7 Things About Korean Actress Jung Yu-Mi, Star Of Upcoming K-Drama "The School Nurse Files"
There's so much more to this versatile actress than meets the eye
The School Nurse Files' Jung Yu-mi is an indie film darling, a style chameleon, and a dedicated actress!
It's always a pleasure to get to know an actress of her kind. She founded her career on short films, art house productions, experimental projects, and festivals. Jung Yu-mi is, no doubt, a force to be reckoned with in creative circles.
The 37-year-old actress puts love for the art of screen acting above all else, and fame and commercial popularity come second and third.
She currently stars in the South Korean "home vacation" variety show Summer Vacation alongside Choi Woo-shik. And we'll see her later this month in Netflix's The School Nurse Files, wherein her character is a nurse who has the supernatural ability to see monsters (ectoplasm) as jelly figures; here, she stars alongside Nam Joo-hyuk.
But there's truly so much more to her and her filmography than just K-Dramas. Unbound by genres and powered by versatility, Jung Yu-mi has impressed fans and critics alike with her body of work; she's earned nominations and awards for projects ranging from superhero and zombie flicks, to rom-com, melodrama, and even feminist-focused pieces. She's a favorite on-screen partner of Gong Yoo, too; they've starred together in films Silenced, Train to Busan and Kim Ji-young: Born 1982. The two were also reported to join the star-studded cast of the 2021 film Wonderland.
We put together a gallery below for new and old fans to appreciate everything Jung Yu-mi:
All About Jung Yu-Mi
All About Jung Yu-Mi
1. She's been in the business for more than 15 years.
She began her acting career in 2004. As early as then, she showed promise in bringing difficult-to-portray characters to life, something that would come to be a career signature of sorts for her. She didn't have to wait for long to be discovered by the right people considering her first ever full-length film, "Blossom Again," earned her critical acclaim. The film charted the path for her career's future and quickly propelled her to one of Korea's most popular indie actresses, and one of the few whose work has gained attention in international film festivals.
Photo Credit: @_jungyumi
2. Her films mostly fall under the "slice of life" genre.
Her body of work mostly has her starring in "slice of life" films, projects that focus on intimate looks on little pockets of society, domestic life, a family's inner workings, or a single character's personal journey. It's made her a favorite of award-winning director Hong San-soo whose quiet, up close and personal style in filmmaking is a perfect match to Jung Yu-mi's expertise. That's not to say that she's been typecast; she's beloved for her versatility! It's her consistency that's earned her praise, as she delivers beautiful performances regardless of what genre she's working on, be it an adaptation, a drama, a zombie flick, fantasy, romance, or comedy.
Photo Credit: @_jungyumi
3. She has more movies than K-Dramas.
"The School Nurse Files" will only be her fifth K-Drama that features her in a starring role, but she's had supporting roles and cameos on the small screen, too. If you're looking for a Jung Yu-mi starter pack, we suggest you concentrate on her films first! Check her out in "Family Ties," "My Dear Desperado," "Oki's Movie," "Our Sunhi," "Train to Busan," "The Table," "Psychokinesis," and "Kim Ji-young: Born 1982." All of these films have earned her acting nominations and awards, and they show her range perfectly! As for K-Dramas, you'll love her in "I Need Romance 2012," "Discovery of Love," and "Live."
Photo Credit: @_jungyumi
4. She's a style chameleon.
Speaking of her versatility, the same goes for her sense of style! Jung Yu-mi is a chameleon, almost literally. She's unafraid to dive deep head first into a character and goes all-out in the necessary preparations to bring them to life—even if that means chopping inches of her hair, sporting deep red lipstick (or no makeup at all), donning a whole new wardrobe, or foregoing anything fashionable. Talk about dedication.
Photo Credit: @_jungyumi
5. She's incredibly low-key about her life.
Her fans wish she'd share more on social media. Her 1.5 million Instagram followers have had to make do with just 71 posts from her, most of which show her on the makeup chair at work, BTS shots, or her going about her life on work-free days. How she spends her days off is equally simple; she's often outdoors hiking or taking her adorable canine pal out on walks.
Photo Credit: @_jungyumi
6. Hiking has been especially meaningful for her.
It's what got her and K-Pop star Kangta talking in the first place, and after a few months, they'd surprisingly admitted to dating! The news broke in February this year, and Jung Yu-mi even penned a letter addressing her fans about the big reveal. She wrote, "I carefully started seriously meeting with someone who has been a good friend and senior to me. Since I thought carefully before beginning to open my heart, I think directly conveying my feelings to you, even just through this post, is the right thing to do. I was cautious and worried about my personal relationship, rather than just my work, being officially shared in the news, but I didn’t want to deny something that was my decision and choice."
Photo Credit: @abib.official
7. She also dabbles in photography.
In line with her love for anything creative and soulful, Jung Yu-mi has taken it upon herself to explore other avenues of expressing her artistry. When looking through the lens, she often captures subjects during their unguarded moments, scenes from nature, and urban views.
Photo Credit: @_jungyumi
The School Nurse Files will be available for streaming on Netflix this coming September 25.
Lead photos from @_jungyumi @management_soop
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