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Choo Ja-hyun

In this Korean name, the family name is Choo.
Choo Ja-hyun
추자현
Choo in 2022
Born
Chu Eun-ju[1]

(1979-01-20) January 20, 1979 (age 46)
Bisan-dong, Seo-gu, Daegu, South Korea[2]
Other namesQiu Cixuan
CitizenshipSouth Korea
Alma materDankook University
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present
AgentBH Entertainment
Spouse
​
(m. 2017)​
Children1
Korean name
Hangul
추자현
Revised RomanizationChu Ja-hyeon
McCune–ReischauerCh'u Jahyŏn
Birth name
Hangul
추은주
Revised RomanizationChu Eun-ju
McCune–ReischauerCh'u Ŭnju

Chu Eun-ju[1] (Korean: 추자현; born January 20, 1979), known by her stage name Choo Ja-hyun, is a South Korean actress. Best known in Korea for the films Bloody Tie (2006) and Portrait of a Beauty (2008), Choo has also actively worked in China since 2007, notably in television drama The Temptation to Go Home (2011, remake of Temptation of Wife).[3]

Early life

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Chu Eun-ju was born and raised in Daegu, the then-capital of North Gyeongsang Province. The only daughter of a cosmetologist and a white-collar worker, her parents divorced when she was 18 years old.[citation needed] She also revealed on a Chinese TV show that she had a little sister who died by drowning when they were younger. Choo graduated from Dankook University, with a bachelor's degree in Theater and Film.[4]

Career

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South Korea

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Using the stage name Choo Ja-hyun, she began her entertainment career as a model at age 17. She made her acting debut in 1996, and went on to appear in several television series, among them Successful Story of a Bright Girl (2002), Sunrise House (2002), and Apgujeong House (2003).[5]

Then after a decade in relative obscurity, Choo drew critical acclaim in 2006 for her portrayal of a ravaged drug addict in Bloody Tie, a film noir about the meth trade in 1990s Busan.[6][7] She won acting recognition from the Grand Bell Awards, the Korean Film Awards, and the Director's Cut Awards, as well as nominations from the Blue Dragon Film Awards and the Baeksang Arts Awards.[8][9][10]

She was then cast in the erotic period drama Portrait of a Beauty, based on Lee Jung-myung's novel Painter of the Wind which reimagined Joseon artist Shin Yun-bok as a woman disguised as a man.[11][12] Portrait of a Beauty became the 8th best-selling Korean film of 2008,[13][14] and Choo again received supporting actress nominations for playing a gisaeng who entertains noblemen by performing dances and poetry readings.

This was followed by Missing (2009), a slasher film in which Choo's character is determined to find her younger sister, who's been abducted by a psychopath farmer who rapes and murders young women.[15][16]

She starred in Loveholic in 2010, a character-driven romance drama directed by Kwon Chil-in. Choo played a self-destructive woman with a drinking problem and professional crises; she goes to stay at her friend's house until she sorts out her life, then has an affair with the latter's cuckolded husband.[17][18]

Choo next appeared in The Famished, a 27-minute short film about stage actors who eat their own memories to satisfy their hunger; it was included in the omnibus Short! Short! Short! 2010: Fantastic Theater.[19]

Taiwan and China

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Choo had begun building her pan-Asian profile when she appeared in the 2003 Taiwanese drama Scent of Love, which ranked number one in the ratings when it aired in Taiwan.[citation needed]

Despite almost a decade of acting experience in her homeland, Choo later said she decided to launch her career in China for practical reasons, "I did not have a choice (but to debut in China). Acting is my trade, and I have to act to make a living, but in Korea the work was not steady enough for a stable income."[20] She was cast as Du Chun's leading lady in The Legend of the Banner Hero (also known as Clan Feuds), adapted from Taiwanese novelist Gu Long's wuxia novel of the same title. It was filmed in 2005, and aired in 2007.[21] In late 2007, Choo was part of the main cast of another Gu Long adaptation, The Legend of Chu Liuxiang.[22]

But it was her leading role as a betrayed wife in revenge melodrama The Temptation to Go Home (also known as Temptation of Going Home or Lure of Homecoming), a 2011 remake of Korea's Temptation of Wife (the original and remake both received high ratings), that catapulted Choo into stardom in Mainland China and made her one of the most sought-after Hallyu stars there.[23] Fluent in Chinese and English, Choo has since relocated to Beijing and concentrated on her acting career in China, with occasional forays in Korean cinema.[3] Her name is rendered in Chinese as Qiu Cixuan.

When Choo appeared in a semi-nude hanbok photo shoot for a Chinese magazine in 2011, she was criticized by Korean netizens for "damaging the national costume's image."[24] Because of the controversy, she closed down her Twitter account and is instead active on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo.[25] Choo's old nude photos were also leaked to Chinese websites that year; her Chinese agency said the photos had been taken for personal reasons and threatened legal action against those circulating them.[26][27]

She continued playing lead roles in Chinese television dramas of various genres (epic, fantasy, period drama, contemporary romance), such as Wipe Out the Bandits of Wulong Mountain (2012), Turbulence of the Mu Clan (2012), Hu Xian (2013), Legend of Southwest Dance and Music (2013), Xiu Xiu's Men (2014), and Gorgeous Workers (2014).[28][29]

Personal life

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Choo announced on November 30, 2016 that she would be marrying Chinese actor and singer Yu Xiaoguang in 2017. Her management agency said that the families of the two recently met and discussed how to prepare for the wedding. The actress first revealed their romantic relationship through Chinese social media site Weibo in September 2015. They first met while appearing in a Chinese drama in 2012.[30] They married on January 18, 2017.

On June 1, 2018, Chu Ja-hyun gave birth to a boy at a hospital in Seoul, South Korea.[31][32][33][34]

Filmography

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Film

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Year English Title Original Title Role Notes
1996 The Adventures of Mrs. Park 박봉곤 가출 사건 Hye-soo
2005 Short Time 이대로, 죽을 순 없다 Yang Jung-ae
Travel in Fog 안개 속의 여행
2006 Bloody Tie 사생결단 Ji-young
2008 Portrait of a Beauty 미인도 Seol-hwa
2009 Missing 실종 Hyun-jung
2010 Le Grand Chef 2: Kimchi Battle 식객:김치전쟁 Seong-chan's mother (cameo)
Loveholic 참을 수 없는 Ji-heun
2011 Short! Short! Short! 2010: Fantastic Theater 환상극장 Lee Seo-yeon segment: "The Famished" (허기)
2014 The Boundary 全城通缉
TBA While You Were Sleeping 당신이 잠든 사이 Yoon Deok-hee [35][36]

Korean television

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Year English Title Korean Title Role Notes
1996 18, Feeling of Growing Up 성장느낌 18세
1997 Miss & Mister 미스&미스터
1998 The Eldest 맏이
1999 KAIST 카이스트
The Last War 마지막 전쟁
2000 Legends of Love 사랑의 전설
Because of You 당신때문에 Ahn Soo-eun
Cruise of Love 사랑의 유람선
2001 Outing 외출 Jung Nan-young
2002 Successful Story of a Bright Girl 명랑소녀 성공기 Song Bo-bae
Sunrise House 해뜨는 집 Jung Mi-hee
2003 Apgujeong House 압구정 종갓집 Eldest daughter
Sharp 1 반올림1 Lee Ok-rim's narration
2004 Oh Feel Young 오! 필승 봉순영 Heo Song-ja
2005 Family Scandal 가족 연애사 Sun-ah
2010 A Man Called God 신이라 불리운 사나이 Seo Mi-soo / Choi Kang-hee
2018 Misty 미스티 [37]
2019 Arthdal Chronicles 아스달 연대기 Asa Hon Season 1[38]
Beautiful World 아름다운 세상 Kang In-ha [39]
2020 My Unfamiliar Family (아는 건 별로 없지만) 가족입니다 Kim Eun-joo [40]
2022 Green Mothers' Club 그린 마더스 클럽 Byeon Chun-hee [41][42]
Little Women 작은 아씨들 Jin Hwa-young [43]
Narco-Saints 수리남 Park Hye-jin Special appearance[44][45]

Chinese television

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Year English Title Chinese Title Role
2003 Scent of Love 恋香 Jeon Ho-yeon/Yin Xiangzhi
2007 The Legend of the Banner Hero 大旗英雄传 Shui Lingguang
The Legend of Chu Liuxiang 楚留香传奇 Shi Guanyin
Let Love Rain Like Pearls 让爱化作珍珠雨 Bei Xinru
2011 The Temptation to Go Home 回家的诱惑 Gao Shanshan/Lin Pinru
2012 Wipe Out the Bandits of Wulong Mountain 新乌龙山剿匪记 Chen Feng Jiao
Turbulence of the Mu Clan 木府风云 A Leqiu
从将军到士兵 Guan Biyun
2013 Hu Xian 狐仙 Nie Xiaoqian
Legend of Southwest Dance and Music 舞乐传奇 Ye Shaluo
2014 长安三怪探 Wei Ruozhao
Xiu Xiu's Men 秀秀的男人
Gorgeous Workers 华丽上班族 Zhang Wei

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2004 KBS Drama Awards Best Supporting Actress Oh Feel Young Nominated
2006 7th Busan Film Critics Awards Bloody Tie Won
43rd Grand Bell Awards Best New Actress Won
27th Blue Dragon Film Awards Nominated
5th Korean Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Won
Best New Actress Won
9th Director's Cut Awards Won
2007 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards Nominated
2009 46th Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actress Portrait of a Beauty Nominated
30th Blue Dragon Film Awards Nominated
17th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Excellence Award, Actress in Film Won
2012 CCTV Chinese TV Star of the Year Awards International Cooperation Award Won
2013 2nd APAN Star Awards Achievement Award — Won
8th Seoul International Drama Awards Best Actress Turbulence of the Mu Clan Nominated
2015 10th Seoul International Drama Awards Mango TV Popularity Award — Won
2017 11th SBS Entertainment Awards Hot Star of the Year Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny Won
2021 7th APAN Star Awards Best Supporting Actress My Unfamiliar Family Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b "秋瓷炫于晓光公布结婚证 今年1月18日领证" (in Simplified Chinese). 11 July 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  2. ^ "추자현". Cinefox (씨네폭스) (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  3. ^ a b Park, Jin-hai (19 June 2013). "Korean stars faring well in China". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  4. ^ "Choo Ja-hyun (Chu Ja-hyeon 추자현)". Korea Tourism Organization. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  5. ^ Naldi, V. X. "Success Story of a Bright Girl (2002, SBS drama special)". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  6. ^ "사생결단 (Bloody Tie) Press Screening Report". Twitch Film. 18 April 2006. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  7. ^ "CHU Ja-hyeon". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  8. ^ D'Sa, Nigel (26 July 2006). "43rd Crowns King and the Clown". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  9. ^ "Hong Sang-soo Named Best Director". KBS Global. 22 December 2006. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  10. ^ Yi, Chang-ho (28 December 2006). "Director's Cut Awards Diversity of Films". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  11. ^ "Portrait of a Beauty Most Anticipated Film in Fall". KBS World. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  12. ^ Yang, Sung-jin (13 October 2008). "Legendary painter Hyewon hits silver screen". The Korea Herald via Hancinema. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  13. ^ "Provocative Portrait of a Beauty Tops Movie Chart". The Chosun Ilbo. 24 November 2008. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  14. ^ "The Best Selling Films of 2008". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  15. ^ Elley, Derek (25 August 2009). "Review: Missing". Variety. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  16. ^ Vijn, Ard (1 August 2009). "Kim Sung-hong's Missing (Sil Jong) Review". Twitch Film. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  17. ^ Giammarco, Tom. "Secret Romance". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  18. ^ "Review: Loveholic". Variety. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  19. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (2 May 2010). "Rising directors explore fear, fantasy". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  20. ^ Choi, He-suk (19 January 2015). "Choo Ja-hyun says she began her Chinese career from scratch". K-Pop Herald. Retrieved 2015-01-27.
  21. ^ 韩国女星秋瓷炫大旗英雄传享受飞翔(图). Sina.com (in Chinese). 20 April 2005. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
  22. ^ 图文：楚留香传奇发布会--韩国演员秋瓷炫. Sina.com (in Chinese). 6 December 2007. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
  23. ^ "Export of Korean pop culture is evolving: KOTRA study". The Dong-a Ilbo. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  24. ^ 추자현 화보논란, 中 남성잡지 '한복 세미누드'. TV Daily (in Korean). 3 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  25. ^ Chung, Ah-young (13 August 2013). "How to rule on Weibo". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  26. ^ Tian, Tian (16 March 2011). "Choo Ja Hyun Regrets Nude Photo Incident". CRI English. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  27. ^ "Actress Chu to take legal action over nude photos". The Korea Times. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  28. ^ 秋瓷炫迟帅主演狐仙 樊少皇和徐锦江助阵. Xinhuanet (in Chinese). 23 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-16.
  29. ^ Xu, Jia (7 May 2015). "Korean Stars Over China". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  30. ^ "Actor couple Choo Ja-hyun, Yu Xiaoguang to become parents". 23 October 2017.
  31. ^ L. Kim (1 June 2018). "Chu Ja Hyun and Yu Xiaoguang are now parents!". Soompi. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  32. ^ "Actor couple Choo Ja-hyun, Yu Xiaoguang have first baby". The Korea Herald. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  33. ^ "Choo Ja-hyun gives birth to her first child". Korea JoongAng Daily. June 2018.
  34. ^ "Actress Choo Ja-hyun in 'bad condition' after childbirth". 10 June 2018.
  35. ^ Han Mi-hee (August 12, 2021). "추자현·이무생 주연 '당신이 잠든 사이' 크랭크인" [Choo Ja-hyun and Lee Mu-saeng's 'While You Were Sleeping' Crankin]. Yonhap News. (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  36. ^ Jo Ji-young (August 13, 2021). "[공식] 추자현, 영화 '당신이 잠든 사이' 출연 확정..'그린 마더스 클럽' 이어 열일 행보" [[Official] Choo Ja-hyun confirmed to appear in the movie 'While You Were Sleeping'.. Following 'Green Mothers Club']. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  37. ^ "Choo Ja-hyun to come back with JTBC "Misty"". HanCinema. YTN. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  38. ^ "Choo Ja-hyun set to appear in tvN drama". Korea JoongAng Daily (in Korean). August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  39. ^ [공식] 박희순·추자현·오만석·조여정, '아름다운 세상' 캐스팅 확정. Naver (in Korean). Seoul Economy Daily. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  40. ^ "Choo Ja-hyun to Star in "My Unfamiliar Family"". HanCinema. February 4, 2020.
  41. ^ Ahn Yu-jin (May 26, 2021). "이요원X추자현, '그린마더스클럽' 주연 캐스팅 [공식]". Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  42. ^ Kim Ye-eun (July 2, 2021). "이요원·추자현에 장혜진까지…'그린마더스클럽' 라인업 공개 [공식입장]". Xportsnews (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  43. ^ Yoo Kyung-sang (September 4, 2022). "작은 아씨들' 첫방부터 추자현 성형수술+죽음+7백억 증발 '강렬' [어제TV]" [From the first episode of 'Little Women', Choo Ja-hyun plastic surgery + death + 70 billion evaporation 'strength' [Yesterday TV]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved September 4, 2022 – via Naver.
  44. ^ Mo Shin-jeong (March 23, 2021). "[단독] '수리남' 하정우·황정민·조우진·유연석·박해수·추자현, 드림 캐스팅 확정… 4월말 크랭크인". hankooki (in Korean). Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  45. ^ Kim Na-yeon (August 8, 2022). "하정우X황정민→장첸 '수리남', 9월 9일 넷플릭스 공개 확정 [공식]" [Ha Jung-woo X Hwang Jung-min → Jang Chen 'Suriname', confirmed to be released on Netflix on September 9 [Official]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Retrieved August 8, 2022 – via Naver.
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