Park Jin-hee

Quick Facts: Who was Park Jin-hee?

Subject:

Park Jin-hee

Known for:

Acclaimed South Korean actress known for roles in period dramas and comedies.

Born:

1978-01-08

Century / Era:

1978s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Park Jin-hee (Korean: 박진희; born January 8, 1978) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading roles in the television series Please Come Back, Soon-ae (2006), War of Money (2007), and Giant (2010), as well as for the film Shadows in the Palace (2007). Park made her acting debut in 1996 teen drama Start, and rose to stardom in the 1998 horror film Whispering Corridors. She was praised for her emotional performance as a single mother in the KBS television series Stock Flower in 2001, but her other TV dramas were deemed forgettable. She starred in a string of commercial fare on the big screen, namely, Promenade with Kim Sang-joong, Just Do It!

Career & Major Achievements

with Park Sang-myun, Star with Yoo Oh-sung, and Love in Magic with Yeon Jung-hoon, as well as the indie Love Talk with Bae Jong-ok and Park Hee-soon in 2005, but none of her films achieved critical or box office success. Park then stopped working for a year and a half, deciding to take some time off for a little introspection. The hiatus paid off in 2006 when she returned to the small screen in Please Come Back, Soon-ae, playing a 40-something ajumma trapped in the body of a sexy young 20-something (with the reverse played by Shim Hye-jin). The body swap comedy was a hit, with average ratings of 25%. Her popularity continued in 2007 when her drama with Park Shin-yang, War of Money reached ratings of over 30%.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

As a righteous woman facing a slew of financial hardships, Park's acting was recognized at the SBS Drama Awards. She then drew laughs as a narcissistic character in the film Underground Rendezvous, a 1980s-set comedy about the North–south divide co-starring Im Chang-jung. But her next film would be even more high-profile: Shadows in the Palace, a mystery thriller set during the reign of King Jeongjo (1752–1800). Playing a court medic who investigates a murder within the ranks of the royal harem and household (the film's Korean title translates to kungnyŏ, or "palace women"), Park received critical acclaim for her performance, with one review calling it "the peak of her 10-year acting career." She won Best Actress at the Golden Cinematography Awards and the Fantasia Festival. Following the 2008 film Sweet Lie (also known as Lost and Found) in which her character pretends to have amnesia to snag her dream guy, Park continued to explore the romantic comedy genre in The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry (also known as Still, Marry Me).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1752: 1752 Milestone — But her next film would be even more high-profile: Shadows in the Palace, a mystery thriller set during the reign of King Jeongjo (1752–1800).
2. 1978 (1978-01-08): Birth of Park Jin-hee — Acclaimed South Korean actress known for roles in period dramas and comedies.
3. 1996: 1996 Milestone — Park made her acting debut in 1996 teen drama Start, and rose to stardom in the 1998 horror film Whispering Corridors.
4. 2001: 2001 Milestone — She was praised for her emotional performance as a single mother in the KBS television series Stock Flower in 2001, but her other TV dramas were deemed forgettable.
5. 2005: 2005 Milestone — with Park Sang-myun, Star with Yoo Oh-sung, and Love in Magic with Yeon Jung-hoon, as well as the indie Love Talk with Bae Jong-ok and Park Hee-soon in 2005, but none of her films achieved critical or box office success.
6. 2006: 2006 Milestone — She is best known for her leading roles in the television series Please Come Back, Soon-ae (2006), War of Money (2007), and Giant (2010), as well as for the film Shadows in the Palace (2007).
7. 2007: 2007 Milestone — Her popularity continued in 2007 when her drama with Park Shin-yang, War of Money reached ratings of over 30%.
8. 2008: 2008 Milestone — Following the 2008 film Sweet Lie (also known as Lost and Found) in which her character pretends to have amnesia to snag her dream guy, Park continued to explore the romantic comedy genre in The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry (also known as Still, Marry Me).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Park Jin-hee

True or False: “Park Jin-hee's role in the 2010 series Giant was critically acclaimed for its historical accuracy regarding Korean economic booms.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The series Giant depicted an economic boom period (1970s-80s), but her character's portrayal as a loan shark was lauded for its dramatic ambition rather than strict historical documentation.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolf Dassler — Contemporary (Died in 1978) (1978): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• Aldo Moro — Contemporary (Died in 1978) (1978): Italian statesman who served as Prime Minister multiple times, championing the modern Italian centre-left.
• Anastas Mikoyan — Contemporary (Died in 1978) (1978): Long-serving Soviet statesman, diplomat, and Bolshevik revolutionary from Armenia.
• Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani — Shared historical date (01-08 · Died) (2017): Iranian Shia cleric and politician; served as President of Iran from 1989 to 1997.
• Alexander Prokhorov — Shared historical date (01-08 · Died) (2002): Soviet physicist known for fundamental work on optics, leading to the laser and maser.
• Ani Lorak — Historical peer (Born in 1978) (1978): Iconic Ukrainian-born Russian singer, celebrated for her powerful vocal style.
• Aram Khachaturian — Historical peer (Died in 1978) (1978): Leading Soviet Armenian composer, known for vibrant ballet scores and captivating melodies.
• Aaron Spelling — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Al Oerter — Historical peer (Died in 2007) (2007): Four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw, pioneering athletic consistency.
• 1978 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1978
• January 8 (01-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 8

Frequently Asked Questions about Park Jin-hee