Kang Hye-jung

Career

1998–2009: Early rise, critical success

Kang Hye-jung began working as a model in her first year of high school.

Throughout the late 1990s she appeared in small roles in TV dramas and sitcoms such as Jump and Nonstop 3. Her first film role was in Moon Seung-wook's arthouse/sci-fi film Nabi, for which she won a Best Actress award at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. Following this she appeared in a short film by Song Il-gon titled Flush as well as an internet film Naebang-nebang.

Kang's first major hit film was opposite Choi Min-sik in the modern-day classic Oldboy by Park Chan-wook. Her portrayal of the character Mi-do won her considerable attention both domestically and abroad, and she also picked up acting honors from the Grand Bell Awards and Pusan Film Critics Association. The following year she also appeared in Cut, Park's 30-minute contribution to the omnibus horror film Three... Extremes.

It was in 2005, however, that Kang established herself as a star outside of her appearance in Oldboy. The sharp-edged relationship drama Rules of Dating, in which she starred opposite Park Hae-il, proved to be an unexpected hit, and then two months later she took a small but central role in box office megahit Welcome to Dongmakgol. In a 2005 survey of influential movie producers, she was ranked among the top ten most bankable stars.

In 2006, she starred in Love Phobia opposite then-boyfriend Cho Seung-woo, as well as the Thai film Invisible Waves by rising directorial star Pen-ek Ratanaruang.

After playing the developmentally disabled daughter to veteran actress Bae Jong-ok in the 2007 melodrama Herb, in 2009 Kang starred in two unconventional romantic comedies with roles she imbued with her trademark quirkiness. She said she chose Why Did You Come to My House? hoping to "expand the realms" of her lovelorn stalker character; the director said she had written the script with Kang in mind from the beginning. In Kill Me, she played a woman who, after several suicide attempts, hires a professional assassin (Shin Hyun-joon) to kill her, but he falls in love with her instead.

2009–present: Turn to conventional roles

Known for taking risky roles, Kang gradually started going off the predictable path that the public expected her to take. In the 2009 film Girlfriends, she played an ordinary twenty-something girl who goes through growing pains and lovelife troubles when she discovers that her boyfriend is also involved with two other women. Kang said that this career shift reflects the limited number of interesting scripts that she receives, as well as her calmer, softer state of mind after settling down.

In 2010, Kang appeared in her first stage play Proof, portraying the role of Catherine, who worries whether she has inherited all of her mathematician father's genius and lunacy.

After making the little-seen 2007 KBS drama Flowers for My Life with Cha Tae-hyun, Kang returned to television in 2011 in MBC's Miss Ripley, a tale of one woman (Lee Da-hae) who spins a web of love, ambition and lies. Originally touted as a drama with four lead roles, Kang later expressed dismay and disappointment with her drastically reduced screen time.

Kang made her English-language debut in the culture-clash romantic comedy Wedding Palace. Director Christine Yoo reportedly cast Kang after her distinctly Korean beauty in Oldboy and Welcome to Dongmakgol grabbed Yoo's attention. Shot over a one-year period between October 2008 through November 2009, the US-Korea co-production premiered at the 2011 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and received the Independent Feature Filmmakers Award at the 2011 Cine Gear Expo.

Kang was next seen in rom-com cable TV series The Wedding Scheme, about a kimchi factory president so determined to marry off her four daughters that she embarks on a grand marriage project by getting her girls to cohabitate with prospective groom candidates. Of her role as the second eldest daughter, a strong and smart career woman, she said, "I've played a lot of nice or innocent characters before, so I think of this as a chance to take on a new challenge."

Kang left her previous management agency YG Entertainment (which is also her husband's label) in 2013, and signed with C-JeS Entertainment. She then played a small role in E J-yong's mockumentary Behind the Camera, and wrote the lyrics to "Good Thing," one of the songs on Bobby Kim's album Mirror.

Kang starred in her second stage play Educating Rita in late 2014, about the relationship between a hairdresser and a middle-aged university lecturer. She also played a supporting role in the film How to Steal a Dog.

In 2016, Kang was cast in the film My Wife.

In 2017, Kang played a psychiatrist in the sci-fi thriller Lucid Dream. She made her return to television in December 2017 with office comedy series Jugglers.

Personal life

Kang majored in Performing Arts at the Seoul Institute of the Arts.

Marriage and family

On October 26, 2009, Kang married Tablo of hip hop group Epik High while she was three months pregnant. The couple's daughter, Haru, was born on May 2, 2010. Their family was featured in the variety The Return of Superman.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Music video appearances

Theater

Discography

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "Kang Hye Jung lyrics and profile - MyAsianArtist".
2. [https://koreanfilm.org/actors.html#ganghj "Actors and Actresses of Korean Cinema: Gang Hye-jung"] {{Webarchive. link. (May 21, 2015 . Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2012-11-04.)
3. [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/07/31/2005073161001.html "A Rising Star in Her Own Right"] {{Webarchive. link. (September 7, 2012 . [[The Chosun Ilbo]]. July 31, 2005.)
4. link. [[Twitch Film]]. (July 20, 2005)
5. (August 1, 2005). "More Comments from the 웰컴 투 동막골 (Welcome To Dongmakgol) Cast". [[Twitch Film]].
6. (January 16, 2006). "K-FILM REVIEWS: 웰컴 투 동막골 (Welcome To Dongmakgol)". [[Twitch Film]].
7. (October 20, 2005). "Jang Dong-gun Voted Korea's Most Bankable Star". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
8. (April 3, 2006). "Star Couple Tackles Love on Big Screen". [[The Korea Times]] via [[Hancinema]].
9. (April 26, 2006). "Kang Hye-jung on Acting With Her Own Boyfriend". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
10. (January 11, 2007). "''Herb'' With Strong Scent of Kang". [[The Korea Times]] via [[Hancinema]].
11. (April 1, 2009). "Witty, unique yet knotty, ''My House'' aims at a new film genre". [[Yonhap]].
12. (March 6, 2009). "Actress Kang Talks About Stalker's Pain". KBS Global.
13. (October 27, 2009). "Despite flaws, potential seen in newcomer's romantic comedy". [[Yonhap]].
14. (March 19, 2010). "Kiss Me, Kill Me (2009) Movie Review". Beyond Hollywood.
15. link. (December 20, 2013 . 10Asia. December 18, 2009.)
16. link. (April 7, 2014 . Asiae. December 17, 2009.)
17. link. (June 23, 2018 . 10Asia. December 17, 2009.)
18. link. (June 23, 2018 . 10Asia. February 18, 2010.)
19. (August 30, 2008). "Kang Hye-jung, Lee Yoon-ji to Share Stage Role in ''Proof''". [[The Chosun Ilbo]].
20. (March 24, 2011). "Cast of new MBC drama ''Ms. Ripley'' hold first script reading". 10Asia.
21. link. (October 29, 2014 . 10Asia. April 20, 2011.)
22. [https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2011/05/201_87567.html "Love, ambitions & lies in ''Miss Ripley''"] {{Webarchive. link. (October 2, 2023 . [[The Korea Times]]. May 24, 2011.)
23. link. (July 11, 2011 . [[The Korea Herald]]. May 17, 2011.)
24. link. (July 12, 2011)
25. (July 13, 2011). "Kang Hye-jung dismayed over Ripley role". Dramabeans.
26. link. (October 29, 2014 . KBS Global. August 5, 2008.)
27. [http://www.screendaily.com/us-korean-co-production-the-wedding-palace-to-shoot-in-oct/4040067.article "US-Korean co-production The Wedding Palace to shoot in Oct"] {{Webarchive. link. (October 10, 2012 . [[Screen International]]. July 29, 2008.)
28. [http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/wedding_palace_2011 "Wedding Palace"] {{webarchive. link. (2012-09-13 . [[Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival]]. Retrieved 2012-11-04.)
29. [http://www.cinegearexpo.com/filmseries/winners11.html "Film Series Winners"]{{dead link. (December 2017)
30. link. (October 2, 2023 . 10Asia. March 14, 2012.)
31. (August 13, 2013). "Kang Hye-jung Joins JYJ's Agency". 10Asia.
32. (October 23, 2014). "1st album in 4 years for Bobby Kim". [[Korea JoongAng Daily]].
33. (October 22, 2014). "Kang Hye Jung Double Cast in Play ''Educating Rita'' with Kong Hyo Jin". enewsWorld.
34. (November 14, 2014). "''Rita'' Gong Hyo Jin highly compliments Kang Hye Jung". StarN News.
35. (August 18, 2014). "Veteran Actors Wake Up from Hibernation in HOW TO STEAL A DOG". Korean Film Biz Zone.
36. (May 27, 2016). "GANG Hye-jung and PARK Shin-yang Partner for MY WIFE". Korean Film Biz Zone.
37. (July 10, 2015). "KO Soo and SUL Kyung-gu Wrap LUCID DREAM". Korean Film Biz Zone.
38. (October 25, 2017). "Choi Daniel, Baek Jin Hee, Kang Hye Jeong, Lee Won Keun cast in new drama 'Jugglers.'". [[KBS World]].
39. [http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/09/19/2009091900191.html "Kang Hye-jung Talks About Impending Marriage"] {{Webarchive. link. (October 20, 2020 . [[The Chosun Ilbo]]. September 19, 2009.)
40. link. (October 20, 2020 . 10Asia. October 20, 2009.)
41. [https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2010/05/135_65192.html "Actress Kang Gives Birth to Girl"] {{Webarchive. link. (November 26, 2024 . [[The Korea Times]]. May 2, 2010.)
42. link. (October 20, 2020 . 10Asia. May 3, 2010.)
43. (November 7, 2012). "Tablo talks about three tough years".
44. (2015-10-14). "Tablo Explains Why He and Haru Left "The Return of Superman"".
45. "Kang Hyejung's father and brother appear to greet Haru on KBS "The Return of Superman"".
46. intan. "Get Closer to The Musical Genius Tablo and His Cute Daughter Haru {{!}} Channel-K".
47. "Film Awards Ceremonies in Korea".
48. (November 30, 2005). "'Lady Vengeance' Bags Korea's Top Movie Honors".
49. (December 5, 2005). ""Welcome To Dongmakgol" wins best picture award".
50. (July 26, 2006). "43rd Crowns King and the Clown".