Jung Yu-mi (, born January 18, 1983) is a South Korean actress. Known for her screen presence and versatility, she has received numerous accolades including a Baeksang Arts Award, two Blue Dragon Film Awards, and a Grand Bell Award. Jung made her feature film debut in Blossom Again (2005) and has since starred in the critically acclaimed films Family Ties (2006), Chaw (2009), My Dear Desperado (2010), and Sleep (2023), as well as box office hits Silenced (2011), Train to Busan (2016), and Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (2019). She has also appeared in director Hong Sang-soo's films, notably Oki's Movie (2010) and Our Sunhi (2013). On television, she has starred in the series Live (2018) and Love Your Enemy (2024).
Career Jung Yu-mi made her acting debut in short films, notably How to Operate a Polaroid Camera. Shortly after, the then-aspiring actress impressed critics in the feature film Blossom Again, in which she gave an engrossing performance as an emotionally vulnerable teenager experiencing her first love, and thus received several newcomer awards that year. Her next film Family Ties was also critically acclaimed, for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.
Jung's filmography is a diverse mix of arthouse indies such as The Room Nearby and Cafe Noir, cult monster flick Chaw, odd-couple romantic comedy My Dear Desperado, and melodrama Come, Closer. The Crucible (also known as Silenced), inspired by true events about a group of handicapped children who suffer physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their teachers, drew nearly 5 million viewers and became one of the highest-grossing films that Jung has starred in. Her ability to portray the lives of ordinary people in ways that are not ordinary has made her one of the most sought-after actresses for auteurial films, as evidenced by her continued collaboration with director Hong Sang-soo. She played the titular character in Hong's Oki's Movie (2010) and Our Sunhi (2013), where her fragile appeal is underpinned by a quiet strength and straightforwardness. Oki's Movie premiered at the 67th Venice Film Festival, while Our Sunhi premiered at the 66th Locarno International Film Festival. In 2015, she starred in the female-centric indie film The Table directed by Kim Jong-kwan, which premiered at the 21st Busan International Film Festival.Jung has also starred in several commercial films, such as Manhole (2014), where she plays a killer. She was cast in the zombie thriller Train to Busan (2016) directed by Yeon Sang-ho, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was a major success, surpassing 10 million audiences. Jung reunited with Yeon in another film, Psychokinesis, a black comedy which premiered in 2018. Though much less prolific in television, Jung uses her quirky, offbeat image to great effect when playing peculiar but adorable characters in Que Sera Sera (2007), I Need Romance 2012, and Discovery of Love (2014). In 2018, Jung starred in the tvN drama Live, written by Noh Hee-kyung where she played a police officer.
Jung also showcased her sweet singing voice through the song "Andromeda" with Sung Si-kyung in 2016. They later did a live duet of the song in You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook in 2017. In 2019, Jung starred in the feminist film Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 based on the best-selling novel of the same title. The film was released in October 2019. In 2020, Jung played the titular role in Netflix's series The School Nurse Files.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2003Tell Her I Love Her Nurse Short film2004How to Operate a Polaroid CameraSun-ah Short film2005A Bittersweet LifeMi-aeBit partBlossom AgainCho In-young200609:05Min-jooOmnibus filmFamily TiesChae-hyun2007Shim's FamilyHa-eun A Puppy, Our FamilyMin-jooShort film2009Oishii ManJae-yeongSpecial appearanceThe Room NearbyKoo Eon-jooLike You Know It AllYoo-shinRelay Lee Hee-jae Omnibus filmChawByeon Soo-ryeonA MillionKim Ji-eunGood Morning, President Mi-mi Special appearanceLost in the Mountains Mi-sook Omnibus film2010My Dear DesperadoSe-jinOki's MovieOk-heeCome, CloserEun-heeOmnibus filmCafe NoirSun-hwa2011SilencedSeo Yoo-jin2012In Another CountryWon-jooThe Winter PianistMi-miShort film2013Our SunhiSunhiTough as IronSoo-ji2014The Satellite Girl and Milk CowIl-ho (voice)Korean dubManholeYeon-seo2015The HimalayasChoi Soo-young Special appearance2016Train to BusanSeong-kyeong2017 Ladies of the ForestDal-laeShort filmThe TableYu-jin2018PsychokinesisHong Sang-moo2019Kim Ji-young: Born 1982Kim Ji-young2023SleepSoo-jin 2024WonderlandHae-ri 2025Love UntangledCafe Owner's wifeCameo
Television series Year Title Role Notes 2007Que Sera SeraHan Eun-soo2010KBS Drama Special:"The Great Gye Choon-bin"Gye Choon-bin2012I Need Romance 2012Joo Yeol-mae2013 The Queen of OfficeJeong Joo-ri Dating Agency: Cyrano Bong Soo-ah Cameo (Episode 8-9) Reply 1994 Girl who bumps into Chilbong Cameo (Episode 21)2014 Discovery of LoveHan Yeo-reum2016 Listen to LoveHan Jun-hee Cameo (Episode 8)2017 The Lady in DignityClient Cameo (Episode 6)2018LiveHan Jung-o What's Wrong with Secretary Kim Lee Young-joon's friendCameo (Episode 14) Tale of Fairy Lotus Voice cameo 2024 Love Your Enemy Yoon Ji-won When the Day Breaks TBA
Web series Year Title Role Notes 2020The School Nurse FilesAhn Eun-yeong
Television shows Year Title Role Notes 2017–2018Youn's KitchenCast member2020 Summer Vacation 2021 Youn's Stay Cast member and manager 2023–2024 Jinny's Kitchen Cast member and executive director 2023 Jinny's Kitchen: Team Building
Music video appearances Year Title Artist 2015 "Zero Gravity" Zion.T 2017 "Holding On to You" Sung Si-kyung
Discography Singles TitleYearAlbum "Andromeda" (feat. Sung Si-kyung)2016Dingo Project
Accolades 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 2018 Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Live Asian Film Awards 2020 Best Actress Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 2024 Sleep Baeksang Arts Awards 2006 Best New Actress – Film Blossom Again 2020 Best Actress – Film Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 2024 Sleep Blue Dragon Film Awards 2005Best New Actress Blossom Again 2006Best Supporting Actress Family Ties 2011Best Leading ActressThe Crucible 2016Best Supporting ActressTrain to Busan 2021 Popular Star Award Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 Best Leading Actress 2023 Sleep Buil Film Awards 2011 Best ActressOki's Movie 2014 Our Sunhi 2016 Best Supporting Actress Train to Busan 2020 Best Actress Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 Busan Film Critics Awards 2013 Our Sunhi Chunsa Film Art Awards 2017 Best Supporting Actress Train to Busan 2020 Best Actress Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 Cine21 Film Awards 2013 Our Sunhi Director's Cut Awards 2022 Best Actress in filmKim Ji-young: Born 1982 Best Actress in series The School Nurse Files Golden Cinematography Awards 2011 Best Actress My Dear Desperado Grand Bell Awards 2018 Best Supporting ActressPsychokinesis 2020 Best ActressKim Ji-young: Born 1982 2023Sleep KBS Drama Awards 2010Excellence Award, Actress in a One-Act Drama SpecialThe Great Gye Choon-bin 2013Excellence Award, Actress in a MiniseriesQueen of the Office 2014Best Couple Award Jung Yu-mi Discovery of LoveExcellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Discovery of LoveNetizen Award, Actress Top Excellence Award, Actress Korea Drama Awards 2018Live Korea World Youth Film Festival 2017Favorite Film ActressThe Table Korean Association of Film Critics Awards 2005 Best New Actress Blossom Again 2020 Best ActressKim Ji-young: Born 1982 Korean Film Awards 2005 Best New Actress Blossom Again 2006Family Ties 2010 Best ActressMy Dear Desperado Korean Film Producers Association Awards 2023 Sleep Seoul International Drama Awards 2021 Character of the Year The School Nurse Files Outstanding Korean Actress Wildflower Film Awards 2014 Best Actress Our Sunhi Women in Film Korea Awards 2019Kim Ji-young: Born 1982
Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Cine21 2023 Film Actress of the Year 1st Forbes 2018 Korea Power Celebrity 40 23rd The Screen 20192009–2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies 49th
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