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Gong Min-jeung
South Korean actress (born 1986) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Kim Min-jung (Korean: 김민정; born 30 September 1986), known professionally as Gong Min-jeung (공민정), is a South Korean actress.[2][3] She is an actress active in independent film, known for her roles in three Hong Sang-soo films, Yourself and Yours, On the Beach at Night Alone, and Grass. In 2020, she won the Fantastic Best Actor Special Mention Award in the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival for Zombie Crush: Heyri.[4][5]
She is also known for her supporting roles in television dramas such as Temperature of Love (2017), Familiar Wife (2018), and Sweet Munchies (2020).[6] Her most popular roles to date are Pyo Mi-seon, a dental nurse, in Netflix rom-com series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) and Yang Ju-ran, an assistant marketing manager in the drama series Marry My Husband (2024).[7] Her portrayal as confident and honest Na Ye-jin in MBC drama One Dollar Lawyer garnered the Best Supporting Actress Award in 2022 SBS Drama Awards.[8]
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Early life and education
Kim Min-jung was born on September 30, 1986, in Jongno District, Seoul. Initially shy and introverted, her personality began to change after her younger brother was born. A pivotal moment came when she delivered a speech during a class president election, which amused her friends and sparked her interest in comedy. However, her passion for acting was ignited in her third year of middle school after attending a performance of the musical Subway Line 1 leading her to envision herself on stage.[9] It led her to try producing it with friends a few years later.[10]
Though initially hesitant to pursue acting, she eventually enrolled in the Department of Film at Konkuk University in her twenties. This decision boosted her confidence and solidified her commitment to acting. She aims to expand her career through diverse experiences, aspiring to act with confidence and authenticity while utilizing her unique voice.[11] She graduated with a bachelor's degree from the Film Art Department of Konkuk University.[12]
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Career
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2009 to 2014: Early career
In 2009, Kim made her acting debut in director Kim Han-gyeol's short film A Perfect Sight, which won Best Short Film at the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards. After graduating from Konkuk University's Film Department, she established herself as an actress by appearing in various independent and low-budget films. In 2011, she ventured into theater, debuting in the open-run play Rooftop Cat as a multi-girl.[9][13][14]
Under her stage name Kim E-jeong, she made her feature film debut in Kim Seung-hyun's independent film Your Time is Up, where she portrayed Hee-young, a femme fatale and bar hostess. The film was produced by the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA)[15][16] and received an official invitation to the New Currents section of the Busan International Film Festival, garnering positive reviews that motivated Kim to further her career.[17][18]
In 2014, Kim starred as the female lead in the short film A Familiar Taste, directed by Kim In-sun. She played Kyung-eon, an elementary school teacher facing her father's absence following her mother's remarriage.[19] The film, which explored themes of distance and reconnection, was showcased at the 19th Busan International Film Festival in Korean Short Film Competition and featured in the 40th Seoul Independent Film Festival that same year. In 2015, it was invited to the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival and participated in the 16th Daegu Short Film Festival in the Domestic Competition category. It also received an Encouragement Award at the 2nd Catholic Film Festival and competed at the 2nd Pohang Malgeun Short Film Festival, ultimately winning the Grand Prize at the 1st Food Film Festival.[20]
In the following year Kim acted in short films Sunshine.[13][21] Also in 2015, she starred in the film Byeong-gu (Allergy), opposite actor Seo Hyun-woo, which won the Grand Prize at the 2016 Fukuoka Independent Film Festival.[22][23]
2016 to 2017: Rising career in independent film industry
Kim, reunited with Seo Hyun-woo in Choi Ki-yoon's film A Man in the Basement, in the supporting role. Later that year, their films, A Man in the Basement and Allergy, were featured on the opening day of the 10th Gyeongnam Independent Film Festival, which was organized by the Gyeongnam Film Association. The festival took place from 18 November to the 20th at Lotte Cinema Changwon branch and Cine Art Rhizome, the only art theater in Gyeongnam.[24][25] A Man in the Basement also participated in the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in 2017.[26]
The short film Love Triangle, directed and written by Hyung Seul-woo and produced by Cho Hyun-yeol, premiered in 2016 at the 42nd Seoul Independent Film Festival in the Special Invitation Category. The story follows close friends Min-ji (Kim Min-jung) and Han-na (Kim Han-na), both in love with Jun-ho (Jo Hyeong-rae), as they experience an awkward moment while driving to the beach.[27] In 2017, the film was also featured at several festivals: the 27th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Japan, the 16th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival the 11th Guam International Film Festival, where Kim Han-na won the Acting Award, and the 3rd Gosichon Short Film Festival, where it received the Silver Award. In 2018, it was invited to the 1st Hongseong International Short Film Festival in the Domestic Competition.[28]
Kim also acted in Kwon Hang's short film Terrific Weather. It was screened at the 19th Korea National University of Arts' Film Department Graduation Film Festival in February 2017. The movie begins with weather forecaster Yeon-joo (played by Kim Min-jung) predicting the weather. The story revolves around people who perceive weathercasters as mere eye candy for broadcasting rather than professionals are discussing different aspects.[29]
In the same year, Kim achieved a career milestone through her supporting roles in two feature films by Hong Sang-soo, namelyYourself and Yours, followed by On the Beach at Night Alone. Also in 2017, she made her television debut in the SBS drama series Temperature of Love.[10]
2017 to 2019: Rebrand with new the stage name and further acclaim in independent film industry
In 2018, she received acclaim for her vibrant performances in the drama Familiar Wife, where she played a supporting role.[10] She was also cast as the lead in Hong Sang-soo's film Grass (2018), credited as Gong Min-jeung, her new stage name. She portrayed Mi-na, who meets Hong-soo (Ahn Jae-hong) at a coffeehouse. She initially mentions a planned trip to Europe, later revealed as a lie. Their conversation turns sour when they discuss a deceased mutual friend, with Mi-na insisting they both share some responsibility.[30] Notably, Grass also featured actors including Kim Min-hee, Jeong Jin-young, Ki Joo-bong, Seo Yeong-hwa, and Kim Sae-byeok.[31] Grass had its premiere at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival on 16 February 2018,[32][33] and it was also screened in the "Korean Cinema Today – Panorama" program at the 23rd Busan International Film Festival.[13] In the same year, Gong also starred in commercial feature films The Vanished.[34]
In that same year, Gong also did several independent film projects. In Oh Jeong-min's short film Coming of Age, Gong acted opposite Kim Mi-kyung as Baek-seol, a 29-year-old college student in Seoul facing a crossroads after failing to secure a full-time job. The film was invited to several festivals in 2018, including the 16th Asiana International Short Film Festival, the 19th Jeonju International Film Festival, the 17th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival, the 19th Daegu Short Film Festival, the 23rd Indie Forum New Film Exhibition and the 20th Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival. In the following year, it was also invited to the 17th Florence Korean Film Festival.[20][35]
In Lee Ga-hong's short film I Should Have Killed That Bastard, Gong acted alongside Lim Seong-mi, Kim Ye-eun, and Jeong Soo-ji. The story revolves around the crisis faced by the drama "Descendants of Unicorn" due to the departure of male actors. Officials, unable to halt the airing, convene an emergency response meeting.[36] It was screened at the 2018 20th Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival and the 17th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival.[37] In Park Je-beom's independent film I Am Home, Gong portrayed Gyeong-ran, the best friend of Lee Yoo-young's character Eun-seo. The film was premiered in the 'Today - Panorama' section of the Korean Film Festival at the 24th Busan International Film Festival in October.[38][39]
"I was satisfied with every scene. When filming the scene where the three siblings are riding in the car together, the three actors seemed like real siblings. I liked the scene with the three of them in one room, I liked the scene where they chatted with their aunt, and although it's a shame it was edited out in the end, I really liked the scene where Eun-young comforts Ji-young by hugging her and telling her not to get sick. I thought every scene shined. Even though the screenplay was much shorter than planned, I felt that the audience liked the scenes in which Eunyoung appeared. The character of Eun-young has such energy, and she believes that this was possible because she is Min-jeong. She is a character I love."
— Director Kim Do-young talks about Gong Min-jeung, Cine21 Interview
Also in 2019, she reached a career milestone by taking on the role of Kim Eun-young, the eldest of three siblings, in Kim Do-young's feminist-themed film Kim Ji-young: Born 1982.[40] Gong expressed a strong desire to portray Eun-young during auditions, stating her preference despite being offered other roles. Director Kim Do-young, moved by Gong's audition, wiped away her tears and remarked that her performance was exceptional, saying she couldn't envision anyone else in the role.[41] Released in October 2019, the film, based on the novel of the same name,[42] received numerous accolades and achieved commercial success, with 3.7 million admissions and grossing $27.16 million.[43][41]
In the omnibus film Midday Picnic, Gong appeared in the third segment titled "Call Me If You Need Me," directed by Lim Oh-jeong. The film premiered at the 44th Seoul Independent Film Festival in November 2019. The storyline follows Choi Young-shin (portrayed by Gong), who leaves home after a disagreement with her husband and unexpectedly visits Woo-hee (Lee Woo-jeong), a freelance designer in her 30s living alone. The film explores themes of emotional coldness and the longing for warmth, highlighting Young-shin's unawareness of her own loneliness and her realization of being stuck in a stagnant phase of life.[13]
Gong's performances in Hong Sang-soo's films, along with her role in Midday Picnic, garnered significant attention from industry professionals, who praised her as a talented actress. As her reputation grew, Gong continued to receive opportunities to participate in various projects.[13] In November 2019, Gong was featured in the 4th Oh Theater Audience Programmer Film Festival held at Oh Theater, an independent film venue. The festival took place from November 18 to 24. As part of the event, three of Gong's short films were showcased on November 19: The Taste of Dad (Kim In-seon, 2014), Coming of Age Ceremony (Oh Jeong-min, 2018), and Two Waters and a Lighter (Cho Hee-young, 2019).[44] In December 2019, Gong made a supporting appearance in the second feature-length film by director Lee Sang-deok, Film Adventure.[45]
In March 2020, Gong signed an exclusive contract with Star Village Entertainment.[46] She played Ji-won in Cho Hee-young's short film Two Waters and a Lighter alongside Moon Hye-in.[47] Gong also portrayed Geum-hee, the third daughter, in Jeong Seung-oh's debut feature film Move the Grave,[13] which expands on his short story When the Birds Come Back. The film combines dark humor and horror, depicting the story of five siblings and their elders in a dispute over relocating their father's grave.[48][17][49][unreliable source?] Move the Grave received widespread recognition, winning the CGV Arthouse Award at the Jeonju International Film Festival, the Grand Prize in the New Director Competition,[41] the main prize in the 1-2 Competition, and the NETPAC Jury Award at the Warsaw International Film Festival. Gong's vibrant and captivating performances have established her as an acclaimed actress known for her talent and powerful on-screen presence.[10]
That same year, Gong took on the role of Gong Jin-seon in Jang Hyun-sang's comical action-adventure film Zombie Crush: Heyri. Produced by GATE6, the story centers on the struggles of three musketeers—Jin-seon (Gong), Hyuna (Lee Min-ji), and Ga-yeon (Park So-jin) —as they attempt to save a village infected by a zombie virus.[50] Gong received the Fantastic Best Actor Special Mention Award at the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival for her performance.[4][5]
Her next project, the drama Sweet Munchies is a romantic comedy written by Park Seung-hye and produced by Song Ji-won, where Gong played Yoo Sung-eun, a freelance broadcasting scriptwriter.[48] She also appeared in the TV series Please Don't Date Him, both of which aired in November 2020.[7]
On November 17, 2020, Indie Plus at the Seoul Cinema Center announced plans to host the "Rising Star - Actor Gong Min-jung Exhibition" from November 19 to 23. The exhibition showcased a total of 14 works, including five feature films and seven short films divided into two sections, along with two personal recommendations from Gong. Featured films included Everyone Wants to Die by My Name (2012), Yourself and Yours (2016), Grass (2017), Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (2019), Move the Grave (2019), Call Me If You Need Me (2018), Allergy (2015), Two Waters and a Lighter (2020), A Familiar Taste (2014), The Distance Between Us (2016), Coming-of-age (2018), and I Should Have Killed the Bastard (2018). Gong's recommendations included Blue Valentine (2010) and American Honey (2016).[51]
2021 to present: Mainstream popularity and accolades
In 2021, Gong portrayed Hee-soo in Jeong Gam-won's independent film The Train Passed By. Hee-soo embodies a woman who exists and does not exist simultaneously. As the protagonist, she embarks on a tranquil, solitary journey between the Daegu Dyeing Industrial Complex and a fishing village in Gangwon-do. Along the way, she briefly encounters various individuals, including her former lover, a grandmother with a broken radio, a middle-aged woman at a guesthouse, and a male student on a bicycle.[52][53]
In May of that same year, Gong began filming the drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, remake of the 2004 film Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong, in Pohang. Gong achieved some success with the role of Pyo Mi-seon, a dental hygienist and the best friend of Shin Min-a's character, Yoon Hye-jin. Gong mentioned that she made an effort to fully immerse herself in the role. The atmosphere on set was so delightful that she would occasionally forget she was acting. When she was in Seoul, fans would recognize her on the streets and warmly greet her as "Unnie Mi-seon." Moreover, her parents requested her autograph for their acquaintances for the first time. Gong regards Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha as an endearing and fulfilling project.[54][55][56][57]
In November, Gong made a return to independent film with the movie Sprinter. The film was screened at the 47th Seoul Independent Film Festival, which took place at CGV Art House Apgujeong and CGV Apgujeong from 25 November to 3 December. Prior to the screening, Gong participated in a press conference held at Art Nine in Sadang-dong on December 3rd alongside her co-actors from the film, Lim Ji-ho, Jeon Hwan-hwan, Song Deok-ho, Choi Jun-hyuk, and Choi Seung-yeon.[58] On 29 November 2021, the Korea Independent Film Association announced a special exhibition titled "Isn't It Our Sphere?" at the Naver Indie Theater, scheduled to run from 29 November to 28 December 2021. The exhibition showcased five films featuring Gong, including Family Portrait and I Should Have Killed That Bastard, both directed by Kim Hye-jun.[59] In that same month, her film Nothing Serious was released. For her role as Seon-bin, best friend of Jeon Jong-seo's character Ja-young,[60] She was nominated in best supporting actress in 58th Grand Bell Awards.[61]
In April 2022, Gong signed an exclusive contract with HB Entertainment.[62][63] That year, she reunited with director Cho Hee-young for two consecutive projects: the short film The Owners, which screened at the Jeonju International Film Festival,[64] and the feature-length indie film The Continuing Land. The latter received an invitation to the Seoul Independent Film Festival following its screening at the 28th Busan International Film Festival. It centers on Ho-rim, an international student in London who encounters various people after finding a camcorder on the street.[64] In June 2022, Gong played Yook Min-jeong in the Just for Laugh! short omnibus project, specifically in the third sequence, Family Portrait directed by Kim Hyeon.[65][unreliable source?]
In 2022, Gong played a supporting role as Jang Ma-ri, a reporter at YBC news agency, in the tvN drama series Little Woman.[66][67] This was followed by her performance as Na Ye-jin, a prosecutor with a high-end lifestyle, in One Dollar Lawyer,[68] which earned her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2022 SBS Drama Awards.[69]
In 2023, Gong returned to the indie film scene with Lee Rang's short film Thank You for Your Cinema, which depicts a conversation between two female indie film directors. She portrayed Director Gong Min-jeung, starring alongside Kim Sae-byeok. This project was the second campaign film of Indieplex Season 4 and was released simultaneously on July 17 on the Indieground and Marie Claire Korea YouTube channels.[70][71][72]
In 2024, Gong portrayed Yang Joo-ran in the drama series Marry My Husband, where she is the assistant manager of U&K Food Marketing Team 1 and the assistant to Kang Ji-won (Park Min-young). Initially timid, her character undergoes significant transformation due to Ji-won's influence.[73][74][75] Adapted by Shin Yoo-dam from a web novel and a webtoon of the same name,[76][77] it achieved triple box office success, ranking first in average viewership among all tvN Monday-Tuesday dramas and topping domestic and global daily TV show rankings on TVING and Amazon Prime Video, respectively. As a result, Gong took her first reward vacation to Vietnam in March.[78][79] In October 2024, she signed with a new agency, Fantagio.[80]
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Personal life
According to a news report on August 16, 2024, Gong Min-jeong and Jang Jae-ho were set to marry in early September in Seoul. They met in when portraying a married couple in the tvN drama Marry My Husband.[81] The wedding, on September 6, 2024, was described as a small affair, attended only by close family and friends.[82] Gong announced her pregnancy on December 2, 2024.[83] On January 7, 2025, Fantagio announced that she gave birth to a daughter on January 2.[84]
Filmography
Short film
Feature film
Television series
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Stage
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Awards and nominations
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References
External links
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