Hwang Jung Eum's great performance as Kang Yoo Jung in the new melodrama "Secret" has people talking. She plays a character that confesses to a crime her boyfriend committed so she can go to prison in his place. Once she is in prison he dumps her. Ever the optimist, she is determined to start a new life when she gets out of prison.
In real life, actress Hwang Jung Eum is also pretty optimistic but that has not always been the case. Here are some facts about her that you may not know.
1) She has dated voice actor Kim Yong Joon for almost eight years. He does the Korean voiceovers for "CSI" and other series. They only admitted that they were dating his past April.
During the shooting of "High Kick Through The Roof," rumors linked her with actor Daniel Choi but they both found it amusing and did not even bother to respond.
"I was so busy that when I heard about the scandal, I couldn't do anything so I just let it pass," she said.
2) She debuted as a member of the girl group Sugar but it was not a happy experience. Even so, she is grateful for it.
"I grew up thinking that I was the best but Sugar didn't work out and then I entered a lower ranking college than the ones my friends went to," said Hwang. "I had plenty of regrets but if it wasn't for those experiences, I would not be the person I am today."
3) She considered quitting acting. Being in the drama "Golden Time" was so stressful that she began to wonder if she had any talent. But then she had a more positive experience appearing in the drama "Incarnation of Money."
"It was the best project of my life," she said of "Incarnation of Money" and her performance won her praise. "After 'Golden Time' I was so stressed but I decided that I needed to work on my next project right away. I decided to just face my fears instead of avoiding them."
Ultimately, she is glad she persevered.
"What would I have done if I quit? I want to thank all of my fans who cheered for me."
Hwang had no regrets about turning 30, which she will do in two years.
"I struggled throughout the last ten years," she said. "My achievements are the result of overcoming those hardships and dealing with criticism."
5. When she's not acting, she loves to talk to her friends and finds it a very effective way to reduce stress. She also loves to listen to music, watch films and cook. She not only enjoys films but she also likes to catch up on dramas. Kdrama lovers may want to catch up on "Secret" and enjoy her winning performance.
