# Ye Soo-jung

Ye Soo-jung (Korean: 예수정; born on 25 March 1955) is a South Korean actress. In 1979, she made her debut in the play A Woman Named Solitude and she presented a well-balanced and solid performance with her solid interpretive skills and broad perspectives that she developed while studying abroad in Germany. She has appeared in numerous stage productions such as Long Day's Journey into Night, Gift of Gorgon, The Cherry Orchard, Widows, Green Bench, Guest, Hanako, Death of a Salesman, I Am You, Hwajeonga, and Agnes of God.
She has been called the godmother of the theater world. She has garnered prestigious awards in the theater industry, including the Hi-seo Theater Award, Kim Dong-hoon Theater Award, Dong-A Theater Award for Best Actress, Seoul Theater Festival Acting Award, and Lee Hae-rang Theater Award, showcasing her skill and expertise as an actress.
In the 2000s, she expanded her activities to the film and TV drama industry. She left a lasting impression on the public through numerous films, including Tunnel, Sea Fog, The Client, The Thieves, Train to Busan, and Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, which attracted over 10 million viewers, as well as hit dramas like Secret Forest, Do You Like Brahms?, Mine, Search: WWW, and One the Woman, where she appeared as a supporting role. In 2018, she won the Best Supporting Actress award at the Seoul Awards for her role in Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, and in 2020, she received the "Female Film of the Year" award for her first leading role in the film 69 Years Old.
Ye most recent works such as The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won, Link: Eat, Love, Kill, and Becoming Witch., and she also starred in the MBC four-part series Wild Boar Hunting and made special appearance in Revenant.

## Early life and education

Ye Soo-jung was born as Kim Soo-jeong in March 1955 in Jongno, Seoul, South Korea. Ye attended Susong Elementary School, Soongui Girls’ Middle School and High School. In 1973, she enrolled in Departement of German Literature of Korea National University of Arts.

## Career

When studying from Korea National University of Arts with a degree in German Literature, She watched film The Godfather and extremely impressed by Marlon Brando's acting which made her want to try acting too. After that, Ye joined a theater class at the German Cultural Center Above the Theater and started acting secretly. Later she encounter works of German playwright Bertolt Brecht. Knowing Brecht's words, "Theater is a space for civic enlightenment," Jung thought, "Oh, it's really wonderful to live here (theater) all my life."
In 1975, Ye acted in Arthur Miller's play Broken Glass (play). Followed by Henrik Ibsen's play Ghosts produced by Korea University Theatre Arts Research Society (고려대학교 극예술연구회).
After graduating from university, she worked as a German tutor and editor-in-chief of the Full Gospel Church magazine to earn pocket money while acting in plays. Ye debuted professionally onstage in 1979 with Han Tae-suk's play A Woman Named Solitude. After watching play A Woman Named Solitude, Yoo Deok-Hyung [ko] (director, former chairman of the Seoul Institute of the Arts) scouted her for his work When Spring Comes to the Mountains and Fields. One day, Yoo noticed that Ye, who participated in his practice, was acting without her mother's Jeong Ae-ran [ko] permission. "You can't do that," he said and Yoo went to her house and to ask Jeong personally, Jeong said to her, "Do it with a guarantee."
After this play Ye got married and went to Germany with her husband. In 1984, Ye decided to study theater in Graduate School Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. After she's back to South Korea, Ye worked in Customer Call Center for two years.
Ye only active in films since 2003. She's done minor and supporting roles mostly as mother. Most notable supporting role was in film Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, which was released in 2017. She reprised her role in the sequel Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days.
Her most notable role was in Lim Seon-a's film An Old Lady [ko], as 69-year-old Hyo-jeong. She is sexually assaulted by a 29-year-old male nurse while receiving treatment at a hospital. She reports it to the police, but faces society's prejudice because she is an elderly person! a dementia patient. The court, considers the elderly woman to be asexual and dismisses the arrest warrant, saying that there is insufficient probability that a young man would do such a thing. With this role Ye gained critical acclaim, She was nominated for several Best Actress award and won the 21st 'Female Filmmaker of the Year' for this film.
   When I read the scenario, it felt unique but rather realistic. Do old people really live like that? I've seen a lot of unfamiliar scenes that raise questions. Isn't it hard to look into the inside of our mothers, aunts, and grandmothers? When you reach that age, you hide well in reality. This work calmly reveals that hidden thing.

## Personal life

Soo-jung is the daughter of Jeong Ae-ran [ko] who was a popular actress of 50s, 60s and 70s. She is the sister-in-law of actor Han Jin-hee who has married her sister Kim Soo-ok.
Ye married Kim Chang-hwa in 1980 after completing the play When Spring Comes to the Mountains and Fields. Ye gave birth to a daughter (currently an actress and theater director Kim Ye-na) in 1982 and left to study at Munich University in Germany with her husband in 1984. In 1986 a son was born. During their 8-year stay in Germany, her husband received a doctorate in theater theory and Ye completed a master's degree in theater theory. They returned in 1991.

## Filmography
### Film

Television drama appearances :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Note | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Note | Ref. |
| 2003 | Save the Green Planet! | 지구를 지켜라! | Byung-goo's mother | | |
| 2006 | Shin Sung-il is Lost | 신성일의 행방불명 | Director | | |
| 2007 | Epitaph | 기담 | Director of Ansang hospital | | |
| 2009 | Like You Know It All | 잘 알지도 못하면서 | Mother of actress | | |
| 2009 | Secret | 시크릿 | Ji-yeon's mother | | |
| 2011 | Detective K: Secret of the Virtuous Widow | 조선명탐정: 각시투구꽃의 비밀 | Im's wife | | |
| 2011 | The Client | 의뢰인 | Jung-ah's mother | | |
| 2012 | Hand in Hand | 해로 | Hee-jung | | |
| 2012 | The Thieves | 도둑들 | Tiffany | | |
| 2014 | Sea Fog | 해무 | Dong-shik's grandmother | | |
| 2015 | Cancelled Faces | 마이 올드 프렌드 | Mother | | |
| 2016 | Train to Busan | 부산행 | In-gil | | |
| 2016 | Tunnel | 터널 | Old mother | | |
| 2016 | The Bacchus Lady | 죽여주는 여자 | Bok-hee | | |
| 2017 | The Cage | | Nick's mother | | |
| 2017 | Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds | 신과함께: 죄와 벌 | Ja-hong's mother | | |
| 2018 | Psychokinesis | 염력 | Mr. Jung's older sister | | |
| 2018 | Herstory | 허스토리 | Park Soon-nyeo | | |
| 2018 | The Land of Happiness [ko] | 행복의 나라 | Hee-ja | | |
| 2018 | Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days | 신과함께-인과 연 | Soo-hong's mother | | |
| 2019 | Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission | 말모이 | Madame Jo | Special appearance | |
| 2019 | Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 | 82년생 김지영 | Kim Ji-young's mother | | |
| 2020 | Intruder | 침입자 | Yoon-hee | | |
| 2020 | Again | 어게인 | Han Mal-soon | | |
| 2020 | An Old Lady [ko] | 69세 | Shim Hyo Jung | | |
| 2021 | New Year Blues | 새해전야 | Oh Hye-sim | | |
| 2021 | The Prayer | 간호중 | Nurse Sabina | | |
| 2023 | Project Silence | 사일런스 | Soon-ok | | |
| 2024 | The Desperate Chase | 필사의 추격 | Chairperson Yoo | | |

### Television series

Television drama appearances :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Note | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Note | Ref. |
| 2006 | Someday | 썸데이 | Gumiko | | |
| 2007 | Prince Hours | 궁S | Han Sang-gong | | |
| 2013 | The End of the World | 세계의 끝 | Na-hyun's mother | | |
| 2015 | Heard It Through the Grapevine | 풍문으로 들었소 | Joo-young's mother | | |
| 2016 | On the Way to the Airport | 공항가는 길 | Go Eun-hee | | |
| 2016 | Listen to Love | 이번 주, 아내가 바람을 핍니다 | Hyun-woo's mother | | |
| 2016 | My Old Friend | 마이 올드 프렌드 | Ae-sim | | |
| 2017 | Innocent Defendant | 피고인 | Myung Geum-ja | | |
| 2017 | Stranger | 비밀의 숲 | Park Soo-sung's mother | | |
| 2017 | Strongest Deliveryman | 최강 배달꾼 | Jung-im | | |
| 2017 | Prison Playbook | 슬기로운 감빵생활 | Park Seon-ja | | |
| 2017 | Untouchable | 언터처블 | Park Young-sook | | |
| 2018 | Mother | 마더 | Clara | | |
| 2018 | Suits | 슈츠 | Yoon-woo's grandmother | | |
| 2018 | SF8 | 에스 에프 에잇 | Sabina | | |
| 2018 | The Ghost Detective | 오늘의 탐정 | Da-il's mother | | |
| 2018 | Twelve Nights | 열두밤 | Lee Ri | | |
| 2018 | Top Star U-back | 톱스타 유백이 | Kang-soon's mother | | |
| 2019 | Search: WWW | 검색어를 입력하세요 WWW | Jang Hee-eun | | |
| 2019 | The Lies Within | 모두의 거짓말 | Coroner | | |
| 2019 | Black Dog: Being A Teacher | 블랙독 | Yoon Yeo-hwa | | |
| 2020 | The Game: Towards Zero | 더 게임: 0시를 향하여 | Mrs. Jeong | | |
| 2020 | A Piece of Your Mind | 반의 반 | Eun Soo-jung | | |
| 2020 | Do You Like Brahms? | 브람스를 좋아하세요? | Na Moon-sook | | |
| 2021 | Mine | 마인 | Mother Emma | | |
| 2021 | One the Woman | 원 더 우먼 | Kim Kyung-shin | | |
| 2021 | Jirisan | 지리산 | Geum-ri | | |
| 2021 | The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won | 태종 이방원 | Queen Sinui | | |
| 2022 | Link: Eat, Love, Kill | 링크: 먹고 사랑하라, 죽이게 | Na Chun-ok | | |
| 2022 | Insider | 인사이더 | Shin Dal-soo | | |
| 2022 | The Fabulous | 더 패뷸러스 | Pyo Ji-eun's grandmother | | |
| 2022 | Becoming Witch | 마녀는 살아있다 | Oh lak-eul | | |
| 2022 | Hunted | 멧돼지 사냥 | Ok-soon | | |
| 2023 | Revenant | 악귀 | Kim Seok-ran | | |
| 2023 | The Worst of Evil | 최악의 악 | Yoon Won-gil | | |
| 2023 | Maestra: Strings of Truth | 마에스트라 | Bae Jeong-hwa | | |
| 2024 | Dog Knows Everything | 개소리 | Ye Soo-jung | | |
| 2024 | When the Silver Bell Rings | Park Soo-hyang | | |

## Stage
### Student Stage

Student theater play performance(s) :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Venue | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Venue | Date | Ref. |
| 1973 | Broken Jar | 깨어진 항아리 | | A club belonging to the German Cultural Centre in Korea Freie Buehne A public performance | | |
| 1975 | Ghost | 유령 | Mrs. Helen Alving | Ancient Audiovisual Education Room (Clock Tower Building Korea University of Arts) | November 28 to 30 | |
| 1975 | The Great Wall | 만리장성 | Mother | Sogang University Theater | Juni 13 to 15 | |
| 1976 | Macbeth | 맥베드 | Lady Macbeth | Korea University of Arts Auditorium | Juni 13 to 15 | |
| 1976 | The Glass Menagerie | 유리동물원 | | | | |
| 1977 | Where and what will we meet again? | 어디서 무엇이 되어 다시 만나랴 | | | | |
| 1978 | Prince Popo and Princess Phi Phi | 포포왕자와 피피공주 | Tutor | Theater Hall Cecil Theater Directed by Go Geum-seok | June 14 to 20 | |

### Professional Stage

Professional theater play performance(s) :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1979 | A Women Named Solitude | 고독이란 이름의 여인 | Solitude | — | — | |
| 1979 | When Spring Comes to the Mountains and Fields | 봄이 오면 산에 들에 | Wild rocambole | — | — | |
| 1980 | When Spring Comes to the Mountains and Fields | 봄이 오면 산에 들에 | Wild rocambole | Directing Yoo Deok-hyung | | |
| 1983 | Layered Story | 겹괴기담 | | Cultural Arts Promotion Agency Arts Theater Small Theater | May 17 to 24 | |
| 1983 | Danton's Death | 당통의 죽음 | Woman | Culture and Art Hall small theater, directed by Kim Chang-hwa | April 12 to 23 | |
| 1983 | River of History | 역사의 강 | Sam-hui | Culture and Art Hall Grand theater, directed by Kim Chang-hwa | July 22 to 28 | |
| 1989 | Division of the soul | 영혼의 분열 | | Theatre Company Munich Unter Dem Baum | | |
| 1991 | The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds | 감마선은 달무늬진 금잔화에 어떤 영향을 미쳤는가? | | Theatre company Seongshim Original fish theatre performance | | |
| 1992 | Last Report for Freedom - (Original Title: Death of the Black Seagull) | 자유를 위한 마지막 보고서 - (원제: 검은 갈매기의 죽음) | | Culture and Art Hall Small Theater | March 22 to April 8 | |
| 1993 | Riding together | 동승 | | Theatre Company Shinhyup, directing | | |
| 1993 | Light up | 빛보라 | | Directing a special performance for the 90th anniversary of Sungui Girls' High School | | |
| 1993 | The death of a rich man | 어떤 부자의 죽음 | | Directing a charity performance to help the disabled in the theatre company Yesori | | |
| 1994 | Death of a Salesman | 세일즈맨의 죽음 | Linda Roman | Culture and Art Hall Small Theater | May 3 to June 30 | |
| 1995 | King Lear | 리어왕 | Dramaturgy research | Culture and Arts Center Grand Theater | March 23 to 28 | |
| 1995 | Women in Crisis | 위기의 여자 | daughter, friend, doctor | Small Theater Sanwoolim, directed by Lim Young-woong | August 17 to October 8 | |
| 1996 | Face behind Face | 얼굴 뒤의 얼굴 | Lee Ji-yeon | Seoul Arts Center Jayu Small Theater | February 22 to March 31 | |
| 1996 | 32 years of King Sejong | 세종 32년 | Sejong-bi | National Gugak Centre from main theatre, the music hall, directed by Han Tae-sook | November 22 to December 2 | |
| 1997 | Death of a Salesman | 세일즈맨의 죽음 | Linda Roman | Theatre Company Shinhyup, directed by Lee Jong-hwan | | |
| 1997 | Father | 아버지 | Young Shin | Sejong Center for the Performing Arts small auditorium, directed by Pyo Jae-soon | July 5 to 27 | |
| 1998 | Road to Mecca | 메카로 가는 길 | Elsa | Constellation Small Theatre, Directed by Park Cheol-wan | July 2 to August 2 | |
| 1998 | Shopalovic's Traveling Theater | 쇼팔로비치 유랑극단 | Instructor | Culture and Art Hall Small Theater | December 4 to 8 | |
| 1999 | Orestes Trilogy | 오레스테스 3부작 | | Dumul Workshop, Directed by Song Seon-ho | March 4 to 14 | |
| 1999 | Na Un-gyu | 나운규 | Jo Jung-ok | Culture Art Hall Small Theater, directing Han Tae-sook | May 6 to 23 | |
| 1999 | Media waltz | 메디아 왈츠 | | Theater Laboratory 1 Hyehwa-dong, Directed by Son Jung-woo | November 26 to December 19 | |
| 2000 | The Lady from the Sea | 바다의 여인 | | Culture Art Hall Grand Theater Directed by Robert Wilson | August 27 to September 3 | |
| 2001 | The Name of Oedipus - The Song of the Forbidden Body | 오이디푸스의 이름 - 금지된 육체의 노래 | Queen | Seoul Art Center Jayu Theater, Directed by Jang Yoon-kyung | March 13 to 18 | |
| 2001 | The woman's little theory of happiness | 그 여자의 작은 행복론 | female doctor | Small Theater Sanwoolim | October 30 to November 25 | |
| 2001 | The story of a soldier | 병사의 이야기 | | Dumul Workshop, Direction | | |
| 2002 | Long Journey into The Night | 밤으로의 긴 여로 | Mary | Theatre Company Independence Theatre, Directed by Choi Beom-soon | | |
| 2003 | The Gift of the Gorgon | 고곤의 선물 | Helen Dawson | Dongsoong Art Center Grand Theater | November 30 | |
| 2003 | 19 and 80 | 19 그리고 80 | Cheyson | Jeongmiso Small Theater, Directing Jang Doo-i | January 9 to March 16 | |
| 2003 | Sea and Parasol | 바다와 양산 | Kim Jeong-sook | Arungguji Theater in Daehangno | | |
| 2004 | The Cherry Orchard | 벚꽃동산 | Madame Lyubov Andreievna Ranevskaya | Dongguk University Arts Theater | March 1 to 10 | |
| 2004 | Ah! Nanseolheon-That Beautiful Promise | 아! 난설헌-그 아름다운 기약 | Heo Nan-seol-heon | Stargazing at the National Gugak Center | May 7–9 | |
| 2004 | Sea and Parasol | 바다와 양산 | Kim Jeong-sook | Arungguji Theater in Daehangno | September 9–26 | |
| 2005 | Green Bench | 고양이늪 | Haruyama Taiko (Hester Swayne) | Cultural Arts Promotion Agency Arts Theater Small Theater | May 18—22 | |
| 2005 | Customer | 손님 | | Arko Arts Center Theater, Directed by Yoon Kwang-jin | December 2 to 11 | |
| 2005 | The story of an old couple | 늙은 부부 이야기 | Lee Jom-sun | Daehakro Small Theater | December 29 to January 1 | |
| 2006 | Green Bench | 고양이늪 | Haruyama Taiko (Hester Swayne) | Arko Arts Theater Small Theater | February 23–March 12 | |
| 2006 | Dream of Autumn | 가을날의 꿈 | Wife | Arunguji Theater Daehakro, Directed by Song Seon-ho | July 7 to 30 | |
| 2007 | Doubt | 다우트 | Sister Eloise, Director. | Hakjeon Blue Small Theater, Directed by Choi Yong-hoon | February 23 to April 3 | |
| 2007 | Sea and Parasol | 바다와 양산 | Kim Jung-sook | Theatre Company Wandering Line, Directed by Song Seon-ho | June 24 to July 30 | |
| 2007 | Agnes of God | 신의 아그네스 | Director Miriam's Sister | Seoul Art Center Jayu Theater, Directed by Yoon Kwang-jin | December 8 to 30 | |
| 2008–2009 | Good night mom | 잘자요 엄마 | Telma | wonder Space Nemo Theater Moon Sam-hwa | August 39 to January 4 | |
| 2009 | 30th Seoul Theater Festival: Sound of the Organ | (제30회) 서울연극제: 풍금소리 | Lee Gil-rye | Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater, Directed by Yoon Kwang-jin | March 2 to 6 | |
| 2009–2010 | Mom, do you want to go travelling? | 엄마, 여행갈래요? | Kwon Soon-hee | Baekam Art Hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul, Directing Ryu Jang-ha | November 17 to January 17, 2010 | |
| 2010 | Marvellous Trip | 기묘여행 | the victim's mother | Arko Arts Theater Small Theater, directed by Ryu Joo-yeon | April 20 to May 22 | |
| 2010 | There is No Sleepless Night | 잠 못 드는 밤은 없다 | Ikuko | Doosan Art Center Space111, Directed by Park Geun-hyung | May 11 to June 6 | |
| 2010 | Road to Mecca | 메카로 가는 길 | Helen | Daehak-ro Arts Theatre Grand Theatre until the 22nd, Directed by Song Seon-ho | August 6 to 22 | |
| 2011 | There is No Sleepless Night | 잠 못 드는 밤은 없다 | Ikuko | Doosan Art Center Space111, Directed by Park Geun-hyung | November 29 to December 31 | |
| 2012 | The Widows | 과부들 | Sophia Fuentés | Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater | June 1 to 10 | |
| 2012 | Molly Sweeney | 몰리 스위니 | Molly Sweeney | Mimaji Art Center Snow Theater | September 3 to 9 | |
| 2012 | Long Journey into The Night | 밤으로의 긴 여로 | Mary | Myeongdong Arts Theater | October 12–November 11 | |
| 2014 | The Widows | 과부들 | Sophia | Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater | March 14 to 23 | |
| 2014–2015 | I Am You | 나는 너다 | Jo Maria | BBCH Hall, Gwanglim Art Center | November 27–January 31 | |
| 2015 | Korea University Theater, 110th anniversary performance 'Cherry Blossom Orchard' | 고대극회, 개교 110주년 기념공연 '벚꽃동산' | Madame Lyubov Andreievna Ranevskaya | Sejong Center for the Performing Arts M Theater | August 25 to 30 | |
| 2015–2016 | Hanako | 하나코 | One person (Hanako) | Arko Arts Theater Small Theater | 12.24-1.10 | |
| 2016 | Death of a Salesman | 세일즈맨의 죽음 | Linda Roman | Seoul Arts Center's CJ Towol Theater | April 25 to May 8 | |
| 2017 | Hanako | 하나코 | One person (Hanako) | Daehakro Space Owl | Feb 7–19 | |
| 2017 | Death of a Salesman | 세일즈맨의 죽음 | Linda Roman | Seoul Arts Center CJ Towol Theater | April 12–30 | |
| 2017 | (2017) SPAF Seoul International Performing Arts Festival: White Rabbit Red Rabbit <Lee Ho-jae> | (2017) SPAF 서울국제공연예술제: 하얀 토끼 빨간 토끼 <이호재> | herself | Arko Arts Theater small theater | September 24 | |
| 2018 | Electra — Directed by Han Tae-Suk | 한태숙 연출 엘렉트라 | Chorus-Diana | LG Art Center | April 26–May 5 | |
| 2019 | An Ensemble | 앙상블 | Isabella | Small Theater Samwoonlim | September to October 20 | |
| 2019–2020 | Mary Jane | 메리 제인 | Rudy, TenK | Hongik University Daehangno Art Center Small Theater | Dec 7–Jan 19 | |
| 2020 | Slasher | 화전가 | Ms. Kim | Myeongdong Art Center | August 8–30 | |
| 2021 | Buried Child | 파묻힌 아이 | Halley | Gyeonggi Art Centre Small Theatre | May 27 to June 6 | |

## Awards and nominations

Award and nominations received by Ye Soo-jung :
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Work | Result |
| 2004 | 5th Kim Dong-hoon Theater Award | Best Actress | — | Won |
| 2005 | 41st Dong-A Theater Awards | Best New Actress | The Cherry Orchard | Won |
| 2005 | 26th Seoul Theater Festival | Acting Award | Green Bench | Won |
| 2005 | 10th Hi-seo Theater Awards | Best Actress | — | Won |
| 2006 | 1st Korean Female Performer Award | Best Acting Award | Sea and Parasol; Green Bench | Won |
| 2012 | 32nd Best Artist of the Year Award | Best Actress in Theater | — | Won |
| 2017 | 27th Lee Hae-rang Theater Award | Best Actress | — | Won |
| 2018 | 22nd Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | Best Actress Award | The Land of Happiness [ko] | Won |
| 2018 | 22nd The Seoul Awards | Best Supporting Actress in Film | Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days | Won |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Art Awards | Best Actress in Film | An Old Lady [ko] | Nominated |
| 2021 | Buil Film Awards | Best Actress | An Old Lady [ko] | Nominated |
| 2021 | 21st Female Film Actor of the Year Award for Acting Award | Best Actress | An Old Lady [ko] | Won |
| 2021 | 2021 Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best Actress | An Old Lady [ko] | Nominated |
| 2022 | Director's Cut Awards | Best New Actress | An Old Lady [ko] | Nominated |
| 2022 | 2022 MBC Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hunted [ko] | Won |