Table of contents
Biography
- Full Name: Youn Yuh-jung (윤여정, also known as “Yoon Yeo-jeong”)
- Date of Birth: June 19, 1947
- Place of Birth: Gaeseong City, North Korea
- Family: Father & Mother (Deceased), 2 Younger Sisters, 2 Sons, Ex-husband (Jo Young-nam)
- Education: Department of Korean Language and Literature at Hanyang University (Dropped Out), Ewha Girls’ High School (Graduated)
- Religion: Christianity
Fun Facts
- She is famously known for her sharp intellect and graceful intelligence—not just as a compliment, but backed by consistent testimony from fellow actors.
- Her reputation for memorization is legendary. While filming Kim Soo-hyun’s drama “What is Love,” which is known for its massive script volume, Youn Yuh-jung reportedly memorized her part—132 straight pages—despite being in poor health, completed the scene in one take without any mistakes, and fainted afterward.
- Her time living in the U.S. gave her impressive English conversational skills.
- She is also known as a fashion icon among her peers. Youn Yuh-jung has been passionate about fashion since her youth—reportedly spending entire paychecks on clothes.
- There are rumors that Youn Yuh-jung was the inspiration for Min Ja-young, the female lead in the film C’est Si Bon.
- She is a smoker. She said she started smoking to achieve the distinct voice that picks up clearly on TV audio. She hasn’t been able to quit.
- She’s been a fan of Na Young-seok since “2 Days & 1 Night.” Her continued appearances on his variety shows are partly because she genuinely likes him.
- She finds it extremely stressful to play roles with southern dialects.
- Her MBTI is presumed to be ISTP.
- In the variety show Unexpected Journey, she said that if she hadn’t become an actress, she might have pursued a career as a fashion designer.
Net Worth
As of 2025, Youn Yuh-jung’s estimated net worth is around 4 million USD, but there were previous reports of the actress being worth between 1 to 2 million USD. Despite being an Oscar-winning actress, Youn Yuh-jung did not assume many endorsements, so most of her wealth comes from her acting career.
Personal Life
Youn Yuh-jung, who was born in North Korea, is said to have fled to South Korea when the Korean War broke out when she was 3 years old. She suffered from a gastric ulcer in her third year of high school. She then worked as an assistant on a program hosted by announcer Kim Dong-gun to earn tuition, but later dropped out of college to pursue an acting career.
In December 1973, Youn Yuh-jung followed her then fiancé, singer Jo Young-nam, to the United States, where she worked at a supermarket for $2.75 an hour to raise her two sons. She got married to the singer and returned to Korea in 1984, and divorced her husband in 1987, reportedly due to Jo’s infidelity.
Recently, Youn Yuh-jung reveals that her first son is gay, and his wedding was held in the US in private as the family was afraid of the reaction in South Korea, which was a conservative country. According to the actress, she even loves her son-in-law more now.
Career & Accolades
Early Career and Defining Roles
Youn Yuh-jung’s official debut came in 1967 with the television drama “Mister Gom”, after she passed TBC’s open talent auditions in 1966. Following her debut, Youn Yuh-jung’s ascent to stardom was remarkably swift, particularly solidifying with her 1971 cinematic debut in director Kim Ki-young’s “Woman of Fire” and the title role in the MBC historical television drama “Jang Hui-bin”, both of which received both critical and commercial debut.
A crucial element of her early success was her collaboration with director Kim Ki-young, considered Korea’s first truly experimental and style-conscious filmmaker, known for his intense, psychosexual dramas often focusing on complex female psychology. Youn became a key interpreter of his vision, starring not only in “Woman of Fire” but also “The Insect Woman” (1972). Though Youn later admitted finding his methods difficult, she acknowledged learning immensely from the “genius director”. The actress also became synonymous with the “modern woman of the new generation,” frequently cast in television dramas like “Stepmother” (1972).
This early period brought immediate and significant accolades, as Youn Yuh-jung’s performance in “Woman of Fire” earned her the Best Actress award at the prestigious Sitges Film Festival in Spain , the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Leading Actress, and the Grand Bell Award for Best New Actress.
Interlude and Return
At the zenith of her burgeoning career, Youn Yuh-jung made a life-altering decision by marrying Jo Young-nam, a popular singer and television personality at the time. Following her marriage, she retired from acting and immigrated to the United States, settling for a period in Florida. For nearly a decade, she stepped away from the spotlight, focusing instead on raising her two sons.
However, the actress later returned to Korea, divorced her husband, and tried to resume her acting career, which proved unexpectedly arduous. Her official comeback film is cited as “Mother” in 1985. Kim Ki-young also provided opportunities for his previous muse, casting her in “Be a Wicked Woman” (1990) and ”An Experience to Die For” (1995).
Resurgence with Unique Path
Youn Yuh-jung’s re-establishment in the Korean entertainment industry during the 1990s and beyond was not merely a return, but a reinvention, even hailed as an “unusual feat for a Korean middle-aged actress”. She actively resisted the typecasting that often confined actresses of her generation to roles as “clichéd self-sacrificing mothers or coarse ajummas“, and instead pursue “more complex, stylish, and independent roles,” carving out a unique and enduring space for herself.
A significant moment in her post-comeback career was the immensely popular television series “What Is Love” (1991), where her portrayal of Han Shim-ae, the affluent, candid, and somewhat cantankerous mother of a bride marrying into a conservative working-class family, was considered groundbreaking. The character’s unapologetically high spending habits challenged prevailing societal norms and expectations of maternal figures.
Throughout the following decades, Youn consistently chose roles that defied easy categorization and shattered stereotypes associated with older women in Korean media. In “A Good Lawyer’s Wife” (2003), she garnered critical acclaim for her “nonchalant acting” as a mother-in-law who neglects her terminally ill husband while pursuing her own desires. She continued to explore complex, often morally ambiguous characters, such as the veteran housemaid Byeong-sik in erotic thriller “The Housemaid” (2010), a role that earned her a slew of Best Supporting Actress awards. In “The Taste of Money” (2012), she embodied a “cruel chaebol heiress” and greedy matriarch at the center of a corrupt, wealthy family. Perhaps one of her most challenging roles came in “The Bacchus Lady” (2016), where she played an elderly prostitute catering to aging men.
Critics recognized her exceptional work during this era, with the numerous accolades at Grand Bell, Blue Dragon, Korean Film Awards, Buil Film Awards, and Asian Film Awards, among others.
Candid Charm & Making History
In 2017, Youn Yuh-jung cemented her status as a relatable and endearing television personality via “Youn’s Kitchen”. She also amplified her public images via popular reality and variety television programs such as “Sisters Over Flowers”, “Master in the House”, and “Youn’s Stay”.
While Youn Yuh-jung was a revered figure in Korean entertainment for decades, the 2020 American film “Minari” catapulted her to unprecedented international fame and secured her place in global film history. Following this film, Youn received recognition from over forty American regional critics’ groups. Her victories at major awards ceremonies, including the Academy Awards (Oscars), British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, and Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, among others, were unprecedented for a Korean performer.
Additionally, the momentum generated by her historic Oscar win did not signal a career culmination for Youn Yuh-jung, but rather the beginning of a new, vibrant chapter marked by sustained international activity and continued artistic exploration. She embraced her newfound global platform, taking on significant roles in high-profile international productions.
Shortly after her “Minari” success, Youn Yuh-jung starred in the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ epic series “Pachinko” (2022-2024). She also returned to Korean cinema with the film “Dog Days” (2024), and her most recent major international project is the American romantic comedy film “The Wedding Banquet” (2025), which explores LGBTQ+ themes.
Filmography
Film
| Year | English Title | Korean Title |
| 1971 | Woman of Fire | 화녀 |
| 1972 | The Insect Woman | 충녀 |
| 1973 | Love and Hatred | 다정다한 |
| 1973 | Tto Sun Yi, a College Girl | 여대생 또순이 |
| 1978 | The Day and Night of a Korean-American | 코메리칸의 낮과 밤 |
| 1985 | Mother (or Women Requiem) | 어미 |
| 1990 | Be a Wicked Woman | 천사여 악녀가 되라 |
| 1995 | An Experience to Die For | 죽어도 좋은 경험 |
| 2003 | A Good Lawyer’s Wife | 바람난 가족 |
| 2004 | Springtime | 꽃피는 봄이 오면 |
| 2005 | The President’s Last Bang | 그때 그사람들 |
| 2006 | Maundy Thursday | 우리들의 행복한 시간 |
| 2007 | The Old Garden | 오래된 정원 |
| 2007 | Hwang Jin-yi | 황진이 |
| 2008 | A Tale of Legendary Libido | 가루지기 |
| 2009 | Actresses | 여배우들 |
| 2010 | Hahaha | 하하하 |
| 2010 | The Housemaid | 하녀 |
| 2011 | Hindsight | 푸른 소금 |
| 2011 | List | 리스트 |
| 2012 | The Taste of Money | 돈의 맛 |
| 2012 | In Another Country | 다른 나라에서 |
| 2013 | Behind the Camera | 뒷담화: 감독이 미쳤어요 |
| 2013 | Boomerang Family | 고령화가족 |
| 2014 | Hill of Freedom | 자유의 언덕 |
| 2015 | Salut d’Amour | 장수상회 |
| 2015 | Intimate Enemies | 나의 절친 악당들 |
| 2015 | Right Now, Wrong Then | 지금은맞고그때는틀리다 |
| 2016 | Canola | 계춘할망 |
| 2016 | The Bacchus Lady | 죽여주는 여자 |
| 2018 | Keys to the Heart | 그것만이 내 세상 |
| 2019 | Lucky Chan-sil | 찬실이는 복도 많지 |
| 2020 | Beasts Clawing at Straws | 지푸라기라도 잡고 싶은 짐승들 |
| 2020 | Minari | |
| 2021 | Heaven: To the Land of Happiness | 헤븐: 행복의 나라로 |
| 2021 | San-na-mul cheo-nyeo | 산나물 처녀 |
| 2024 | Dog Days | 도그데이즈 |
| 2025 | The Wedding Banquet |
Television
| Year | English Title | Korean Title |
| 1967 | Mister Gom | 미스터 곰 |
| 1970 | The Appearance of the Wife | 아내의 모습 |
| 1970 | Let’s Live by the River | 강변 살자 |
| 1970 | 박마리아 | |
| 1970 | River of Love and Sorrow | 사랑과 슬픔의 강 |
| 1971 | Jang Hui-bin | 장희빈 |
| 1972 | Rainbow | 무지개 |
| 1972 | Daewongun | 대원군 |
| 1972 | Stepmother | 새엄마 |
| 1976 | Girl’s High School Days | 여고 동창생 |
| 1984 | MBC Bestseller Theater | MBC 베스트셀러극장 – 고깔 |
| 1985 | Mom’s Room | 엄마의 방 |
| 1986 | First Love | 첫사랑 |
| 1987 | Love and Ambition | 사랑과 야망 |
| 1988 | Sand Castle | 모래성 |
| 1988 | People from Wonmi-dong | 원미동 사람들 |
| 1989 | Fetters of Love | 사랑의 굴레 |
| 1989 | Seasonal bird | 철새 |
| 1989 | Sleepless Tree | 잠들지 않는 나무 |
| 1990 | Geomsaengyi’s moon | 검생이의 달 |
| 1990 | Betrayal of the Rose | 배반의 장미 |
| 1991 | What Is Love | 사랑이 뭐길래 |
| 1991 | Another Happiness | 또 하나의 행복 |
| 1992 | Bun-rye’s Story | 분례기 |
| 1992 | Gwanchon Essay | 관촌 수필 |
| 1992 | Women’s Room | 여자의 방 |
| 1993 | How’s Your Husband? | 댁의 남편은 어떠십니까? |
| 1993 | To Live | 산다는 것은 |
| 1994 | Farewell | 작별 |
| 1995 | Men of the Bath House | 목욕탕집 남자들 |
| 1995 | Your Voice | 그대 목소리 |
| 1995 | MBC Best Theater | 호스피스 아줌마 |
| 1996 | Temptation | 유혹 |
| 1996 | Ganyiyeok | 간이역 |
| 1996 | Open Your Heart | 가슴을 열어라 |
| 1997 | The Reason I Live | 내가 사는 이유 |
| 1997 | Woman Next Door | 이웃집 여자 |
| 1998 | Crush | 짝사랑 |
| 1999 | Did We Really Love? | 우리가 정말 사랑했을까 |
| 2000 | Tough Guy’s Love | 꼭지 |
| 2001 | Hotelier | |
| 2001 | Stock Flower | 비단향 꽃무 |
| 2001 | Soon-Ja | |
| 2002 | My Love | 내사랑 누굴까 |
| 2002 | Ruler of Your Own World | 네 멋대로 해라 |
| 2003 | Over the Green Fields | 저 푸른 초원위에 |
| 2003 | Million Roses | 백만송이 장미 |
| 2003 | War of the Roses | 장미의 전쟁 |
| 2004 | Ireland | |
| 2005 | Love and Sympathy | 사랑 공감 |
| 2005 | Be Strong, Geum-Soon! | 굳세어라 금순아 |
| 2005 | A Farewell to Sorrow | 슬픔이여 안녕 |
| 2006 | Love Truly | 진짜 진짜 좋아해 |
| 2006 | Hearts of Nineteen | 열 아홉 순정 |
| 2006 | Foxy Lady! | 여우야 뭐하니 |
| 2007 | To My Love | 사랑하는 사람아 |
| 2007-2008 | The Daughters-in-Law | 며느리 전성시대 |
| 2008 | Chun Ja’s Happy Events | 춘자네 경사났네 |
| 2008 | Worlds Within | 그들이 사는 세상 |
| 2009 | The Road Home | 집으로 가는 길 |
| 2009 | No Limit | 맨 땅에 헤딩 |
| 2010 | Golden Fish | 황금 물고기 |
| 2010 | Home Sweet Home | 즐거운 나의 집 |
| 2011 | Can You Hear My Heart | 내마음이 들리니 |
| 2012 | My Husband Got a Family | 넝쿨째 굴러온 당신 |
| 2012 | The King 2hearts | |
| 2013 | The Queen’s Classroom | 여왕의 교실 |
| 2014 | Wonderful Days | 참 좋은 시절 |
| 2015 | The Producers | 프로듀사 |
| 2015-2017 | Sense8 | |
| 2016 | Dear My Friends | 디어 마이 프렌즈 |
| 2019-2020 | Never Twice | 두번은 없다 |
| 2022 | The Boys Presents: Diabolical | |
| 2022-2024 | Pachinko | |
| 2025 | Beef |
