| Choi Jin-sil | |
|---|---|
Choi Jin-sil |
|
| Born | December 24, 1968 Seoul, South Korea |
| Died | October 2, 2008 (aged 39) Seoul, South Korea |
| Years active | 1988–2008 |
| Spouse | Jo Sung-min (2000-2004) |
| Children | 2 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 최진실 |
| Hanja | 崔眞實 |
| Revised Romanization | Choe Jin-sil |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'oe Chin-sil |
Choi Jin-sil (December 24, 1968 – October 2, 2008) was a South Korean actress. She was considered one of the best actresses in South Korea, nicknamed "The Nation's Actress". Since her debut two decades ago, she played a leading role in 18 movies, 20 television dramas and 140 commercials.[1]
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Choi Jin-sil was born as the first child to her parents Choi Guk-hyeon and Jeong Ok-suk on 24 December 1968 in Seoul. Her mother had lived separately from her father since 1985 and divorced him in 1998.[2] She had a younger brother, Choi Jin-yeong who was an actor and singer.
Her family was so poor that her mother once managed the household by running a pojangmacha (a small street stall selling foods). She dreamed of becoming a star to survive from the poverty.[3] She confessed in talk shows her nickname during her school days was "Choisujebi" because she used to eat "sujebi" (a dumpling soup) instead of ordinary meals due to the home environment.[4] Although she later became a high-paid model and actress, she was known for frugality, even receiving awards for her savings activity and frugality.[3]
In 1987, Choi Jin Sil graduated from Seonil Girls' High School.
She debuted in Korea's entertainment circles as a commercial film model. She began to gain "stardom" by starring in an advertising campaign for Samsung Electronics in which she acted as a newly wedded housewife. [5] [6] [7]
In 1988, she became a TV actress starring in the MBC historical drama, 500 Years of Joseon Dynasty.[8] Her first movie was "North Korean Partisan in South Korea"(1990).[1]
After several experiences in TV dramas as a supporting actress, Choi played a leading roles in the MBC drama Jealousy (1992), the movie titled My Love, My Bride (1990), and so on.[3]
In 1998, Choi released an autobiography Yes, Let's Live Truthfully Today Too, looking back at the change from an ordinary high school graduate to a famous actress.[1]
She largely stayed out of the limelight after the divorce (2004), raising her two children.
In 2005, Choi returned with the soap opera Rosy Life and delivered a good performance. That role resurrected her career. [9][10]
Her last work was The Last Scandal of My Life (2008), generating many positive reviews from critics and viewers.[11] A second season of "The Last Scandal of My Life" was being planned to be aired in November 2008 before her abrupt death. [12][13]
She was also an MC in a talk show, Choi Jin-sil 'Truth and Lie' in 2008.[14]
In 1994, her former manager Bae Byeong-su, who was an influential figure in the entertainment field, was murdered by her road manager. She was then called in as a witness to the murder of her former manager. The incident shocked the Korean public.[15][16]
In 2000, her marriage with Jo Sung-min received widespread attention in South Korea. Jo was a professional baseball player with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan. Choi first met Jo on a television show in 1998. Choi gave birth to a son (2001) and a daughter (2003). [2][17]
In November 2002, Jo physically attacked Choi, who was then pregnant with their second child. In August 2004, Jo again assaulted Choi. In September 2004, Choi divorced Jo.[18][19][20][21][22]
Choi took the parental rights and child custody over the children on condition of exempting Jo's debt to her mother and brother as well as dropping several charges against Jo. Jo could only visit his children regularly according to the mutual agreement.[23]
In January 2008, the South Korean family register (hoju) was changed. As a result, children could use their maternal family name when the family members wanted it. According to the changed family register, her children changed their surname from "Jo" (paternal family name) to "Choi" (maternal family name).[24][25]
After Choi's death, her mother managed the inheritance and took the child custody over her two children.[26][27][28][29]
In August 2004, Choi Jin-sil came forward and declared herself a victim of domestic violence. Subsequently the advertiser, Shinhan Engineering and Construction, claimed she did not keep her contractual obligation to "maintain dignity," because she disclosed to the public her bruised and swollen face which was caused by the violence of her then husband.[21][30]
On June 4, 2009, the Supreme Court reversed a high court ruling that decided in favor of Choi in a compensation suit filed by the advertiser in 2004 against the actress, who was the model for its apartments. In handing down its ruling, the Supreme Court censured Choi for coming forward and declaring herself a victim of domestic violence, saying it constituted a failure to maintain proper "social and moral honor." Her two children became defendants as heirs.[31][32]
On June 9, 2009, Korean Womenlink, the Korea Women's Hot Line, and the Korea Women's Association United issued a joint statement lambasting the ruling. Women's groups censured the Supreme Court for not realizing the suffering of domestic violence victims, which included Choi. As to the ruling, the groups claimed that revealing the results of domestic violence was not a matter of "dignity" but a matter of "survival." "When a person is suffering, he or she needs to restore their dignity and social honor by disclosing the damage and seeking proper legal help as Choi did," a director of Korean Womenlink said.[33]
Choi Jin-sil committed suicide by hanging on 2 October 2008, at her home in Seoul.[34][35][36] Her suicide was confirmed by police. She was survived by her two children, mother, and younger brother Choi Jin-young, who also committed suicide just a year and a half after his sister.
On September 8, 2008, Ahn Jae-hwan, husband of popular comedian Jeong Sun-hee, was found dead in his car. Ahn committed suicide apparently due to distress over mounting debts.[37][38]
Jeong and Choi had been close friends for a long time in South Korea's entertainment circles. When the news of Ahn's death hit the nation, Choi appeared deeply shaken at the funeral.[39]
Shortly after the funeral rumors circulated on the Web that Choi, as a loan shark, had lent a large sum of money to Ahn. On September 22, 2008, Choi sought a police probe into the source of the rumors, calling them groundless. On September 28, 2008, Police arrested a securities company employee for spreading the rumors.[35][40][41][42]
Choi came under greater stress amid rumors circulating on the Internet she was involved in the suicide of fellow actor Ahn Jae-hwan.[43][44][45]
In response to Choi's death, the South Korean government tried to strengthen a legal push to regulate Internet postings by Netizens. Politicians have reacted by proposing legislation that would impose a more rigorous real name registration requirement on the Internet and more heightened punishment for libelous statements.[46][47][48][49]
The news of her death was reported in major daily newspapers and broadcasts. Before long a great number of reporters rushed to Choi's house and started to cover the event on a large scale. On the other hand major portal web sites blocked online users from leaving replies for articles concerning Choi, for fear that some users might leave malicious comments.[50][51][52]
"Almost 80 percent of South Korea's households have broadband access, fostering active online interactions. Most Web sites here have bulletin boards where users can post uncensored, anonymous comments, and nearly all young people run their own blogs, updating via cellphone. Such sites were a major avenue for rumors about the possible dangers of dropping a ban on American beef that fed enormous street protests and political upheaval earlier this year. Major Web portals have in recent years doubled the number of monitors to screen out online character assassination and respond more quickly to complaints of malicious rumors. But many victims still complained that vicious rumors spread so fast their reputations were ruined virtually overnight," The New York Times commented on her death on October 2, 2008.[44]
"She was more than South Korea's Julia Roberts or Angelina Jolie. For nearly 20 years, Choi Jin Sil was the country's cinematic sweetheart and as close to being a "national" actress as possible. But since her body was found on Oct. 2, an apparent suicide, she has become a symbol of the difficulties women face in this deeply conservative yet technologically savvy society. Incessant online gossip appears to have been largely to blame for her death. But it's also clear that public life as a single, working, divorced mom — still a pariah status in South Korea — was one role she had a lot of trouble with," TIME commented on her death on October 6, 2008.[53]
The surveillance cameras set up around Choi Jin Sil's burial site in the park in the Gapsan Park Cemetery in Yangpyeong.
On August 15, 2009, Choi Jin Sil's ashes were stolen from her burial site.[54] The police hunt for a suspect in the case of Choi Jin-sil's stolen urn after securing surveillance camera images showing a man carrying out the theft. On August 25, 2009, the police arrested the criminal. Choi Jin Sil's ashes were found in his home.[55]
A small memorial park for Choi Jin-sil has been built in a cemetery in Gyeonggi Province. Choi Jin Sil's ashes were placed in the new tomb in the park in the Gapsan Park Cemetery in Yangpyeong on September 28, 2009. Security devices have been installed to prevent the recurrence of another theft, with the tomb specially manufactured in China and more surveillance cameras placed around the tomb.[56]
Choi Jin Sil was the "big sister" who led the so-called "Choi Jin-sil Association". It was a friendly group of close celebrities that included comedians Lee Young-ja, Jeong Sun-hee, models Hong Jin-kyung, Lee So-ra and actresses Choi Hwa-jung, Uhm Jung-hwa. After Choi's death, they founded "The Choi Jin Sil Foundation" for charity.[57][58][59]
The Drama synopsis As Life Goes On (사노라면) which Choi Jin-sil had written was found in her home after her death.[60]
| Year | Title | Korean | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Legend of Gingko | 단적비연수 | Tan Jeok Bi Yeon Su |
| 1999 | Mayonnaise | 마요네즈 | Mayonejeu |
| 1997 | The Letter | 편지 | Pyeonji |
| 1997 | Holiday In Seoul | 홀리데이 인 서울 | Holidei in Seoul |
| 1997 | Baby Sale | 베이비 세일 | Beibi Seil |
| 1996 | Ghost Mamma | 고스트 맘마 | Goseuteu mamma |
| 1995 | Who Makes Me Crazy | 누가 나를 미치게 하는가 | Nuga Nareul Michige Haneunga |
| 1995 | Mom Has a New Boyfriend | 엄마에게 애인이 생겼어요 | Eommaege Aeini Saenggyeosseoyo |
| 1994 | I wish for what is forbidden to me | 나는 소망한다, 내게 금지된 것을 | Naneun Somanghanda Naege Geumjidoen Geoseul |
| 1994 | How to Top My Wife | 마누라 죽이기 | Manura Jugigi |
| 1993 | The Girl for Love and The One for Marriage | 사랑하고 싶은 여자, 결혼하고 싶은 여자 | Saranghago sipeun Yeoja, Gyeolhonhago sipeun Yeoja |
| 1992 | Mister Mama | 미스터 맘마 | Miseuteo Mamma |
| 1991 | The Room in the Forest | 숲속의 방 | Supsogui Bang |
| 1991 | Susanne Brink's Arirang | 수잔 브링크의 아리랑 | Sujan Beuringkeu-ui Arirang |
| 1990 | My Love, My Bride | 나의 사랑, 나의 신부 | Naui Sarang Naui Sinbu |
| 1990 | Kkokjiddan | 꼭지단 | Kkogjidan |
| 1990 | You Know What? It's a Secret 2 | 있잖아요 비밀이에요 2 | Itjanayo Bimiriyeyo 2 |
| 1990 | Nambugun | 남부군 | Nambugun |
| Year | Title | Korean | Romanizaton | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Last Scandal of My Life | 내 생애 마지막 스캔들 | Nae Saeng-ae Majimak Seukaendeul | MBC |
| 2007 | Bad Woman, Good Woman | 나쁜여자 착한여자 | Nappeun Yeoja, Chakhan Yeoja | MBC |
| 2005 | Rosy Life | 장밋빛 인생 | Jangmitbit Insaeng | KBS2 |
| 2004 | War of the Roses | 장미의 전쟁 | Jangmiui Jeonjaeng | MBC |
| 2002 | Since We Met | 그대를 알고부터 | Geudaereul Algobuteo | MBC |
| 1999 | Roses and Bean Sprouts | 장미와 콩나물 | Jangmiwa Kongnamul | MBC |
| 1998 | Memories | 추억 | Chueok | MBC |
| 1997 | Star in My Heart | 별은 내 가슴에 | Byeoreun Nae Gaseume | MBC |
| 1997 | You and I | 그대 그리고 나 | Geudae Geurigo Na | MBC |
| 1996 | Promise | 약속 | Yaksok | MBC |
| 1995 | Asphalt Man | 아스팔트 사나이 | Aseupalteu Sanai | SBS |
| 1995 | Jazz | 째즈 | Jjaejeu | SBS |
| 1995 | APT | 아파트 | Apateu | MBC |
| 1994 | Scent of Love | 사랑의 향기 | Sarang-ui Hyanggi | SBS |
| 1993 | Storming Season | 폭풍의 계절 | Pokpung-ui Gyejeol | MBC |
| 1992 | Enchantment | 매혹 | Maehok | MBC |
| 1992 | Jealousy | 질투 | Jiltu | MBC |
| 1990 | 각시방 사랑 열렸네 | Gaksibang Sarang Yeollyeonne | MBC | |
| 1990 | Our Paradise | 우리들의 천국 | Urideurui Cheon-guk | MBC |
| 1989 | Sleepless Tree | 잠들지 않는 나무 | Jamdeulji anneun Namu | MBC |
| 1988 | 500 Years of Joseon Dynasty | 조선왕조 오백년 | Joseon Wangjo Obaengnyeon | MBC |