# Youn Yuh-jung

> South Korean actress

**Wikidata**: [Q491013](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q491013)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youn_Yuh-jung)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/youn-yuh-jung

## Summary

Youn Yuh-jung is a South Korean actress born on June 19, 1947, who has become one of the most internationally recognized Korean actors following her Academy Award-winning performance in the 2020 film "Minari." With a career spanning over five decades since her debut in 1966, she has received numerous prestigious awards including an Oscar, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Award, making her the first Korean actress to win an Academy Award. She is known for her versatile performances across film, television, and stage, and has been recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

## Biography

- **Born**: June 19, 1947
- **Nationality**: South Korea
- **Education**: Hanyang University (private research university in South Korea, founded in 1939)
- **Known for**: Breaking barriers for Korean actors in Hollywood; winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for "Minari" (2020)
- **Employer(s)**: Not specified in source material
- **Field(s)**: Film acting, television acting, stage acting

## Contributions

Youn Yuh-jung began her acting career in 1966 and has built an extensive filmography spanning over five decades. Her most significant contribution came with her role as Soon-ja in the 2020 American film "Minari," which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first Korean actress to win an Oscar. She also received the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for the same performance. Her career includes numerous appearances in South Korean cinema, where she has been recognized with awards including the Grand Bell Awards (South Korea's premier film award established in 1962) and the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actress. Her inclusion in Time 100 list of influential people globally recognizes her impact on breaking cultural barriers in the entertainment industry.

## FAQs

**What is Youn Yuh-jung best known for?**
Youn Yuh-jung is best known for her role as Soon-ja in the 2020 film "Minari," for which she became the first Korean actress to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

**What awards has Youn Yuh-jung won?**
Youn Yuh-jung has won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Grand Bell Awards, and Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actress.

**When did Youn Yuh-jung start her acting career?**
Youn Yuh-jung began her acting career in 1966, making her professional debut over 55 years ago.

**Where was Youn Yuh-jung educated?**
Youn Yuh-jung attended Hanyang University, a private research university in South Korea founded in 1939.

**What makes Youn Yuh-jung historically significant?**
Youn Yuh-jung made history by becoming the first Korean actress to win an Academy Award, achieving a major breakthrough for Korean actors in Hollywood and international cinema.

## Why They Matter

Youn Yuh-jung matters because she has fundamentally changed the perception of Korean actors in global cinema. Her Oscar win in 2021 represented a watershed moment for Asian representation in Hollywood, breaking through decades of limited opportunities for non-English speaking actors in major Western productions. Her success has paved the way for greater inclusion of Korean and Asian actors in international film projects, demonstrating that performances in foreign-language films can achieve the highest recognition in the industry. Beyond her historic Oscar achievement, her five-decade career in South Korean entertainment demonstrates remarkable longevity and versatility across film, television, and stage. Her recognition on the Time 100 list confirms her status not merely as an accomplished actress but as a cultural figure whose impact extends beyond entertainment into broader discussions of representation and cultural exchange in the globalized media landscape.

## Notable For

- First Korean actress to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (2021)
- First Korean actress to win a BAFTA Award in a supporting role category
- Time 100 honoree (recognized as one of the world's most influential people)
- Winner of multiple South Korean film awards including Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards
- Career spanning over 55 years since 1966
- Achieved international breakthrough at age 73 with "Minari"

## Body

### Early Life and Education

Youn Yuh-jung was born on June 19, 1947, in South Korea. She pursued higher education at Hanyang University, one of South Korea's prominent private research institutions established in 1939. Her educational background provided the foundation for what would become one of the most distinguished acting careers in Korean entertainment history.

### Career Overview

Youn Yuh-jung began her professional acting career in 1966, entering the entertainment industry at a time when opportunities for women in Korean film were limited. Over the past five decades, she has established herself as a versatile performer capable of excel

ling in dramatic and comedic roles across multiple platforms. Her career encompasses work as a film actor, television actor, and stage actor, demonstrating the breadth of her theatrical capabilities. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively in the South Korean entertainment industry, appearing in numerous films and television dramas that have contributed to the growth of Korean cinema.

### Breakthrough International Success

The pinnacle of Youn Yuh-jung's career came with her performance in "Minari" (2020), a semi-autobiographical film directed by Lee Isaac Chung about a Korean-American family farming in Arkansas. Her portrayal of Soon-ja, the stubborn and sharp-tongued grandmother, earned widespread critical acclaim. The role required her to speak primarily in Korean while interacting with American actors, showcasing her ability to convey deep emotional resonance across language barriers. Her performance was particularly notable for its authenticity and the way she brought humor and heart to a character that became an icon of Korean-American representation in cinema.

### Awards and Recognition

Youn Yuh-jung's performance in "Minari" garnered her an unprecedented sweep of major awards. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021, becoming the first Korean actor—male or female—to win an Oscar. This historic achievement was followed by winning the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2021 BAFTA Awards. She also received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, completing the "Triple Crown" of supporting actress awards in a single awards season.

Her recognition extends beyond these Western awards to her home country, where she has been honored with the Grand Bell Awards (Daejong Film Awards), South Korea's oldest and most prestigious film award established in 1962, as well as the Blue Dragon Film Awards. Her inclusion in Time magazine's Time 100 list further cements her status as a globally influential figure.

### Cultural Impact and Significance

Youn Yuh-jung's Oscar win represented a milestone in the globalization of Korean entertainment. At age 73, she demonstrated that international recognition can come at any stage of an actor's career, challenging industry assumptions about age and marketability. Her success contributed to the broader "Korean Wave" (Hallyu) phenomenon, following the international popularity of films like "Parasite" (2019) and television series like "Squid Game" (2021). Her willingness to take on challenging roles in unfamiliar cultural contexts has inspired a new generation of Korean actors seeking international opportunities.

### Personal Identity and Public Profile

Youn Yuh-jung maintains a significant public presence with various official identifiers across international databases. Her works are documented in major film databases including IMDb (nm0950926), and she is recognized by multiple international standard identifiers. Her name appears in various romanizations including Youn Yuh-jung, Yun Yeo-jeong, and Yun Yŏ-jŏng, while her Korean name is written as 윤여정. She holds South Korean citizenship and has represented her country with distinction on the global stage, becoming a cultural ambassador through her artistic achievements.

## References

1. [배우 윤여정 "부산 사투리 연기 위해 입주 과외 구했죠". Maeil Business Newspaper. 2018](https://www.mk.co.kr/news/culture/view/2018/01/22331/)
2. [1970년대 ‘충무로 누벨 바그’ 윤여정. The Dong-a Ilbo](https://shindonga.donga.com/3/all/13/103156/1)
3. CineMagia
4. [Winners - Oscars 2021 News. American Broadcasting Company. 2021](https://abc.com/shows/oscars/news/winners/oscar-winners-2021-see-the-full-list)
5. [Youn Yuh-jung Hilariously Calls Brits ‘Very Snobbish People’ In BAFTA Speech. HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yuh-jung-youn-hilariously-calls-brits-very-snobbish-people-in-bafta-speech_n_60744c06c5b6616dcd7befdf)
6. ['Minari' Star Yuh-Jung Youn Makes History With SAG Awards. The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/minari-star-youn-yuh-jung-makes-history-at-sag-awards)
7. Time
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. [윤여정│그 여자의 여정. Korea Economic Daily. 2009](https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/2020012157524)
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. [93RD OSCARS® NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2021](https://www.oscars.org/news/93rd-oscarsr-nominations-announced)
12. IdRef
13. BBC Things
14. The Movie Database