# Jin Yinji

Jin Yinji (born Gam Ngan Gei on 3 August 1947) is a Singaporean actress of South Korean descent, who was a full-time Mediacorp artiste from 1986 to 2017.

## Early life

Jin Yinji was born in South Korea, and had 10 other siblings.

## Career
### As a singer

When Jin was 17 (1964–65), she left South Korea to find her two elder sisters in Taiwan. As she was interested in singing, she participated in a singing competition and came in second. She decided to make singing her occupation in Taiwan. Later in March 1972, Jin went to Singapore to further her career.

### As an actress

In 1986, Jin made her acting debut in Neighbours. Later, Jin was nominated for a popularity award, Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes in Star Awards 2004 as she acted in numerous drama serials for the past two years. After 11 years of veteran acting, Jin was finally nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Star Awards 2013 for her role in It Takes Two and managed to be one of the lead actresses in a 2015 family drama series, Super Senior.
Jin's contract with Mediacorp was due to expire in February 2017. She was allegedly told to take a pay cut and was compared to a "$50-an-hour bit player." She later clarified that the remark was made over 10 years ago and has since settled the fiasco with Mediacorp with details of her new contract unknown.
In 2017, Jin appeared in 2 dramas, The Lead and My Teacher Is a Thug.
In February 2017, Jin left Mediacorp as a full-time artiste after being signed to the company for three decades.
In Star Awards 2018, Jin won her first Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes award after being nominated but failed to win any after several years.
In 2018, Jin was cast in Life Less Ordinary, Fifty & Fabulous and Magic Chef.
In 2019, she appeared in the dramas Heart To Heart, Hello From The Other Side, Dear Neighbours, All is Well- Singapore and After The Stars.
At the Star Awards 2021, Jin received the Evergreen Award and a second Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes, after the first one in 2018.
In October 2022, Jin appeared in an advertorial for McDonald's, alongside actor-singer Tosh Zhang. In April 2023, she appeared in another campaign for the food fast chain with actress Yoo Ah Min (aka "Lao Zha Bor").

### Business venture

In 2020, Jin started the brand Gold Kimchi, selling home made kimchi with her Korean daughter-in-law Cloe Han from their home.

## Personal life

On 27 January 1972, Jin married Anthony Lee, a Singaporean antique dealer. Jin and Lee were introduced by friends when she came to Singapore from Taiwan in March 1971. Together, they have two children, a son and a daughter. Originally a South Korean citizen, Jin was naturalised as a Singaporean citizen when she was 26 (1973–74).
On 10 October 2023, Jin's husband Anthony Lee died of heart attack, at the age of 83.

## Filmography
### Television series

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1986 | Neighbours (芝麻绿豆) | |
| 1988 | We are Family (四代同堂) | |
| 1988 | Teahouse in Chinatown (牛车水人家) | |
| 1988 | Ups and Downs (婚姻保险) | |
| 1988 | Strange Encounters 2 (奇缘2 之《错系红线》) | |
| 1989 | The Fortune Hunters (钻石人生) | |
| 1989 | Song of Youth (生活歌手) | |
| 1989 | Good Morning, Sir! | |
| 1989 | Return of the Prince (丝路迷城) | |
| 1990 | Friends Next Door (我爱芳邻) | |
| 1990 | The Village Hero (大吉传奇) | |
| 1990 | Sweet Dreams (欣欣向荣) | |
| 1990 | Navy (壮志豪情) | |
| 1991 | The Working Class (上班一族) | |
| 1991 | The Darkest Hour (烈血青春) | |
| 1991 | Home Sweet Home (宜家宜乐) | |
| 1991 | The Other Woman (醋劲100) | |
| 1991 | Secret Operation (急转弯) | |
| 1991 | The Woman I Marry (家有恶妻) | |
| 1991 | Pretty Faces (三面夏娃) | |
| 1991 | Guardian Angel (爸爸怕怕) | |
| 1992 | Memories of June (六月的童话) | |
| 1992 | Between Friends (山水喜相逢) | |
| 1992 | Crime and Passion (执法先锋) | |
| 1992 | Male Syndrome (妙男正传) | |
| 1992 | Lady Steel (激情女大亨) | |
| 1992 | Mystery II (迷离夜II 之《问我是谁》) | |
| 1993 | The Brave One (荡寇英雄) | |
| 1993 | Sister Dearest (傻妹俏娇娃) | |
| 1993 | The Young and the Restless (俏皮战士) | |
| 1993 | Happy Reunion (年年有鱼) | |
| 1994 | Young Justice Bao (侠义包公) | |
| 1994 | Fiery of Lover (烈火情人) | |
| 1994 | Dr Justice (法医故事) | |
| 1995 | Neighbourhood Heroes (大英雄小人物) | |
| 1995 | Chronicle of Life (缘尽今生) | |
| 1995 | Strange Encounters III (奇缘3 之《灶神》、《门神》) | |
| 1995 | Dream Hunters (追心一族) | |
| 1995 | The Teochew Family | |
| 1995 | Sparks of Life (生命火花) | |
| 1995 | The Golden Pillow (金枕头) | |
| 1995 | Dr Justice II (法医故事II) | |
| 1996 | Triad Justice (飞越珍珠坊) | |
| 1996 | Kung Fu Master 1996 (掌门人1996) | |
| 1996 | Diary of a Teacher (老师日记) | |
| 1997 | The Choice Partner (错爱今生) | |
| 1997 | The Prime Years (创业兴家) | |
| 1997 | My Wife, Your Wife, Their Wives – "My Dear Mother" 101 (老婆 之《大妈二妈我的妈》)) | |
| 1998 | Facing the Music (钢琴88) | |
| 1998 | My Teacher, Aiyoyo! (哎哟哟奇妙假期) | |
| 1998 | Driven by a Car (欲望街车) | |
| 1998 | The New Adventures of Wisely (卫斯理传奇) | |
| 1999 | From the Medical Files 2 (医生档案II) | Yuhui's mother |
| 1999 | Wok of Life (福满人间) | |
| 2000 | The Voices Within (心灵物语) | |
| 2000 | The Legendary Swordsman (笑傲江湖) | |
| 2001 | The Hotel | |
| 2002 | Health Matters | |
| 2002 | Viva Le Famille | |
| 2002 | Katong Miss Oh (加东Miss Oh) | |
| 2002 | No Problem! (考试家族) | |
| 2002 | Fantasy (星梦情真) | |
| 2002 | The Unbeatables III | Auntie Qian |
| 2002 | Springs of Life | Grandma Wu |
| 2002 | My Genie (我爱精灵2) | |
| 2003 | True Heroes | Chen Meizhen |
| 2003 | Love is Beautiful (美丽家庭) | |
| 2003 | My In-Laws (我的岳父岳母) | |
| 2004 | The Crime Hunters | |
| 2004 | Double Happiness | Da-ma |
| 2005 | Zero to Hero | Jizu's 6th great-grandmother |
| 2005 | A New Life | Youfu's mother |
| 2005 | Baby Blues | Yang Shuilian |
| 2006 | C.I.D. | Chen Fengjiao |
| 2006 | An Enchanted Life | Chen Yuchun |
| 2006 | House of Joy | Wang Xiulian |
| 2007 | Happily Ever After | Ah Jin |
| 2007 | Switched! | Liu Yujuan |
| 2007 | Like Father, Like Daughter | Guai Po Po |
| 2007 | Honour and Passion | Mrs Ouyang |
| 2007 | Live Again | Mummy Chen |
| 2008 | Taste of Love | Yan Meishu |
| 2008 | Love Blossoms | Su Baozuan |
| 2008 | Love Blossoms II | Su Baozuan |
| 2009 | Your Hand In Mine | Lan Jinyin |
| 2010 | Priceless Wonder | Chen Qiao-e |
| 2011 | The In-Laws | He Xiangqin |
| 2011 | A Song to Remember | Ba-Jie |
| 2012 | Show Hand (注定) | Zhang Lili |
| 2012 | It Takes Two | Hao Qiuxia |
| 2013 | 96°C Cafe | Xu Chang'er |
| 2013 | Gonna Make It | Su Chenxi |
| 2014 | The Caregivers (MISSY 先生) | Liu Tianzhen |
| 2014 | 118 | Mary Wong |
| 2014 | Three Wishes | Yang Bamei |
| 2015 | Super Senior | Jin Huixi |
| 2015 | Going Home (回家走走3) | Herself |
| 2016 | The Gentlemen | He Zhaodi |
| 2016 | Hero | Granny Swordswoman |
| 2017 | The Lead | Fang Yahua |
| 2017 | My Teacher Is A Thug | Zhuang Mingzhu |
| 2017 | Life Less Ordinary | Liu Lianhua |
| 2018 | Fifty & Fabulous (五零高手) | Mary |
| 2018 | Magic Chef (料理人生) | Lin Qingfeng |
| 2018 | Heart To Heart (心点心) | Ming Shen |
| 2019 | Hello From The Other Side (阴错阳差) | Niu Yuliang |
| 2019 | Dear Neighbours (我的左领右里) | Ping Yi |
| 2019 | I See You (看见看不见的你) | Xu Xiuyue |
| 2019 | All is Well- Singapore (你那边怎样，我这边OK) | Eric's grandmother |
| 2020 | My Guardian Angels (单翼天使) | Shen Chunmei |
| 2020 | Recipe of Life (味之道) | Gui Xiang |
| 2021 | My Star Bride | Zhenzhu |
| 2022 | Healing Heroes (医生不是神) | Li Youyu |
| 2023 | Strike Gold | Grandma Dudu |
| 2023 | Cash on Delivery | Zhu-ma |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 1994 | Love Dowry (爱情订金) | | Telemovie | |
| 1995 | When A Child is Born (有儿万事足) | | Telemovie | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2004 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2005 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2009 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2010 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2013 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2013 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | It Takes Two (as Lin Jinzhi) | Nominated |
| 2014 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2015 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2016 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Won |
| 2021 | Star Awards | Best Evergreen Artiste | — | Won |
| 2021 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Won |
| 2022 | Star Awards | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | — | Nominated |
| 2024 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Cash on Delivery (as Ah Zhu) | Nominated |