# Krystal Jung

Chrystal Soo Jung (born October 24, 1994), professionally known as Krystal Jung, is a South Korean and American singer and actress. She debuted in 2009 as a member of the South Korean girl group f(x) and has further participated in SM Entertainment's project group SM the Ballad. Aside from group activities, she has also acted in various South Korean drama series such as The Heirs (2013), My Lovely Girl (2014), Prison Playbook (2017), The Bride of Habaek (2017), Player (2018), Search (2020), Police University (2021), and Crazy Love (2022).

## Early life and education

Jung was born as Chrystal Soo Jung in San Francisco, California, where her family settled from South Korea in the 1980s. She holds dual citizenship in the United States and South Korea.
During a family trip to South Korea in early 2000, at the age of five, Jung and her sister Jessica Jung were spotted by SM Entertainment, which earned her a cameo appearance in Shinhwa's "Wedding March" music video. SM offered Jung and her sister singing and dancing lessons in order to professionally train them for a music career. However, the offer was turned down by her parents, who reasoned that she was too young, so they only allowed her sister to join the company at first. Her sister later debuted as a member of the girl group Girls' Generation. They have since appeared together in many events.
After moving to South Korea, Jung attended Korea Kent Foreign School, then graduated from Hanlim Multi Art School on February 7, 2013, where she was honored with an achievement award. She also attended Sungkyunkwan University, where she majored in Theater.

## Career
### 2002–2006: Pre-debut activities

In 2002, Jung began appearing in television commercials. She first appeared in a Lotte commercial with South Korean actress Han Ga-in. In 2006, her parents finally allowed her to join SM, and the agency then enrolled her in dance-classes. She was trained for 3 years before debuting as a part of f(x) in 2009.

### 2009–2011: Debut with f(x) and television shows

Jung debuted as vocalist of the South Korean girl group f(x) in September 2009.
In March 2010, Jung participated in a series of music videos under the Melody Project, playing a young student who is in love with her music teacher. She released a solo single titled "Melody" for this project. Jung then became a host for the music show The M-Wave with Thunder from MBLAQ. In July, the singer debuted as an actress with a minor role in the long-running sitcom More Charming by the Day. She received the "Newcomer Comedy Award" at the 2010 MBC Entertainment Awards for the role.
In 2011, Jung participated in and won first place in SBS's figure-skating show Kim Yuna's Kiss & Cry. She also starred in the sitcom High Kick 3, playing the role of a superficial and shallow girl who does not have much depth of feelings.

### 2013–present: SM The Ballad, acting career and label changes

In 2013, Jung starred in the SBS teen drama The Heirs, playing the role of a spoiled yet kind-hearted wealthy high school student. Her character in the show generated positive recognition among viewers, and she was voted as the Best Onscreen Couple along with CNBLUE's Kang Min-hyuk at the 2013 DramaFever Awards.
In 2013, Jung and group mate Sulli became the new faces of the makeup brand Etude House.
In 2014, Jung joined the ballad group SM the Ballad, initially formed by SM Entertainment in 2010. On the group's 2nd album Breath, she sang the Japanese version of the title track "Breath" with TVXQ's Changmin. She also sang a duet with Exo's Chen titled "When I Was... When U Were...". Jung performed her duet with Chen live at the S.M. The Ballad Joint Recital on February 12. In June, Jung, along with her sister Jessica, was featured in the reality show, Jessica & Krystal. The show took on a more close and personal side of the two sisters, addressing their public image and sisterly bond.
Later in the year, Jung got her first leading role in the SBS's drama My Lovely Girl, alongside Rain. She portrayed a girl who moves from the countryside to Seoul to pursue a music career and ends up meeting a fateful love during the process. Commenting on Jung's work attitude, Director Park Hyung-ki stated "Despite taking on a difficult character, she shows her determination to pull it off through her gaze to the point you can see sincerity in Krystal when she's in front of the camera." She released a solo single "All of a Sudden" for the drama's OST. At the Baeksang Arts Awards, Jung won the "Most Popular Actress" award in the television category for her role in the drama.
In 2015, Jung starred alongside actor Seo Jun-young in a 10-minute film entitled, Listen To My Song for W Korea's 10th anniversary. Jung was also cast in leading roles in an upcoming Chinese movie, titled Unexpected Love along with Exo's Lay; and in the Chinese drama Graduation Season alongside Deng Lun.
On February 12, 2017, it was reported that Jung would release the collaboration single "I Don't Wanna Love You" with Glen Check's member June One Kim. The song was revealed for the first time on February 14 at the re-opening of a clothing store in Seoul, and then be released online at midnight KST on February 15. In July, Jung starred in tvN's drama spin-off of the Korean manga Bride of the Water God. The same year she starred in the black comedy drama Prison Playbook, produced by Reply PD Shin Won-ho; she received good reviews for her performance. Jung was named 'Woman of the Year' by GQ Korea.
In 2018, Jung was cast as the female lead in OCN's crime action drama Player. At the press conference for the drama, Jung stated that she learned how to ride a motorcycle in order to do her own stunts.
In 2019, Jung and her sister Jessica filmed their second reality show in the United States where they traveled across their homeland, exploring fashion, music, and culture while reminiscing about their childhood memories, titled Jessica & Krystal: US Road Trip which was released in 2021. The same year, she was cast in the independent romance film More Than Family, and romantic comedy film Sweet & Sour.
In 2020, Jung was cast in OCN's military cinematic drama Search, where she played an elite army officer. The drama premiered on October 17, 2020. After reports began swirling of Jung departing SM Entertainment, SM responded that their contract with her would expire by the end of August 2020, and they were in discussions with her for a possible renewal. Krystal's departure from SM was officially announced in October 2020 and signed with H& Entertainment as her new agency.
Since 2020, Jung has been the global ambassador of Ralph Lauren.
In 2021, Jung starred in KBS2's drama Police University, playing Oh Kang-hee, a freshman at Korean National Police University, alongside Cha Tae-hyun and Jinyoung.
In 2022, Jung starred in KBS2's romantic-comedy-drama Crazy Love alongside Kim Jae-wook.
In 2023, Jung starred in Cobweb, a period black comedy-drama film directed by Kim Jee-woon. It was premiered in the non-competitive section at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. She received the "Best New Actress" award at the 33rd Buil Film Awards, and the "Best Supporting Actress" award at the Chunsa Film Art Awards 2023 for the role.
Since 2023, Jung has been the ambassador of Lancôme.
In February 2024, Jung released cover song of Leila Hathaway's "I'm Coming Back" through Soundcloud and also confirmed to join the label Beasts & Natives (BANA).
In January 2025, Jung was confirmed to star in Audition 109.

## Impact

Jung has made a significant impact in K-pop, acting, and fashion. As a member of f(x), she contributed to shaping the group’s distinctive sound and image, gaining recognition for her charismatic stage presence. In 2015, American music magazine Spin called f(x) the "world's greatest living pop group" at the time. In 2017, Billboard ranked f(x) at number seven on their "Top 10 K-pop Girl Groups of the Past Decade" list. Beyond her music career, Jung also has successful acting career, with notable roles in popular K-dramas like The Heirs, and Prison Playbook, as well as in the movie Cobweb.

## Discography
### Singles

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR Gaon | Sales | Album |
| As lead artist |||||
| "Melody" | 2010 | — | N/A | Melody Project Part II – Moderato |
| Collaborations |||||
| "The Way an Idol Breaks Up" (with Kim Hee-chul) | 2010 | — | N/A | Super Show 3 (album) |
| "When I Was... When U Were..." (with Chen) | 2014 | 31 | KOR: 76,017 | SM the Ballad Vol. 2 – Breath |
| "Breath" (Japanese Ver.) (with Changmin) | 2014 | — | N/A | SM the Ballad Vol. 2 – Breath |
| "I Don't Wanna Love You" (with June One Kim of Glen Check) | 2017 | — | N/A | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory |||||

### Soundtrack appearances

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR Gaon | Sales | Album |
| "Hard but Easy" (with Luna) | 2009 | — | N/A | Invincible Lee Pyung Kang OST |
| "Spread Its Wings" (with Luna X Amber) | 2010 | — | N/A | God of Study OST |
| "Calling Out" (with Luna) | 2010 | — | N/A | Cinderella's Sister OST |
| "Because of Me" | 2011 | — | N/A | Sign OST |
| "Grumbling" (with Leeteuk) | 2011 | — | N/A | Sunday Night – Enjoy Today OST |
| "Butterfly" (with Jessica) | 2012 | 22 | KOR: 300,352 | To the Beautiful You OST |
| "Say Yes" (with Jessica and Kris) | 2014 | — | N/A | Make Your Move OST |
| "All of a Sudden" | 2014 | 25 | KOR: 167,163 | My Lovely Girl OST |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory |||||

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2015 | Listen to My Song | Herself | Short film in celebration of W Korea's 10th anniversary |
| 2020 | More Than Family | To-il | |
| 2021 | Sweet & Sour | Bo-young | Netflix film |
| 2023 | Cobweb | Han Yu-rim | |
| 2025 | Audition 109 | | |
| TBA | Unexpected Love | Fei Yan | Chinese film |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2010 | More Charming By The Day | Jung Soo-jung | |
| 2011 | Welcome to the Show | Herself | Cameo |
| 2011 | High Kick: Revenge of the Short Legged | Ahn Soo-jung | |
| 2013 | The Heirs | Lee Bo-na | |
| 2014 | Potato Star 2013QR3 | Jung Soo-jung | Cameo (Episode 81) |
| 2014 | My Lovely Girl | Yoon Se-na | |
| 2016 | The Legend of the Blue Sea | Min-ji | Cameo (Episode 1) |
| 2017 | The Bride of Habaek | Moo-ra / Hye-ra | |
| 2017 | Prison Playbook | Kim Ji-ho | |
| 2018 | Player | Cha Ah-ryung | |
| 2020 | Search | Son Ye-rim | |
| 2021 | Police University | Oh Kang-hee | |
| 2022 | Crazy Love | Lee Shin-ah | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| TBA | Graduation Season | Ye Ran | Chinese drama | |

### Television shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2011 | Kim Yuna's Kiss & Cry | Contestant | Winner of K & C |
| 2014 | Jessica & Krystal | Cast member |
| 2021 | Jessica & Krystal: US Road Trip | Cast member | |

## Accolades
### Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination :
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee / work | Result |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2015 | Most Popular Actress (TV) | My Lovely Girl | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2021 | Best New Actress – Film | More Than Family | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2024 | Best Supporting Actress – Film | Cobweb | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2024 | Most Popular Actress | Krystal Jung | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2021 | Best New Actress | More Than Family | Nominated |
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2023 | Best Supporting Actress | Cobweb | Nominated |
| Buil Film Awards | 2024 | Best New Actress | Cobweb | Won |
| Chunsa Film Art Awards | 2021 | Best New Actress | More Than Family | Nominated |
| Chunsa Film Art Awards | 2023 | Best Supporting Actress | Cobweb | Won |
| DramaFever Awards | 2014 | Best Couple | Krystal Jung (with Kang Min-hyuk) The Heirs | Won |
| Fashionista Awards | 2015 | Best Fashionista | Krystal Jung | Won |
| Fashionista Awards | 2016 | Best Fashionista | Krystal Jung | Won |
| Fashionista Awards | 2017 | Best Fashionista – TV & Film Division | The Bride of Habaek | Won |
| Golden Cinematography Awards | 2021 | Popularity Award by Cinematographer | More Than Family | Won |
| Grand Bell Awards | 2023 | Best Supporting Actress | Cobweb | Nominated |
| InStyle Star Icon | 2016 | Most Stylish Female Idol | Krystal Jung | Won |
| Jumei Award Ceremony | 2016 | Fashion Icon Goddess Award | Krystal Jung | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2021 | Best New Actress | Police University | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2022 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Crazy Love | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2022 | Popularity Award, Actress | Crazy Love | Won |
| Korea Fashion Photographers Association | 2016 | Celebrity of the Year – Photogenic | Krystal Jung | Won |
| MBC Entertainment Awards | 2010 | Best Newcomer in a Sitcom or Comedy | More Charming By The Day | Won |
| Madame Figaro Fashion Gala Awards | 2019 | Asia Style Award | Krystal Jung | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2014 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | My Lovely Girl | Nominated |
| Seoul International Youth Film Festival | 2014 | Best Young Actress | The Heirs | Nominated |
| Style Icon Awards | 2014 | Top 10 Style Icons | Krystal Jung (with Jessica Jung) Jessica & Krystal | Nominated |

### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| Cine 21 | 2020 | New Actress that will lead Korean Video Content Industry in 2021 | 5th | |
| Cine 21 | 2024 | "Korean Film NEXT 50" – Actors | Placed | |