Kim Jung-hwa

Quick Facts: Who was Kim Jung-hwa?

Subject:

Kim Jung-hwa

Known for:

South Korean actress known for roles in sitcoms, dramas, and films since the early 2000s.

Born:

1983-09-09

Century / Era:

1983s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Kim Jung-hwa (Korean: 김정화; born September 9, 1983) is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame in the 2002 sitcom Nonstop 3, and has since played leading roles in the television series Something About 1% (2003) and Snow White: Taste Sweet Love (2004), as well as the films Spy Girl (2004) and The Elephant on the Bike (2007). Kim Jung-hwa made her acting debut in 2000 when she appeared in Lee Seung-hwan's music video "You to You." She rose to fame in 2002 with the sitcom Nonstop 3, and was soon cast in supporting roles in the television dramas Glass Slippers (2002) and Into the Sun (2003). Kim starred as the leading actress in the romantic comedies Something About 1% (2003) in which she played a middle school teacher who enters a contract marriage with a tycoon's grandson, and Snow White: Taste Sweet Love (2004) where her homely character is unexpectedly caught in a love triangle between two brothers. This was followed by her first film Spy Girl (2004), a comedy about a North Korean agent who goes undercover in the South as a Burger King employee, but to her dismay finds herself becoming popular with the male student customers.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Kim made her stage debut in 2006, in the Russian plays Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov and The Lower Depths by Maxim Gorky. She later starred in the homegrown musical Audition (2007), Sam Shepard's Fool for Love (2010), and the Kim Kwang-seok jukebox musical The Days (2013). Her next major film role was in 2007's The Elephant on the Bike, as the love interest of an emotionally withdrawn zookeeper with a deformed hand. She then drew positive reviews for her portrayal of a cold-hearted loan shark heiress in the hit drama War of Money. Kim continued to appear in television, notably in four-episode anthology Things We Do That We Know We Will Regret (2008), and historical dramas The Kingdom of the Winds (2009) and Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror (2011).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 2012, Kim starred in Solid but Fluid (titled "Silverscreen Lovers" in Korean), a 3D short film about a soon-to-be-married couple that catches a glimpse of their future while at the drive-in theater. Kim published a book of essays in 2012, which included her musings on life as an actress, as well as stories about her volunteer work helping impoverished children as part of the fight against global hunger. She titled it Hello, Agnes!, after the African child with HIV/AIDS whom she met in Uganda and has sponsored since 2009. Kim donated all proceeds to charity. After a supporting role in Dating Agency: Cyrano (2013), Kim returned to cable television in 2015 in the disaster/medical drama D-Day.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1983 (1983-09-09): Birth of Kim Jung-hwa — South Korean actress known for roles in sitcoms, dramas, and films since the early 2000s.
2. 2000: 2000 Milestone — Kim Jung-hwa made her acting debut in 2000 when she appeared in Lee Seung-hwan's music video "You to You.
3. 2002: 2002 Milestone — She rose to fame in the 2002 sitcom Nonstop 3, and has since played leading roles in the television series Something About 1% (2003) and Snow White: Taste Sweet Love (2004), as well as the films Spy Girl (2004) and The Elephant on the Bike (2007).
4. 2003: 2003 Milestone — Kim starred as the leading actress in the romantic comedies Something About 1% (2003) in which she played a middle school teacher who enters a contract marriage with a tycoon's grandson, and Snow White: Taste Sweet Love (2004) where her homely character is unexpectedly caught in a love triangle between two brothers.
5. 2004: 2004 Milestone — This was followed by her first film Spy Girl (2004), a comedy about a North Korean agent who goes undercover in the South as a Burger King employee, but to her dismay finds herself becoming popular with the male student customers.
6. 2006: 2006 Milestone — Kim made her stage debut in 2006, in the Russian plays Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov and The Lower Depths by Maxim Gorky.
7. 2007: 2007 Milestone — She later starred in the homegrown musical Audition (2007), Sam Shepard's Fool for Love (2010), and the Kim Kwang-seok jukebox musical The Days (2013).
8. 2008: 2008 Milestone — Kim continued to appear in television, notably in four-episode anthology Things We Do That We Know We Will Regret (2008), and historical dramas The Kingdom of the Winds (2009) and Gwanggaeto, The Great Conqueror (2011).
9. 2009: 2009 Milestone — , after the African child with HIV/AIDS whom she met in Uganda and has sponsored since 2009.
10. 2012: 2012 Milestone — In 2012, Kim starred in Solid but Fluid (titled "Silverscreen Lovers" in Korean), a 3D short film about a soon-to-be-married couple that catches a glimpse of their future while at the drive-in theater.
11. 2013: 2013 Milestone — After a supporting role in Dating Agency: Cyrano (2013), Kim returned to cable television in 2015 in the disaster/medical drama D-Day.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kim Jung-hwa

True or False: “Kim Jung-hwa's first major film role was in a comedy about an undercover North Korean agent at Burger King.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While she starred in Spy Girl (2004), her initial breakthrough roles were in television series like Something About 1% and Snow White: Taste Sweet Love.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Rushdi — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): A legendary Pakistani playback singer, known as the 'Magician of Voice'.
• Alan Moorehead — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): Australian war correspondent and author of popular histories, famed for Nile explorations.
• Alfred Tarski — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): Pioneering logician known for model theory and the formal concept of truth.
• Adam Sandler — Shared historical date (09-09 · Born) (1966): Acclaimed comedian and actor known for his prolific career in Hollywood comedy.
• Afrojack — Shared historical date (09-09 · Born) (1987): Dutch DJ and record producer, known professionally as Afrojack.
• Amy Winehouse — Historical peer (Born in 1983) (1983): Iconic British soul artist blending jazz, R&B, and retro sounds.
• Anastasia Davydova — Historical peer (Born in 1983) (1983): Five-time Olympic gold medalist and celebrated coach in Russian synchronized swimming.
• Abba Eban — Historical peer (Died in 2002) (2002): Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar of Arabic and Hebrew languages.
• Adolph Green — Historical peer (Died in 2002) (2002): American lyricist and playwright known for his long-running, witty partnership with Betty Comden.
• Alberto Sordi — Historical peer (Died in 2003) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• 1983 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1983
• September 9 (09-09) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 9

Frequently Asked Questions about Kim Jung-hwa