English.
- Jun Ji-hyun is a fashion icon.
- Jun Ji-hyun is a philanthropist.
- Ji-hyun is one of the highest-paid actresses in South Korea.
- Jun Ji-hyun became the first Korean star to appear on Vogue US.
- Ji-hyun is very sporty.
FAQs
- What is the Instagram ID of Jun Ji-hyun?
junjihyun.official - Does Jun Ji-hyun know English?
Ji-hyun is fluent in English. - What is the English name of Jun Ji-hyun?
Gianna Jun Rose is the English name of Jun Ji-hyun. - When did Jun Ji-hyun make his acting debut?
Jun Ji-hyun made his acting debut in 1999.
