Uhm Jung-hwa

In this Korean name, the family name is Uhm.
Uhm Jung-hwa
Uhm in October 2023
Born (1969-08-17) August 17, 1969 (age 55)
Chechon, North Chungcheong, South Korea
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
  • designer
Years active1987–present
RelativesUhm Tae-woong (brother)
Musical career
Genres
Labels
Websiteilovejunghwa.com
Korean name
Hangul
엄정화
Hanja
Revised RomanizationEom Jeong-hwa
McCune–ReischauerŎm Chŏnghwa

Uhm Jung-hwa (Korean: 엄정화; born August 17, 1969)[1] is a South Korean singer, actress and dancer. Uhm is considered to be one of the most influential women in the Korean entertainment industry, finding success in both music and film.[2] Her legacy and career reinventions have given her the nickname of "Korean Madonna".[3][4]

Uhm began her career in 1989 as a chorus member for the broadcasting company MBC. She starred in the 1993 romance drama film, On a Windy Day, We Must Go to Apgujeong, and released her debut studio album, Sorrowful Secret, that same year. Though both releases found limited audiences, the album's lead single, "Pupil", helped to establish a sensual image for Uhm.

She pivoted to dance music with 1996's "Sad Expectation", and found success with "Rose of Betrayal" (배반의 장미) from her third studio album, After Love (1997). Subsequent releases Invitation (1998) and 005.1999.06 (1999) were bolstered by a string of hit singles: "Poison", "Invitation", "I Don't Know" (몰라), and "Festival", which gained status as her signature songs.

Starting in 2001, Uhm began to concentrate efforts on her acting career. Her performance in the 2002 erotic comedy Marriage Is a Crazy Thing won Best Actress at the 39th Baeksang Arts Awards, a category she received another nomination for in 2006 with Princess Aurora and won again in 2012 with Dancing Queen.[5]

Her 2000s musical output saw declining commercial reception but greater appeal with critics. Uhm began experimenting with electronica on Self Control (2004), and funk on Prestige (2006), the latter of which won Best Dance and Electronic Album at the 4th Korean Music Awards. In 2008, she experienced a commercial resurgence with the single "D.I.S.C.O". Following a nearly decade-long hiatus from music, she released her tenth studio album The Cloud Dream of the Nine in 2017.

  1. ^ "미나, '실제론 서른 다섯이예요. 6세 속여 죄송해요.'". Sports Chosun (in Korean). July 18, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "[섈위토크]엄정화, "후배들의 롤모델? 나는 여전히 현재진행형"". April 20, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  3. ^ vogue_print (August 19, 2008). "엄정화는 마돈나와 다를까?". Vogue Korea (in Korean). Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  4. ^ OSEN (April 16, 2011). "김완선 컴백, 왜 열기가 뜨거울까". mosen.mt.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  5. ^ MacDonald, Joan. "Uhm Jung-Hwa Is Happy To See Dr. Cha Pursue Her Passion". Forbes. Retrieved August 21, 2023.