# Uhm Jung-hwa

Uhm Jung-hwa (Korean: 엄정화; born August 17, 1969) is a South Korean singer, actress and dancer. Uhm is considered to be one of the most influential women in the Korean entertainment industry, finding success in both music and film. Her legacy and career reinventions have given her the nickname of "Korean Madonna".
Uhm began her career in 1989 as a chorus member for the broadcasting company MBC. She starred in the 1993 romance drama film, On a Windy Day, We Must Go to Apgujeong, and released her debut studio album, Sorrowful Secret, that same year. Though both releases found limited audiences, the album's lead single, "Pupil", helped to establish a sensual image for Uhm.
She pivoted to dance music with 1996's "Sad Expectation", and found success with "Rose of Betrayal" (배반의 장미) from her third studio album, After Love (1997). Subsequent releases Invitation (1998) and 005.1999.06 (1999) were bolstered by a string of hit singles: "Poison", "Invitation", "I Don't Know" (몰라), and "Festival", which gained status as her signature songs.
Starting in 2001, Uhm began to concentrate efforts on her acting career. Her performance in the 2002 erotic comedy Marriage Is a Crazy Thing won Best Actress at the 39th Baeksang Arts Awards, a category she received another nomination for in 2006 with Princess Aurora and won again in 2012 with Dancing Queen.
Her 2000s musical output saw declining commercial reception but greater appeal with critics. Uhm began experimenting with electronica on Self Control (2004), and funk on Prestige (2006), the latter of which won Best Dance and Electronic Album at the 4th Korean Music Awards. In 2008, she experienced a commercial resurgence with the single "D.I.S.C.O". Following a nearly decade-long hiatus from music, she released her tenth studio album The Cloud Dream of the Nine in 2017.

## Biography
### Early life

Uhm was born in Jecheon, North Chungcheong, South Korea. She is the second child of Yoo Gyeong-sook and Uhm Jin-ok, a music teacher who died in a motorcycle accident when she was six. Her younger and only brother Uhm Tae-woong is an actor. Following their father's death, their family struggled financially.

### Music career
#### 1990s

Uhm Jung-hwa officially debuted as a singer in 1993 with her first studio album Sorrowful Secret. By the mid-90s she established herself as one of the top Korean female singers and entertainers, with a series of hit singles: "Sad Expectation" (Korean: 슬픈 기대; RR: Seulpeun Gidae), "A Love Only Heaven Permits" (Korean: 하늘만 허락한 사랑; RR: Haneulman Heorakan Sarang), "Rose of Betrayal" (Korean: 배반의 장미; RR: Baeban-ui Jangmi), and "Tell Me" (Korean: 말해 줘; RR: Malhae Jwo).
Uhm's fourth studio album, Invitation, introduced a new mature side of the singer. The music video for its title track caused a lot of controversy due to its suggestive nature. Invitation quickly became one of the highest selling albums of the year and received positive reviews from critics and fans.
She released two of her most recognizable singles of her career, "Poison" and "Invitation" (Korean: 초대; RR: Chodae). She remained successful the following year, in 1999, with her fifth studio album 005.1999.06
As of 2020 she currently released ten studio albums, two compilation albums and one extended play.

#### 2000s–present

During the 2000s, Uhm began to focus more on her acting career and committed herself to taking a variety of acting roles. She also began to pursue and experiment with different musical genres, in particular electronica. In 2004, she released her double album Self Control, which featured songs composed by Jung Jae-hyung, Fractal and Roller Coaster. Music critics praised Uhm for her ability to reinvent her image and sound.
After a two-year break from the music scene, she released her ninth studio album Prestige. Throughout the year she released two singles, "Come 2 Me" and "Song of the Wind" (Korean: 바람의 노래; RR: Baram-ui Norae), each enjoyed positive critical reception. In early 2007, she won a Korean Music Award for Best Electronic Dance Record.
In the summer of 2008, she released her first EP titled D.I.S.C.O with help from her longtime friend Yang Hyun-suk of YG Entertainment. The lead single "D.I.S.C.O" featured T.O.P, a member from the popular boy band Big Bang. The EP was one of the best-selling albums by a female artist in 2008, and was further promoted by the digital single "D.I.S.C.O Part 2" which was a remix version of "D.I.S.C.O" and featured G-Dragon, the leader of BigBang.
After an eight-year-long hiatus Uhm announced that she would be releasing her first new album since D.I.S.C.O in 2008, the album title would be The Cloud Dream of the Nine. She revealed that she would be releasing the album in two parts, the first part would be released on December 27, 2017, and the second part at a later date. Uhm performed the title tracks "Watch Me Move" and "Dreamer" on Gayo Daejeon along with "D.I.S.C.O", she would also perform the two tracks on MCountdown on the January 5. One year after the release of Part 1, Uhm revealed through her Instagram account that she was in the preparation stage of her comeback with part 2 of The Cloud Dream of the Nine.
In the summer of 2020, Uhm joined with singers Lee Hyori, Jessi, and Hwasa to form the "supergroup" Refund Sisters. Their first single, "Don't Touch Me" debuted in October 2020, and reached #1 on the Gaon chart.

### Acting career

Uhm has established herself as one of South Korea's top actresses. She is known for her roles in the films Marriage Is a Crazy Thing (2002), Singles (2003), Princess Aurora (2005), Seducing Mr. Perfect (2006),Tidal Wave (2009) and Dancing Queen (2012) which became one of the highest-grossing movies in Korea. She has won two Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Actress, in 2002 for Marriage is a Crazy Thing and again in 2012 for Dancing Queen.
In 2022, Uhm is back on the small screen with the tvN drama Our Blues, which is their comeback on the small screen in 5 years since 2017.

### Fashion line

Uhm launched her new clothing and lingerie line, "Corner Suite" and "ZHUM in New York", which made $10M USD within three months of its release. "Corner Suite" became an instant hit when the line debuted on online markets, which immediately sold out, and putting the line with more home shopping channels as for its demand.

## Personal life

Uhm was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but fully recovered after surgery in May 2010. Uhm said she felt a little afraid leading up to the surgery, but rather than being discouraged by the pain she was experiencing, she made up her mind to dedicate herself to helping others by inspiring them. "I want to use my talent and influence in a meaningful way," she said.

## Image and Impact

Artists who have cited Uhm as an influence or role model include BoA, Lee Hyori, Baek Ji-young, Sandara Park, Tiffany Young, Jung Eun-chae, Son Dam-bi, Kim Yoon-ji, Dal Shabet's Ah Young, Laboum's Solbin, and Apink's Park Cho-rong.
In 2021, she was selected as Jury member for Actor and Actress of the Year Award in 26th Busan International Film Festival held in October.
She also has been one of the most impactful artist since the 90s, known to be called “The Queen of Charisma” and is also considered to be a sex symbol.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| Sorrowful Secret | Released: July 1993 Label: Samsung Formats: LP, CD, cassette Track listing Sad Secret (슬픈비밀) Like All the Lovers in the World (세상모든연인들 처럼) Urban Mosaic (도시모자이크) If I'm In Your Heart (너의마음속에 내가있다면) Pupil (눈동자) Another Me (또다른 나) Don't Think You're Alone (혼자란 생각하지마) Your Tired Face (지쳐 버린 네모습) | — | — |
| Uhm Jung Hwa 2 | Released: January 1996 Label: Samsung Formats: CD, cassette Track listing Love Conflict (사랑 갈등) A Love Only Heaven Permits (하늘만 허락한 사랑) Sad Expectations (슬픈기대) Causal Retribution (인과응보) Secret Meeting (밀회)" A Prima Donna's Love (프리마돈나의 사랑) Last Temptation (마지막유혹) Love Has No Borders (사랑에는 국경이 없지 않다) Reply (대답) | — | — |
| After Love (후애)(後愛) | Released: March 1997 Label: E&E Media Formats: CD, cassette | — | — |
| Invitation | Released: August 6, 1998 Label: Nuri Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette | — | KOR: 458,147 |
| 005.1999.06 | Released: June 17, 1999 Label: Nuri Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette | 1 | KOR: 552,373 |
| Queen of Charisma | Released: November 1, 2000 Label: EMI Formats: CD, cassette Track listing Come On Gap Escape Time Goes By Sad Delusion Pleasure Maria When You Were By My Side Game Fantasy War Of Roses It's A Goodbye Falling Baby Baby Tell Me | 3 | KOR: 238,801 |
| Hwa (화) | Released: October 30, 2001 Label: Istar Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette | 5 | KOR: 196,063 |
| Self Control | Released: February 17, 2004 Label: YBM Seoul Records Formats: CD, cassette, digital download | 3 | KOR: 37,218 |
| Prestige | Released: October 26, 2006 Label: Sony BMG Formats: CD, cassette, digital download Track listing Friday Night Shining Star Come 2 Me Gammer 거칠게..로멘틱하게 (Roughly...Romantically) 바림의 노래 (Varim's Song) 탐 Dance with Me Ticket to the Moon 1996 년 10월 16일 날씨 맑음 여왕 폐하의 순정 Innocence 사랑해 사랑해 | 17 | KOR: 7,456 |
| The Cloud Dream of the Nine | Released: December 26, 2017 Label: Mystic Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 22 | — |

### Compilation albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| Best...My Songs | Released: September 19, 1998 Label: E&E Media Formats: CD, cassette | — | KOR: 31,581 |
| All Details | Released: December 28, 1999 Label: Nuri Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette | 10 | KOR: 146,587 |

### Extended plays

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| D.I.S.C.O | Released: June 30, 2008 Label: YG Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 18 | KOR: 7,693 |

### Singles

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Album |
| "Pupil" (눈동자) | 1993 | — | Sorrowful Secret |
| "Sad Expectation" (슬픈기대) | 1996 | — | Uhm Jung Hwa 2 |
| "A Love Only Heaven Permits" (하늘만 허락한 사랑) | 1996 | — | Uhm Jung Hwa 2 |
| "Rose of Betrayal" (배반의 장미) | 1997 | 70 | After Love |
| "After Love" (후애 (後愛)) | 1997 | — | After Love |
| "Poison" | 1998 | 7 | Invitation |
| "Invitation" (초대) | 1998 | 19 | Invitation |
| "I Don't Know" (몰라) | 1999 | — | 005.1999.06 |
| "Festival" | 1999 | — | 005.1999.06 |
| "Cross" (크로스) | 1999 | — | All Details |
| "Escape" | 2000 | — | Queen of Charisma |
| "Crack" (틈) | 2000 | — | Queen of Charisma |
| "All Go Away" (다가라) | 2001 | — | Hwa |
| "Eternity" | 2004 | — | Self Control |
| "Invitation" (tvN Remix) (초대 tvN Remix) | 2006 | — | Non-album single |
| "Come 2 Me" | 2006 | — | Prestige |
| "Come 2 Me" (New Remix) | 2006 | — | Non-album single |
| "D.I.S.C.O" feat. T.O.P | 2008 | — | D.I.S.C.O |
| "D.I.S.C.O Part 2" feat. G-Dragon | 2008 | — | Non-album single |
| "Watch Me Move" | 2016 | — | The Cloud Dream Of The Nine |
| "Dreamer" | 2016 | 70 | The Cloud Dream Of The Nine |
| "Ending Credit" | 2017 | 87 | The Cloud Dream Of The Nine |
| "She" | 2017 | — | The Cloud Dream Of The Nine |
| "Hop in" (호피무늬) feat. Hwasa, DPR Live | 2020 | — | Non-album single |
| Peak chart positions are from the Gaon Digital Chart, which was established in 2010. ||||

### OSTs

| Title | Year | Album |
| "Pupil" (눈동자) | 1993 | On a Windy Day, We Should Go To Apkujeong Dong OST |
| "Luxury good" (럭셔리 굳) | 2002 | Boss X File OST |
| "Narration" | 2003 | Wife OST |
| "Recipe" (레시피) | 2009 | He Who Can't Marry OST |
| "Call My Name" with Dancing Queens | 2012 | Dancing Queen OST |
| "Second Chance" with Dancing Queens feat. Cheetah | 2012 | Dancing Queen OST |
| "Let Me Cry" | 2017 | You Are Too Much OST |
| "Who am I?" (나는 누구?) feat. Duk Bae | 2017 | You Are Too Much OST |
| "Emerald" (에메랄드) | 2017 | You Are Too Much OST |

### Other appearances

| Title | Year | Album |
| "October - As always" (10월 October - 늘 그렇듯) | 2001 | ZOY Project 1st |
| "My love, crybaby" (내사랑 울보) | 2002 | Jeon Yeong-Rok's 30th Anniversary Dedication Album "Legend" |
| "Sad Christmas" Lee Jae-hoon feat. Leessang, Uhm Jung-hwa | 2005 | White winter 2005 |
| "Love is" (사랑이란) | 2008 | Song Book |
| "Time passes with you (Original Ver.)" (시간은 그대와 흘러 (Original Ver.)) Jung Jae-hyung feat. Lucid Fall, Uhm Jung-hwa | 2009 | Promenade |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Marriage Story | Disc Jockey | |
| 1993 | On a Windy Day We Must Go to Apgujeong | | |
| 1994 | Blue Seagull | Joshua | voice |
| 1994 | How to Top My Wife | Manula jugigi | |
| 2002 | Marriage Is a Crazy Thing | Yeon-hee | |
| 2003 | Singles | Dong-mi | |
| 2004 | Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong | Yoon Hye-Jin | |
| 2005 | All for Love | Hur Yu-jung | |
| 2005 | Princess Aurora | Jung Soon-jung | |
| 2006 | For Horowitz | Kim Ji-soo | |
| 2006 | Seducing Mr. Perfect | Min-june | |
| 2007 | Love Now | Seo Yu-na | |
| 2009 | Insadong Scandal | Bae Tae-jin | |
| 2009 | Tidal Wave | Yoo-jin | |
| 2009 | Five Senses of Eros | Lee Jung-ha | |
| 2010 | Bestseller | Baek Hee-soo | |
| 2011 | Mama | Dong-sook | |
| 2012 | Dancing Queen | Herself | |
| 2013 | In My End Is My Beginning | Lee Jung-ha | |
| 2013 | Montage | Ha-kyung | |
| 2014 | Venus Talk | Jung Shin-hye | |
| 2015 | Wonderful Nightmare | Lee Yeon-woo | |
| 2020 | Okay! Madam | Mi Young | |
| 2023 | Miss Fortune | Lee Ji-hye | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1990 | Sarang | |
| 1992 | The Wild | |
| 1993 | Good Morning Youngdong | |
| 1993 | Sisters | |
| 1994 | The Rich People Also Cry | |
| 1994 | Police | |
| 1994 | Close One Eye | |
| 1994 | Mystery Melodrama | |
| 1995 | Human Theater | |
| 1995 | Angel Inside the Mask | |
| 1995 | Remember to Love | |
| 1996 | Intimacy Between Father and Son | |
| 1997 | Park Bit-na | |
| 1997 | Star | |
| 1997 | Beautiful Sin | Areumdawoon Joe |
| 2003 | Wife | Ahnae |
| 2004 | Tropical Nights in December | |
| 2007 | Get Karl! Oh Soo-jung | Oh Soo-jung |
| 2009 | He Who Can't Marry | Jang Moon-jung |
| 2014 | A Witch's Love | Ban Ji-yeon |
| 2017 | You Are Too Much | Yoo Ji-na / Kim Hye-jung |
| 2022 | Our Blues | Go Mi-ran |
| 2023 | Doctor Cha | Cha Jeong-suk |

### Reality show

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2020 | Hangout with Yoo | Cast Member | Episode 56–68 |
| 2021 | On & Off | Cast Member | Season 2 |
| 2023 | Dance Singer's Wandering Troupe | Cast Member | |

## Theater

List of Theater Play(s) :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1997 | Taxi Driver - Where are you going? | 택시 드리벌 - 당신은 어디까지 가십니까? | Hwa-yi | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | February 27–March 18 | |
| 1997 | (21st) Seoul Theater Festival: Taxi Driver - Where are you going? | (제21회) 서울연극제: 택시 드리벌 - 당신은 어디까지 가십니까? | Hwa-yi | Arts and Culture Center Small Theater | October 10–15 | |

## Accolades
### Acting awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
| 1993 | 31st Grand Bell Awards | Best New Actress | On a Windy Day We Must Go to Apgujeong | Nominated |
| 1993 | 17th Golden Cinema Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress | On a Windy Day We Must Go to Apgujeong | Won |
| 1995 | 16th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | How to Top My Wife | Nominated |
| 2003 | 39th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress (Film) | Marriage Is a Crazy Thing | Won |
| 2003 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress | Wife | Won |
| 2004 | 27th Golden Cinematography Award | Special Award | Mr. Handy | Won |
| 2004 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Tropical Nights in December | Nominated |
| 2006 | 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actress | For Horowitz | Nominated |
| 2006 | 44th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actress | For Horowitz | Nominated |
| 2006 | 5th Korean Film Awards | Best Actress | For Horowitz | Nominated |
| 2006 | 7th Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | Princess Aurora | Won |
| 2006 | 42nd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress | Princess Aurora | Nominated |
| 2006 | Donga TV Fashion Beauty Award | Fashion Icon | — | Won |
| 2007 | Gala Dinner Party sponsored by FKCCI | Friendship Award | — | Won |
| 2007 | SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Get Karl! Oh Soo-jung | Nominated |
| 2009 | 46th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Tidal Wave | Nominated |
| 2010 | 18th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actress | Bestseller | Won |
| 2012 | 48th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress (Film) | Dancing Queen | Won |
| 2012 | 49th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actress | Dancing Queen | Nominated |
| 2012 | 33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actress | Dancing Queen | Nominated |
| 2013 | 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Leading Actress | Montage | Nominated |
| 2013 | Korean Film Actors Association | Popular Film Star Award | Montage | Won |
| 2013 | 50th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actress | Montage | Won |
| 2013 | 21st Korean Culture Entertainment Awards | Best Actress | Montage | Won |
| 2014 | 19th Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actress | Montage | Nominated |
| 2015 | 52nd Grand Bell Awards | Best Actress | Wonderful Nightmare | Nominated |
| 2017 | MBC Drama Awards | Grand Prize (Daesang) | You Are Too Much | Nominated |
| 2017 | MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Weekend Drama | You Are Too Much | Nominated |
| 2020 | 20th MBC Entertainment Awards | Excellence Award in Music/Talk Category – Female | Hangout with Yoo | Won |
| 2021 | 17th Jecheon International Music and Film Festival | JIMFFACE | — | Won |
| 2023 | 9th APAN Star Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Doctor Cha | Won |
| 2024 | CJENM Visionary Awards | 2024 Visionary | Uhm Jung-hwa | Won |
| 2024 | 60th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress – Television | Doctor Cha | Nominated |
| 2024 | 60th Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular Actress | Uhm Jung-hwa | Nominated |

### Music awards

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
| 1998 | Golden Disk Awards | Bonsang Award (Song Division) | "Poison" | Won |
| 1999 | Golden Disk Awards | Bonsang Award (Song Division) | "I Don't Know" | Won |
| 1999 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Artist | "I Don't Know" (005.1999.06) | Won |
| 1999 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Dance Performance | "I Don't Know" (005.1999.06) | Nominated |
| 2000 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Artist | "Cross" | Nominated |
| 2000 | Golden Disk Awards | Bonsang Award (Song Division) | "Escape" | Won |
| 2000 | SBS Gayo Daejeon | Main Prize | — | Won |
| 2001 | SBS Gayo Daejeon | Main Prize | — | Won |
| 2001 | MBC Gayo Daejejeon | 30 years Old and Above Award | — | Won |
| 2001 | KBS Song Festival | Main Prize | — | Won |
| 2001 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Artist | "Crack" (틈) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Korean Music Awards | Best Electronic Dance Album | Prestige | Won |
| 2008 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best House & Electronic | "Disco" ft. T.O.P | Nominated |
| 2008 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Artist | "Disco" ft. T.O.P | Nominated |
| 2008 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Music Video | "Disco" ft. T.O.P | Nominated |

### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Rank | Ref. |
| Forbes | 2024 | Korea Power Celebrity 40 | 23th | |
| The Screen | 2019 | 2009–2019 Top Box Office Powerhouse Actors in Korean Movies | 25th | |