A MODERN
BIOGRAPHY ARCHIVE
THE COLLECTION / Film & TVARCHIVE № 396
1972 —   ACTRESS

YUMJUNG-AH

Jul 28, 1972South Korea

What happened at what age?
Where were they at your age?

The breakthrough yearThe year she turned 19, she was named Sun, the first runner-up, at the Miss Korea pageant. That year she also began acting in the MBC youth drama Our Paradise.

In 1994, she appeared in the KBS epic drama A Human Land. In 1997, she was in SBS’s Model with Jang Dong-gun and Kim Nam-joo.

The year she turned 31, she played the stepmother in A Tale of Two Sisters, the film that drew notice to her as an actress. Herald Business says audiences and the film industry discovered her with that film. In 2004, she won Best Supporting Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards for The Big Swindle and played her first sole lead in Lovely Rivals.

In 2006, she married an orthopedic surgeon. The Old Garden opened in January 2007. A daughter was born in January 2008. In 2009, a son was born and Jeon Woo-chi: The Taoist Wizard opened.

In 2011, she played the lead, Kim In-sook, in MBC’s Royal Family. In 2012, she appeared in the film The Spies and in SBS’s My Lover, Madame Butterfly. In 2013, she was in JTBC’s Your Neighbor’s Wife. In 2014, she played the lead, Sun-hee, in the film Cart.

In 2016, she appeared in JTBC’s Secret Healer. The Mimic opened in 2017. In 2018, Intimate Strangers opened and JTBC’s Sky Castle began. In 2019, the final episode of Sky Castle drew 23.8% nationwide, and she won Best Actress in television at the Baeksang Arts Awards for it. That year she also appeared in Three Meals a Day: Mountain Village and the film Start-Up.

In 2022, she appeared in Cleaning Up, Alienoid and Life Is Beautiful in turn, and won Best Actress at the Grand Bell Awards. Smugglers opened in 2023. In 2024, she began Fresh Off the Sea, and the Netflix film Mission: Cross was released. In 2025, she appeared in ENA’s The Defects. In 2026, she traveled to Bohol in the Philippines for Fresh Off the Sea in Calape.

Yum Jung-ah (born Jul 28, 1972) became known when she was named Miss Korea Sun on May 11, 1991, the year she turned 19, and she made her acting debut that year. As an actress she drew notice for the film A Tale of Two Sisters, which opened on Jun 13, 2003, the year she turned 31. In 2019, the year she turned 47, she won Best Actress in television at the Baeksang Arts Awards for Sky Castle.

Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.

Full timeline · 34 records1991 — 2026   ＋
AGE / YEAR

  1. 22 · 1994
  2. 25 · 1997
    TV

    SBS Model begins

    Appeared in the Wednesday-Thursday drama with Jang Dong-gun, Kim Nam-joo and Han Jae-suk. Yonhap News Agency reported at the end of the month that its ratings were above 20%.

    Source 50 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · A flood of fashion programs (Mar. 13, 1997) · opens in a new tabSource 51 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Model on location (Apr. 29, 1997) · opens in a new tab The start date is the planned air date given in a pre-broadcast article (Mar. 13, 1997).
  3. 31 · 2003
    Key moment

    Film A Tale of Two Sisters opens

    Played the stepmother. The film passed 2 million admissions nationwide on June 23, the 11th day of release.

    Source 06 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · A Tale of Two Sisters passes 2 million (June 24, 2003) · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Herald Business (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah at 30 (Nov. 18, 2004) · opens in a new tabSource 03 · Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · Now I am the actress Yum Jung-ah (Apr. 19, 2011) · opens in a new tabSource 01 · Dong-A Ilbo (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah rediscovered (Nov. 4, 2004) · opens in a new tab Herald Business says she had appeared in about 20 TV dramas and four films since her debut, and that audiences and the film industry discovered her with this film. Dong-A Ilbo says she began to be recognized 12 years after her debut, and Kyunghyang Shinmun says the film made people notice her as an actress.
  4. 32 · 2004
  5. 32 · 2004
  6. 32 · 2004
  7. 34 · 2006
    Marriage

    Marries an orthopedic surgeon

    Held her wedding at the W Hotel in Gwangjang-dong, Seoul. The actor Ji Jin-hee was the master of ceremonies.

    Source 11 · Star News (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah’s wedding (Dec. 30, 2006) · opens in a new tabSource 12 · OSEN (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah’s wedding (Dec. 30, 2006) · opens in a new tab Her husband is not a public figure, so his name is omitted. Edaily gave the wedding date as Dec. 31, but Star News and OSEN reported Dec. 30, which is used here.
  8. 35 · 2007
  9. 36 · 2008
  10. 37 · 2009
  11. 37 · 2009
  12. 39 · 2011
    TV

    MBC Royal Family begins

    Played the lead, Kim In-sook, a woman who marries the son of a chaebol family and becomes the head of the conglomerate.

    Source 16 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Royal Family press conference (Feb. 24, 2011) · opens in a new tabSource 03 · Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · Now I am the actress Yum Jung-ah (Apr. 19, 2011) · opens in a new tabSource 52 · Asia Economy (Korean) · Royal Family first-episode ratings (Mar. 3, 2011) · opens in a new tab
  13. 40 · 2012
  14. 40 · 2012
  15. 41 · 2013
  16. 42 · 2014
  17. 44 · 2016
  18. 45 · 2017
  19. 46 · 2018
  20. 46 · 2018
  21. 47 · 2019
  22. 47 · 2019
  23. 47 · 2019
  24. 47 · 2019
  25. 50 · 2022
  26. 50 · 2022
  27. 50 · 2022
  28. 50 · 2022
  29. 51 · 2023
  30. 52 · 2024
  31. 52 · 2024
  32. 53 · 2025
  33. 54 · 2026

END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1991–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.

02 / QUICK ANSWERS

Q & AFrequently asked

How old was Yum Jung-ah when she debuted?
In 1991, the year she turned 19. She was named Miss Korea Sun on May 11, 1991 and began acting that year in the MBC drama Our Paradise.
How old was Yum Jung-ah when she became famous?
In 1991, the year she turned 19, when she was named Miss Korea Sun. Yonhap News Agency listed her among popular entertainers in a 1994 article. As an actress she drew notice in 2003, the year she turned 31, for A Tale of Two Sisters. Herald Business says audiences and the film industry discovered her with that film, and Dong-A Ilbo says she began to be recognized 12 years after her debut.
What awards has Yum Jung-ah won?
In 2004, the year she turned 32, she won the Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actress for The Big Swindle. In 2019, the year she turned 47, she won Best Actress in television at the Baeksang Arts Awards for Sky Castle, and in 2022, the year she turned 50, the Grand Bell Awards Best Actress for Life Is Beautiful.
Has Yum Jung-ah appeared in a Netflix project?
Yes. The Netflix film Mission: Cross was released on Aug 9, 2024, the year she turned 52. She and Hwang Jung-min played a married couple.
How old is Yum Jung-ah?
Born in 1972, she turns 54 in 2026 (54 as of Oct 3, 2026).
04 / ABOUT THE ARCHIVE

A LIFE,
IN CHAPTERS.

What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.

COLLECTION396Yum Jung-ah / YUM JUNG-AH

Film & TV · South Korea
Jul 28, 1972 —

Sources and method53 SOURCES   ＋

Ages are counted from the birth year 1972: the year of the event minus 1972, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.

  1. Dong-A Ilbo (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah rediscovered (Nov. 4, 2004) ↗Says she debuted in 1991 as a Miss Korea Sun and began to be recognized after 12 years; Lovely Rivals opens on the 17th
  2. Herald Business (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah at 30 (Nov. 18, 2004) ↗Before A Tale of Two Sisters she had appeared in about 20 TV dramas and four films; audiences and the film industry discovered her with that film
  3. Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean) · Now I am the actress Yum Jung-ah (Apr. 19, 2011) ↗A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) made people notice her as an actress; in 2011 Royal Family won her renewed public acclaim
  4. Sports Chosun (Korean) · Twenty years since debut (May 4, 2011) ↗Says she debuted in 1991 in the MBC drama Our Paradise
  5. News1 (Korean) · Social media account opened (Aug. 1, 2026) ↗Says she was named Miss Korea Sun in 1991 and debuted as an actress that year
  6. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · A Tale of Two Sisters passes 2 million (June 24, 2003) ↗Opened June 13; passed 2 million nationwide on the 23rd, the 11th day of release
  7. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · The Big Swindle on top (Apr. 20, 2004) ↗Opened Apr. 15; No. 1 at the box office on its first weekend
  8. Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · The Big Swindle opens on the 15th (Apr. 8, 2004) ↗Played Seo In-kyeong, Mr. Kim’s mistress
  9. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah, a fish in water (Nov. 2, 2004) ↗Says Lovely Rivals is her first film as the sole lead
  10. Star News (Korean) · 25th Blue Dragon Film Awards (Nov. 29, 2004) ↗Best Supporting Actress: Yum Jung-ah for The Big Swindle
  11. Star News (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah’s wedding (Dec. 30, 2006) ↗Dec. 30 at the W Hotel in Gwangjang-dong, Seoul; married an orthopedic surgeon; Ji Jin-hee was the master of ceremonies
  12. OSEN (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah’s wedding (Dec. 30, 2006) ↗Ji Jin-hee, her co-star in The Old Garden, was the master of ceremonies; the film was due to open Jan. 4
  13. Edaily (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah gives birth to a daughter (Jan. 9, 2008) ↗Gave birth to a daughter on Jan. 4, 2008. It gives the wedding date as Dec. 31, which differs from other articles
  14. Star News (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah gives birth to a second child (Dec. 21, 2009) ↗Gave birth to a second child, a son, on Dec. 20, 2009
  15. OSEN (Korean) · Jeon Woo-chi, opening day (Dec. 24, 2009) ↗Opened Dec. 23, with Kang Dong-won, Kim Yoon-seok, Im Soo-jung, Yoo Hae-jin, Baek Yoon-sik and Yum Jung-ah
  16. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Royal Family press conference (Feb. 24, 2011) ↗Due to air Mar. 2; she plays the lead, Kim In-sook
  17. Newsen (Korean) · Spy duo Yum Jung-ah and Kim Myung-min (Oct. 11, 2012) ↗SBS My Lover, Madame Butterfly premiered Oct. 6; she appeared with Kim Myung-min of the film The Spies
  18. Herald Business (Korean) · My Lover, Madame Butterfly, Yum Jung-ah (Oct. 4, 2012) ↗The film The Spies opened on the 20th of last month
  19. Asia Today (Korean) · Your Neighbor’s Wife finale remarks (Dec. 24, 2013) ↗JTBC Monday-Tuesday drama; she played the working mother Chae Song-ha
  20. Edaily (Korean) · Cart tops Korean films (Nov. 26, 2014) ↗Opened Nov. 13
  21. Nocut News (Korean) · Cart producer interview (Nov. 28, 2014) ↗Lead character Sun-hee (Yum Jung-ah)
  22. Money Today (Korean) · Secret Healer premieres (May 14, 2016) ↗JTBC Friday-Saturday drama that premiered on the 13th
  23. TenAsia (Korean) · Secret Healer stills (June 30, 2016) ↗Played Hong-joo (Yum Jung-ah)
  24. News1 (Korean) · The Mimic opening day (Aug. 17, 2017) ↗Opened Aug. 17, with Yum Jung-ah in the lead
  25. OSEN (Korean) · The Mimic best scenes (Aug. 31, 2017) ↗Yum Jung-ah plays Hee-yeon
  26. Newsen (Korean) · Sky Castle coffee truck (Dec. 24, 2018) ↗Appeared with Lee Seo-jin in the film Intimate Strangers, which opened Oct. 31
  27. Ilyo Shinmun (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah interview (Feb. 14, 2019) ↗Says Intimate Strangers drew more than 5 million viewers
  28. Maeil Shinmun (Korean) · Sky Castle premiere (Nov. 24, 2018) ↗First episode aired on the 23rd with a 1.7% rating (Nielsen Korea)
  29. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Sky Castle ends (Feb. 2, 2019) ↗Final episode the day before drew a 23.8% nationwide rating (Nielsen Korea)
  30. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · 55th Baeksang Arts Awards (May 2, 2019) ↗May 1: Yum Jung-ah won Best Actress in television for Sky Castle
  31. News1 (Korean) · Three Meals a Day: Mountain Village premieres (Aug. 10, 2019) ↗Yum Jung-ah, Yoon Se-ah and Park So-dam in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province
  32. Newsis (Korean) · Start-Up viewing points (Dec. 18, 2019) ↗Opened on the 18th; Ma Dong-seok, Park Jung-min, Jung Hae-in and Yum Jung-ah
  33. Newsis (Korean) · Cleaning Up first-episode preview (May 31, 2022) ↗JTBC weekend drama due to premiere on the 4th of next month, with Yum Jung-ah, Jeon So-min and Kim Jae-hwa as cleaners
  34. Nocut News (Korean) · Alienoid passes 1 million (July 26, 2022) ↗Opened on the 20th; a new film by director Choi Dong-hoon
  35. JTBC (Korean) · Life Is Beautiful review (Sept. 15, 2022) ↗Opens Sept. 28; wife Se-yeon (Yum Jung-ah) and husband Jin-bong (Ryu Seung-ryong)
  36. Xports News (Korean) · 58th Grand Bell Awards (Dec. 9, 2022) ↗Best Actress: Yum Jung-ah for Life Is Beautiful
  37. The Fact (Korean) · Smugglers No. 1 on first weekend (July 31, 2023) ↗Opened July 26, with Kim Hye-soo, Yum Jung-ah, Cho In-sung and Park Jung-min
  38. Xports News (Korean) · Fresh Off the Sea premieres (July 19, 2024) ↗First aired July 18, with Yum Jung-ah, Park Joon-myun, Ahn Eun-jin and Dex
  39. Newsen (Korean) · Mission: Cross, Yum Jung-ah interview (Aug. 12, 2024) ↗Released on Netflix on the 9th; plays a couple with Hwang Jung-min
  40. Edaily (Korean) · The Defects first-episode ratings (July 22, 2025) ↗First episode of the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama aired on the 21st
  41. Maeil Business (Korean) · Fresh Off the Sea in Calape (Apr. 17, 2026) ↗First aired on the 16th, with Yum Jung-ah, Park Joon-myun, Dex and Kim Hye-yoon, in Bohol, the Philippines
  42. OSEN (Korean) · Yum Jung-ah’s birthday (July 31, 2026) ↗Birthday on July 28
  43. Newsculture (Korean) · Life Is Beautiful coffee truck (Dec. 23, 2019) ↗Born in 1972; 48 years old this year
  44. Xports News (Korean) · Rumored Moving 2 casting (Jan. 15, 2026) ↗Says that after Miss Korea Sun she began acting in earnest in the MBC youth drama Our Paradise
  45. Sports Chosun (Korean) · The Old Garden interview (Jan. 2, 2007) ↗Fourth day of release
  46. Korea Economic Daily (Korean) · Three Meals a Day ratings (Aug. 10, 2019) ↗Three Meals a Day: Mountain Village aired on the night of the 9th
  47. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · 1991 Miss Korea (May 11, 1991) ↗May 11, Sejong Center main hall in Seoul: Sun, Miss Seoul Yum Jung-ah (18, first-year student, Chung-Ang University theater and film)
  48. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Saehan Media entertainment management (Apr. 28, 1994) ↗Signed with about 20 popular entertainers including Hwang Shin-hye, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Hye-soo and Shin Yoon-kyung
  49. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Epic drama A Human Land (Oct. 11, 1994) ↗First airs on KBS 2TV the night of the 12th, a 50-episode, 60-minute drama; the elder sister Kim Geum-dan is played by Yum Jung-ah and Choi Ji-hee
  50. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · A flood of fashion programs (Mar. 13, 1997) ↗SBS Wednesday-Thursday drama Model planned to start the next month on the 9th, with Jang Dong-gun, Han Jae-suk, Kim Nam-joo and Yum Jung-ah
  51. Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Model on location (Apr. 29, 1997) ↗Ratings currently above 20%
  52. Asia Economy (Korean) · Royal Family first-episode ratings (Mar. 3, 2011) ↗Royal Family, aired on the 2nd, drew 7.0% nationwide
  53. Herald POP (Korean) · Cleaning Up premiere (June 5, 2022) ↗First episode of the new JTBC weekend drama aired on the 4th

Fact-checked: 2026.10.03 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.