Wang Ji Hyu

• Early career
Jun was born Wang Ji Hyun in Seoul, South Korea on October 30, 1981. She went to Jinsun High School and started a Mass Communication and Performance degree in Dongguk University.

Ji Hyun’s childhood dream was to be an airhostess but at the age of 16, a neighbour introduced her to the world of modelling and she has never looked back. She started her career as a model in 1997, appearing in various commercials and magazines, most noticeably as the cover girl for ‘Ecole’.

• Film career
Her film debut came in 1999, with the little seen ‘White Valentine’, again paired with Park Shin Yang. It’s a story of a young woman who falls in love with a man doing his military service. The film received favorable reviews but it was not until later in the year when she was featured in an advertisement for ‘Samsung MyJet’ that she became a popular sensation. The dancing and the attitude expressed in the ad made her into an icon for Korean’s in their late teens and early twenties.

• Modeling Career
The success of her films made Ji Hyun a constant presence in TV ads and on billboards in South Korea and also on neighbouring countries. Since her debut as a cover girl for ‘Ecole’, Ji Hyun was a model for many fashion companies. Some of her most popular endorsements includes Giordano, Laneige and Samsung.

In 2004, one of her Giordano advertisement was considered too sexy by the censors and was banned from Korean television. Even one of her Olympus advertisement was only shown late at night for, again being too sensual. Despite being ‘too sexy’ for TV, she has maintained a strict policy of remaining fully-clothed for any photoshoots she takes part in, giving off a sexy vibe but still maintains the purity and innocence she posesses.

Her seasonal advertisements for Olympus helped the company earn the top place in the domestic market for four years and earned her the nickname ‘dika queen’ (digital camera queen). The brand Olympus was even considered by many ‘made in Korea’. Although no one could confirm if her presence on those advertisements contributed to the success of their sales, companies just couldn’t get enough of her. They even described it as the ‘Jeon Ji Hyun Effect’. VK Mobile proved how powerful the effect was. It’s officials said that after featuring her in its commercials in China, they saw its first quarter sales soar 40%.

More and more companies wanted a taste of the ‘Power of Jeon’. During 2002 to 2004, she would normally be seen taking pictures with an Olympus digital camera, fluttering her lashes with Laneige mascara and even doing web searches on local browser Naver. Companies from neighbouring countries also hired her hoping to have the same effect. Ji Hyun turned sassy once again for Coca Cola in Taiwan, felt the coolness of China’s Midea Aircon and showed off her long luxurious hair for Pantene China.

She has always been active on online polls, being voted as having the Best Butt in Korea in 2004, polling 41% of the total votes and again in 2007 getting 753 votes out of 1463 votes cast. She was and still present in various Most Beautiful, Most Popular and Most Talented lists and currently holds the title of Korea’s CF Queen.

Awards

2006 • Daejong Film Festival (Grand Bell Awards) • Best Actress for Daisy Nominated

2002 • Daejong Film Festival (Grand Bell Awards) • People’s Choice for My Sassy Girl
2002 • Daejong Film Festival (Grand Bell Awards) • Best Actress for My Sassy Girl

2001 • Blue Dragon Film Awards • Best New Actress

1999 • SBS Actors Awards • Best New Actress
1999 • Baeksang Art Awards • New Face Award

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