Jun Ji-hyun
Encyclopedia
Jun Ji-hyun also known as Gianna Jun, is a South Korean actress and model. She had her breakthrough role in 2001 as The Girl in the film My Sassy Girl
which became the highest grossing Korean comedy of all time. Other notable films include Il Mare
(2000) and Windstruck
(2004).
, South Korea, and studied in the Department of Theater and Film at Dongguk University
. Jun's childhood dream was to be an airhostess, but at the age of 16, a neighbour introduced her to modelling. She began her career as a fashion model for Echo Magazine in 1997.
After appearing in a number of TV sitcoms, her movie debut came in White Valentine
(1999). This was followed by a role in Il Mare
(2000), which proved to be a success. An American remake of Il Mare
, The Lake House
, was released 14 June 2006. However, her biggest breakthrough was in My Sassy Girl
(2001), a romantic comedy that bought her international recognition, and won her a Best Actress award at the Grand Bell Awards
in 2002. It was the highest grossing Korean comedy film at the time. In 2004, she starred in the film Windstruck
, a South Korean fantasy-romantic comedy which was directed by Kwak Jae-yong
. The film was also another major success and was the 8th-highest grossing Korean film of 2004. In 2006, she was also in the movie Daisy
. In 2008, she was also in the film A Man Who Was Superman
.
Ji Hyun worked closely with CJ Entertainment
, particularly with the distribution of Windstruck
, The Uninvited
, and A Man Who Was Superman
.
In 2009, she made her English-language film debut when she starred as Saya in Blood: The Last Vampire
alongside Masiela Lusha
. The movie was filmed in China and Argentina in March 2007. It was during filming and before the March 2009 release that she adopted the Westernised name Gianna Jun. The film was Jun's first official action film and was a "drastic" change in her image from previous films.
As of February 2010, she began filming Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
in China
.
My Sassy Girl
My Sassy Girl is a 2001 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Kwak Jae-yong. It tells the story of a man's chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train which changes his life...
which became the highest grossing Korean comedy of all time. Other notable films include Il Mare
Il Mare
Il Mare is a 2000 South Korean film, starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae. The title, Il Mare, means "The Sea" in Italian, and is the name of the seaside house which is the setting of the story. The Korean title, Siworae is the Korean pronunciation of Hanja characters "時越愛", which means...
(2000) and Windstruck
Windstruck
Windstruck is a 2004 South Korean fantasy-romantic comedy directed by Kwak Jae-yong...
(2004).
Biography
Jun was born in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea, and studied in the Department of Theater and Film at Dongguk University
Dongguk University
Dongguk University is a private, coeducational university in South Korea. It operates campuses in Seoul, in Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang province and in Los Angeles, United States...
. Jun's childhood dream was to be an airhostess, but at the age of 16, a neighbour introduced her to modelling. She began her career as a fashion model for Echo Magazine in 1997.
After appearing in a number of TV sitcoms, her movie debut came in White Valentine
White Valentine
White Valentine is a 1999 Korean romantic film directed by Yang Yun-ho. It stars Park Shin-yang with Jun Ji-hyun in her movie debut....
(1999). This was followed by a role in Il Mare
Il Mare
Il Mare is a 2000 South Korean film, starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae. The title, Il Mare, means "The Sea" in Italian, and is the name of the seaside house which is the setting of the story. The Korean title, Siworae is the Korean pronunciation of Hanja characters "時越愛", which means...
(2000), which proved to be a success. An American remake of Il Mare
Il Mare
Il Mare is a 2000 South Korean film, starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae. The title, Il Mare, means "The Sea" in Italian, and is the name of the seaside house which is the setting of the story. The Korean title, Siworae is the Korean pronunciation of Hanja characters "時越愛", which means...
, The Lake House
The Lake House (film)
The Lake House: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released in 2006.# "This Never Happened Before" - Paul McCartney# " Make You Mine" - The Clientele# "Time Has Told Me" - Nick Drake# "Ant Farm" - Eels...
, was released 14 June 2006. However, her biggest breakthrough was in My Sassy Girl
My Sassy Girl
My Sassy Girl is a 2001 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Kwak Jae-yong. It tells the story of a man's chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train which changes his life...
(2001), a romantic comedy that bought her international recognition, and won her a Best Actress award at the Grand Bell Awards
Grand Bell Awards
The Grand Bell Awards is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea....
in 2002. It was the highest grossing Korean comedy film at the time. In 2004, she starred in the film Windstruck
Windstruck
Windstruck is a 2004 South Korean fantasy-romantic comedy directed by Kwak Jae-yong...
, a South Korean fantasy-romantic comedy which was directed by Kwak Jae-yong
Kwak Jae-yong
Kwak Jae-yong is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He studied physics at Kyunghee University. He achieved success with his debut film Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day in 1989, but the failure of his next two movies led to eight years of unemployment before a comeback with the...
. The film was also another major success and was the 8th-highest grossing Korean film of 2004. In 2006, she was also in the movie Daisy
Daisy (film)
Daisy is a 2006 South Korean-Hong Kong co-production film directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, and starring Jun Ji-hyun, Jung Woo-sung, David Chiang, Lee Sung-jae and Cheon Ho-jin....
. In 2008, she was also in the film A Man Who Was Superman
A Man Who Was Superman
A Man Who Was Superman is a 2008 South Korean film directed by Jeong Yoon-chul. The film applies techniques of Magical realism to problems arising from the Narcissism of small differences that plagues the modern Korean conscience.- Plot :...
.
Ji Hyun worked closely with CJ Entertainment
CJ Entertainment
CJ Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment company which is involved in film production, investment, distribution and exhibition. It is the largest entertainment company in South Korea...
, particularly with the distribution of Windstruck
Windstruck
Windstruck is a 2004 South Korean fantasy-romantic comedy directed by Kwak Jae-yong...
, The Uninvited
The Uninvited (2003 film)
The Uninvited, also known as A Table for Four, is a 2003 South Korean psychological horror film directed by Lee Su-yeon.-Plot summary:...
, and A Man Who Was Superman
A Man Who Was Superman
A Man Who Was Superman is a 2008 South Korean film directed by Jeong Yoon-chul. The film applies techniques of Magical realism to problems arising from the Narcissism of small differences that plagues the modern Korean conscience.- Plot :...
.
In 2009, she made her English-language film debut when she starred as Saya in Blood: The Last Vampire
Blood: The Last Vampire (2009 film)
Blood: The Last Vampire, released in Japan as , is a 2009 horror-action film, a Hong Kong-French-British co-production; it is the remake of the 2000 anime film of the same name....
alongside Masiela Lusha
Masiela Lusha
Masiela Lusha is an American author, actress, producer and humanitarian who first gained recognition after starring in film and TV projects such as ABC's George Lopez and Sony Picture's Blood: The Last Vampire...
. The movie was filmed in China and Argentina in March 2007. It was during filming and before the March 2009 release that she adopted the Westernised name Gianna Jun. The film was Jun's first official action film and was a "drastic" change in her image from previous films.
As of February 2010, she began filming Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (film)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a 2011 historical drama film based on the novel of the same name by the Chinese-American author Lisa See. Directed by Wayne Wang, the film stars Gianna Jun, Li Bingbing, Archie Kao, Vivian Wu, and Hugh Jackman....
in China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | White Valentine White Valentine White Valentine is a 1999 Korean romantic film directed by Yang Yun-ho. It stars Park Shin-yang with Jun Ji-hyun in her movie debut.... |
Jung-min |
| 2000 | Il Mare Il Mare Il Mare is a 2000 South Korean film, starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae. The title, Il Mare, means "The Sea" in Italian, and is the name of the seaside house which is the setting of the story. The Korean title, Siworae is the Korean pronunciation of Hanja characters "時越愛", which means... |
Eun-joo |
| 2001 | My Sassy Girl My Sassy Girl My Sassy Girl is a 2001 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Kwak Jae-yong. It tells the story of a man's chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train which changes his life... |
The Girl |
| 2003 | The Uninvited The Uninvited (2003 film) The Uninvited, also known as A Table for Four, is a 2003 South Korean psychological horror film directed by Lee Su-yeon.-Plot summary:... |
Yeon |
| 2004 | Windstruck Windstruck Windstruck is a 2004 South Korean fantasy-romantic comedy directed by Kwak Jae-yong... |
Yeo Kyung-jin |
| 2006 | Daisy Daisy (film) Daisy is a 2006 South Korean-Hong Kong co-production film directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, and starring Jun Ji-hyun, Jung Woo-sung, David Chiang, Lee Sung-jae and Cheon Ho-jin.... |
Hye Young |
| 2008 | A Man Who Was Superman A Man Who Was Superman A Man Who Was Superman is a 2008 South Korean film directed by Jeong Yoon-chul. The film applies techniques of Magical realism to problems arising from the Narcissism of small differences that plagues the modern Korean conscience.- Plot :... |
Song Soo-jung |
| 2009 | Blood: The Last Vampire Blood: The Last Vampire (2009 film) Blood: The Last Vampire, released in Japan as , is a 2009 horror-action film, a Hong Kong-French-British co-production; it is the remake of the 2000 anime film of the same name.... |
Saya Otonashi |
| 2011 | Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (film) Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a 2011 historical drama film based on the novel of the same name by the Chinese-American author Lisa See. Directed by Wayne Wang, the film stars Gianna Jun, Li Bingbing, Archie Kao, Vivian Wu, and Hugh Jackman.... |
Sophia/Snow Flower |
| 2012 | The Professionals The Professionals (2011 film) -Synopsis:Directed by Choi Dong-hun, The Professionals is about thieves from Korea and China teaming up with each other to steal a diamond worth 40 billion won locked away in a special room at a casino in Macau.... |
Anycall |
Drama
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Season of Puberty | |
| 1998 | Fascinate My Heart | |
| 1999 | Happy Together Happy Together (1999 TV series) Happy Together is a 16 -episode South Korean TV drama series broadcast by SBS in 1999.- Cast :* Lee Byung-Hun - Suh Tae-poong* Song Seung Hun - Suh Ji-suk* Kim Ha Neul - Jin Soo-ha* Jun Ji Hyun - Suh Yoon-joo... |
Suh Yoon-joo |
Awards
- 2002 Grand Bell AwardsGrand Bell AwardsThe Grand Bell Awards is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea....
: Best Actress for My Sassy GirlMy Sassy GirlMy Sassy Girl is a 2001 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Kwak Jae-yong. It tells the story of a man's chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train which changes his life... - 1999 SBS Drama Awards: Best New Actress
- 1999 Baeksang Arts Awards: Best New Actress
External links
- Jeon Ji-hyeon on HanCinema
- Jeon Ji-hyeon Fanclubs movie site Asia zone
- Interview with Gianna Jun