Cho Yeo-jeong (; 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 Best Picture.
Cho is also known for her roles in the films The Servant (2010), The Concubine (2012), and Obsessed (2014), as well as the television series I Need Romance (2011), Lovers of Haeundae (2012), Divorce Lawyer in Love (2015), Woman of 9.9 Billion (2019–2020), and Cheat on Me If You Can (2020–2021).
Life and career 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.
Then Cho rose to the spotlight in 2010 by starring as the ambitious Joseon period woman of lower class in the erotic period drama The Servant. 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. Upon the release of the film, Cho successfully escaped being "another pretty face" in Korea's entertainment scene.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. The Korea Entertainment Management Association suggested that Cho avoid working with both agencies, and she joined Neos Entertainment in 2014.
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. She also played an abducted wife in The Target, a remake of French action-thriller Point Blank.
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."
Cho starred in television series Woman of 9.9 Billion in 2019 and Cheat on Me If You Can in 2020.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 A Perfect Match Min-ah 2006 Vampire Cop Ricky Yeon-hee 2010 The Servant Chun-hyang 2012 The Concubine Shin Hwa-yeon2014 The Target Jung Hee-joo Obsessed Lee Sook-jin 2015 Casa Amor: Exclusive for Ladies Baek Bo-hee 2019 Parasite Choi Yeon-gyo / Mrs. Park 2024 Hidden Face Su-yeon 2025 My Daughter Is a Zombie Shin Yeon-hwa Murderer Report Baek Sun-ju 2026 Possible LoveYe-ji
Television series Year Title Role Notes 1999 How Am I? Last War You Don't Know My Mind Yang Mi-ri2000 Roll of Thunder2002 Rustic Period Ae-ran Royal Story: Jang Hui-bin Royal Consort 'Gwiin' Kim2003 South of the Sun Noh Hye-in A Problem at My Younger Brother's House Oh Dan-bi2004 Terms of Endearment Na Ae-ri I'm From Chosun Lee Han-sol 2006 So In Love Lee Sun-joo 2008 War of Money: The Original Choi Ji-in2009 The Road Home Jang Mi-ryung Hometown Legends: "Myo-jeong's Pearl" So-won 2011 I Need Romance Sunwoo In-young 2012 Lovers of Haeundae Go So-ra 2015 Divorce Lawyer in Love Go Cheok-hee2016 Babysitter Lee Sang-won's wife Love in the Moonlight Cameo (episode 1) 2017 Ms. Perfect Lee Eun-hee2019 Beautiful World Seo Eun-joo Woman of 9.9 Billion Jeong Seo-yeon 2020–2021 Cheat on Me If You Can Kang Yeo-ju novel writer 2021 High Class Song Yeo-uol 2022 Behind Every Star Herself Cameo 2024 Tarot Ji-woo Episode 1 2025–2026 Made in Korea Bae Geum-ji 2026The Affair Was Just the BeginningSoo-jeong
Variety show Year Title Role Notes 1997 Ppo Ppo Ppo (Kiss Kiss Kiss) Host 2001 21st Century Committee Cast member Fairyland Ggumdongsan Host 2003 Soulmates Cast member 2008 We Got Married - Season 1 Paired with Lee Hwi-jae2010 Girls on Top - Season 2 Host Fox's Butler Cast member 2011 O'live Beauty On-Air Host 2012 Saturday Night Live Korea 2013 Law of the Jungle in Caribbean/Maya Jungle Cast member2019Surfing House 2021 Saturday Night Live Korea Host Episode 5
Music video appearances Year Title Artist(s) 2011 "Even Now"Sung Si-kyung 2019 "Fever"J. Y. Park ft. Superbee & Bibi
Ambassadorship Year Title Ref. 2021 Korean seafood export ambassador
Musical theatre Year Title Role 2005 Grease Sandy
Discography Year Song title ArtistNotes2011 "Aegyo (Charm)" Jo Yeo-jeong and Kim Jeong-hoon Track from I Need Romance OST "Winter Story" Jo Yeo-jeong, Park Si-hoo, Park Si-yeon, Nam Gyu-ri, Jo Dal-hwan, Ryohei Otani, Choi Sung-joon and Jung Woo-jin Eyagi Entertainment Christmas 2011 single
Book Year Title Publisher ISBN 2013 Healing Beauty Paper Book
Awards and nominations + Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result APAN Star Awards 2021 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Woman of 9.9 Billion Baeksang Arts Awards 2011 Best Actress – Film The Servant 2015 Best Supporting Actress – Film Obsessed 2020 Best Actress – Film Parasite 2025 Hidden Face Blue Dragon Film Awards 2010 Popular Star Award The Servant Best New Actress 2014 Best Supporting Actress Obsessed 2019 Best Actress Parasite Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2010 Fantasia Award Cho Yeo-jeong Buil Film Awards 2012 Best Actress The Concubine 2014 Best Supporting Actress Obsessed 2019 Best Actress Parasite Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2019 Best Supporting Actress Parasite Chunsa Film Art Awards 2019 Best Actress Parasite Critics' Choice Awards 2020 Parasite Best Acting Ensemble Grand Bell Awards 2010 Best Actress The Servant 2014 Best Supporting Actress Obsessed IndieWire Critics Poll 2019 Best Supporting Actress Parasite KBS Drama Awards 2012 Best Couple Award Cho Yeo-jeong Lovers of Haeundae Excellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesLovers of Haeundae Netizen Award, Actress 2016 Best Actress in a One-Act/Special/Short Drama Babysitter 2017 Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length DramaPerfect Wife Netizen Award, Actress 2019 Top Excellence Award, Actress Woman of 9.9 Billion Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Netizen Award, Actress 2020 Best Couple Award Cho Yeo-jeong Cheat on Me If You Can Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Cheat on Me If You Can Netizen Award, Actress Top Excellence Award, Actress KOFRA Film Awards 2015 Best Supporting Actress Obsessed Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards 2010 Best Dressed, Movie Actress category Cho Yeo-jeong Korea Drama Awards 2011 Special Award for Cable TV I Need Romance Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2014 Best Supporting Actress Obsessed New Mexico Film Critics 2019 Best Supporting Actress Parasite SBS Drama Awards 2015 Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Divorce Lawyer in Love SBS Entertainment Awards 2013 Popularity Award Law of the Jungle in Caribbean/Maya Jungle Actor Awards 2020 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Parasite Style Icon Awards 2011 SIA's Discovery Cho Yeo-jeong
Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Forbes 2020 Korea Power Celebrity 40 Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200 The Screen20192009–2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies
Notes
References
External links
(as Yeo-jeong Jo)