Jang Hye-jin (; born September 5, 1975) is a South Korean actress. She is best known internationally for her role as Kim Chung-sook in the Academy Award winning film Parasite.
Career Hye-jin was born in Busan on September 5, 1975. Her acting career began in the 1990s, with a minor role in the 1998 feature film If It Snows On Christmas. She began to gain media attention in her native country in the mid-2000s when she played the role of Park Myung-suk in the dramatic film Secret Sunshine under the direction of filmmaker and novelist Lee Chang-dong and with her appearance in SBS's My Sweet Seoul TV series.
At the end of the decade she appeared in the films Marine Boy by Yoon Jong-seok and Poetry by the aforementioned Lee Chang-dong. In 2016 she was cast in Yoon Ga-eun's The World of Us and Shin Joon's Yongsoon, before playing Jung-hee in Lee Dong-eun's feature film Mothers with Im Soo-jung, Yoon Chan-young and Lee Sang-hee.
After playing supporting roles in the films Adulthood and Youngju and in the TV series Hold me Tight, the actress gained international recognition by playing the lead role of Kim Chung-sook in Bong Joon-ho's award-winning film Parasite, which won four Academy Awards in 2020 in the categories of Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Film. In the movie she plays a mother who irregularly gets the job as a housekeeper for a wealthy family.
After her participation in Parasite, the actress was featured in the 2020 TV series A Piece of Your Mind, How to Buy a Friend, True Beauty and Birthcare Center, in addition to playing the role of Seon-myeong in the comic feature film More Than Family alongside Krystal Jung and Choi Deok-moon.
In 2021, she played the role of Court Lady Seo in MBC historical drama The Red Sleeve. And in 2022 she stars in JTBC television series Green Mothers' Club
Filmography Film Year Title Role 1998 If It Snows On Christmas Secretary 2007 Secret Sunshine Park Myung-suk 2009 Marine Boy Immigration judge 2010 Poetry Mr. Kang's second daughter-in-law 2012 Saying I Love You Su-ji 2016 The World of Us Mom Yongsoon Middle aged woman at meat restaurant 2017 Mothers Jung-hee 2018 Adulthood Jum-hee's second sister-in-law Youngju Aunt 2019 Parasite Chung-Sook (Mrs. Kim) The House of Us Seon's mom Family Affair Mi Jung 2020 More Than Family Seon-myeong2023SoulmateHa-eun's mother 2025 The World of Love Kang Tae-sun 2026 Number One Eun-sil
Television series Year Title Role Notes 2008 My Sweet Seoul 2018 Hold Me Tight Baek So-jin 2019 When the Camellia Blooms Park Young-sim 2019–2020 Crash Landing on You Go Myeong-eun 2020 A Piece of Your Mind Han Seo-woo's mother Cameo How to Buy a Friend Jo Pyung-seop Memorials Kim Sam-suk Birthcare Center Choi Hye-suk 2020–2021 True Beauty Hong Hyun-sook 2021 Hospital Playlist 2 Chu Min-ha's mother Cameo (episode 10) Reflection of YouAhn Min-seo The Red Sleeve Court Lady Seo2022Green Mothers' ClubKim Young-mi The Law Cafe Kim Cheon-daek Curtain Call Oh Ga-young Cameo (episode 1, 7)2023 Longing for You Hong Young-hee The Matchmakers Lady Song 2024Doctor SlumpKong Wol-seonJeongnyeon: The Star Is BornHan Ki-Joo2025The WitchLee Dong-jin's mother When Life Gives You TangerinesYeong-ran
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 Baeksang Arts Awards 2022 Best Supporting Actress – Television The Red Sleeve 2026 Best Supporting Actress – Film The World of Love Buil Film Awards 2019 Best Supporting Actress Parasite Critics' Choice Awards 2020 Best Acting Ensemble Gold Derby Awards 2020 Best Ensemble Golden Cinematography Awards 2021 Best Supporting Actress More Than Family MBC Drama Awards2021Best Supporting ActressThe Red Sleeve Screen Actors Guild Awards 2020 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Parasite
Listicles + Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement Publisher Year Listicle Placement Korean Film Council 2021 Korean Actors 200
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