1. Overview
Park Ye-jin is a prominent South Korean actress who debuted in the 1999 horror film Memento Mori. Throughout her career, she has garnered significant recognition for her versatile acting in various television dramas and films. Her public image was notably enhanced by her appearances on popular variety shows, where she earned a distinctive nickname. She is also recognized for her marriage to fellow actor Park Hee-soon.
2. Personal Life
2.1. Early Life and Education
Park Ye-jin was born on April 1, 1981, in Seoul, South Korea. She pursued her higher education at Chung-Ang University, where she specialized in Theater and Film. She is 65 in (165 cm) tall and weighs 106 lb (48 kg), with a B blood type.
2.2. Marriage and Personal Life
In June 2015, Park Ye-jin officially married actor Park Hee-soon. The couple publicly confirmed their relationship in March 2011 and registered their marriage in June 2015 after four years of public dating.
3. Career
Park Ye-jin's career spans across film, television, and variety shows, establishing her as a versatile performer in the South Korean entertainment industry.
3.1. Debut and Early Career
Park Ye-jin made her acting debut in 1999 with the horror film Memento Mori. Following her debut, she took on various leading and supporting roles in several television series and films. Her early notable appearances include the television dramas Four Sisters (2001), Since We Met (2002), and Royal Story: Jang Hui-bin (2002), where she played Royal Noble Consort Sukbin Choe.
3.2. Breakthrough and Major Roles
Park Ye-jin's popularity significantly increased with her regular cast membership in the first season of the variety show Family Outing (2008-2009). On the show, she showcased a different side of her personality, earning the affectionate yet descriptive nickname "sweet, yet scary, Ye-jin" (달콤살벌 예진아씨Dalkomsalbeol YejinassiKorean). In 2009, she departed from Family Outing due to her demanding schedule, which included filming the historical drama Queen Seondeok and the film Fortune Salon.
Her acting career continued to flourish with major roles such as Choi Young-joo in Something Happened in Bali (2004), Chu-lin in the historical epic Dae Jo-yeong (2006), and Choi Yoon-hee in Again, My Love (also known as Hateful But Once Again) (2009). In Queen Seondeok, her portrayal of Princess Cheonmyeong garnered significant attention and solidified her status as a prominent actress. She later starred as Khulan, the wife of Genghis Khan, in the 2013 Korea-China-Japan 3D martial arts film An End to Killing. In 2012, she led the fantasy romance drama I Love Lee Tae-ri.
In November 2018, Park Ye-jin signed an exclusive contract with Saram Entertainment, managing her acting career. Previously, she was affiliated with Jellyfish Entertainment.
3.3. Variety Show Appearances
Beyond her acting roles, Park Ye-jin gained widespread public recognition through her appearances on various television entertainment and reality shows. Her participation as a regular cast member on the first season of Family Outing from 2008 to 2009 was particularly impactful. On the show, she displayed a unique blend of sweetness and unexpected toughness, which led to her popular nickname "sweet, yet scary, Ye-jin." Her other variety show appearances include Time Machine (2006), Mission X Challenge 6 (2008), X-Man (2003), TV Animal Farm (2008), Strong Heart (2009), and guest appearances on Running Man in 2011 and 2015.
4. Filmography
4.1. Films
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Memento Mori | Hyo-shin |
| 2000 | Summer Story | Han Ga-eul |
| The Rhapsody | Kang Ji-young | |
| 2001 | No Hope, No Fear (short film) | |
| 2002 | Dig or Die | Yoon-ah |
| 2004 | Wet Dreams 2 | Bride, Sung-eun's older sister (cameo) |
| 2008 | Life Is Cool | Kang Yeon-woo |
| 2009 | Fortune Salon | Tae-rang |
| 2011 | Head | Shin Hong-joo |
| Mr. Idol | Oh Goo-joo | |
| 2013 | An End to Killing | Khulan |
| 2020 | Josée (film) | Hye-seon |
4.2. Television Series
| Year | Title | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | LA Arirang | SBS | |
| 1999 | Ad Madness | KBS2 | |
| 2001 | Four Sisters | Jung Yoo-sun | MBC |
| That's Perfect | MBC | ||
| 2002 | Since We Met | Jo Hye-won | MBC |
| Royal Story: Jang Hui-bin | Choi Suk-bin | KBS2 | |
| 2004 | What Happened in Bali | Choi Young-joo | SBS |
| Little Women | Jung Hye-deuk | SBS | |
| When a Man Is in Love | Park Jung-woo | SBS | |
| 2005 | Rebirth: Next | Lee Soo-hyun/Choi Yeon-hwa/ | MBC |
| 2006 | Thank You Life | Choi Yoon-seo | KBS2 |
| Dae Jo-yeong | Chu-lin | KBS1 | |
| 2007 | The Great Catsby | Persu | tvN |
| 2008 | My Lady Boss, My Hero | Shim Sang-goon | OCN |
| 2009 | Again, My Love | Choi Yoon-hee | KBS2 |
| Queen Seondeok | Princess Cheonmyeong | MBC | |
| 2011 | My Princess | Oh Yoon-joo | MBC |
| 2012 | I Love Lee Tae-ri | Lee Tae-ri | tvN |
| 2014 | Mr. Back | Hong Ji-yoon | MBC |
| 2015 | Last | Seo Mi-joo | JTBC |
| 2019 | My Country: The New Age | Queen Sindeok | JTBC |
| 2020 | Soul Mechanic | Ji Young-won | KBS2 |
4.3. Variety Shows
| Year | Title | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | X-Man | SBS | Season 1 |
| 2006 | Time Machine | MBC | |
| 2008-2009 | Family Outing | SBS | Cast member |
| 2008 | Mission X Challenge 6 | XTM | |
| 2008 | TV Animal Farm | SBS | Appeared in "Wild Heart in Africa" segment |
| 2009 | Strong Heart | SBS | Guest (Episode 3) |
| 2011 | Running Man | SBS | Guest (Episodes 37, 67-68) |
| 2015 | Running Man | SBS | Guest (Episode 241) |
4.4. Music Videos
| Year | Song Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "Go" (가세요GaseyoKorean) | K |
| 2006 | "Headache" (진저리JinjeoriKorean) | Kyun Woo & Monday Kiz |
| "Because of You" | Blue | |
| 2008 | "Feel Crazy" (미치겠어MichigesseoKorean) | MC Mong |
| "You Are My Lady" | Jung Yup | |
| 2010 | "Don't Be Good to Me" (잘해주지마요JalhaejujimayoKorean) | Kim Jong-kook |
| 2012 | "Merry Christmas, Only You" | Yoon Jong-shin |
5. Awards and Nominations
5.1. Acting Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actress (Film) | Memento Mori | Nominated |
| 20th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best New Actress | Won | ||
| 2001 | 21st Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actress | Nominated | |
| 2007 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Dae Jo-yeong | Nominated |
| 2008 | SBS Entertainment Awards | Popularity Award | Family Outing | Won |
| 2009 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress | Queen Seondeok | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama | Again, My Love | Won | |
| 2014 | MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Mr. Back | Nominated |
5.2. Other Recognitions
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forbes | 2010 | Korea Power Celebrity | 25th |
6. Public Image and Reception
Park Ye-jin cultivated a distinctive public image, particularly through her participation in the variety show Family Outing. Her actions on the show, which often involved a surprising blend of gentle demeanor and unexpected assertiveness, earned her the popular nickname "sweet, yet scary, Ye-jin" (달콤살벌 예진아씨Dalkomsalbeol YejinassiKorean). This nickname became synonymous with her public persona and significantly contributed to her recognition and popularity among the general public. Her acting career has been widely received, with critics and audiences appreciating her ability to portray diverse characters across various genres, from historical dramas to romantic comedies and horror films.