Uhm Jung-hwa

Uhm Jung-hwa (Hangul: 엄정화; hanja: 嚴正化; born August 17, 1969) is a South Korean actress, singer, and lingerie designer. Uhm began her career as a chorus member of MBC, one of the three major South Korean broadcasting companies, from 1987 until 1990. She made her film debut in a 1991 to 1994 film Marriage Story, and released her first studio album Sorrowful Secret the same year.

Considered to be one of the most influential women and the evergreen in the Korean entertainment industry, many of Korean female artists recognise her as their role model.

Biography

Early life

Uhm was born in Jecheon, North Chungcheong, South Korea. She is the second child of Yoo Gyeong-sook and Uhm Jin-ok, a music teacher who died in a motorcycle accident when she was six. Her younger and only brother Uhm Tae-woong is an actor. Following her father's death, her family struggled with financial difficulties.

Music career

1990s

Uhm Jung-hwa officially debuted as a singer in 1993 with her first studio album Sorrowful Secret. By the mid-90s she established herself as one of the top Korean female singers and entertainers, with a series of hit singles: "Sad Expectation" (Hangul: 슬픈 기대; RR: Seulpeun Gidae), "A Love Only Heaven Permits" (Hangul: 하늘만 허락한 사랑; RR: Haneulman Heorakan Sarang), "Rose of Betrayal" (Hangul: 배반의 장미; RR: Baeban-ui Jangmi), and "Tell Me" (Hangul: 말해 줘; RR: Malhae Jwo).