Biography of Youn Yuh-jung
Youn Yuh-jung is a senior South Korean actress. She was born on 19 June 1947, in Gyeonggi, a North Korean province. Her family settled in South Korea during the time of retreat. She has been in the entertainment industry for the past five decades and has made significant contributions. The efforts that she put into her work made her eligible for the Academy Award, the Independent Spirit Award, the British Academy Film Award, and many other prestigious awards.
Her famous works are ‘Woman of Fire’ (1971), ‘The Housemaid’ (2010), ‘The Taste of Money’ (2012), ‘Canola’ (2016), ‘My Husband Got a Family’ (2012), ‘Dear My Friends’ (2016), ‘Minari‘ (2020), and ‘Pachinko’ (2022).
Early Life and Education
Youn Yuh-jung was born in a North Korean province called Gyeonggi. She has two younger siblings. She lost her father when she was young, and later, in the backdrop of the Korean War, her family moved to South Korea.
After arriving in South Korea, she joined Changsin Elementary School. In 1966, she graduated from Ewha Girl’s High School in Seoul. While attending Hanyang University, she passed the open audition conducted by TBC. Later, she dropped her major course in Korean Language and Literature to pursue her acting caree.
Career
Youn Yuh-jung was seen in the drama series ‘Mister Gom’ released in 1967, one year after her audition. After appearing in the femme fatale movie ‘Woman of Fire’ and in the drama ‘Jang Hui-bin’, her figure as an actress rose to fame.
Without any delay, Yuh-jung proved she could do any role given to her. In collaboration with the South Korean experimental director Kim Ki-young, she appeared in strong female roles in movies like ‘The Insect Woman’ (1972) and ‘Be a Wicked Woman’ (1990). Also, she portrayed a strong female role in the drama ‘Stepmother’ (1972).
She took a break during the golden days of her career to marry Jo Young-nam in 1974. Jo Young-nam was a singer, songwriter, and television personality. After their marriage, the couple settled in the United States. However, the marriage life with Young-nam was short-lived, and they got divorced in 1987.
Determined to pursue her career as an actress, she made her strong comeback through the 2003 film ‘A Good Lawyer’s Wife’. Later, she appeared in the mockumentary ‘Actresses’, released in 2009.
She became active in the film industry again and played crucial roles in several movies and dramas. In 2010, she played the role of Byeong-sik in the TV series ‘The Housemaid’. Among the many astounding performances of Yuh-jung, her role as a chaebol in ‘The Taste of Money’ was highly appreciated. It was an erotic thriller film released in 2012.
The next year, she appeared in a contradictory role to that of a chaebol. In the 2013 movie ‘Boomerang Family’, she appeared as a loving mother of three children. Her image as an actress gained positive acclamation after her appearance in the variety show ‘Sisters Over Flowers’.
In 2015, she was seen in the movie ‘Salut d’Amour’, and in 2016, she starred in Canola as a female driver.
Later, in 2020, she appeared in the movie ‘Minari‘ as a grandmother. ‘Minari‘ is an American movie that tells the story of a Korean-American family. For portraying the role of the grandmother, she received critical acclamation around the world. In addition, she received numerous awards, including the Academy Award, for her excellent performance.
Hosting a retrospective of five of her movies, the Film at Lincoln Center honored her in 2021. According to the 2021 estimate of the American magazine TIME, she was one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Achievements
Youn Yuh-jung’s achievements include a handful of prestigious awards ranging from Best Actress to Best Supporting Actress. She won the 93rd Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and received the Order of Cultural Merit from the President for promoting the culture of South Korea.
Personal Life
Youn Yuh-jung is an influential actress. With her life, she proved her strength as an actress and a single mother. She took a break after marrying Jo Young-nam and gave birth to two sons. However, the couple got divorced, and she took on the responsibility of raising her children. Later, she established herself as a powerful South Korean actress.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Youn Yuh-jung’s major source of income comes from her prominent acting career, and her estimated net worth ranges from $3 million to $5 million. Nonetheless, she leads a modest life.
Awards
- Academy Awards 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Austin Film Critics Association 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Black Film Critics Circle Awards 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - British Academy Film Awards 2021
Best Actress in a Supporting Role – ‘Minari‘ - Columbus Film Critics Association 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Detroit Film Critics Society 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Dorian Awards 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Georgia Film Critics Association 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Hollywood Critics Association 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Independent Spirit Awards 2021
Best Supporting Female – ‘Minari‘ - Kansas City Film Critics Circle 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Latino Entertainment Journalists Association 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Music City Film Critics Association 2021
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Korean Film Producers Association 2020
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Lucky Chan-sil’ - Boston Society of Film Critics 2020
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Greater Western New York Film Critics Association 2020
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Los Angeles Film Critics Association 2020
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Sunset Film Critics Circle Awards 2020
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Buil Film Awards 2017
Best Actress – ‘The Bacchus Lady’ - Korea World Youth Film Festival 2017
Favorite Actress – Senior Actress – ‘The Bacchus Lady’ - Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards 2017
Best Supporting Actress – ‘Minari‘ - Korean Film Shining Star Awards 2016
Star award – ‘Canola’ - Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2016
Jury Grand Prize – ‘The Bacchus Lady’ - Fantasia Festival 2016
Best Actress – ‘The Bacchus Lady’ - Women in Film Korea Awards 2016
Woman in Film of the Year – ‘The Bacchus Lady’ - KBS Drama Awards 2012
Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama – ‘My Husband Got a Family’ - Max Movie Awards 2011
Best Supporting Actress – ‘The Housemaid’ - Asian Film Awards 2011
Best Supporting Actress – ‘The Housemaid’ - Busan Film Critics Awards 2010
Best Actress – ‘The Housemaid, Hahaha, Actresses’ - Sitges Film Festival 2010
Maria Honorifica Award - People Who Make the World Brighter Awards 2010
Recipient, Culture and Arts category - Chunsa Film Art Awards 2010
Best Supporting Actress – ‘The Housemaid’ - Buil Film Awards 2010
Best Supporting Actress – ‘The Housemaid’ - Grand Bell Awards 2010
Best Supporting Actress – ‘The Housemaid’ - Korean Film Awards 2010
Best Supporting Actress – ‘The Housemaid’ - Blue Dragon Film Awards 2010
Best Supporting Actress – ‘The Housemaid’ - Cinemanila International Film Festival 2010
Best Actress – ‘The Housemaid’ - KBS Drama Awards 2005
Best Actress in a One-Act Special/Drama – ‘Becoming a Popular Song’ - Busan Film Critics Awards 2003
Best Supporting Actress – ‘A Good Lawyer’s Wife’ - Korean Film Awards 2003
Best Supporting Actress – ‘A Good Lawyer’s Wife’ - Korean Broadcasting Awards 1992
Best Female Talent – ‘Bun-rye’s Story’ - Sitges Film Festival 1971
Best Actress – ‘Woman of Fire’ - Blue Dragon Film Awards 1971
Best Actress – ‘Woman of Fire’ - Grand Bell Awards 1971
Best New Actress – ‘Woman of Fire’ - TBC Drama Awards 1969
Best New Talent – ‘Mister Gong’
Interesting Facts about Youn Yuh-jung
- Youn Yuh-jung received numerous prestigious awards in the Best Supporting Actress’s category for her role in the movie ‘Minari‘.
- Youn Yuh-jung is the first female actor from South Korea to receive an Oscar award.
- Youn Yuh-jung received her Academy Award for the 2020 movie ‘Minari’.
- Youn Yuh-jung is an influential figure in South Korea. She has inspired many budding actresses in the country.
- Youn Yuh-jung is an Order of Cultural Merit recipient.
- Youn Yuh-jung has a huge fan base around the world.
- Youn Yuh-jung left Hook Entertainment after the expiration of her contract with them in December 2022. Afterwards, at the beginning of 2023, she signed in with Creative Artists Agency.
FAQs
- Who is the first South Korean female actor to win an Academy Award?
Youn Yuh-jung is the first female actress to win an Academy Award. - For which movie Youn Yuh-jung won the Academy Award?
Youn Yuh-jung got the Academy Award for the movie ‘Minari’.
- Which are the famous movies of Youn Yuh-jung?
The critically acclaimed movies of Youn Yuh-jung are ‘Woman of Fire’ and ‘Minari’. - What is the Instagram ID of Youn Yuh-jung?
@yuh_jung_youn. - How old is Youn Yuh-jung?
As of 2024, Youn Yuh-jung is 77-years-old.
