From Child Actress to Acclaimed Star Across Film and Television with Award-Winning Ensemble Roles

👩‍💼 Who Is Jung Ji-so?

Jung Ji-so, born Hyun Seung-min in 1999, is a South Korean actress recognized primarily for her breakthrough role in the internationally acclaimed film Parasite. She gained global attention as Park Da-hye in the Oscar-winning movie, contributing to an ensemble cast that earned prestigious accolades such as the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Jung has since continued to build her reputation through diverse roles in television dramas and films, demonstrating a range that extends from youthful characters to complex protagonists.

Her career reflects a steady evolution from child actress to a mid-career performer known for her depth and emotional authenticity. Notable projects beyond Parasite include leading roles in the tvN drama The Cursed and KBS2’s Imitation, as well as acclaimed performances in Netflix’s The Glory and the KBS2 remake Who Is She. Jung’s growing prominence in the industry marks her as a significant contemporary South Korean actress.

📌 Quick Profile

• Full Name: Jung Ji-so
• Hangul: 정지소
• Birth Date: 1999-09-17
• Age: 26 years 10 months 20 days
• Nationality: South Korea
• Zodiac Sign: Virgo

👶 Early Life & Background

Before embarking on her acting career, Jung Ji-so was a promising figure skater, dedicating six years to the sport from elementary through middle school. She achieved notable success by winning a gold medal at the Lotte Mayor’s Cup Figure Skating Competition, showcasing early discipline and commitment that would later inform her artistic pursuits.

Her early life in Seongnam, South Korea, was marked by this athletic dedication, which also contributed to her initial acting roles where she was able to display her skating skills. This background provided a unique foundation for her entry into the entertainment industry as a child actress.

📚 Education & Training

Details about Jung Ji-so’s formal education and training are limited publicly, but her early experiences as a figure skater and child actress suggest a disciplined approach to skill development from a young age. Her transition into acting was supported by consistent work in television and film, indicating practical on-set learning and growth.

Her choice to adopt a professional stage name at nineteen reflects a thoughtful personal and professional development stage, signaling a readiness to embrace new challenges within her career. This decision was also symbolically connected to her family, underscoring the personal significance she places on her artistic identity.

🎬 Career Beginnings

Jung Ji-so began her acting career as a child actress in 2012 with the television drama May Queen, where she portrayed the young version of a main character. Her figure skating skills were notably integrated into this role, earning praise from production staff. She quickly established herself with roles in various dramas such as It Was Love and TV Novel Samsaengi, where her natural dialect acting received positive audience feedback.

Throughout the early 2010s, Jung appeared in several historical and contemporary dramas, including The Blade and Petal and Empress Ki, often portraying younger versions of lead characters. Her cinematic debut came in 2014 with the film Daughter, marking her expansion into film roles. By 2015, she had gained recognition with performances requiring dialect use and emotional depth, setting the stage for her later breakthrough.

Her early career showcases a trajectory of steadily increasing complexity in roles, culminating in notable youth acting awards such as the Best Female Youth Acting Award at the 2013 KBS Drama Awards, affirming her emerging talent and promise.

🔥 Notable Works & Iconic Roles

✨ Acting Style & Public Image

Jung Ji-so is known for her ability to embody characters with emotional sincerity and subtlety, often bringing depth to youthful and vulnerable roles. Her performances are marked by a naturalistic approach, allowing her to convey complex emotions without overt dramatization. This style has earned her praise for authenticity and a strong screen presence despite her relatively young age.

Publicly, she is regarded as a dedicated and thoughtful actress who approaches her roles with careful preparation and respect for the material. Her willingness to tackle challenging characters, such as the teenage version of Moon Dong-eun in The Glory, demonstrates her commitment to nuanced storytelling. This has contributed to a public image of professionalism combined with relatable charm, making her a respected figure among peers and fans alike.

🎞️ Drama & Movie List (Key Roles)

Year	Title	Role	Type
2026	Sister	Hae-ran	Movie
2025	Holy Night: Demon Hunters	Eun-seo	Movie
2025	Pro Bono	Elijah	TV Drama
2024	Who Is She	Oh Doo-ri	TV Drama
2022	Men of Plastic	Kang Yu-ri	Movie
2022	Curtain Call	Seo Yoon-hee	TV Drama
2022	The Glory	Moon Dong-eun (young)	TV Drama
2021	The Cursed: Dead Man’s Prey	Baek So-jin	Movie
2021	Imitation	Lee Ma-ha	TV Drama
2021	Doom at Your Service	So Nyeo-shin	TV Drama

🎖️ Awards & Achievements

Jung Ji-so’s most prominent accolades stem from her role in Parasite, where she shared in several ensemble awards including the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture and wins at the International Cinephile Society and Chlotrudis Awards. These honors recognize her contribution to a landmark film that achieved critical and commercial success worldwide.

In television, she has received recognition such as the KBS Drama Awards’ Best New Actress for her role in Curtain Call and the Excellence Award at the same ceremony for Who Is She. Additionally, her participation in the variety show Hangout with Yoo earned her a Special Award in the Variety Category at the MBC Entertainment Awards, reflecting her versatility beyond scripted acting.

🌸 Personal Life

Jung Ji-so maintains a relatively private personal life, with publicly available information focusing primarily on her professional activities and family connections. She chose her stage name to honor her younger sister, indicating a close familial relationship that influences her career identity. The Chinese characters given to her name by her parents symbolize knowledge and resurrection, reflecting personal values she embraces.

She has openly discussed the emotional challenges she faced during periods of career uncertainty, including moments when she contemplated leaving acting due to repeated audition setbacks. This candidness about her struggles has resonated with fans and humanized her public persona.

🆕 Recent & Upcoming Projects

Recent projects include Jung Ji-so’s starring role in the KBS2 drama Who Is She, a remake of the film Miss Granny, where she portrayed the younger version of the protagonist. This series aired from late 2024 to early 2025 and further showcased her ability to carry a leading role in a major television production.

In 2025, she appeared in two significant films: Holy Night: Demon Hunters, an action-horror film where she played a supporting role, and Midnight Sun, in which she starred as the main protagonist. The latter is an adaptation of a Japanese film, focusing on a character with a rare syndrome, highlighting Jung’s continued interest in emotionally complex and challenging roles.

🎈 Fun Facts

• Former Figure Skater

  Jung Ji-so was a competitive figure skater for six years and won a gold medal at the Lotte Mayor’s Cup Figure Skating Competition before focusing on acting.

• Stage Name Meaning

  Her stage name honors her younger sister and embodies the Chinese characters for ‘knowledge’ and ‘resurrection,’ given by her parents.

• Award-Winning Ensemble Cast Member

  She was part of the Parasite cast that won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

• Variety Show Success

  Jung participated in the variety show Hangout with Yoo and won a Special Award in the Variety Category at the MBC Entertainment Awards.

🛟 Legacy & Why Fans Love Jung Ji-so

Jung Ji-so is celebrated by fans for her authentic portrayals and her journey from a child actress to a respected figure in Korean cinema and television. Her ability to convey vulnerability and strength simultaneously has endeared her to audiences who appreciate the emotional depth she brings to her characters. Her breakout role in Parasite cemented her place in cinematic history, linking her legacy to one of the most internationally successful Korean films.

Fans also admire her resilience and openness about the difficulties she has faced in the industry, which adds a layer of relatability and inspiration. Her continued choice of diverse and challenging roles signals a promising career trajectory, reinforcing her reputation as a thoughtful and evolving artist worthy of attention and admiration.

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