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Jun Ji-HyunSouth Korean film actress and model
Date of Birth: 30.10.1981
Country:  South Korea |
Content:
- Childhood and Early Career
- Early Screen Success
- Hollywood Debut and Ups and Downs
- Continued Success and Personal Life
- Controversies and Recent Projects
Childhood and Early Career
Jun Ji-hyun, born Wang Ji-hyun on October 30, 1981, in Seoul, South Korea, began her career in the entertainment industry as a teenager. At 16, she embarked on a modeling career, leveraging her height (173 cm) and striking appearance. She graced the covers of teen magazines and appeared in commercials for brands like Samsung and music videos.
Wang also began taking acting classes, preparing for her eventual transition to film. In 2000, she enrolled in the Department of Theater and Film at Dongguk University, graduating with a bachelor's degree four years later.
Early Screen Success
Ji-hyun made her acting debut at age 17 in the 1999 film "My Sassy Girl," adopting the stage name Jun Ji-hyun at the producer's request. She quickly rose to stardom in both dramas and feature films. Her breakout role came in the 2001 melodrama "Il Mare," for which she received critical acclaim and numerous awards.
Hollywood Debut and Ups and Downs
In 2009, Ji-hyun ventured into Hollywood with the action film "Blood: The Last Vampire," using the English stage name Gianna Jun. Despite her intensive training for the role, the film failed to impress audiences.
After a string of unsuccessful projects, Ji-hyun's career took a turn with the 2012 comedy-action hit "The Thieves," which became the highest-grossing film in Korean history at the time. This triumph propelled her to the top of South Korea's most in-demand celebrities.
Continued Success and Personal Life
Ji-hyun starred in the 2016 romantic fantasy drama "Legend of the Blue Sea" alongside Lee Min-ho. The series and its lead actors received numerous accolades. In 2012, she married banker Choi Joon-hyuk, and they have two sons. Ji-hyun has been private about her family life, choosing not to share photos on social media.
Controversies and Recent Projects
Ji-hyun has faced her share of controversies, including a 2006 lawsuit against a magazine for using her photos without permission and a 2009 incident involving a private detective who cloned her phone number to track her. In 2021, she filed a defamation lawsuit over rumors of divorce from her husband.
In recent years, Ji-hyun has made brief appearances in the Netflix series "Kingdom" and its spin-off film "Kingdom: Ashin of the North." She has also resumed active work in film and advertising, including becoming the face of the British fashion house Burberry in 2022, making her the first Korean celebrity to represent the brand.
