Cho Yeo-jeong (Korean: 조여정; born February 10, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She is best known internationally for her role in the film Parasite (2019), which won four Academy Awards and became the first non-English language film to win the award for Best Picture.[1]
Cho Yeo-jeong was born in Seoul, South Korea. She debuted as a CeCi Magazine cover girl at the age of 16 in 1997, and began actively acting in 1999. Despite appearing in drama series, music videos, and TV commercials afterwards, she remained obscure. During this period, she was also unhappy with the limited roles being offered to her.[2][3]
Then Cho rose to the spotlight in 2010 by starring as the ambitious Joseon woman of lower class in the erotic period drama The Servant.[4] The R-rated movie, which was a newly adapted and tragic version of Korea's famous folktale The Story of Chunhyang, had been turned down by a number of actresses because it contained too many sex scenes. Cho, however, took advantage of the opportunity and it turned out to be a huge stepping stone in her career.[5][6] Upon the release of the film, Cho successfully escaped being "another pretty face" in Korea's entertainment scene.[2][3]
In 2011, Cho starred in hit cable series I Need Romance, a sexually frank and funny comedy about a group of single thirty-something girlfriends navigating the dating scene in Seoul, which boasted stylish and slick production values.
Few would have expected her to star in another period drama that required full nudity, as doing so may have stigmatized her in Korea's film industry. Despite the collective concerns expressed by local media that she was "going nude too often," in 2012 the actress chose another period thriller with explicit sex scenes.[7] She had admired the work of director Kim Dae-seung and wanted to work with him, so after reading his latest script, she pursued being cast as the complex titular character of The Concubine.[8] Despite the hype, the film was critically praised. In an interview for the film, Cho said that most of all, she wants to be seen as an adventurous and intriguing actress.[2][3][9]
In the 2012 romantic comedy series Lovers of Haeundae, Cho played the bright and cheerful daughter of a Busan gangster, who falls in love with the amnesiac undercover prosecutor living with them.[10] A year later, Cho's book Healing Beauty was published, containing tips and advice on health and beauty, based on the know-how she's amassed as an actress over her 16-year career.[11]
In 2013, Cho became involved in a publicized contract dispute when she signed a new contract with Bom Entertainment while her contract with Didim531 was still in effect.[12] The Korea Entertainment Management Association suggested that Cho avoid working with both agencies, and she joined Neos Entertainment in 2014.[13]
Cho starred in two movies in 2014. She reunited with director Kim Dae-woo (The Servant) in another erotic period film, this time set during the Vietnam War, titled Obsessed.[14] She also played an abducted wife in The Target, a remake of French action-thriller Point Blank.[15][16]
In 2015, Cho starred in the sex comedy Casa Amor: Exclusive for Ladies, which she said made her realize "how gratifying it is to see people laughing because of me." She said further, "Casa Amor: Exclusive for Ladies is the first film I've done in a long time whose story focuses on women. I hope that, building on the success of this film, more films featuring women's voices and experiences are made."[17]
^Jo Ji-young (May 23, 2022). "[공식] 송승헌X조여정X박지현, '인간중독' '방자전' 감독 신작 '히든 페이스'로 뭉쳤다" [[Official] Song Seung-heon X Jo Yeo-jeong X Park Ji-hyeon, 'Human Addiction' and 'Bangjajeon' director's new film 'Hidden Face'] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ahn Yoon-ji (July 14, 2023). "'더 글로리' 정성일, 조여정 만났다..'인터뷰' 17일 크랭크인 확정" ['The Glory' Jeong Seong-il met Jo Yeo-jeong...' The Interview' confirmed crank-in on the 17th] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, A-young (August 26, 2019). "조여정, '99억의 여자'로 안방극장 복귀". Is Plus (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
^Kim, Soo-jin (March 11, 2021). "조여정 김지수 하준, '하이클래스' 출연 [공식]". Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
^Hwang Yeon-do (November 7, 2022). "조여정, '나이 많다' 이유로 쿠엔틴 감독 영화 캐스팅 취소 날벼락 (연매살)" [Jo Yeo-jeong cancels Quentin's film casting due to 'old age']. AtStyle (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
^Choi, Yoon-na (June 27, 2024). 조여정X덱스X고규필 ‘타로: 일곱 장의 이야기’, 대본리딩 현장 공개 [Cho Yeo-jeong X Dex X Ko Kyu-pil, 'Tarot: Stories of Seven Cards', script reading site revealed] (in Korean). Sports Dong-a. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kang Da-yoon (September 29, 2021). "조여정, 'SNL 코리아' 5회 호스트…9년 만에 재회 [공식]" [Jo Yeo-jeong hosts the 5th episode of 'SNL Korea'... Reunited after 9 years [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021 – via Naver.
^Oh Ye-jin (July 29, 2021). "[게시판] 해수부, 수산물 수출 홍보대사에 배우 조여정 위촉" [[Bulletin Board] Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries appoints actress Jo Yeo-jeong as ambassador for seafood export]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
^Kang, Min-kyung (November 21, 2019). "봉준호 '기생충', 청룡영화상 5관왕 "韓영화의 자부심·자긍심" [종합]" [Bong Joon-ho 'The Parasite', 5th King of the Blue Dragon Film Awards "Pride and pride in the film" [Comprehensive]]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 26, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Naver.
^Kim, Min-soo; Shin, Yoon-ae (April 23, 2020). 2020 포브스코리아 선정 파워 셀럽 40 [40 Power Celebrities selected by Forbes Korea 2020]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 4, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2021 – via Joins.
^"한국영화 배우 흥행 파워 TOP 배우 하정우 그러나 TOP 10위 안에 여성 배우는 실종...여성 주연 영화 부재가 원인" [Korean movie actor box office power TOP actor Ha Jung-woo but the female actor in the top 10 is missing... Due to the absence of female-starred films]. RNX (in Korean). January 2, 2020. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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