Jeon Do-yeon

Early life

Jeon Do-yeon was born on February 11, 1973, in Namgajwa-dong, Seodaemun District, Seoul, South Korea. She has two older brothers and is the youngest in her family. Born and raised in Seoul, she graduated from Bukgajwa Elementary School, Yeonhee Girls Middle School, Changduk Girls High School and Department of Broadcasting at Seoul Institute of the Arts.

Career

1990–1997: Beginnings and breakthrough

In 1990, Jeon made her debut in the entertainment industry as an advertisement model for Johnson & Johnson. She made her acting debut in television series Our Heaven in 1992. She then continued to play supporting roles in Scent of Love (1994) and General Hospital (1994) and Love is Blue (1995), but struggled to receive any significant attention. In 1995, she gained some recognition after playing the heroine's younger sister in KBS2's hit drama Our Sunny Days of Youth, which recorded its highest viewership rating of 62.7 percent. The drama's director, Jeon San PD, made a remark stating that Jeon Do-yeon is a "tough and ambitious newcomer". The following years, she played major roles in multiple dramas such as Project, Way Station and Until We Can Love in 1996, and Star in My Heart in 1997. Jeon spent five years starring in television dramas before achieving instant star status with her feature film debut acting alongside Han Suk-kyu in 1997 film The Contact, which became the second-highest grossing Korean film of that year. She won numerous awards through the work, including Best New Actress at the 35th Grand Bell Awards and 18th Blue Dragon Film Awards.

1997–2006: Critical acclaim and success

From 1997 after the success of The Contact, Jeon emerged as a prominent actress in the Korean film industry and went on to establish a reputation as a "chameleon" who can take on a wide variety of roles, from her performance as a doctor in the hit melodrama A Promise, which won her Best Actress at the 35th Baeksang Arts Awards, to that of a schoolgirl in the 1999 film The Harmonium in My Memory, then a wife having an adulterous affair in the 1999 film Happy End. In 1999 and 2000, she received Best Actress awards at numerous award ceremonies such as the 20th Blue Dragon Film Awards and the 37th Grand Bell Awards for her performance in The Harmonium in My Memory. She also won Best Actress at the 35th Baeksang Arts Awards for her role in A Promise and several other local film awards for her role in Happy End.

In 2001, she played a bank teller in Park Heung-sik's directorial debut I Wish I Had a Wife. After starring as the tough-talking Soo-jin in Ryoo Seung-wan's No Blood No Tears in 2002, Jeon spent time acting in the television series Shoot for the Stars. In 2003, she found box-office success in E J-yong's Untold Scandal, an adaptation of the famous French novel Dangerous Liaisons set in Joseon. The following year, she reunited with director Park Heung-sik in a dual role for the time-bending melodrama film My Mother, the Mermaid.

In 2005, Jeon played a prostitute who contracts AIDS in Park Jin-pyo's hard-hitting melodrama You Are My Sunshine. The film was a box-office hit, and her performance received critical acclaim and won her numerous acting awards. She then returned to the small screen with Lovers in Prague, a drama that tells the love story between the president's daughter and an ordinary detective. The drama was a huge success, with average viewership ratings of over 27 percent. For the work, Jeon won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at 2005 SBS Drama Awards. Commenting on her successful year, The Korea Herald noted, "It is rare for a movie and a drama with the same leading actor or actress to become major hits at the same time. And often, actors and actresses avoid such cases, due to the risk of confusing audiences, but Jeon managed to pull both roles off perfectly without causing any confusion in the audience."

2007–2014: ''Secret Sunshine'' and international acclaim

In 2007, Jeon starred in Lee Chang-dong's melodrama Secret Sunshine, which propelled her to international recognition. Her fierce and fearless portrayal of a widowed mother who struggles to rearrange her life after the tragic deaths of her husband and son received universal critical acclaim. Although the film itself, which debuted at the 60th Cannes Film Festival, evoked widely differing assessments from international critics, Jeon's performance was universally praised, and she was chosen as the Best Actress by the Cannes jury, making her the first Korean ever to receive an acting award at Cannes. She also won Best Performance by an Actress at the 1st Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Following the heel of the Cannes' win, Jeon went on to sweep domestic awards, winning Best Actress at multiple film award ceremonies such as the 28th Blue Dragon Film Awards. In recognition of her contribution to the development of the Korean film industry, she was honored with the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Special Achievement Award at the 44th Grand Bell Awards.

Post-Cannes, she starred in 2008 film My Dear Enemy, playing an unemployed single woman who reacquaints herself with her ex-boyfriend. After starring in My Dear Enemy, Jeon gave birth to a daughter and rested for a while. In October 2009, she was honored by the French government with the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal for her contribution to the arts. The following year, she returned to star in Im Sang-soo's 2010 controversial remake The Housemaid. Jeon came back to Cannes once again as the film was chosen to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival.

In 2011, Jeon played a female con artist who risks her life for ten days for a final deal with a cold-hearted debt collector in Countdown. Countdown premiered at the 36th Toronto International Film Festival.

In 2013, after a two-year break, Jeon returned with Bang Eun-jin's Way Back Home, a film based on the true story of a housewife who was imprisoned for two years on the island of Martinique after being wrongly arrested for drug smuggling at Paris's Orly Airport in 2004.

In 2014, she was announced as one of the nine panel members of the main competition jury at the 67th Cannes Film Festival, making her the first Korean actor or actress to receive the honor and the second Korean after director Lee Chang-dong in 2009.

2015–present: Further acclaim and return to the small screen

In 2015, Jeon starred in The Shameless, a thriller that explores the unexpected and carnal attraction that develops between a detective and the girlfriend of the murderer that he investigates. The film was selected for the Un Certain Regard section at the 68th Cannes Film Festival and Jeon returned to Cannes for the fourth time in her career. For her performance in the film, Jeon won Best Actress at the 24th Buil Film Awards, the 15th Director's Cut Awards, and the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards respectively. The same year, she played a blind swordswoman in the Goryeo-set revenge period drama Memories of the Sword, her third collaboration with Park Heung-sik and her second with Lee Byung-hun.

This was followed by Jeon's second film with director Lee Yoon-ki, A Man and a Woman, a 2016 film about a forbidden romance that takes place in the snow-swept landscape of Finland. Jeon then made a return to the small screen after twelve years in the 2016 Korean remake of the American legal drama The Good Wife. She was praised for displaying a wide range of emotions and agony of a housewife who is forced to become a lawyer again after her husband is mired in a scandal and put behind bars.

After a three-year break, Jeon reunited with Sul Kyung-gu in drama film Birthday, marking her second collaboration with Sol eighteen years after I Wish I Had a Wife. The film, inspired by the Sewol ferry disaster, deals with the struggles faced by a couple who lost their son in a tragic accident. The film had its international premiere at the 2019 Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy. At the festival, Jeon was honored with Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award. She once again won Best Actress at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards, the 6th Korean Film Producers Association Awards and 28th Buil Film Awards for her performance in the film.

In early 2020, Jeon starred in Beasts Clawing at Straws, a mystery thriller based on Keisuke Sone's novel, alongside Jung Woo-sung. The film was screened at the 49th International Film Festival Rotterdam and won the Special Jury Award in the Tiger Competition. The film failed to turn a profit as local box office sales plummeted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She made her small-screen comeback in Hur Jin-ho's first television series project Lost which premiered on JTBC in September 2021. In 2022, she reunited with Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun in Han Jae-rim's disaster action film Emergency Declaration.

In 2023, Jeon acts opposite Jung Kyung-ho in tvN-broadcast Netflix-distributed romantic comedy series Crash Course in Romance directed by Yoo Je-won, which marked her return to romance genre in 17 years. She played the role of a former national handball player who now runs a banchan shop, raising her high school daughter alone. According to Good Data Corporation, series Crash Course in Romance ranked first with a topical share of 23.8% in Top 10 of TV Topicality Ranking in drama division category in four weeks in a row. Jung Kyung-ho ranked first in the performer category for five consecutive weeks, while Jeon ranked 3rd.

In the same year, Jeon stars in Netflix crime action film Kill Boksoon in the title role, as a professional assassin, opposite Sul Kyung-gu, Esom, and Koo Kyo-hwan. Directed and written by Byun Sung-hyun, it is slated to release on Netflix on March 31, 2023.

Personal life

Jeon married businessman and professional car racer Kang Shi-kyu, who is nine years her senior, in a private wedding ceremony at Shilla Hotel on March 11, 2007. She gave birth to a daughter on January 22, 2009.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Stage

Musical

Theater

Accolades

Awards and nominations

State honors

Listicles

Notes

References

References

1. link. (October 31, 1996)
2. "JEON DO-YEON Profile".
3. "JEON Do-Yeon".
4. [https://koreanfilm.org/actors.html#jeondy Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema] {{Webarchive. link. (September 12, 2018 . ''Koreanfilm.org.'' Retrieved April 28, 2014.)
5. (January 24, 2014). "JEON Do-yeon, Korean Cinema's Leading Actress: Her Past, Present and Future". Korean Cinema Today.
6. (October 15, 2008). "Jeon Do-yeon and Younha Chosen as Female Role Models".
7. link. Yonhap News]]. [[Naver]]. (May 28, 2007)
8. Park, Hyun-taek. (October 31, 2016). "[SC이슈] 유재석·신동엽·황정민·전도연...서울예대 ★동문 한자리에".
9. link. Park. Joo-yeon. (October 7, 2005)
10. link. [[Naver]]. Yoo. Sun-hee. (May 21, 2015)
11. [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2004/04/01/2004040161015.html A Tale of Two Jeons] {{Webarchive. link. (April 16, 2014 . ''[[The Chosun Ilbo]]''. April 1, 2004.)
12. (July 30, 2007). "Jeon Do-yeon".
13. (June 13, 2001). "I Wish I Had a Wife".
14. {{usurped
15. (June 6, 2006). "Untold Scandal".
16. (June 15, 2004). "Did My Mom Love Like That?".
17. link. (August 12, 2005)
18. link. (September 7, 2005)
19. (September 15, 2005). "An Actress Who Puts All Her Energy Into Love".
20. [http://www.hancinema.net/drama-looks-for-love-in-prague-3974.html Drama Looks for Love in Prague] {{Webarchive. link. (November 4, 2012 . ''[[Hancinema]]''. September 14, 2005.)
21. (January 1, 2006). "TV Networks Hand Out Awards". [[Hancinema]].
22. (September 29, 2005). "Jeon Do-yeon's multiple hits stem from passion for acting". [[Hancinema]].
23. (April 21, 2010). "INTERVIEW: Actress Jeon Do-youn - Part 1".
24. (April 21, 2010). "INTERVIEW: Actress Jeon Do-youn - Part 2".
25. {{usurped
26. {{usurped
27. link. (December 1, 2011 . ''[[CNN]]''. October 9, 2007.)
28. [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/10/08/2007100861009.html Int'l Awards Only the Start for Jeon, Kang] {{Webarchive. link. (November 8, 2016 . ''[[The Chosun Ilbo]]''. October 8, 2007.)
29. "JEON DO-YEON".
30. (December 3, 2007). "Jeon Do-yeon Takes Home Seventh Award".
31. {{usurped
32. [https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2008/08/135_30073.html Jeon Do-yeon, Ha Jung-woo as Ex-Lovers] {{Webarchive. link. (April 7, 2023 . ''[[The Korea Times]]''. August 27, 2008.)
33. [https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/01/141_31350.html Jeon Do-yeon on Pregnancy, Post-Cannes Film] {{Webarchive. link. (April 7, 2023 . ''[[The Korea Times]]''. September 21, 2008.)
34. [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2008/09/22/2008092261014.html Queen of Cannes Is Back with Lighter Fare] {{Webarchive. link. (August 5, 2016 . ''[[The Chosun Ilbo]]''. September 22, 2008.)
35. {{usurped
36. (October 3, 2009). "Jeon Do-yeon Awarded Top French Honor".
37. [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/04/16/2010041600395.html Jeon Do-yeon Returns to Screen in Risque Role] {{Webarchive. link. (May 5, 2017 . ''[[The Chosun Ilbo]]''. April 16, 2010.)
38. [http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/2010/04/26/koreas-queen-of-cannes-is-back/ Korea's Queen of Cannes is back] {{webarchive. link. (March 13, 2011 . ''[[Reuters]]''. April 26, 2010.)
39. [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/10/01/2011100100294.html Cannes Winner Jeon Hopes ''Countdown'' a Commercial Hit] {{Webarchive. link. (August 5, 2016 . ''[[The Chosun Ilbo]]''. October 1, 2011.)
40. link. (November 8, 2016 . ''Asiae''. October 21, 2011.)
41. link. (November 8, 2016 . ''Asiae''. October 21, 2011.)
42. link. (November 8, 2016 . ''Asiae''. July 27, 2011.)
43. (November 29, 2013). "Jeon Do-yeon Plays Inmate on Tropical Island in Latest Flick". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
44. (December 12, 2013). "Jeon Do-yeon speaks about her latest movie, motherhood". [[The Korea Herald]].
45. "The Jury of the 67th Festival de Cannes". [[Festival de Cannes]].
46. (April 29, 2014). "Jeon Do-yeon first Korean actress to be Cannes jury member". [[The Korea Herald]].
47. (April 29, 2014). "Jeon Do-yeon Invited to Cannes' Jury". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
48. (May 15, 2014). "Jeon Do-yeon arrives in Cannes". [[The Korea Times]].
49. (April 24, 2015). "''The Shameless'' gears up for Cannes".
50. (May 2, 2015). "Award-Winning Actress Still Excited About Cannes Screening".
51. (June 1, 2015). "JEON Do-yeon Visits Cannes for the 4th Time with THE SHAMELESS".
52. (June 2, 2015). "Jeon shows reluctance over her latest image".
53. (January 28, 2014). "JEON Do-yeon in Way Back Home and Memories of the Sword: From Actress to Mother, and Mother to Actress". Korean Cinema Today.
54. (August 12, 2015). "Herald Interview: ''Memories of the Sword'' a welcome challenge for Jeon Do-yeon".
55. (November 28, 2014). "JEON Do-yeon Returns to Melodrama".
56. (January 27, 2016). "Jeon Do-yeon, Gong Yoo Work Together on Upcoming Film".
57. (February 27, 2016). "Jeon Do-yeon to Appear in TV Drama for 1st Time in a Decade".
58. (July 30, 2016). "Jeon Do-yeon Shines in 'Good Wife' Remake".
59. link. Ahn. Jin-yong. (September 12, 2016)
60. (February 20, 2019). "Ferry Disaster-Inspired Film Set for Release in April".
61. (April 9, 2018). "JEON Do-yeon and SUL Kyung-gu to Celebrate BIRTHDAY".
62. Frater, Patrick. (March 28, 2019). "Udine Festival to Open With Korean Tragedy 'Birthday'". [[Variety (magazine).
63. (April 29, 2019). "Jeon Do-yeon Honored for Lifetime Achievement at Italian Film Fest". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
64. (October 1, 2018). "JEON Do-yeon and JUNG Woo-sung Dig in to BEASTS THAT CLING TO THE STRAW".
65. (December 14, 2018). "BEASTS THAT CLING TO THE STRAW Wraps Production".
66. Choi, Ji-won. (February 3, 2020). ""Beasts Clawing at Straws" wins jury award at Rotterdam".
67. Lee, Jae-lim. (February 24, 2020). "[Korean Box Office] 'Beasts Clawing at Straws' tops a suffering weekend box office".
68. link. [[Naver]]. Kim. Jin-suk. (June 9, 2020)
69. Frater, Patrick. (February 20, 2020). "'Parasite' Star Song Kang-ho to Lead Stellar Cast of 'Emergency Declaration'".
70. Lee Si-jin. (January 10, 2023). "Jeon Do-yeon excited to return with romance series after 17 years". [[The Korea Herald]].
71. "GOODDATA Corp".
72. link. (February 20, 2023)
73. link. Jeon Hyo-jin. (January 4, 2022)
74. link. Kim Ji-won. (January 17, 2023)
75. Choi Yonna. (February 2, 2023). "A급 킬러 된 전도연...'길복순', 3월 31일 공개 확정". Sports Donga.
76. [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/03/06/2007030661020.html Jeon Do-yeon to Tie Knot in Private Ceremony] {{Webarchive. link. (December 15, 2016 . ''[[The Chosun Ilbo]]''. March 6, 2007.)
77. [http://www.hancinema.net/stars-have-nuptial-plans-actress-jeon-do-yeon-cuts-tape-8870.html Stars Have Nuptial Plans: Actress Jeon Do-yeon Cuts Tape] {{Webarchive. link. (April 14, 2017 . ''[[The Korea Times]]''. March 6, 2007.)
78. [http://www.hancinema.net/actress-jeon-marries-8904.html Actress Jeon Marries] {{Webarchive. link. (April 15, 2017 . ''[[The Korea Times]]''. March 11, 2007.)
79. link. [[Daum (web portal). Daum]]. Yoo. So-kyung. (December 19, 2019)
80. link. [[Star News (South Korea). Star News]]. Jeon Hyung-hwa. (November 18, 2021)
81. link. [[Star News (South Korea). Star News]]. Jeon Hyung-hwa. (January 4, 2022)
82. link. [[Herald POP]]. Lee Min-ji. (July 5, 2023)
83. link. [[Nate (web portal). Nate]]. Kim Min-ji. (October 1, 2025)
84. Yeon Hwi-seon. (October 21, 2025). "Hong Kyung Praises Jeon Do-yeon, Eyes Melodrama Challenge". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
85. link. [[Asia Economy Daily]]. Lee. Jong-gil. (19 May 2025)
86. (January 4, 2008). "Jeon Do-yeon makes cameo appearance in upcoming drama series 'On Air'". Broasia.
87. Tae Yu-na. link. Ten Asia. (July 12, 2021)
88. link. MT Star News. Ahn Yoon-ji. (June 21, 2022)
89. Yim Seung-hye. (June 21, 2022). "Jeon Do-yeon, Jung Kyung-ho to star in upcoming tvN drama 'One Shot Scandal'".
90. (November 5, 2025). "Mystery Thriller ‘The Price of Confession’ Starring Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Go-eun Premieres December 5". Netflix Newsroom.
91. link
92. link
93. link. (February 6, 1997)
94. link. Na. Won-jung. (February 19, 2024)
95. "Film Awards Ceremonies in Korea".
96. link. (May 25, 2004)
97. (December 6, 2004). "'Old Boy' Gets Best Picture at Korea Film Awards".
98. (July 4, 2005). ""Crying Fist" Nominated for 12 Categories of Daejong Award".
99. (November 24, 2005). "Nominations announced for Blue Dragon Awards".
100. (November 30, 2005). "26th Blue Dragon Awards Winners".
101. (December 5, 2005). ""Welcome To Dongmakgol" wins best picture award".
102. (December 30, 2005). "Young Korean directors present Directors' Cut Awards".
103. Conran, Pierce. (April 14, 2006). "42nd Baeksang Awards Nominations [+Winners]".
104. (July 26, 2006). "43rd Crowns King and the Clown".
105. (May 18, 2007). "Jeon Do-yeon Wins Best Actress at Cannes".
106. (October 23, 2007). "Cannes winner takes her next step".
107. (June 13, 2007). "Family Ties Wins Top Prize at Home".
108. (June 28, 2007). "Culture Ministry to Award Medal to Actress Jeon". [[Hancinema]].
109. (November 14, 2007). "Jeon Do-Yeon Wins Best Actress Award at Asia Pacific Screen Awards".
110. (November 26, 2007). "The Show Must Go On takes best film award at Korea's Blue Dragons".
111. (December 17, 2007). "Jeon Do-yeon, voted as the "Best actress of the year" by female directors". Star Money.
112. (March 19, 2008). "'Secret Sunshine' Snags Three Awards at Asian Film Fest".
113. (November 29, 2009). "Stars Shine at Andre Kims Atelier".
114. link. Star News]]. [[Naver]]. Kim. Gun-woo. (December 21, 2009)
115. (February 15, 2011). "Rain, Girls' Generation, Lee Beom-soo to receive arts & culture award".
116. (March 9, 2011). "Korean films win a series of awards at the Fantasporto Film Festival".
117. (March 25, 2011). "Korean Cinema Dominates Asian Film Awards".
118. (January 28, 2014). "Korean Film Reporters Name SNOWPIERCER Best of 2013".
119. Jonathan M. Hicap. (April 30, 2014). "Nominees in 50th Baeksang Art Awards revealed". [[Manila Bulletin]].
120. (November 12, 2014). "The 51st Daejong Film Awards Nominations Announced".
121. (November 17, 2015). "Nomination Announced for 36th Edition of the Blue Dragon Awards".
122. (August 17, 2015). "Hwang Jung-min and Jeon Do-yeon, the best actress and actor of the year". [[Osen (newspaper).
123. Conran, Pierce. (October 8, 2015). "THE SHAMLESS Triumphs at the 24th Buil Film Awards".
124. (December 21, 2015). "Results of 2015 Major Korean Film Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone.
125. (January 28, 2016). "Jeon Do-yeon named best actress".
126. (June 13, 2016). "BaekSang Grand Prize Goes to Director LEE Joon-ik".
127. link. (October 31, 2019)
128. (October 14, 2019). "PARASITE Sweeps 6 Prizes at Buil Film Awards".
129. (December 19, 2019). "HOUSE OF HUMMINGBRID Tops 6th Korean Film Producers Association Awards".
130. link. (January 17, 2020)
131. MacDonald, Joan. (June 5, 2020). "2020 Baeksang Arts Awards Honor The Best Korean Dramas And Films". [[Forbes]].
132. link. (November 11, 2020)
133. Delayed Until 2021 Due To [[COVID-19]]
134. link. [[Naver]]. [[Munhwa Ilbo]]. An. Jin-young. (December 8, 2020)
135. link. m.slist. [[Naver]]. Park Kyung-hee. (July 5, 2021)
136. link. [[Star News (South Korea). Star News]]. Yoon Sang-geun. (November 19, 2021)
137. link. Ten Asia. Noh Kyu-min. (February 9, 2022)
138. link. [[Busan Ilbo]]. Nam. Yoo-jung. (August 28, 2022)
139. link. [[JTBC]]. Cho. Yeon-kyung. (April 7, 2023)
140. link. (August 27, 2023)
141. link. Newsen. Lee Ha-na. (December 19, 2023)
142. "GOODDATA Corp".
143. "2024 부일영화상 최종 후보작".
144. link. [[Sports Chosun]]. (October 30, 2024)
145. link. [[Seoul Broadcasting System. SBS Entertainment News]]. Kim Ji-hye. (December 2, 2024)
146. link. [[Star News (South Korea). Star News]]. Han Hae-seon. (May 5, 2025)
147. Yeo, Hong-Il. (October 13, 2022). "French Night held amid BIFF in Busan".
148. link. Kang. Young-guk. (October 10, 2009)
149. link. 고. 경석
150. link. (December 28, 2015)
151. link
152. 조선일보. (2021-01-18). "[공식] 영화진흥위원회, 韓배우 200인 선정..'Korean Actors 200' 해외 홍보 나선다".
153. "KOREAN ACTORS 200".
154. link. (December 15, 2008)
155. "1984~2008 한국영화 배우 흥행 파워 50".
156. (August 22, 2007). "Jeon to Appear on CNN Program".
157. "Actress Jeon Do-yeon One of 50 Most Influential Women".