Jang Na-ra
| Jang Na-ra | |
|---|---|
 Jang Na-ra at Thermometer of Love charity event closing ceremony, 06 February 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
March 18, 1981 Seoul, South Korea |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2000 - present |
|
Musical career | |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 2001 - present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | Official website |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 장나라 |
| Hanja | 張나라 |
| Revised Romanization | Jang Nara |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chang Nara |
Jang Na-ra (Korean: 장나라, born March 18, 1981) is a South Korean singer and actress active in the South Korean and Chinese entertainment industries.[1] She is known for her hit song Sweet Dream and TV roles in New Nonstop, Successful Story of a Bright Girl, Bratty Princess, Baby Faced Beauty, School 2013 and Fated to Love You.
Early life and Education
Jang spent most of her childhood in her birthplace, Yeokchon-dong Eunpyeong District in Seoul, South Korea. She appeared with her father, Ju Heo-Seong who is also an actor, in a play Les Misérables, in her primary school days, thus sparking her interest to become an actress. Jang also went on to become an advertisement model for some television advertisements in her high school days before entering into the Department of Theater, the Faculty of Fine Arts major in Acting at Chung-Ang University in March 2000. She then graduated 10 years after on February 19, 2010. The delay is due to her continuous work since her debut after she entered the University. She also received an alumni association award for her contributions to the University during the graduation rites.[2]
Music career
Jang made her debut in the entertainment world as a singer on May 2001. She started her singing career by becoming a trainee and signing a contract with SM Entertainment. However, SM Entertainment dropped her due to assumptions that she would have lesser or no popularity than the other competing artists.[3] Despite SM management's opinion, Jang released her debut album First Story with the title track Burying My Face In Tears. Initially, it was not well received as it only reached number 12 in Korean music charts. After starring in the popular sitcom New Nonstop, she became more well known and released the other tracks in the album such as her pop ballad style song, Confession and the April Story, which all ranked at the top in various music charts.[4] The album sold 300,000 copies in the process. Thus, this resulted in Jang holding an MC job at MBC's music show, Music Camp.[4] Jang also served as an MC of the KBS talk show Love Story. By the end of 2001, she received several New Female Artist awards from year-end Music Awards ceremonies and New MC awards from Entertainment Awards ceremonies.[4]
In October 2002, Jang released her second album Jjang Nara Vol.2 Sweet Dream. The song Sweet Dream became immensely popular and reached number 1 in Korean music charts instantly, making Jang a household name. The album also became one of the top selling albums of that year in South Korea. Sweet Dream also became part of the soundtrack for her 2002 drama My Love Patzzi. As a result of the album's popularity, she won several awards including two Daesang awards or the Grand Prize (equivalent to Korean Top Artist of the Year) from MBC Music Festival and KBS Music Awards.[4][5] She also received the Korean Singer of the Year from China's CCTV-MTV Awards in 2003.[5]
In December 2003, Jang released her third album aptly titled 3rd Story. The album was also popular and produced hit songs that went to number 1 but it did not surpassed nor equaled the success of her second album.[4]
Jang released a Best Hits Album in 2004 consisting of songs from her 3 previous albums. She followed it up with her 4th album titled My Story released in December 2004 consisting hits such as I Love School and Winter Diary.
With her popularity in China, she also made a career in music overseas by releasing Chinese-language albums. Her first Chinese album was a huge success and it featured her previously released Korean songs translated into Chinese. The Chinese versions of Sweet Dream, It's Probably Love and I'm A Woman Too have become very popular on radio throughout Asia. She also performed in many concerts across China, often singing both Korean and Chinese songs. In 2006, she released her second Chinese album called Kung Fu.[6] The video for the song featured her in red qipao (Chinese women's traditional dress), fighting villains, and dancing with a cute panda.
She returned to K-pop in 2007 and released her 5th album entitled She. The next year, she released a multi-lingual album called Dream of Asia.
During the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Jang was the only singer from a non-Chinese-speaking country to appear in the 2008 Olympic song Beijing Welcomes You.
Jang also sang soundtracks for movies like Sky and Ocean and TV shows such as Dong Yi and Baby Faced Beauty. She also voiced characters in Korean animated films.
In 2012, four years after releasing Dream of Asia, Jang returned and released the digital single I Only Think Of You.[7]
Acting career
Jang also has a successful acting career. Her first acting appearance is in the popular MBC TV sitcom New Nonstop. The sitcom is known to produce eventual top stars in Korea and Jang received her big break in the sitcom with her cute image. She appeared with other young stars such as Park Kyung-lim, Jo In-sung, and Yang Dong-geun.[4][8]
In 2002, Jang landed her first leading role in a drama through SBS Successful Story of a Bright Girl (명랑소녀 성공기) pairing her with Jang Hyuk. The drama is well received and recorded high audience rating.[9] She also won the Best New TV Actress Award for the drama at the 2003 Baeksang Arts Awards. The success of the drama and her hit song Sweet Dream launched her to stardom in South Korea that year. She became one of the busiest and most sought-after Korean female artist with her numerous endorsements for TV and print advertisements and multiple offers for TV shows and movies. She immediately had another drama that same year playing Yang Song Yi in MBC My Love Patzzi (내 사랑 팥쥐).
In 2003, she had her first lead role in a movie with Oh! Happy Day (오! 해피데이).[10]
In 2004, she came back to the small screen and starred in the MBC weekend drama Love Is All Around (사랑을 할꺼야). And by the next year, she starred opposite Ryu Si-won in the KBS romance drama called Wedding (웨딩).[11]
In 2005, with her increasing popularity in China, she made a bold move by moving to China to start her singing and acting career. Her first mainstream Chinese drama is Bratty Princess (刁蛮公主).[12] Being the lead actress, she attracted much affection from Chinese-speaking fans and became very popular in China and other Chinese-speaking countries in Asia. The success of Bratty Princess catapulted her as a hallyu or Korean Wave star in China.[13] She made several other drama series in China which includes Good Morning Shanghai (纯白之恋) in 2007, Iron Masked Singer (铁面歌女) in 2010, and Unruly Qiao (刁蛮俏御医) in 2011.
In 2009, she came back to South Korea and filmed a movie called Sky and Ocean (하늘과 바다). She played Haneul, a gifted violinist with a mental age of 6 years old, diagnosed with Savant syndrome. The movie flopped in the Korean box office mainly because of controversies surrounding the movie even before it was released in theaters.[14][15] However, she won the Best Actress for a Foreign Film Award at the 19th China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards for the movie. The film festival is organized by China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the China Film Association.[16] The film also became the 1st Asian film to be invited and won the Media Award at the 8th Tirana International Film Festival in Albania.[17]
In May 2011, Jang decided to end her 6-year-hiatus from starring in Korean dramas by taking the lead role as Lee Seo-young who is a 34 year old aspiring designer mistaken for being 25 in the KBS romantic-comedy Baby Faced Beauty (동안미녀). This mini-series marked her comeback in Korean TV drama and coincided with her 10th year anniversary since her debut.[18] She later won the Excellence Award for an Actress in a mini-series at the 2011 KBS Drama Awards.[19]
The following year, she went back to China and filmed her first Chinese movie Flying With You (一起飞) starring opposite Taiwanese singer and actor Jimmy Lin.[20] She also made a cameo in another Chinese movie starring Jaycee Chan called Whoever (愛誰誰).[21] That same year, she appeared together with her father in a Chinese drama entitled Race Course (跑马场).[22]
In December 2012, Jang reunited with her Baby Faced Beauty co-star Choi Daniel for KBS School 2013 (학교 2013).[23][24][25] She played Jung In-Jae, the passionate homeroom teacher of Class 2-2 at Seung Ri High School. While still filming for School 2013, she received her second consecutive Excellence Award for an Actress in a mini-series at the 2012 KBS Drama Awards.[19]
After filming for School 2013 concluded, Jang immediately returned to China to film another drama called Red Palaquin (红轿子).[26]
The year 2014 proved to be a busy year for Jang with three TV projects under MBC network. In July 2014, Jang played the lead role as Kim Mi Young in Fated to Love You (운명처럼 널 사랑해), the Korean adaptation of the 2008 Taiwanese hit drama of the same title. This TV series reunited her with Jang Hyuk 12 years after both starred in the highly rated drama Successful Story of a Bright Girl.[27] Shortly after Fated to Love You ended, Jang starred in a one-episode drama special entitled Old Goodbye/Old Farewell for MBC Drama Festival, pairing her once again with Jang Hyuk. Then, she took on the lead role for another MBC TV series opposite Shin Ha-kyun in the fantasy-romantic-comedy drama Mr. Back (미스터 백).[28] She later won the 2014 MBC Drama Awards Top Excellence Award Best Actress in a Mini-Series for both TV drama series she starred in that year.
Charity and other activities
Jang does many charity work such as sending free powdered milk to the hungry North Korean children. She also works with the FHI Charity organization.
In 2007, Jang held a fund-raising concert for child patients of leukemia in China. The Jang Foundation was established from the money raised during Jang's fan club meeting at her June 9 concert in Beijing, which was held to mark the 15th year of Korean-Chinese diplomatic relations. Twelve hundred seats at the concert venue sold out early. After the concert on stage, a leading Chinese charity organization appointed Jang as a goodwill ambassador, making her the first foreigner to receive such an honor.[29]
In the aftermath of 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Jang donated 150,000 dollars to a charity organization in China and 8 billion won of clothing for the victims.[30][31]
In June 2010, Jang was appointed as an associate professor at the Beijing Huajia University (北京华嘉学院).[32]
In 2011, Jang was appointed as Seoul’s Gangnam-gu’s ambassador to promote tourism in the area.[33]
Filmography
TV series
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | With | Country |
| 2015 | I Remember You 너를 기억해 | Cha Ji An | KBS2 | Lead Role | Seo In-guk | South Korea |
| One-Winged Eagle 单翼雄鹰 | CCTV | Cameo | Huang Hai Bing | China | ||
| 2014 | Mr. Back 미스터 백 | Eun Ha Soo | MBC | Lead Role | Shin Ha-kyun | South Korea |
| Old Farewell (one episode - part of MBC Drama Festival) 오래된 안녕 | Han Chae Hee | Jang Hyuk | ||||
| Fated to Love You 운명처럼 널 사랑해 | Kim Mi Young | |||||
| 2013 | Red Palaquin 红轿子 | Huzhou TV | China | |||
| 2012 | School 2013 학교 2013 | Jung In Jae | KBS2 | Choi Daniel / Lee Jong-suk | South Korea | |
| Race Course 跑馬場 | CCTV | Supporting Role | Bosco Wong / Myolie Wu | China | ||
| 2011 | Baby Faced Beauty 동안미녀 | Lee Seo Young | KBS2 | Lead Role | Choi Daniel | South Korea |
| Unruly Qiao 刁蛮俏御医 | He Tian Xin | Shenzhen TV | China | |||
| 2010 | Iron Masked Singer 铁面歌女 | Hu Die/Hu Yin Yin | Jilin Television | Lu Yi | ||
| 2007 | Good Morning Shanghai 纯白之恋 | You Hao Yun | Shawn Yue | |||
| 2005 | Wedding 웨딩 | Lee Se Na | KBS2 | Ryu Si-won | South Korea | |
| My Bratty Princess 刁蠻公主 | Situ Jing/Xiao Long Xia | CCTV | Alec Su | China | ||
| Banjun Drama: The Suspicion Man 대결! 반전 드라마 | Herself | KBS2 | Yoo Jae-suk | South Korea | ||
| 2004 | Silver Love 银色年华 | China | ||||
| Love is All Around 사랑을 할꺼야 | Jin Bo Ra | MBC | Yeon Jung-hoon | South Korea | ||
| 2003 | Hello! Balbari 헬로 발바리 | Herself | KBS2 | Cameo | None | |
| 2002 | My Love Patzzi 내 사랑 팥쥐 | Yang Song Yi | MBC | Lead Role | Kim Rae-won / Kim Jaewon | |
| Successful Story of a Bright Girl 명랑소녀 성공기 | Cha Yang Soon | SBS | Jang Hyuk | |||
| 2001 | New Nonstop (sitcom) 뉴논스톱 | Herself | MBC | Main Cast | Various |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Country |
| 2012 | Whoever 愛誰誰 | Yawen | Cameo | China |
| Flying With You 一起飞 | He Qianqian / Baby | Lead Role | ||
| 2009 | Sky and Ocean 하늘과 바다 | Ha-neul | South Korea | |
| 2007 | Girl's Revolution 麻雀要革命 | China | ||
| 2003 | Oh! Happy Day 오! 해피데이 | Kong Hee-Ji | Lead Role | South Korea |
Discography
Albums
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CD 01 [Korean / Japanese / English]
CD 02 [Mandarin / Cantonese]
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Chinese Albums
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Others
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Original Soundtrack (OST)
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Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | MBC Entertainment Awards | Best MC | Music Champion | Won |
| Golden Disk Awards | Best New Female Artist Award | First Story | Won | |
| KMTV Music Awards | Best New Female Artist Award | Won | ||
| SBS Music Awards | Best New Female Artist Award | Won | ||
| 2002 | KBS Music Awards | Daesang or Grand Prize | Sweet Dream | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | Top 10 Stars | Successful Story of a Bright Girl | Won | |
| KMTV Music Awards | Artist of the Year | Sweet Dream | Won | |
| Golden Disk Awards | Bonsang or Main Prize | Won | ||
| SBS Music Awards | Bonsang or Main Prize | Won | ||
| Netizen Popularity Award | Won | |||
| MBC Music Awards | Daesang or Grand Prize | Won | ||
| Seoul Music Awards | Bonsang or Main Prize | Won | ||
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Solo | Won | ||
| Mobile Popularity Award | Won | |||
| 2003 | CCTV-MTV Music Honors | Singer of the Year (Korea) | Won | |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New TV Actress | Successful Story of a Bright Girl | Won | |
| 2005 | Asia-Pacific Music Chart Award | Asia's Best Female Singer | N/A | Won |
| Most Outstanding Contributor to Korean-Chinese Cultural Exchange Award | N/A | Won | ||
| China Golden Disk Music Awards | Most Popular Singer | N/A | Won | |
| 2007 | Chunsa Film Art Awards | Hallyu Grand Award | N/A | Won |
| 2008 | Today's Young Artist Award | Young Artist | N/A | Won |
| 2009 | 46th Grand Bell Awards | Best Actress | Sky and Ocean | Nominated |
| 2010 | Asia Award | Asia Star Award | N/A | Won |
| China Golden Rooster Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Actress in A Foreign Film | Sky and Ocean | Won | |
| 2011 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Baby Faced Beauty | Won |
| 2012 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | School 2013 | Won |
| 2014 | 3rd APAN Star Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Fated to Love You | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Fated to Love You / Mr. Back | Won | |
| MBC Drama Awards | Popularity Award, Actress | Won | ||
| MBC Drama Awards | Best Couple Award with Jang Hyuk | Fated to Love You | Won |
References
- ↑ "장나라 - Daum 영화". Daum (in Korean). Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ↑ http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/02/12/2010021200277.html
- ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2010/02/jang-nara-finally-graduates-after-10-years
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 http://www.soompi.com/2007/04/09/artist-of-the-week-jang-nara/#.U6ZbL6i7n9A
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/CU/content/cms_view_304742.jsp
- ↑ http://www.hancinema.net/jang-nara-cancels-press-conference-in-china4838.html
- ↑ http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2948725
- ↑ ko:뉴 논스톱
- ↑ http://news.donga.com/3/all/20140524/63717436/1
- ↑ http://movie.daum.net/moviedetail/moviedetailMain.do?movieId=4171
- ↑ http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/wedding2005/
- ↑ zh:刁蛮公主
- ↑ http://www.bntnews.cn/app/news.php?nid=18451
- ↑ http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=001&oid=003&aid=0002937644&
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=165462591942
- ↑ http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Showbiz/Story/A1Story20101019-243119.html
- ↑ http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/12/21/2010122100794.html
- ↑ http://www.hancinema.net/debut-10-years-jang-nara-nothing-has-changed---28849.html
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 http://star.koreandrama.org/?p=395
- ↑ http://koreandrama.com/jang-na-ras-sweet-kiss-in-her-latest-movie-released/
- ↑ http://english.cri.cn/7146/2012/11/02/1481s730609.htm
- ↑ http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2951187
- ↑ "‘School 2013’s Lee Jong Seok and Jang Nara’s Past from 9 Years Ago Revealed". MWave. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ↑ Jeon, Ji-young (30 November 2012). "Jang Nara's Cute Wish for School 2013's Success". KBS Global. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
- ↑ Hong, Grace Danbi (8 November 2012). "Jang Nara Flawlessly Pulls Off a School Uniform". enewsWorld. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
- ↑ http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/28639/jang-nara-start-shooting-for-her-chinese-drama-red-palanquin
- ↑ "Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara to Reunite in Drama ‘Fated to Love You’". MWave. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ↑ http://www.kpopherald.com/view.php?ud=201410101732042976643_2
- ↑ "Jang Nara Named Ambassador of Chinese Charity". KBS GLOBAL. 2007-06-29. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
- ↑ http://seoulfull.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/jang-nara-donates-8-bil-won-of-clothing-to-quake-hit-sichuan/
- ↑ http://english.triptokorea.com/english/viewtopic.php?popup=yes&today=no&printable=yes&t=11425&postdays=0&postorder=desc&start=0
- ↑ Jo, Sang-won (2010-07-02), "10년만에 대학 졸업한 장나라, 중국에서 교수됐다 [Jang Nara, only ten years out of university, becomes professor in China]", Gyeongwon Ilbo, retrieved 2010-07-04
- ↑ https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2011/01/178_79513.html
- ↑ :: 한국음반산업협회 ::
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 :: 한국음반산업협회 ::
- ↑ :: 한국음반산업협회 ::
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 2004년 총결산 국내음반 판매량집계
External links
- Official website
- Jang Nara at the Internet Movie Database
- Official Chinese Blog
- Zhāng Nàlā on Sina Weibo