Biography
Who is Hwang Jung-eum?
Early life and music career
Hwang Jung-eum was born on December 25, 1984, in Seoul, South Korea. She completed her early education at Seoul Gildong Elementary School before attending Sunhwa Arts High School and later the University of Suwon. Her career in the entertainment industry began in 2001 when she debuted as a lead vocalist for the K-pop girl group Sugar.
After spending three years with the musical group, Hwang decided to leave in 2004 to pursue a solo career. During this period, she made recurring appearances on the variety show Love Letter between 2004 and 2006. Her television acting career officially began in 2007 when she was cast in the television drama The Person I Love.
Rise to television stardom
In 2009, Hwang joined the reality dating show We Got Married alongside her real-life partner Kim Yong-jun. Later that same year, she achieved mainstream stardom by starring in the daily sitcom High Kick Through the Roof. Her energetic portrayal of a college student resonated strongly with viewers and helped launch her career to new heights.
Following her breakout role, Hwang secured numerous advertising contracts and starred in a succession of television projects. She took on her first leading role in the 2011 melodrama Listen to My Heart. Her subsequent projects included the historical epic Giant, the medical drama Golden Time, and the romantic comedy Full House Take 2.
Major acting achievements
Throughout the 2010s, Hwang continued to anchor high-profile television series. In 2013, she starred in the hit melodrama Secret Love, a performance that earned her multiple trophies at the KBS Drama Awards. She followed this with roles in Endless Love and the crime comedy Incarnation of Money.
Her success continued in 2015 when she reunited with former costars for the romantic comedies Kill Me, Heal Me and She Was Pretty. Both series achieved significant commercial success and expanded her popularity across Asia. In 2015, she was selected as Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year and recognized by Ize magazine as one of the Persons of the Year.
Recent projects and personal life
Hwang maintained an active television career into the next decade, starring in Mystic Pop-up Bar and Men Are Men in 2020. She accepted a role in the crime mystery drama The Escape of the Seven in 2022. In July 2023, she signed an exclusive management contract with Y.ONE Entertainment.
Regarding her personal life, Hwang was previously married and is a mother. Her height is listed at 167 centimeters. In 2025, legal proceedings involving financial matters were reported by the Jeju District Court, where she received a suspended prison sentence following accusations of embezzlement.
Birthday and age
Hwang Jung-eum was born on December 25, 1984, which makes Hwang 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Hwang shares the date with 47 other famous people.
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