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Jeon Mi-do
South Korean actress (born 1982) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jeon Mi-do (Korean: 전미도; born August 4, 1982)[3] is a South Korean actress and singer. She debuted as ensemble cast in musical Mr. Mouse in 2006. She later made a name for herself by appearing in famous works such as the musical Finding Kim Jong-wook, Doctor Zhivago, and Maybe Happy Ending.[4] In 2015, she won the Best Actress Award at the 9th The Musical Awards, and in 2017 and 2018, she once again bagged the Best Actress Award back-to-back at the 1st and 2nd Korean Musical Awards, respectively.[5]
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She transitioned to the small screen with her first television role in the series Mother (2018), and gained wider recognition for her prominent role as Dr. Chae Song-hwa in Hospital Playlist (2020–2021).[6] She subsequently starred in the series Thirty-Nine (2022) alongside actresses Son Ye-jin and Kim Ji-hyun.[7]
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Early life
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Jeon Mi-do, born on August 4, 1982, in Busan, is the only daughter among three siblings. After her father's passing, she and her two brothers were raised by their mother. Jeon aspired to be a theater actress from the third grade, inspired by a church play she attended.[8][9][10] During her elementary years, she participated in a group reading of a play called The One-Legged Goose from a Korean language textbook, practicing with a friend. She memorized her lines easily and performed confidently, which led her to recognize her interest in acting.[11][12][13]
"I first saw the musical Grease starring Yoo Jun-sang, in Busan when I was in high school. It was a shocking experience. I was convinced and thought, 'That's what I'm going to do.'"
–Jeon on her dream of becoming musical actress[8]
Initially focused on her studies, Jeon dropped out of school in her second year of middle school but returned a year later, continuing her education alongside her younger siblings.[11] While attending Busan Dongho Information Girls' High School, she watched her first musical, Grease, which reinforced her desire to pursue a career in theater.[11]
Diring her teenage years, Jeon found it challenging to communicate with her family and sought friendships where she could express herself openly. She turned to singing and often visited karaoke. In her third year of high school, a friend invited her to join a female band called 'Dali,' which performed at various boys' high school festivals. Leading her mother expressed concern about Jeon's focus on music rather than academics.[11][13][14] Later, Jeon expressed her intention to enroll in the Department of Theater and Film. Although her request surprised her mother, Jeon's persistence led to her mother's eventual approval. She began her studies later than her peers but felt motivated by her aspirations. Jeon successfully enrolled in the Theater and Film Department at Myongji University in Seoul.[14][15]
After moving to Seoul, her college friends were unaware of her Busan origins due to her efforts to adopt the Seoul accent, which she considered important for her acting career. Although she adapted her accent, adjusting to the local dialect proved challenging, sometimes leading others to perceive her as distant. Through stage performances, she developed her speech and personality. Jeon participated in approximately 12 performances before graduating.[8][11]
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Career
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2006–2009: Early Career and Stage Debut
After graduating from Myongji University, Jeon Mi-do made her debut in 2006 as Yang Yang-yi in the musical Mr. Mouse.[16] In 2007, she made her theater debut in the play Liar, followed by the musical White Proposal in 2008, where she portrayed the role of a high school girl.[17]
In 2008, Jeon and Park Hae-soo starred together in the Korean adaptation of the musical Spring Awakening, titled Puberty. Jeon chose to participate in this musical as it allowed her to showcase her acting range. Her performance was well-received, as she portrayed five different roles, including a high school girl, a teacher, a nurse, a cafe madam, and a stepmother.[18][19] For her work in this production, she was nominated for the Best New Actress Award.[17]
"At first, it was challenging because I couldn't fully portray Agnes's emotional pain. However, as time passed, I found ways to gradually connect with her character. I deliberately searched for my own childhood experiences and reflected upon them. I realized that I had to genuinely express my emotions on stage, rather than relying solely on acting skills."
–Jeon on Agnes of God[8]
Later in 2008, Jeon was double-cast with Park Hye-jung in the play Agnes of God, performed at the Daehakro Installation Theater Jeongmiso from December 6 to January 10, 2009.[8] For her performance as Agnes, Jeon received the Best New Actress Award at the 2008 Korean Theater Awards.[20]
To diversify her roles following Agnes of God, Jeon auditioned for the romantic comedy musical Finding Kim Jong-wook in 2009 and secured the female lead in the musical's fourth season.[14] This production attracted attention as both Oh Na-ra, the original female protagonist, and Jeon were cast in leading roles.[21]
In October 2009, Jeon took on a significant supporting role in the musical Hero, directed by Yoon Ho-jin. The musical is based on the final year of An Jung-geun's life, detailing his plans for the assassination of Itō Hirobumi in Harbin and his subsequent execution. Jeon portrayed Ling-ling, a fictional 16-year-old Chinese girl who conceals her feelings for Ahn Jung-geun. Ling-ling is fatally shot by a Japanese soldier while protecting Ahn and dies in his arms.[22] In the play Hoya, directed by Seo Jae-hyung, Jeon played Lady Eo, a noblewoman who becomes involved with the king while harboring feelings for another man.[19]
In May 2010, Splendid Holiday, a musical based on the 2007 film May 18, premiered in Gwangju and was performed at the National Theater's Haeoreum Theater on June 12 and 13. Jeon portrayed Shin-ae, a young nurse residing in Gwangju, receiving attention for her performance.[8][19]
Jeon played Ja-sook in The Case of the Crown Prince's Disappearance, created by director Seo Jae-hyung and writer Han Ah-reum, which originated from a play.[23]
In December 2010, Jeon reprised her role as Ling-ling in Hero, which was performed at the National Theater's Haeoreum Theater from December 4 to January 15, 2011.[24] In April 2011, she acted alongside Seo Sang-won, Kim Young-pil, and Kim Joo-wan in the play The Author by British playwright Tim Crouch.[25]
Jeon is a member of Theater Company Man Theater,[A] led by CEO Woo Hyeon-joo. In 2011, Man Theater produced Anton Chekov's play The Seagull, directed by Oh Gyeong-taek, marking a reunion for Jeon and Park Hae-soo after their collaboration in Puberty in 2008.[27][28]
2010–2016: Breakthrough Roles and Musical Success
In 2012, Jeon Mi-do achieved a significant milestone in her career by securing the lead role in a licensed musical for the first time. She made her stage debut as Lara Antipova in the South Korean premiere of the musical Doctor Zhivago, a role she shared with Kim Ji-woo.[29][30] In the first half of 2012, Jeon played the female lead in the original musical Bungee Jumping, which was based on the film of the same name starring Lee Byung-hun and Lee Eun-ju. In this production, Jeon alternated the role of the bold and lovely Tae-hee with Choi Yu-ha.[8]
In October, Jeon returned to the theater with Man Theater,[A] taking on the role of Anya, the daughter of Ranevskaya, in Anton Chekhov's play The Cherry Orchard, directed by Oh Gyeong-taek. The play ran from October 12 to 28, 2012, at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts M Theater.[31] It was later invited to the 'Stanislavsky Birth 150th Anniversary Festival' in early February 2013 at the Stanislavsky Theater in Moscow, though Jeon did not participate in that event.[32]
"It really wasn't an easy task. Expressing Shakespeare's numerous lines was not an easy task. The amount was very large, but compared to that, the practice period was not enough. There were problems with Chinese director Tian Chin-xin's schedule, and the script came out a bit late. It was difficult because I was in a situation where I had to rush to create emotions even though many words hadn't even entered my mind yet.
–Jeon on working on Romeo and Juliet[8]
Jeon's final project in 2012 was her portrayal of Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. This production was a collaboration between the National Theater Company and the China National Theater Company, commemorating the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China. Directed by Tian Chin-xin, the only female director of the China National Theater Company, the play was performed at the National Theater Haorum Theater from December 18 to 29, 2012. Tian adapted the setting of Verona to China during the height of the Cultural Revolution.[33][34][35][36]
After the performance of Romeo and Juliet, Jeon took a week-long break before beginning rehearsals for the musical The Mirror Princess' Pyeonggang Story in January 2013. She was scheduled to start performing in February, playing the role of Yeon-yi, the maid of honor to the female protagonist, Princess Pyeonggang.[12]
Initially, Jeon believed there was a clear distinction between stage plays and musicals; however, this distinction began to fade over time. In 2013, she reflected on her experience in 14 Chekhovs, a collection of Anton Chekhov's one-act plays, noting a long monologue by Park Jeong-ja that had a rhythm similar to singing. Jeon realized that stage plays could have a musical flow, while musicals often emphasized dialogue. She explained, "Since then, when delivering lines in stage plays, I have incorporated intensity and tension, making it more dynamic. When singing in musicals, I approached it more like speaking, which made it feel much more natural."[37]
In July 2013, Jeon portrayed Yeon-woo in the original musical adaptation of the drama The Moon Embracing the Sun. The musical had its preview performance at Poeun Art Hall in Yongin on June 8, 2013, receiving a standing ovation from the 1,000 audience members present. It was performed at the CJ Towol Theater at the Seoul Arts Center from July 6 to 31, with additional regional performances planned in Daegu and Busan in August, and in Tokyo, Japan, in December.[38][39][40]
In the musical Werther, based on the novel The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe, Jeon played the role of Charlotte. The production was staged at the CJ Towol Theater in the Seoul Arts Center until January 12, 2014.[41]
Jeon's next role was Mephistopheles in the play Mephisto, directed by Seo Jae-hyung. This adaptation of Goethe's Faust, featured Jeon embodying a character that combined both male and female qualities as well as human and animal traits. The production was staged at the CJ Towol Theater from April 4 to 19, 2014.[42]
In May 2014, Jeon performed alongside Kim Tae-geun in the play Some Girls, produced by Man Theater,[A] which ran at the Dongsoong Arts Center Small Theater until July 20.[43] Later in the end of 2014, she took on the role of 'Girl' in the musical Once. To prepare, she dedicated herself to learning the piano, studying the Czech language, and understanding the character's traits.[11]
In 2015, Jeon secured her dream role as Aldonza in the musical Man of La Mancha, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in South Korea. This was a role she had expressed interest in during interviews for several years. The performance took place at the D Cube Art Center from July 30 to November 11.[44] While involved in Man of La Mancha, Jeon also joined the cast of Maybe Happy Ending, a musical created by Hue Park and Will Aronson. The project, initially pitched to the Wooran Cultural Foundation in February 2014, was further developed under the direction of Kim Dong-yeon.[45] Jeon participated based on her trust in the creators, stemming from their previous collaboration on Bungee Jumping.[46] The musical had a try-out at Project Box Seeya in September 2015 and quickly sold out.[47] Written in both Korean and English, it was showcased in a workshop in New York in 2016 and the English version received the 2017 Richard Rodgers Award.[48] At the end of 2015, Jeon reprised her role as Charlotte in the encore of Werther, performed at the CJ Towol Theater until January 10, 2016.[49]
In April 2016, Jeon returned to Man Theater,[A] portraying Yeon Baek-hee in the play Heuk Heuk Heuk Hee Hee Hee. Baek-hee is an astronaut who, after fulfilling her dream, falls ill with an incurable heart disease and undergoes a transformation in her outlook on life through her encounter with Jin Heuk-cheol, a comedian who faces criticism and abandonment.[50][51]
In June 2016, Jeon was cast as Mrs. Lovett in the musical Sweeney Todd.[52] Initially, many assumed she would play the character Joanna, leading to confusion when she announced her role as Mrs. Lovett. Despite initial doubts, Jeon embraced the challenge,[30] and her performance earned her a nomination for Best Musical Actress at the 2016 Stage Talk Audience's Choice Awards (SACA),[B] and the Best Actress Award at the 1st Korean Musical Awards in 2017, based on votes from both the audience and experts.[53]
Following the final performance of Sweeney Todd, Jeon began rehearsing for the play BEA, originally written and directed by British playwright Mick Gordon in 2010. Directed by Kim Kwang-bo and produced by Man Theater,[A] it explores the theme of euthanasia.[37][54][55] For her performance in BEA, Jeon won the Best Theater Actress award at the 2016 Stage Talk Audience's Choice Awards (SACA).[B]
2017–present: Transition to Television and Rising Popularity
At the end of 2016, Jeon Mi-do reprised her role as Claire in the premiere performance of the musical Maybe Happy Ending, which was selected for the Seeya Stage.[C] Produced by the Daemyung Cultural Factory, the musical premiered at Lifeway Hall in DCF Daemyung Cultural Factory's second building from December 20, 2016, to March 5, 2017, running for 51 performances.[56][57] The premiere was directed by Kim Dong-yeon, who had also directed the tryout performance the previous September.[58] An encore performance was held at the same venue from October 23 to November 12, 2017,[59] and it sold out all seats before opening, continuing the popularity of the premiere.[60] For her performance as Claire, Jeon received critical acclaim, winning two popularity awards: the Women Popularity Award at the 2017 Yegreen Musical Awards and the Best Musical Actress Award at the 2017 Stage Talk Audience's Choice Awards. She also won the Best Actress Award at the 2018 Korea Musical Awards.[61][62]
In November 2017, Jeon was cast in tvN 2018 series Mother portraying Ra-ra, the former lover of Lee Seol-ak (Son Seok-ku). She officially made her television debut when the show aired from January 24 to March 15, 2018. Despite her limited screen time, she left a strong impression.[63]
In March 2018, Jeon reprised her role as Lara Antipova in the musical Doctor Zhivago, sharing the role with Jo Jeong-eun and performing alternately at the Charlotte Theater until May 7.[64] In the second quarter of 2018, Jeon played Mona Juul in J. T. Rogers' play Oslo, a diplomat involved in the peace agreement between Palestine and Israel. The performance took place at the Myeongdong Arts Theater from October 12 to November 4.[65] She won the 2018 Stage Talk Audience's Choice Awards (SACA)[B] for Best Theater Actor, further solidifying her reputation as a respected performer.[66][67]
From September 2018, Jeon participated in the internal reading of the musical Paris Bakery, a new work by author Kim Han-sol and composer Kim Ki-yeon. A tryout performance was held four times at Wooran 2 from January 12 to 14, 2019.[68] In December 2018, Jeon took part in a reading session for the musical Il Tenore, reuniting with Hue Park and Will Aronson. Set in 1930 Gyeongseong, it follows the stories of three individuals with forbidden dreams in a restrictive society.[69]
The following year, Jeon made her big-screen debut in the fantasy film Metamorphosis. She landed her first lead role in Lee Woo-jung's drama Hospital Playlist,[70][71] directed by Shin Won-ho. During the audition, she initially thought she was trying out for a patient role, but the director considered her for the lead role of Chae Song-hwa,[72] an associate professor of neurosurgery.[73] Shin stated that he felt she was destined for the role and noted that her casting was influenced by recommendations from Jo Jung-suk and Yoo Yeon-seok.[63] The first season aired on tvN from March 12 to May 28, 2020.[74]
Jeon received multiple awards for her performance in Hospital Playlist, including the Best Acting Award at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards[75] and the Newcomer Actress Award at the 2020 Asia Contents Awards.[76] She was also nominated for Best New Actress at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.[77] In 2021, she won the Best New Actress award at the APAN Star Awards and was nominated for the Popular Star Award (Actress) at the same awards.[78][79] For the drama's soundtrack, she sang a cover of Shin Hyo-beom's song "I Knew I Love" (사랑하게 될 줄 알았어), which peaked at number one on the on the Gaon Digital Chart.[80]
In 2020, Jeon reprised her role as Claire in the encore of Maybe Happy Ending, joined by actresses Kang Hye-in and Han Jae-ah. [81][82] She also reprised her role as Chae Song-hwa and began filming for season 2 of Hospital Playlist in late January 2021, which aired from June 17 to September 16, 2021.[83]
In April 2021, it was reported that Jeon was in talks to appear in JTBC's TV series Thirty-Nine,[84] a remake of the Chinese drama Nothing But Thirty, focusing on the lives and friendships of three friends nearing the age of forty.[85][86] Jeon confirmed her participation in August, portraying Jeong Chan-young, a 39-year-old drama coach.[87] The series premiered on JTBC on February 16, 2022.[88]
Jeon decided to reprise her role as Mrs. Lovett in the 2022 encore of the musical Sweeney Todd after initially hesitating due to scheduling conflicts. With the postponement of overlapping schedules, she was able to focus fully on the production. Kim Ji-hyun, a close friend, also played a significant role in her decision. Both Jeon and Kim Ji-hyun were part of a triple cast in 2022, along with a new actress, Rina.[89]
In December 2023, Jeon and Ji Sung were confirmed to star in the series Connection, marking her first lead role in a terrestrial channel drama since her acting debut in 2006.[90] Jeon portrayed Oh Yun-jin, a social affairs reporter known for her assertiveness. [91] Connection was premiered on SBS TV during the first half of 2024.[90] On December 21, Jeon won the Best Acting Award in the Miniseries Genre/Action category at the 2024 SBS Drama Awards for her work in Connection.[92]
On March 30, 2024, Jeon was invited to the Busan Sea Festival by the Lotte Giants for a special first pitch event.On July 16, she was appointed as one of the nine ambassadors for the 2024 Dream Theater Company.[93] In August, Jeon appeared alongside her Hospital Playlist co-stars in a Netflix show titled A-List to Playlist, featuring Jo Jung-seok.[94] On October 4 and 5, she participated as a narrator for the 10th anniversary memorial documentary of Shin Hae-chul titled Our Brother, Shin Hae-chul.[95] On October 22, she appeared in the music video for the title track "그래도 돼" from Cho Yong-pil's 20th album, 20.[96] On December 29, she appeared in Season 3 of KBS1's documentary Love Across the Sea, visiting a poverty-stricken region in Africa.[97]
From January 17 to March 16, 2025, Jeon reprised her role as Charlotte for the 25th anniversary edition of the musical Werther. On March 24, she was announced to join the cast of the film The Man Living with the King. On April 10, her agency, Medialab Siso, announced that they had signed an exclusive contract with her.[98] On May 11, 2025, Jeon made a cameo appearance in Resident Playbook, reprising her role as Chae Song-hwa from Hospital Playlist.[99]
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Personal life
In April 2013, Jeon Mi-do married her non-celebrity boyfriend, whom she had met in July 2012 through a blind date. Just two months after their initial meeting, they decided to get married.[12] Their engagement lasted six months.[100]
Filmography
Film
Television series
Television shows
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Stage
Theater
Musical
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Discography
Cast recording
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Accolades
Awards and nominations
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Listicles
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Notes
- The theater company Man Theater (맨씨어터) was founded in 2007 by CEO Woo Hyeon-joo along with actresses in their mid-to-late 30s who were close friends at the time, including Jeong Jae-eun and Jeong Su-young. It has a brilliant line-up, with male actors showing outstanding performances such as Lee Seok-jun and Park Ho-san, star actors such as Jeon Mi-do, and young actors such as Lee Chang-hoon, Koo Do-gyun, and Lee Eun.[26]
- SEEYA STAGE is a program that supports development potential by selecting some of the performance/exhibition personnel and contents who have participated in various programs of the Wooran Foundation. It was designed to provide opportunities for performances or overseas training at home and abroad to human resources and contents judged to be able to secure artistic and commercial competitiveness in Korea, and to support people and contents who have gone through the Wooran Foundation to have cultural competitiveness.
- Performed with Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho and Kim Dae-myung, and released under the band name Mido & Falasol.
- Established in 2019 and co-sponsored by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korea Creative Content Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Council and the Seoul Tourism Organization, it awards cultural icons, businesses, and individuals who have contributed greatly to Hallyu, the Korean wave.[164]
- Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[166][167] They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.[168]
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References
External links
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