Uhm Jung-hwa Shares Emotional Story of Family Hardships: “My Mother Told Me Not to Think About College”
On the 23rd, Uhm Jung-hwa uploaded a new video to her YouTube channel titled “Spilling Everything While Tipsy… This Is an Alcohol Trip (feat. Uhm Jung-hwa’s Favorite Wine Bar).” In this candid session, the singer-actress opened up about her journey into the entertainment industry, revealing personal struggles and pivotal moments from her past.
As she reminisced about her school days, Uhm Jung-hwa described herself as an introverted and reserved student who quietly harbored dreams of becoming an entertainer. “I was a quiet and shy student in school, but I had a vague dream of becoming an entertainer.”
Despite her aspirations, she admitted to struggling with self-doubt during her youth, “I think my dream was set back then. But I wasn’t particularly beautiful or exceptionally talented, so even I disliked myself for having such a dream.”
When it came time to choose a career path in high school, Uhm Jung-hwa decided to pursue theater and film. However, financial hardships within her family made that dream seem nearly impossible.
Sharing a painful memory from her past, she recounted, “We didn’t have a father, and there were three daughters and one son. So my mom told us, ‘Don’t even think about going to college. Once you graduate high school, you need to start working.’”
At the time, her mother’s words felt like a harsh reality check, but looking back, she now understands the weight of the responsibility her mother carried, “Looking back, I understand why my mom said that. We needed to support her, but at the time, I had no idea what I truly wanted to do. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to act or sing.”
Despite the obstacles, Uhm Jung-hwa remained determined to chase her passion. She recalled the life-changing moment that set her career in motion. “When I moved to Seoul in my senior year of high school, I thought, ‘If I can make money doing what I love, I’ll be happy.’ Then I saw a recruitment notice for the MBC choir and decided to apply. Miraculously, I was accepted through an additional recruitment round.”
Her story is a testament to perseverance and believing in one’s dreams despite the odds. What began as an uncertain journey ultimately led her to become one of South Korea’s most celebrated artists.
Recently, Uhm Jung-hwa has captured attention with several standout projects. In 2023, she starred in the hit drama “Doctor Cha,” which became a top-ranked Netflix series and was praised for its emotional depth and relatable storyline. That same year, she appeared in the comedy film “Miss Fortune,” playing a single mother involved in clever scams, showcasing her versatility as an actress. Additionally, her 2020 return to music as part of the project group Refund Sisters, alongside Lee Hyori, Jessi, and Hwasa, was a major success, with their single “Don’t Touch Me” topping Korean music charts.