Uhm Jung-hwa
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Uhm Jung-hwa (; born August 17, 1969) is a South Korean singer, actress and dancer. Uhm is considered to be one of the most influential women in the Korean entertainment industry, finding rare success in both music and film. Her legacy and career reinventions have given her the nickname of "Korean
Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone (; ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Widely dubbed the " Queen of Pop", Madonna has been noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, a ...
". Uhm began her career in 1989 as a chorus member for the broadcasting company MBC. She starred in the 1993 romance drama film, ''On a Windy Day, We Must Go to Apgujeong'', and released her debut studio album, ''Sorrowful Secret'', that same year. Though both releases found limited audiences, the album's lead single, "Pupil", helped to establish a uniquely sensual image for Uhm. She pivoted to dance music with 1996's "Sad Expectation", and found breakthrough success with "Rose of Betrayal" (배반의 장미) from her third studio album, ''After Love'' (1997). Subsequent releases '' Invitation'' (1998) and '' 005.1999.06'' (1999) were bolstered by a string of hit singles: "Poison", "Invitation", "I Don't Know" (몰라), and "Festival", which gained status as her signature songs and cemented her position as one of the preeminent pop icons of the late-1990s. Starting in 2001, Uhm began to concentrate efforts on her acting career. Her performance in the 2002 erotic comedy ''
Marriage Is a Crazy Thing ''Marriage Is a Crazy Thing'' is a 2002 South Korean erotic film, and the second film directed by South Korean poet-turned-director Yoo Ha. Story Joon-young ( Kam Woo-sung) is a Korean professor of English literature and a perpetual bachelor. Bu ...
'' won Best Actress at the 39th
Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were first introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the Hankook Ilbo newspap ...
, a category she received another nomination for in 2006 with '' Princess Aurora'' and won again in 2012 with ''
Dancing Queen "Dancing Queen" is a Europop and disco song by the Swedish group ABBA, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''Arrival'' (1976). It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. Andersson and Ulvaeus al ...
''. Her 2000s musical output saw declining commercial reception but greater appeal with critics. Uhm began experimenting with electronica on ''Self Control'' (2004), and funk on ''Prestige'' (2006), the latter of which won Best Dance and Electronic Album at the 4th
Korean Music Awards The Korean Music Awards () is an annual South Korean music awards show that honors both mainstream and underground musical artists from a variety of genres. Unlike other major South Korean music awards, which largely rely on record sales to det ...
. In 2008, she experienced a commercial resurgence with the single "D.I.S.C.O". Following a nearly decade-long hiatus from music, she released her tenth studio album ''The Cloud Dream of the Nine'' in 2017.


Biography


Early life

Uhm was born in
Jecheon Jecheon () is a city in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. The city is a major railway junction or a transportation mecca, served by the Jungang, Chungbuk and Taebaek Lines. Jecheon has scenic surroundings and several tourist spots like the ...
,
North Chungcheong North Chungcheong Province ( ko, 충청북도, ''Chungcheongbuk-do''), also known as Chungbuk, is a province of South Korea. North Chungcheong has a population of 1,578,934 (2014) and has a geographic area of located in the Hoseo region in the ...
, South Korea. She is the second child of Yoo Gyeong-sook and Uhm Jin-ok, a music teacher who died in a motorcycle accident when she was six. Her younger and only brother
Uhm Tae-woong Uhm Tae-woong (born April 5, 1974) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in 1998, but initially struggled to emerge from under the shadow of his older sister, popular singer-actress Uhm Jung-hwa. After several years of small roles an ...
is an actor. Following her father's death, her family struggled financially.


Music career


1990s

Uhm Jung-hwa officially debuted as a singer in 1993 with her first studio album ''Sorrowful Secret''. By the mid-90s she established herself as one of the top Korean female singers and entertainers, with a series of hit singles: "Sad Expectation" (), "A Love Only Heaven Permits" (), "Rose of Betrayal" (), and "Tell Me" (). Uhm's fourth studio album, ''Invitation'', introduced a new mature side of the singer. The music video for its title track caused a lot of controversy due to its suggestive nature. ''Invitation'' quickly became one of the highest selling albums of the year and received positive reviews from critics and fans. She released two of her most recognizable singles of her career, "Poison" and "Invitation" (). She remained successful the following year, in 1999, with her fifth studio album '' 005.1999.06'' As of 2020 she currently released ten studio albums, two compilation albums and one extended play.


2000s–present

During the 2000s, Uhm began to focus more on her acting career and committed herself to taking a variety of acting roles. She also began to pursue and experiment with different musical genres, in particular
electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that started in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mostly used to r ...
. In 2004, she released her double album ''Self Control'', which featured songs composed by
Jung Jae-hyung Jung Jae-hyung (; born January 12, 1970) is a South Korean pop singer-songwriter, pianist and film music composer. Currently, his agency is the Antenna. Biography Jung Jae-hyung was born in Seoul and graduated from Hanyang University's Colleg ...
, Fractal and Roller Coaster. Music critics praised Uhm for her ability to reinvent her image and sound. After a two-year break from the music scene, she released her ninth studio album ''Prestige''. Throughout the year she released two singles, "Come 2 Me" and "Song of the Wind" (), each enjoyed positive critical reception. In early 2007, she won a Korean Music Award for Best Electronic Dance Record. In the summer of 2008, she released her first EP titled ''D.I.S.C.O'' with help from her longtime friend
Yang Hyun-suk Yang Hyun-suk (born January 9, 1970) is a South Korean music executive, rapper, dancer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of Seo Taiji and Boys during the 1990s. After the group disbanded, he founded and became the Ex ...
of
YG Entertainment YG Entertainment Inc. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1996 by Yang Hyun-suk. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management and concert production compa ...
. The lead single "D.I.S.C.O" featured
T.O.P Choi Seung-hyun (; born November 4, 1987), better known by his stage name T.O.P, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He performed as an underground rapper before joining the record label YG Entertainment and ...
, a member from the popular boy band
Big Bang The Big Bang event is a physical theory that describes how the universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. Various cosmological models of the Big Bang explain the evolution of the observable universe from the ...
. The EP was one of the best-selling albums by a female artist in 2008, and was further promoted by the digital single "D.I.S.C.O Part 2" which was a remix version of "D.I.S.C.O" and featured
G-Dragon Kwon Ji-yong (; born August 18, 1988), also known by his stage name G-Dragon (지드래곤), is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer, known as the " King of K-pop". G-Dragon is the recipi ...
, the leader of Big Bang. After an eight-year-long hiatus Uhm announced that she would be releasing her first new album since D.I.S.C.O in 2008, the album title would be ''The Cloud Dream of the Nine''. She revealed that she would be releasing the album in two parts, the first part would be released on December 27, 2017, and the second part at a later date. Uhm performed the title tracks "Watch Me Move" and "Dreamer" on Gayo Daejeon along with "D.I.S.C.O", she would also perform the two tracks on ''MCountdown'' on the January 5. One year after the release of Part 1, Uhm revealed through her Instagram account that she was in the preparation stage of her comeback with part 2 of ''The Cloud Dream of the Nine''. In the summer of 2020, Uhm joined with singers
Lee Hyori Lee Hyo-ri (; born May 10, 1979) is a South Korean singer, record producer, activist, actress and television presenter. Dubbed as the "Nation's Fairy" during her ''Family Outing'' days, she debuted as a member of South Korean girl group Fin.K.L ...
,
Jessi Jessi may refer to: People * Jessi (musician) (born 1988), Korean-American rapper, singer, and songwriter * Gianluigi Jessi (born 1945), Italian basketball player * Jessi Alexander (born 1976), American country music artist * Jessi Colter (born ...
, and Hwasa to form the "supergroup"
Refund Sisters Refund Sisters () is a seasonal South Korean supergroup formed on the MBC variety show '' Hangout with Yoo''. The group is a spin-off of SSAK3 – another group formed on ''Hangout with Yoo''. They made their debut with the single "Don't Touch M ...
. Their first single, "Don't Touch Me" debuted in October 2020, and reached #1 on the Gaon chart.


Acting career

Uhm has established herself as one of South Korea's top actresses. She is known for her roles in the films ''
Marriage Is a Crazy Thing ''Marriage Is a Crazy Thing'' is a 2002 South Korean erotic film, and the second film directed by South Korean poet-turned-director Yoo Ha. Story Joon-young ( Kam Woo-sung) is a Korean professor of English literature and a perpetual bachelor. Bu ...
'', ''
Singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...
'', '' Princess Aurora'', ''
Dancing Queen "Dancing Queen" is a Europop and disco song by the Swedish group ABBA, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, ''Arrival'' (1976). It was written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. Andersson and Ulvaeus al ...
'', ''
Seducing Mr. Perfect ''Seducing Mr. Perfect'' (Mr. 로빈 꼬시기), alternatively known as ''Seducing Mr. Robin'', is a South Korean film, released on December 7, 2006. It was written and directed by Kim Sang-woo and stars Uhm Jung-hwa as Min Joon and Daniel Henney a ...
'' and '' Haeundae'', which became one of the highest-grossing movies in Korea. She has won two
Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were first introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the Hankook Ilbo newspap ...
for Best Actress, in 2002 for ''Marriage is a Crazy Thing'' and again in 2012 for ''Dancing Queen''. In 2022, Uhm is back on the small screen with the tvN drama ''
Our Blues ''Our Blues'' () is a 2022 South Korean television series starring Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Cha Seung-won, Lee Jung-eun, Uhm Jung-hwa, Han Ji-min, and Kim Woo-bin. The series revolves around the sweet and bitter lives of people at the end, ...
'', which is their comeback on the small screen in 5 years since 2017.


Fashion line

Uhm launched her new clothing and lingerie line, "Corner Suite" and "ZHUM in New York", which made $10M
USD The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
within three months of its release. "Corner Suite" became an instant hit when the line debuted on online markets. The line immediately sold out. Future plans include putting her line of clothes on more home shopping channels, as the demand for it is great.


Personal life

Uhm was diagnosed with
thyroid cancer Thyroid cancer is cancer that develops from the tissues of the thyroid gland. It is a disease in which cells grow abnormally and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms can include swelling or a lump in the neck. C ...
but fully recovered after surgery in May 2010. Uhm said she felt a little afraid leading up to the surgery, but rather than being discouraged by the pain she was experiencing, she made up her mind to dedicate herself to helping others by inspiring them. "I want to use my talent and influence in a meaningful way," she said.


Impact

Artists who have cited Uhm as an influence or role model include
BoA Kwon Bo-ah (; born November 5, 1986), known professionally as BoA, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer and actress. One of the most successful and influential Korean entertainers, she has been dubbed the " Queen of K- ...
,
Lee Hyori Lee Hyo-ri (; born May 10, 1979) is a South Korean singer, record producer, activist, actress and television presenter. Dubbed as the "Nation's Fairy" during her ''Family Outing'' days, she debuted as a member of South Korean girl group Fin.K.L ...
,
Baek Ji-young Baek Ji-young (; born March 25, 1976), also known as Baek Z Young, is a South Korean singer. She made her debut in 1999, with the release of her album ''Sorrow''. Over her career she has released eight studio albums and won awards for Best Fem ...
,
Sandara Park Sandara Park ( English pronunciation: ; born November 12, 1984), also known by her stage name Dara (Korean: 다라 English pronunciation: ), is a South Korean singer, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in the Philippines as a ...
,
Tiffany Young Stephanie Young Hwang (born August 1, 1989), known professionally as Tiffany or Tiffany Young, is an American singer-songwriter. Born and raised in California, she was discovered by South Korean entertainment agency SM Entertainment at the age ...
,
Jung Eun-chae Jung Eun-chae (born Jung Sol-mi on November 24, 1986) is a South Korean actress, model and TV host. Jung began her career as a model, then made her acting breakthrough as the titular character in '' Nobody's Daughter Haewon'' (2013), a film by ...
,
Son Dam-bi Son Dam-bi (; born September 25, 1983) is a South Korean singer, actress and entertainer. She began her career as a solo singer in 2007. She also made her acting debut in the 2009 Korean drama ''Dream.'' Career Son first came to fame when she ...
, Kim Yoon-ji,
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's
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,
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, and
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Park Cho-rong Park Cho-rong (born March 3, 1991), better known mononymously as Chorong, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. She is best known as the leader of the South Korean girl group Apink. Early life Park Cho-rong was born in Cheongju, ...
.


Discography


Studio albums


Compilation albums


Extended plays


Singles


OSTs


Other appearances


Filmography


Film


Television series


Television show


Awards and nominations


Acting Awards


Music awards


Accolades

In 2021 she was selected as Jury member for Actor and Actress of the Year Award in
26th Busan International Film Festival The 26th Busan International Film Festival opened on October 6 at the Busan Cinema Center in Busan, South Korea with South Korean film '' Heaven: To the Land of Happiness'' by Im Sang-soo. Park So-dam and Song Joong-ki hosted the opening of the ...
to be held in October.


Notes


References


External links


Official website
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Uhm, Jung-hwa 1969 births K-pop singers Living people Korean Mandopop singers People from Jecheon People from North Chungcheong Province Mystic Entertainment artists South Korean female models South Korean women pop singers South Korean film actresses South Korean television actresses South Korean female idols MAMA Award winners Korean Music Award winners Yeongwol Eom clan 20th-century South Korean women singers 21st-century South Korean women singers Best Actress Paeksang Arts Award (film) winners