Gong Min-jeung

Gong Min-jeung (born Kim Min-jung on 30 September 1986) is a South Korean actress. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from the Film Art Department of Konkuk University.
She's known for her roles in three Hong Sang-soo films, Yourself and Yours, On the Beach at Night Alone, and Grass. Also for her roles in television dramas such as Temperature of Love (2017). In her TV work, such as Familiar Wife (2018) and Sweet Munchies (2020). Her most popular role to date is Pyo Mi-seon, a dental nurse, in the rom-com TV series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021). In 2020, she won the Fantastic Best Actor Special Mention Award in the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival for Zombie Crush: Heyri.
Career
Early career
Gong's decisive moment to pursue acting came during her third year of middle school. Watching the play Subway Line 1 served as a significant turning point in her life. In her twenties, Gong enrolled in Department of Film of Konkuk University. Gong made her acting debut in 2009, in a short independent film 'Gugyeong'. Shortly after, Gong ventured into theater, marking her debut in the open-run play in open-run play, Rooftop Cat. Initially taking on minor roles, she gradually progressed and secured her first supporting role in the 2012 independent feature film Everyone Wants to Die by My Name (2013). From 2011 to 2015, Gong steadily built her reputation through several shorts and independent films, including Dog, Goblin, and Ethical Street Rule. Throughout her career, Gong has established a reputation as an actress known for her vibrant and captivating performances.
Rising career
Gong made a lasting impression on viewers with her appearances in two Hong Sang-soo's feature films, Yourself and Yours (2016) and On the Beach at Night Alone (2017). In 2017, she made her television debut in the SBS drama series in SBS drama series Temperature of Love (2017). Followed by supporting role in drama Familiar Wife (2018), where Gong was praise for her vibrant performances. Additionally, in 2018, Gong starred in the film The Vanished. She made a return in another Hong Sang-soo's film, Grass (2018), which premiered at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival on 16 February 2018. The film was also screened in the "Korean Cinema Today – Panorama" program at the 23rd Busan International Film Festival.
In 2019, Gong made an appearance in the highly-discussed women-centric film Kim Ji-young: Born 1982. This feature film, based on the novel of the same name garnered numerous accolades, and achieved commercial success, reaching a total of 3.7 million admissions and grossing US$27.16 million in revenue.
In 2020, she took on the role of Gong Jin-seon in the film Zombie Crush: Heyri. Her portrayal in this role earned her the Fantastic Best Actor Special Mention Award at the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Following that, she appeared in the TV series Sweet Munchies and the TV series Please Don't Date Him, which aired in November 2020. Gong has established a reputation as an actress known for her vibrant and captivating performances.
On November 17, 2020, Indie Plus at the Seoul Cinema Center announced its plan to hold the "Rising Star - Actor Gong Min-jung Exhibition" from November 19 to 23. The exhibition showcased a total of 14 works, including 5 feature films, 7 short films divided into 2 sections, and 2 works personally recommended by Gong. The featured works comprised Everyone Wants to Die by My Name (2012), Yourself and Yours (2016), Grass (2017), Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (1982), Chang Lee (2019), Call me if you need me (2018), Byeonggu (2015), Two water and a lighter (2020), Daddy’s taste (2014), Ethical street rules (2016), Coming-of-age ceremony (2018), I should have killed the bastard (2018) and recommendations from Gong include Blue Valentine (2010), and American Honey: A Song of the Wandering Star (2016).
In 2021, Gong was cast as Hee-soo in the film of the same name. Hee-soo's character represents a woman who simultaneously exists and does not exist. As the protagonist, Hee-soo embarks on a solitary and tranquil journey. She strolls leisurely from one side of the frame to the other, wandering aimlessly between the Daegu Dyeing Industrial Complex and a fishing village in Gangwon-do. Along her path, she encounters various individuals who briefly accompany her, including her former lover with whom she visited the factory, a grandmother with a broken radio, a middle-aged woman she meets at a guesthouse, and a male student who rides his bicycle.
In the same year, Gong was cast as Pyo Mi-seon in the comedy-drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha which is a remake the 2004 South Korean film Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong.
In 2021, Gong made a return to independent film with the movie "Sprinter." The film was screened at The 47th Seoul Independent Film Festival, which took place at CGV Art House Apgujeong and CGV Apgujeong from the 25th of November to the 3rd of December. Prior to the screening, Gong participated in a press conference held at Art Nine in Sadang-dong on the morning of the 3rd. She attended the conference alongside her co-actors from the film, including Lim Ji-ho, Jeon Hwan-hwan, Song Deok-ho, Choi Jun-hyuk, and Choi Seung-yeon.
On November 29, 2021, the Korea Independent Film Association announced a special exhibition titled "Isn't It Our Sphere?" at the Naver Indie Theater, scheduled to run from November 29 to December 28, 2021. The exhibition showcased five films featuring Gong, including Family Portrait and I Should Have Killed that Bastard, both directed by Kim Hye-jun.
In 2022, Her leading role in the indie film "Contiguous Land" earned an invitation to West Germany following its screening at the Busan International Film Festival. The film follows Ho-rim, an international student in London, who encounters various people by chance after finding a camcorder on the street. In the same year, Gong collaborated with director Cho Hee-young, who made her debut film, on the short film "The Owners," which was screened at the Jeonju International Film Festival.
In 2022, Gong acted in tvN drama series Little Woman as a reporter at YBC news agency named Jang Ma-ri. This was followed by her role in One Dollar Lawyer as Na Ye-jin, a prosecutor with high lifestyle. Her performance in this role earned her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 2022 SBS Drama Awards.
In 2023, Gong returned to the indie film scene. She portrayed the character of Director Gong Min-jung, starring alongside Kim Sae-byeok in a film directed by Lee Rang. The movie depicts the conversation between two female indie film directors. This project is the second installment of Indieplex Season 4, and the campaign film, titled 'Instead of Saying Goodbye', was released on July 17th (Monday) at 1:00 pm on the Indieground YouTube channel (and also on the Marie Claire YouTube channel).
Filmography
Film
Short film
Television
Web series
Hosting
Theater
Awards and nominations
References
External links
Gong Min-jeung at Daum Encyclopedia
Gong Min-jeung at Daum Movie
Gong Min-jeung at PlayDB
Gong Min-jeung at Naver
Living people
1986 births
Konkuk University alumni
South Korean film actresses
South Korean stage actresses
South Korean television actresses
Actresses from Seoul
21st-century South Korean actresses