Jung Eun-ji (Korean: 정은지; born Jung Hye-rim on August 18, 1993), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known as the main vocalist of the South Korean girl group Apink. Renowned for her powerful vocals, she possesses perfect pitch[1] and has a vocal range of four octaves and one note.[2] Jung made her acting debut in the critically acclaimed hit coming-of-age television series Reply 1997 in 2012. She has since had roles in That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013), Lovers of Music (2014), Cheer Up! (2015), Untouchable (2017), Work Later, Drink Now (2021–2022), Blind (2022), and Miss Night and Day (2024). She released her debut solo extended play Dream in 2016.
Jung attended Shinjae Elementary School, Jaesong Girls' Middle School, and Busan Hyehwa Girls' High School.[7] She traveled back and forth to Busan to continue her studies while promoting as an idol in Seoul. She graduated from high school in February 2012.[8]
Career
Pre-debut
In July 2004, Jung participated in the KBS Busan Nursery Rhyme Contest Fun Day and won the grand prize.[9]
In February 2011, Jung passed the audition to become the main vocalist of Apink. On February 14, 2011, she moved to Seoul to start her debut preparation. She had not received any professional training prior to joining Apink, and trained for only two months with the group before debuting.[10]
In March 2011, Jung was revealed to be the fourth member of Apink via an online video of her covering Jennifer Hudson's "Love You I Do".[11] Jung joined the rest of the group to film Apink News prior to their debut.[12] On April 21, 2011, Jung made her debut as a main vocalist of Apink on Mnet's M Countdown with two songs, "Mollayo" and "Wishlist", from the group's debut extended play Seven Springs of Apink.
2012–2015: Solo activities, acting debut, and rising popularity
Jung has collaborated with various artists for OSTs and promotional songs. For the project A Cube for Season #Green, Jung Eun-ji and fellow Cube artist Yang Yo-seob, sang the duet track "Love Day".[13]
Jung made her acting debut in Reply 1997, a 1990s nostalgic dramedy which became one of the highest-rated Korean series on cable television.[14] She played the female protagonist, a hardcore H.O.T. fan who becomes a TV drama writer.[15] Jung was complimented by critics and audiences for her comedic and emotional acting, which was impressive for a newcomer, as well as for her authentic Busan dialect.[15] The role won her several awards, including the 49th Baeksang Arts Award for Best New TV Actress.
In August 2012, Jung recorded two promotional singles, "All For You" and "Our Love Like This" with Reply 1997 co-star Seo In-guk for the drama's soundtrack.[16][17] "All For You" became one of the best-selling singles of the year on the Gaon Single Chart.[18][19]
In September 2012, Jung has been cast in the Korean staging of the Hollywood film-turned-musical Legally Blonde, playing the lead role of Elle Woods.[20] The show ran from November 16, 2012, to March 17, 2013.[21]
In 2013 and 2014, Jung collaborated with label-mate Huh Gak for duets titled "Short Hair" and "Break Up To Make Up" respectively, which were well-received by listeners and ranked atop major online music charts in Korea.[23][24][25] She released her first solo single titled "Its You" for the soundtrack of Three Days.[26]
In 2014, she starred in another musical, the stage adaptation of 2004 series Full House.[27] Afterwards, Jung starred in the romantic comedy series Lovers of Music, which depicts a female singer's struggles to become successful in the old-fashioned musical genre trot.[28][29]
Jung at the press conference for drama Cheer Up! in October 2015
In 2015, Jung starred as the female lead in KBS2 high school drama Cheer Up! playing the role of a high school student who ranks at the bottom of her class.[30][31]
2016–present: Solo debut, continuous solo activities, and acting resurgence
On April 18, 2016, Jung debuted as a solo artist with the EP Dream, which consisted of six songs.[25] The title track "Hopefully Sky" is written by Jung, which recounts the times she spent with her father.[32] "Hopefully Sky" topped eight local music charts,[33] and the album sold 30,000 copies upon release.[34] In April 2017, Jung released her second EP The Space.[35] The title track "The Spring" and its accompanying music video was unveiled on April 10, and debuted within the top ten spots on local music charts.[36] From June 3 to 5, Jung held her first solo concert titled "Attic" at Ewha Womans University's Samsung Hall.[37][38]
Jung in 2017
In 2017, Jung was cast in JTBC's action melodrama Untouchable which began airing on November 24.[39]
In 2018, Jung was cast in the horror film 0.0MHz, based on the webtoon of the same name.[40] On October 18, 2018, Jung released a music video for the single "Being There", from her third EP Hyehwa.[41]
In 2021, Jung was cast in TVING's web series Work Later, Drink Now as Kang Ji-goo, an origami YouTuber.[44] The series premiered at the Cannes International Series Festival 2022 from April 1 to April 6, 2022.[45]
In September 2022, she starred in the mystery thriller television series Blind, portraying the role of a social worker.[46]
On October 30, 2022, IST Entertainment announced that the release of the remake album Log, which was originally scheduled to be released on November 2, has been postponed to November 11 due to the aftermath of the Seoul Halloween crowd crush.[47]
On November 17, 2022, IST Entertainment announced that Jung would be holding "Travelog" solo concerts on December 10 and 11.[48]
On April 28, 2023, IST Entertainment announced that Jung had renewed her contract with the company for the 3rd time.[49]
On July 31, 2023, Jung was confirmed to portray the role of Lee Mijin in the JTBC series Miss Night and Day.
[50]
On August 13, 2024, Jung surpassed 1.01 billion cumulative streams on Melon, Korea's largest music streaming platform, and was named a member of the "New Billions Club - Bronze Club." On the same day, she surpassed 120,000 daily streams compared to the previous day, putting her shoulder to shoulder with the top Korean artists representing each genre.
[51]
^Kim, Jung-hee (September 29, 2013). 에이핑크 정은지 "부산, 늘 그립고 가고 싶어..." [Apink Jeong Eun-ji "Busan, it's always nostalgic and I want to go there..."]. BUVI News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
^Park, Pan-seok (July 7, 2021). "'술꾼도시여자들' 이선빈X한선화X정은지X최시원 출연 확정 [공식]" [Lee Sun-bin X Han Seon-hwa X Jung Eun-ji X Choi Si-won confirmed to appear in 'Women in the City of Drinking' [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim Jeong-jin (March 9, 2022). "티빙·왓챠 오리지널, 칸 국제 시리즈 페스티벌 초청(종합)" [Teabing Watcha Original, Cannes International Series Festival Invitation (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Hye-yoon (March 8, 2022). "정은지, '블라인드' 캐스팅 확정..사회복지사 조은기役[공식]" [Jung Eun-ji, casting confirmed for 'Blind'..Social worker Jo Eun-ki [Official]] (in Korean). Herald POP. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Yoon-ji (October 30, 2022). "첸·용준형→정은지, 앨범 발매 연기..가요계도 이태원 참사 '애도'[종합]" [Chen Yong Jun-hyung → Jung Eun-ji, album release postponed.. 'mourning' for the Itaewon disaster in the music industry [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on October 30, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022 – via Naver.
"2016년 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
"2017년 04월 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
"2017년 05월 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
^Yoo Byung-chul (May 20, 2022). "에이핑크 정은지, 20일 'From 김이나 part.1' 신곡 발매...이선희 '그 중에 그대를 만나' 리메이크" [Apink Jung Eun-ji, released a new song 'From Kim Eana part.1' on the 20th... Lee Seon-hee's 'Meet You Among them' remake] (in Korean). Korea Economy TV. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022 – via Naver.
^"2013년 02월 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on July 11, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
^"2013 Top 100 Gaon Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
^"2016년 07월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2016년 08월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2016년 09월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
^"2016년 21주차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on June 16, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
^Hyun Jung-min (March 8, 2022). "정은지, OCN '블라인드' 출연...아이돌→배우 열일 행보" [Jung Eun-ji to appear in OCN's 'Blind'... Idol → Actor's hard work] (in Korean). Sports World. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Soo-jin (December 15, 2021). "'술꾼도시여자들' 시즌2 확정 [공식]" ['Drunk City Women' Season 2 Confirmed [Official]] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2021 – via Naver.
^Shim Eom-kyung (December 22, 2021). "tvN 측 "이선빈·정은지·한선화, 새 예능 '산꾼도시여자들' 출연"[공식]" [tvN side "Lee Seon-bin, Jung Eun-ji, Han Seon-hwa to appear in the new entertainment 'Women in Mountain Mountaineering City'" [Official]] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim Ye-eun (August 8, 2022). "유빈·신지민·미미·문수아...'두 번째 세계' 래퍼 8人 공개" [Yubin, Shin Ji-min, Mimi, Moon Soo-ah... 8 rappers from 'Second World' revealed] (in Korean). X-ports News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Na-yul (March 4, 2024). '걸스 온 파이어' 정은지→영케이, 6人 프로듀서 출연 확정[공식] ['Girls on Fire' Jung Eun-ji → Young K, 6 producers confirmed to appear [Official]] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jang Woo-young (February 16, 2022). "정은지, 2년 8개월 만 '가요광장' 하차...27일 막방 [공식]" [Jung Eun-ji leaves 'Gayo Plaza' after 2 years and 8 months... Last broadcast on the 27th [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via Naver.
^Song, Eun-seok (January 23, 2014). 서경석-정은지-은혁 '오늘의 사회는 우리가!' [Seo Kyung-seok - Jung Eun-ji - Eunhyuk 'We are the MC of today!'] (in Korean). No Cut News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jang Da-hee (September 21, 2022). "서울드라마어워즈2022, 3년만 오프라인 진행...김선호-지수 연기상 수상" [Seoul Drama Awards 2022, offline for the first time in 3 years... Kim Seon-ho - Jisoo Award for Acting Award] (in Korean). Sports TV News. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeon Hyo-jin (July 21, 2020). "에이핑크 정은지, 26일 언택트 라이브 공연 개최". Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
^Jo Yoo-kyung (December 31, 2014). "[KBS 연기대상] 이다희·정은지, 여자 인기상 수상". Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
^Kang Mi-hwa (December 17, 2019). "[영상M] 오마이걸, 2020년 기대되는 '여자아이돌'". Maeil Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
^Yoon Seong-yeol (October 28, 2016). "'2016MAMA' 후보 발표..엑소·방탄·트와이스까지". MT Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 27, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
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