1. Overview
Seo Min-jung (서민정Seo Min-jungKorean), born on July 11, 1979, is a prominent South Korean actress and broadcaster. She began her career in 2000 as a VJ on the cable program Music Under Heaven. Seo gained significant recognition for her role as a teacher in the popular 2006 sitcom Unstoppable High Kick!. Following her marriage to Korean-American dentist Ahn Sang-hoon in 2007, she retired from the entertainment industry and relocated to New York City. After a decade-long hiatus, Seo Min-jung made a notable return to broadcasting in 2017 through various variety programs, reconnecting with her audience. This article details her early life, extensive career in television and film, various broadcast appearances, and personal life, including her marriage and family.
2. Early Life and Education
Seo Min-jung was born on July 11, 1979, in South Korea. She belongs to the Leecheon Seo clan (이천 서씨Leecheon Seo clanKorean). Her early education included attending Seoul Daehyeon Elementary School (서울대현초등학교Seoul DaehyeonchodeunghakgyoKorean) and Seohyeon High School (서현고등학교Seohyeon GodeunghakgyoKorean). During her high school years, she also studied in London, England, at Holy Cross Convent Coombe Girls'.
For her higher education, Seo Min-jung pursued legal studies. She initially attended Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (한국외국어대학교Hanguk Oegugeo DaehakgyoKorean) in the Department of Law, but later withdrew. She then transferred to and graduated from Ewha Womans University (이화여자대학교Ihwa Yeoja DaehakgyoKorean) with a Bachelor of Laws degree. In terms of personal characteristics, her hobbies include watching movies and music videos, and her special skill is English. She is known to be 65 in (164 cm) tall and weigh 106 lb (48 kg). She has been given nicknames such as "Female Killer Smile," "Smile Angel," "Kamchigi" (meaning cute), and "Bride."
3. Career
Seo Min-jung's career spans over two decades, beginning with her debut as a VJ and expanding into acting, radio, and various television appearances, before a hiatus and subsequent return to the entertainment industry.
3.1. Debut and Early Broadcasting
Seo Min-jung made her entertainment debut in 2000 as a VJ on the cable program Music Under Heaven (음악천하EumakcheonhaKorean) on NTV. Following her VJ role, she transitioned into reporting for various television programs. She served as a reporter for MBC's Section TV Entertainment News (섹션TV 연예통신Section TV YeonyetongsinKorean) and Wow! Animal Kingdom (와우! 동물천하Wau! DongmulcheonhaKorean). She also reported for SBS's Curiosity Paradise (호기심천국Hogisimcheon-gukKorean) and KBS2's Chuchu Club (주주클럽Juju KeulleopKorean).
Beyond reporting, Seo Min-jung took on hosting roles, including as an MC for SBS's Theme Studio - Star Date (테마스튜디오 - 스타데이트Tema Seutyudio - SeutadeiteuKorean) and Mnet's Atomic Kitten Special (아토믹키튼 스폐셜Atomikiteun SeupyesyeolKorean). She also co-hosted Mnet's Hotline School (핫라인 스쿨Hatlain SeukulKorean) with Kim Ji-hoon from May 3, 2000, to 2001. Additionally, she was an MC for MBC's Kkachi ga Ulmyeon (까치가 울면Kkachi ga UlmyeonKorean) and co-hosted KBS2 and KBS1's Our Language Contest (우리말 겨루기Urimal GyeorugiKorean) from December 25, 2002, to November 8, 2003, with Jeong Jae-hwan, and from November 15, 2003, to May 1, 2004, with announcer Kim Hyun-wook.
3.2. Acting Career
Seo Min-jung's acting career saw her take on significant roles in both television and film, showcasing her versatility in various genres, particularly gaining widespread popularity through sitcoms.
3.2.1. Television
Seo Min-jung made her official acting debut in 2002 through the SBS sitcom Honest Living (똑바로 살아라Ttokbaro SararaKorean), directed by Kim Byung-wook. In this series, which aired from November 5, 2002, to October 31, 2003, she played the role of No Min-jung across 239 episodes. Her other television appearances include a role in the SBS one-episode drama Opendrama Man and Woman - Spring Day Comes in 2004.
In 2005, she appeared in the SBS drama That Summer's Typhoon (그 여름의 태풍Geu Yeoreumui TaepungKorean), portraying the character Yooran in 30 episodes, which aired from May 28 to September 24. The following year, in 2006, she joined the cast of the SBS drama Love and Ambition (사랑과 야망Sarang-gwa YamangKorean), playing Jang Se-mi across 81 episodes, from February 4 to November 12.
Her breakthrough role came with the MBC daily sitcom Unstoppable High Kick! (거침없이 하이킥!Geochimeopsi Haikik!Korean), which aired from November 6, 2006, to July 13, 2007, for 167 episodes. In this highly popular series, she played a teacher named Seo Min-jung, who was the object of affection for one of her high school students. This role significantly boosted her popularity and left a lasting impression on audiences, portraying a character that was naive, lovable, and somewhat clumsy, yet endearing.
3.2.2. Film
Seo Min-jung's filmography includes acting roles and voice work. In 2005, she appeared in the film Jenny, Juno (제니, 주노Jenny, JunoKorean), where she played Jenny's older sister. In 2007, she provided the Korean dubbed narration for the documentary film Arctic Tale (나누와 실라의 대모험Nanu-wa Sillaui Dae-moheomKorean), specifically voicing the character Nanu.
3.3. Variety and Radio Appearances
Beyond her acting career, Seo Min-jung has made numerous appearances on various entertainment and talk shows, and also worked as a radio DJ.
Her guest appearances on television variety programs include MBC's Jeonpa Gyeonmunrok (전파견문록Jeonpa GyeonmunrokKorean) on February 3, 2003, where she co-hosted with several other celebrities. She also served as an MC for the 21st MBC Creative Children's Song Festival (MBC 창작동요제MBC ChangjakdongyojeKorean) on May 6, 2003, alongside Park Jun-hyung. In 2007, she appeared as a guest on MBC's Yoo Jae-suk Kim Won-hee's Come to Play (유재석 김원희의 놀러와Yu Jae-seok Kim Won-huiui NolleowaKorean) from June 9 to June 16, as part of a special episode dedicated to Unstoppable High Kick!.
After a hiatus, Seo Min-jung made her return to television in 2017. She participated as a contestant, under the alias "Ketchup Please~! French Fries!," on MBC's King of Mask Singer (미스터리 음악쇼 복면가왕Miseuteori Eumaksyo Bokmyeon-gawangKorean) on June 26. She also appeared as a guest on MBC's Oppa Thinking (오빠생각Oppa SaenggakKorean) on July 9 (Episode 8, with Shindong and UV) and MBC's Golden Fishery Radio Star (황금어장 라디오스타Hwanggeumeojang Radio SeutaKorean) on July 27 (Episode 537, "High Kick, Second Counterattack! One More OK?" special). On July 31, she returned to Section TV Entertainment News as a special editor, marking her comeback to the program after 15 years.
Other notable variety show appearances in 2017 include SBS's Same Bed, Different Dreams 2 - You Are My Destiny (동상이몽 2 - 너는 내 운명Dongsang-imong 2 - Neoneun Nae UnmyeongKorean) on August 8 (Episode 5), KBS2's 1 vs 100 (1 대 1001 Dae 100Korean) on August 30 (Episode 495, with Sunwoo Yong-yeo), and JTBC's Please Take Care of My Refrigerator (냉장고를 부탁해Naengjanggoreul ButakaeKorean) from September 4 to September 11 (Episodes 146-147, with Kim Ji-hoon). From December 3, 2017, to April 1, 2018, she was a fixed cast member on the JTBC reality program Stranger (이방인Ibang-inKorean), appearing with her family. In 2018, she was a guest on JTBC's Let's Eat Dinner Together (한끼줍쇼HankkijupsyoKorean) on January 11 (Episode 64, Ilsan Siksa-dong). She also appeared as a guest on KBS2's Problem Child in House (옥탑방의 문제아들Oktapbangui MunjeadeulKorean) on August 27, 2019 (Episode 42), and was featured in MBC's Docuplex (다큐플렉스DakyupullekseuKorean) on November 13, 2021, for the second part of the Unstoppable High Kick! special.
In radio, Seo Min-jung was a DJ for SBS Love FM's Seo Min-jung's Our Joyful Young Days (서민정의 기쁜 우리 젊은날Seo Min-jeongui Gippeun Uri Jeom-eunnalKorean) from October 2002 to April 2005. She also made a guest appearance on SBS Love FM's Song Eun-yi, Kim Sook's Unnie's Radio (송은이, 김숙의 언니네 라디오Song Eun-i, Kim Sukui Eonnine RadioKorean) on August 3, 2016.
3.4. Advertisements
Seo Min-jung has appeared in various commercial advertisements throughout her career. These include commercials for Technomart (with Kim Chang-wan), Crown Confectionery, Binggrae Banana Flavored Milk and Saenggyultanggyul, TJ Media Ziller Net, and Shinhan Card. She was also featured in advertisements for LG Card.
3.5. Hiatus and Return to Entertainment
After a successful career, Seo Min-jung decided to retire from show business following her marriage to Ahn Sang-hoon on August 25, 2007. She then migrated to New York City, where she established her new home and temporarily suspended her broadcast activities to focus on her family.
After a decade-long break, Seo Min-jung made her return to the entertainment industry in 2017. Her comeback was marked by her appearance on MBC's Mystery Music Show King of Mask Singer on June 26, 2017. Following this, she gained further popularity through her fixed role with her family on the JTBC reality program Stranger, which aired from December 3, 2017, to April 1, 2018. Her husband's encouragement played a role in her decision to return to broadcasting, as he wanted her to pursue her dreams.
4. Personal Life
Seo Min-jung's private life primarily revolves around her marriage, family, and her life in New York City.
4.1. Marriage and Family
Seo Min-jung married Ahn Sang-hoon (안상훈Ahn Sang-hoonKorean), a Korean-American dentist who is one year her senior. They first met in 2005 through a mutual friend and dated for approximately a year before getting married. Their wedding ceremony took place on August 26, 2007, at the COEX Convention Center Grand Ballroom in Samseong-dong, Seoul. Given that her husband worked as a dentist in the United States, they maintained their relationship through emails and phone calls.
Ahn Sang-hoon is a graduate of New York University and currently owns and operates a dental clinic in Manhattan, New York. Seo Min-jung has shared that their initial connection was fostered by discussions about their shared faith, as both were devout Christians. She described their first meeting as a profound experience, feeling a "radiance" from him as he walked towards her, and was drawn to his kind demeanor. This initial connection based on shared beliefs gave them the courage to pursue a relationship.
In 2008, Seo Min-jung gave birth to their daughter, Ahn Yae-jin (안예진Ahn Yae-jinKorean), on July 28. The family resides together in New York City.
5. Awards and Recognition
Seo Min-jung has received several awards throughout her career, recognizing her contributions to both radio and television.
- 2005 SBS Drama Awards: Special Award for Radio (for Seo Min-jung's Our Joyful Young Days)
- 2007 Mnet 20's Choice Awards: Best Kiss with Choi Min-yong (for Unstoppable High Kick!)