Jung Eun Chae, known as Prime Minister Koo in the hit drama 'The King: Eternal Monarch', turns 34 on November 24. Let's take a peek at his career journey.
Jung Eun Chae who is known as Prime Minister Koo in the hit drama "The King: Eternal Monarch" turns 34 (by international reckoning) on November 24th. To celebrate, WowKeren will thoroughly review the beautiful actress's career through the Birthday Spotlight column.
Jung Eun Chae is a South Korean actress, model and TV host. She began her career as a model, then made her breakthrough acting as the lead in 2013's "Nobody's Daughter Haewon", a film by director Hong Sang Soo that premiered at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival.
For her appearance on television, Jung Eun Chae is known through her role as a detective in the OCN drama "The Guest". He then starred in Lee Min Ho's comeback drama after his military service, "The King: Eternal Monarch" as Koo Seo Ryung.
As an actress, Jung Eun Chae is known for her beautiful classy looks. No need to linger, let's take a peek at what Jung Eun Chae's career journey has been like until now.
(wk / chus)
1. Pre Debut
Jung Eun Chae was born Jung Sol Mi on November 24, 1986. She spent 8 years living in London, starting from her senior year of high school when she was 15 years old. Due to the influence of her older brother who worked at a production company, Chorokbaem Media, Jung Eun Chae became interested in pursuing an acting career after returning to South Korea.
Jung Eun Chae made her debut as a commercial advertising model. An impressive series of advertisements earned her the title CF Model of the Year at the 6th Asian Model Festival Awards in 2011.
Jung Eun Chae used her stage name instead of her real name Jung Sol Mi because of her resemblance to veteran actress Park Sol Mi. He finally made his acting debut after passing an audition for the supernatural thriller "Haunters".
2. Debut
Jung Eun Chae debuted as an actress through the supernatural thriller "Haunters" which was released in 2010. The film directed by Kim Min Seok stars two handsome actors, Kang Dong Won and Go Soo.
In "Haunters", Jung Eun Chae plays a character named Yeong Seok, Jung Sik's biracial daughter who is studying to become a flight attendant. He is Kyu Nam (Go Soo) 's lover and who he tries to protect from Cho In (Kang Dong Won).
Since then, Jung Eun Chae has alternated between starring in blockbuster films such as "The Fatal Encounter", "The Kin", and "The Great Battle" as well as art films such as "Nobody's Daughter Haewon", "Hill of Freedom" and "The Table. ".
Jung Eun Chae's debut in television dramas was through the KBS weekend drama "My Bittersweet Life" in 2011. She also penetrated the world of singing with the release of self-composed EPs of indie folk songs under the title "Jung Eun Chae".
3. Career Peak
Jung Eun Chae made her breakthrough acting with the film "Nobody's Daughter Haewon" in 2013. Thanks to her appearance in this film directed by Hong Sang Soo, she received many prestigious awards and nominations. Jung Eun Chae was awarded the best New Actress award by the Busan Film Critics Awards and the KOFRA Film Awards, Buil Film Awards and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. She even won the Best Actress award at the 2014 Wildflower Film Awards.
In this film, Jung Eun Chae plays Hae Won, a film majoring student and aspiring actress. He meets his ex-girlfriend Lee Seong Joon (Lee Sun Gyun), a film director and college professor who is married. The two of them are back in a relationship.
Several years starring in a number of films, Jung Eun Chae made a big comeback on television in 2018 by starring in two dramas at once. Following his appearance in the SBS drama "Return", he starred in the OCN drama "The Guest" alongside Kim Dong Wook and Kim Jae Wook. In the drama about exorcism and shamanism, Jung Eun Chae appears charismatic as a detective named Kang Kil Young.
Then in 2020, Jung Eun Chae also starred in "The King: Eternal Monarch" by the hit script writer Kim Eun Sook. His antagonist role as the cunning Prime Minister Koo Seo Ryung has caught viewers' attention.
4. Love life
Jung Eun Chae's personal life is quite closed because she rarely does interviews unless it is related to films or works that she starred in. The beautiful actress has never been confirmed having an affair with anyone.
However, Jung Eun Chae was once linked with two men, Japanese actor Ryo Kase and singer Jung Joon Il. However, the rumors of Jung Eun Chae's relationship with the two of them were colored by an affair scandal which the agency firmly denied.
Currently Jung Eun Chae is not publicly in a relationship with anyone. However, he developed friendly relationships with several of his co-star actors such as Kim Dong Wook, Kim Jae Wook, Lee Min Ho, Woo Do Hwan and Kim Kyung Nam.
5. Controversy
Jung Eun Chae twice stumbled over an affair scandal that tarnished her image as an actress. Back in 2013, she was rumored to be dating Japanese actor Ryo Kase who was then known to have a family.
The rumors originated from Jung Eun Chae who was caught on camera with Ryo Kase in Tokyo. According to the report, the two enjoyed a trip in Kanagawa at the end of July, and stayed at a Tokyo hotel together, bought things at the market, dated like any other couple.
Jung Eun Chae's agency at the time denied the rumors, insisting that they were just friends. The two of them got to know each other thanks to film director Hong Sang Soo. This film stars Ryo Kase, Jung Eun Chae and Moon So Ri. It is said that they all plan to enjoy their time off in Japan together. However, due to schedule changes only Jung Eun Chae and Ryo Kase were left behind.
Then in April 2020, WikiTree published a report claiming that Jung Eun Chae and singer Jung Joon Il had an affair 10 years ago. Jung Joon Il got married at the time, but reports claim that Jung Eun Chae didn't know when they were dating.
In response to this report, Jung Joon Il's representatives stated that they could not verify the report because it is the artist's personal life. Reports also claimed that Jung Eun Chae knew that Jung Joon Il was married at that time.
KeyEast Entertainment as Jung Eun Chae's agency on the other hand did not deny the affair scandal. However, the agency confirmed that the matter was resolved right away.
6. Future Projects
Jung Eun Chae's name is increasingly known after starring in the hit drama "The King: Eternal Monarch" as Prime Minister Koo Seo Ryung. It has been confirmed that he will likely reunite with Lee Min Ho in the Apple TV drama "Pachinko". Jung Eun Chae was appointed to play the character Kyung Hee.
"Pachinko" is an adaptation of the novel of the same title. Lee Min Ho is targeted to play the role of a Korean who has survived the harsh life of Korean immigrants who have moved to Japan and the United States since the Japanese colonial era.
The novel version of "Pachinko" follows a Korean family who eventually immigrates to Japan. The themes include racism, stereotypes, power and pachinko games. This book was written by Lee Min Jin of Korean-American descent. "Pachinko" was voted "Book of the Year" by the New York Times on the 2017 Fire.
Jung Eun Chae's English proficiency and exotic appearance will benefit this project. It was also revealed that the actress has started preparations for her role in "Pachinko". The potential for Lee Min Ho and Jung Eun Chae's reunion is quite anticipated by fans.
(wk / chus)
