# Jang Young-nam

Jang Young-nam (Korean: 장영남; born November 25, 1973) is a South Korean actress. She began her career as an acclaimed actress in theater, then transitioned to supporting roles on television and film, notably in works by director Jang Jin. A member of Jang Jin's Division (장진사단), she regularly appears in his films and theater company productions. She became one of the original cast members of the live sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live Korea when Jang Jin brought the American show to South Korea. In addition, she was a member of the Korean theater troupe Mokhwa Repertory Company.
She is known for her skill in both comedic and dramatic roles and her ability to easily transition between different genres and mediums such as theater, television and films. Some notable supporting film roles include A Werewolf Boy and Hello Ghost. She has also made memorable cameos in dramas, Pinocchio and Moon Embracing the Sun. In 2013, she played her first onscreen leading role in the revenge crime thriller Azooma, which won her the Best Actress Award from the Director's Guild at the 17th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

## Education

Jang Young-nam born on November 25, 1973, in Seoul. When she was in middle school, she saw a special orange school bus from Kaywon High School of Arts [ko] and felt intrigued by it. This made her decide to study theater and film at Kaywon High School of Arts. Before that, she always wanted to raise her hand to read a book in class, but she was too shy to do it. However, when she joined Kaywon Arts High School, she discovered the joy of performing and expressing herself in front of an audience. She later enrolled in the Department of Theater and Film at Seoul Institute of the Arts. As part of her graduation project, she took part in the musical West Side Story.

## Career

Jang, a graduate of Seoul Institute of the Arts, began her career in the Mokhwa theater company in 1995 after being recommended by her college senior Seong Ji-ru. Soon after joining, she landed the role of Juliet in the play Romeo and Juliet. However, just three weeks before the performance, she experienced the humiliation of being fired by CEO Oh Tae-seok, who claimed she couldn't act. This incident left her feeling ashamed, leading her to drink half a bottle of soju. She also faced opposition and disapproval from her parents, which caused her to give up theater for about a year and a half. She wanted to make money, so She started working as a clerk at a clothing store, but soon She missed theater so much that She couldn't stand it. She held out for a year and a half and then returned to Mokhwa again. She looked back on that time and said, "What I wanted to do most and what I was good at was theater."
Jang achieved recognition by winning the Baeksang Arts Awards Rookie Award for her portrayal of Kikko in 'Dressing Room' in 2001.
In 2002, she first work with director Jang Jin with Welcome to Dongmakgol. In addition to director Jang Jin's plays such as 'Taxi Driver', he has played major roles in famous plays such as 'Hwan' and 'Ophelia'. In 2002, Jang played the role of Juliet in the play Romeo and Juliet and received the Dong-A Theater Award for Best Actress.
In 2005, Jang participated in the Berlin Asia-Pacific Week event with the play 'Princess Bari', returning only in October after performing in Germany.
She then showcased her acting prowess and emerged as one of the leading actresses in productions like 'Proof', 'Princess Bari', and 'The Seagull'.
Since 2006, she has appeared as a member of Theater Company Alleyway unit in Gyeong-sook and Gyeong-sook's Father and Don't Be Too Surprised?
In 2007, she found success in the roles of Kyung-sook in "Kyung-sook, Kyung-sook's Father" and Joo-hee in "My Mother's Mother". Throughout her career, she appeared in various works, often assuming leading roles. By 2007, she had already established herself as the most popular and highly regarded actress in the Daehakro theater industry. Notably, Jang Young-nam's acting skills reached their zenith in the one-person play 'Vagina Monologue', where she impressively portrayed nine different roles with great intensity.
She was also famous as the "Hong Il-jeom" actress of 'Jang Jin Division', who always appeared in director Jang Jin's works. She played the main character in "Clumsy People" (December 7, 2007 – March 16) directed by director Jang and performed at Daehakro's largest theater festival, 'Play'. It also paved the way for the huge success of 'Heart 2'. After appearing on the screen for the first time in 2004 with "Woman I Know," which Jang Jin directed, she appeared in the director's films one after another, such as "Leave While Applause" (2005), "Holy Genealogy" (2006), "Son" (2007), and "Good Morning President" (2009).
In 2008, she was cast as the female lead in the play "Port" (May 1–18, Seondol Theater in Daehakro) directed by Park Geun-hyung (CEO of Theater Company Alleyway), who was considered the best director in Daehakro and the winner of the 1st Cha Beom-seok Play Award (written by Myeong-hwa Kim). She received endless love calls from the theater world, including an offer to appear in "Agarwood" (June 10–28, directed by Shim Jae-chan).

## Personal life

In December 2011, she married a theater director and film university professor Lee Ho-ung who is seven years younger. She and her husband have a son born in 2014.

## Filmography
### Film

Film acting appearance :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1997 | Push! Push! | | |
| 2003 | Runaway | Jung-sook | Short film |
| 2004 | Someone Special | Woman in accident | |
| 2005 | Murder, Take One | Yoo Jin-ju | |
| 2005 | Love Is a Crazy Thing | Eun-joo | |
| 2006 | Righteous Ties | Yang Yeo-il | |
| 2007 | My Son | Corrections officer | |
| 2007 | Hansel and Gretel | Soo-jung ("mother") | |
| 2009 | My Girlfriend Is an Agent | Team leader Hong | |
| 2009 | Possessed | Su-kyeong | |
| 2009 | Goodbye Mom | Editor | |
| 2009 | Good Morning President | President Cha Ji-wook's staff adviser 2 | |
| 2010 | Harmony | Section chief Bang | |
| 2010 | The Quiz Show Scandal | Jang Pal-nyeo | |
| 2010 | Finding Mr. Destiny | Gi-joon's older sister | Cameo |
| 2010 | Hello Ghost | Crying ghost | |
| 2011 | Pained | Kye-jung | |
| 2011 | Hindsight | Culinary school instructor | |
| 2011 | Mr. Idol | Lee Mi-ri | |
| 2012 | The Neighbor | Ha Tae-seon | |
| 2012 | A Werewolf Boy | Sun-yi's mother | |
| 2013 | Azooma | Yoon Young-nam | |
| 2013 | Friend: The Great Legacy | Choi Sung-hoon's mother | Cameo |
| 2014 | You Are My Vampire | Nam-geol's mother | Cameo |
| 2014 | Ode to My Father | Deok-soo's mother | |
| 2015 | The Classified File | Eun-joo's aunt | |
| 2016 | Remember You | Kim Young-hee | |
| 2016 | Love, Lies | San-wol | |
| 2017 | RV: Resurrected Victims | Seo Hee-jung | |
| 2017 | Confidential Assignment | Park So-yeon | |
| 2017 | The King's Case Note | Soo-bin | |
| 2017 | Snowy Road | Jong-boon's mother | |
| 2018 | What a Man Wants | Dam-deok | |
| 2018 | The Negotiation | Manager Han | |
| 2018 | Miss Baek | Jung Myeong-sook | |
| 2019 | Innocent Witness | Hyun-jung | |
| 2019 | Metamorphosis | Choe Myeong-Ju | |
| 2020 | Night in Paradise | Tae Goo's sister | Cameo It premieres on Netflix in 2021. |
| 2020 | And So Again Today | [Wife] {My Wife Got Fat} | Short film |
| 2020 | My Wife Got Fat | Wife | Short film |
| 2021 | Seo Bok | Dr. Im Se-eun | TVING film |
| 2022 | Confidential Assignment 2: International | Park So-yeon |
| 2022 | Project Wolf Hunting | Myeong-ju | |
| 2022 | Hero | Lady Kim Ah-ryeo | Special appearance |
| 2023 | Cobweb | Chairman Baek | |
| 2023 | 4:00 PM | Hyeon-suk | |
| 2024 | The Firefighters | Do-sun | |
| TBA | 4:44 Seconds | | |
| TBA | It Has to Be a Secret | Jeong-ha | Main lead |

### TV movies

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2015 | I'm After You | Nam Kyung-hee |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | MBC Best Theater: "Leaving Pippi Longstocking" | | one act-drama |
| 2004 | Span Drama: "The Last Day of My Life" | | one act-drama |
| 2006 | Drama City: "The Stars Shine Brightly" | Kim Yeon-yi | one act-drama |
| 2007 | Dal-ja's Spring | Uhm Ki-joong's wife | |
| 2007 | Drama City: "Ssamdalg Misugi" | | one act-drama |
| 2008 | One Mom and Three Dads | Noh Hee-sook | |
| 2008 | Bitter Sweet Life | Sung-sook | |
| 2008 | Women in the Sun | Lee Eun-bi, TV writer | |
| 2008 | Love Marriage | | |
| 2008 | Chosun Police 2 | Cho Seol | |
| 2008 | Don't Cry My Love | Oh Jung-rim | |
| 2009 | Hero | Jin Do-hee | |
| 2010 | I Am Legend | Oh Seung-hye | |
| 2010 | Big Thing | Wang Joong-ki, electoral specialist | |
| 2011 | I Believe in Love | Kim Eui-sook | Cameo |
| 2011 | Vampire Prosecutor | Yoon Ji-hee | Cameo (episodes 4,8,11) |
| 2011 | Glory Jane | Yeo Eun-joo | |
| 2012 | Moon Embracing the Sun | Shaman Ari | Cameo (episode 1) |
| 2012 | I Love Lee Taly | Oh Mi-ja | |
| 2012 | Dr. Jin | Noblewoman Jo | Cameo (episodes 7–8) |
| 2012 | The King's Doctor | Baek Kwang-hyun's mother | Cameo (episode 1) |
| 2012 | The Birth of a Family | Ma Jin-hee | |
| 2013 | 7th Grade Civil Servant | Jang Young-soon | |
| 2013 | Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love | Court lady Cheon | |
| 2013 | Goddess of Marriage | Kwon Eun-hee | |
| 2014 | Pinocchio | Ki Ha-myung's mother | |
| 2015 | Persevere, Goo Hae-ra | Kang-soon | |
| 2015 | Miss Mamma Mia | Lee Mi-ryun | |
| 2015 | Hogu's Love | Pickpocket mom | Cameo (episodes 2, 6) |
| 2015 | Snowy Road | Choi Jong-boon's mother | |
| 2015 | Flower of Queen | Choi Hye-jin | |
| 2015 | Glamorous Temptation | Kang Il-ran | |
| 2016 | Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo | Coach Choi Sung-eun | |
| 2017 | My Sassy Girl | Gyun-woo's Mother | |
| 2017 | The King in Love | Princess Jeguk | |
| 2018 | Lovely Horribly | Kim Ok-hee | |
| 2018 | The Smile Has Left Your Eyes | Tak So-jung | |
| 2019 | The Crowned Clown | Queen Dowager Soseong | |
| 2019 | My Country: The New Age | Seo Seol | |
| 2020 | Nobody Knows | Jeong So-yeon | |
| 2020 | Find Me in Your Memory | Choi Hee-sang | |
| 2020 | It's Okay to Not Be Okay | Park Haeng-ja | |
| 2021 | The Devil Judge | Cha Kyung-hee | |
| 2021 | The Veil | Do Jin-sook | |
| 2021 | KBS Drama Special: "F20" | Goo Ae-ran | |
| 2022 | Cheer Up | Sung Chun-yang | |
| 2023 | Crash Course in Romance | Jang Seo-jin | |
| 2023 | The Heavenly Idol | King Yeomra | |
| 2023 | Delightfully Deceitful | Seo Gye-suk | |
| 2023–2024 | Like Flowers in Sand | Ma Jin-sook | |
| 2024 | Captivating the King | Royal Queen Dowager Park | |
| 2024 | Love Next Door | Seo Hye-sook | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
| 2019 | IN SEOUL | Song Young-ju | |
| 2024 | The Tyrant | Madam Kwan | |

### Variety show

| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
| 2011 | Saturday Night Live Korea Season 1 | Cast member | |
| 2012 | Saturday Night Live Korea Season 2 | Cast member | |

## Theater

Theater play performances :
| Year | Title | Title | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| Year | English | Korean | Role | Theater | Date | Ref. |
| 1994 | Jing meng guys | 징게맹개너른들 | Guest | Seoul Arts Center Jayu Small Theater | May 19 to 22 | |
| 1995 | Romeo and Juliet | 로미오와 줄리엣 | Juliet | Hoam Art Hall | November 5 to 23 | |
| 1996 | Love with a Fox | 여우와 사랑을 | Seong Geum-ja, Huam-dong Aunt | Seoul Arts Center Jayu Small Theater | November 1 to 30 | |
| 1996 | The Threepenny Opera | | | | | |
| 1997 | Dongbaek Agasshi "Lady Camellia" | 동백아가씨 | | | | |
| 1998 | The Wandering Troupe | 유랑극단 | | | | |
| 1998 | Birds Don't Use the Crosswalk | 새들은 횡단보도로 건너지 않는다 | | | | |
| 1999 | Bujayuchin "Intimacy Between Father and Son" | 부자유친 | | Theater Arunguji | May 7 to October 3 | |
| 1999 | Chun-pung's Wife | 춘풍의 처 | | Theater Arunguji | August 10 to October 3 | |
| 1999 | 23rd Seoul Theatre Festival: Kosovo and Wandering | (제23회) 서울연극제 : 코소보 그리고 유랑 | | Theater Arunguji | October 1 to 17 | |
| 1999–2000 | Love with a Fox | 여우와 사랑을 | Seong Geum-ja | Theater Arunguji | December 10 to January 21 | |
| 2000 | Tae "Lifecord" | 태 | Lady Park | Theatre YiGina | June 1 to 18 | |
| 2000 | One Morning with Snow and Rain | 아침 한 때 눈이나 비 | | | | |
| 2000 | The 24th Seoul Theatre Festival: Lost River | (제24회) 서울연극제 : 잃어버린 강 | Ha-nok | Cultural Center Grand Theater | October 5 to 11 | |
| 2000 | Chun-pung's Wife | 춘풍의 처 | | | | |
| 2001 | Dressing Room | 분장실 | Kikko | Theater Arunguji | | |
| 2001 | Romeo and Juliet | 로미오와 줄리엣 | Juliet | Theater Arunguji | June 14 to July 1 | |
| 2001–2002 | Centipede and Earthworm | 지네와 지렁이 | | Theater Arunguji | December 20 to February 12 | |
| 2002 | Romeo and Juliet | 로미오와 줄리엣 | Juliet | Seoul Arts Center Towol Theater | March 29 to April 14 | |
| 2002 | Regrets of Gwanghae | 광해유감 | Queen In-mok | Cultural Arts Foundation Arts Theater Grand Theater | November 6 to 13 | |
| 2002 | Welcome to Dongmakgol | 웰컴 투 동막골 | Villagers | LG Arts Center | December 14–29 | |
| 2003 | Proof | 프루프 | Catherine | National Jeongdong Theatre Cecil | August 20, 2003 – September 28, 2003 | |
| 2003 | Train for Xian | 서안화차 | Jeong Soo | Installation Theater Jeongmiso | June 5 to July 6 | |
| 2003 | Train for Xian | 서안화차 | Jeong Soo | Installation Theater Jeongmiso | October 4 to 19 | |
| 2004 | The Journey of a Hwan "Illusion" | 극단 여행자의 환 | King of the Sea | LG Art Centre | March 19, 2004 – March 26, 2004 | |
| 2004 | Return to Hamlet | 연극열전 - 햄릿 | Ophelia | Dongsung Art Centre Dongsung Hall | April 23, 2004 – May 30, 2004 | |
| 2004 | Return to Hamlet | 연극열전 - 햄릿 | Ophelia | Dongsung Art Centre Dongsung Hall | May 4 to 23, 2004 | |
| 2004 | The Hunchback Richard III | 꼽추, 리차드 3세 | Anne | Seoul Arts Center | November 5 to 28 | |
| 2004 | Taxi Driver | 택시 드리벌 - 당신은 어디까지 가십니까? | Yoo Hwa-yi | Dongsung Art Center Dongsung Hall | July 16 to August 29 | |
| 2005 | Princess Bari | 바리공주 | | Berlin, Germany | | |
| 2005 | Agamemnon - The Ghost Sonata | 아가멤논 - The Ghost Sonata | Cassandra | Seoul Arts Centre Free Small Theatre | April 23 to May 11 | |
| 2006 | The Gate of Hell | 나생문 | Wife | Seoul Arts Centre Free Small Theatre | June 10, 2006 – July 2, 2006 | |
| 2006 | The Vagina Monologues | 버자이너 모놀로그 | 경숙 역 | Daehak-ro Dure Hall 3 | September 15, 2006 – November 26, 2006 | |
| 2007 | Kyung-sook, Kyung-sook's Father | 경숙이, 경숙아버지 | Kyung-sook | Dongsung Art Centre Small Theatre | January 25, 2007 – April 1, 2007 | |
| 2007 | Melodrama | 멜로드라마 | Kang Yu-kyung | Daehak-ro T.O.M. Hall 2 | September 6 – December 31 | |
| 2007 | Who Shaved My Sister's Head? | 내 동생의 머리를 누가 깎았나 | Yi-geum | Guerrilla Theater in Hyehwa-dong, Seoul | August 10 to 26 | |
| 2007 | Chinjeong Eomma "My Mom" | 친정엄마 | Daughter | JTN Art Hall 1 | April 12, 2007 – May 6, 2007 | |
| 2007–2008 | Clumsy People | 연극열전2 - 장진의 서툰사람들 | Yoo Hwa-yi | Dongsung Art Centre Small Theatre | December 7, 2007 – March 16, 2008 | |
| 2008 | Port | 포트 | Rachel Keats | Daehak-ro Sundol Theatre | May 1, 2008 – May 18, 2008 | |
| 2009 | Don't Be Too Surprised | 너무 놀라지 마라| | Daughter-in-law | Sanullim Small Theatre | January 7, 2009 – February 1, 2009 | |
| 2009 | Don't Be Too Surprised - Busan | 너무 놀라지 마라 - 부산 | Daughter-in-law | Busan Cultural Centre Middle Theatre | March 28, 2009 – March 29, 2009 | |
| 2009 | Sergeant Meng Jin-sa's house | 맹진사댁 경사 | Gab-bun | Myongdong Arts Theatre | June 5 to 21 | |
| 2009 | Don't Be Too Surprised (Encore) | 너무 놀라지 마라 (앵콜) | Daughter-in-law | Sanullim Small Theatre | July 3, 2009, to July 26, 2009 | |
| 2009 | The Seagull | 갈매기 | Nina | Daehak-ro guerilla theatre | August 1 to 30, 2009 | |
| 2009 | Don't Be Too Surprised (Seoul International Performing Arts Festival) | 너무 놀라지마라(서울국제공연예술제) | Daughter-in-law | Arko Arts Theatre Small Theatre | November 11 to 15, 2009 | |
| 2010 | Don't Be Too Surprised - Uijeongbu | 너무 놀라지마라 - 의정부 | Daughter-in-law | Uijeongbu Arts Centre Small Theatre | February 5 to 6, 2010 | |
| 2010 | Gyungnam Changnyung-gun Gilgok-myun "Oberösterreich" | 경남 창녕군 길곡면 | Wife | Dongsung Art Center Small Theater | July 30, 2010 – September 19, 2010 | |
| 2011 | Sanbul (Forest Fire) | 산불 | Sawol | National Theatre Haeoreum Theatre | June 5, 2011 – June 26, 2011 | |
| 2018 | Electra | 엘렉트라 | Electra | LG Art Centre | April 26, 2018 – May 5, 2018 | |
| 2022 | Richard III | 리차드3세 | Queen Elizabeth | Seoul Arts Centre CJ Towol Theatre | January 11, 2022 – February 13, 2022 | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2001 | 37th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actress in Theater | Dressing Room | Won |
| 2002 | 38th Dong-A Theatre Awards | Best Actress | Romeo and Juliet | Won |
| 2005 | The Dong-A Ilbo | Top Actress of the Next Generation | | Won |
| 2009 | Korea Theater Awards | Best Actress | Don't Be Too Surprised | Won |
| 2009 | 46th Dong-A Theatre Awards | Best Actress | Don't Be Too Surprised | Won |
| 2009 | 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | My Girlfriend Is an Agent | Nominated |
| 2011 | 19th Today's Young Artist Awards | Recipient | | Won |
| 2011 | 48th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hello Ghost | Nominated |
| 2011 | 32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Hello Ghost | Nominated |
| 2012 | 33rd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Neighbor | Nominated |
| 2012 | 17th Busan International Film Festival - Director's Guild of Korea | Best Actress | Azooma | Won |
| 2013 | Irvine International Film Festival | Best Actress | Azooma | Won |
| 2013 | 50th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actress | Azooma | Nominated |
| 2013 | 50th Grand Bell Awards | Best Supporting Actress | A Werewolf Boy | Won |
| 2013 | 22nd Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | A Werewolf Boy | Won |
| 2013 | 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | A Werewolf Boy | Nominated |
| 2013 | 2nd APAN Star Awards | Acting Award, Actress | Goddess of Marriage Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love The Birth of a Family | Nominated |
| 2013 | SBS Drama Awards | Special Acting Award, Actress in a Weekend/Daily Drama | Goddess of Marriage | Won |
| 2015 | 35th MBC Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Special Project Drama | Flower of Queen, Glamorous Temptation | Nominated |
| 2015 | 36th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Classified File | Nominated |
| 2016 | 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Classified File | Nominated |
| 2016 | 2016 Scene Stealer Festival | Bonsang Award | | Won |
| 2016 | 36th MBC Drama Awards | Golden Acting Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo | Nominated |
| 2017 | 37th MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama | The King in Love | Nominated |
| 2019 | 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Metamorphosis | Nominated |
| 2019 | 8th Korea Best Star Award (Korean Film Actors Association) | Best Supporting Actress | Metamorphosis | Won |
| 2020 | 39th MBC Drama Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Find Me in Your Memory | Nominated |
| 2020 | 28th SBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Genre/Action Drama | Nobody Knows | Nominated |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Supporting Actress (TV) | It's Okay to Not Be Okay | Nominated |
| 2021 | 40th MBC Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | The Veil | Won |
| 2021 | 35th KBS Drama Awards | Best Actress in Drama Special/TV Cinema | Drama Special – F20 | Nominated |