Jang Na-ra

• Name — Jang Na-ra • Born — 18 March 1981 • Birthplace — Seoul, South Korea • Occupation — * Actress • singer • Agent — LAELBnc • Education — Chung-Ang University (BA) • Father — Ju Ho-seong • Relatives — Jang Sung-won (brother) Jang Na-ra (born March 18, 1981) is a South Korean actress and singer who has been active in both the South Korean and Chinese entertainment industries since 2001. She first gained wide recognition with her studio album Sweet Dream in 2002, and further rose to prominence for starring in television series Successful Story of a Bright Girl (2002), You Are My Destiny (2014), Hello Monster (2015), Go Back (2017), The Last Empress (2018–2019), VIP (2019), and Good Partner (2024).

Jang was born in 1981 and spent most of her childhood in Yeokchon-dong, Eunpyeong District, in Seoul, South Korea. She appeared with her father, actor Ju Ho-seong (stage name), whose real name is Jang Yeon-gyo, in the play Les Misérables in her primary school days, thus sparking her interest in becoming an actress. Jang also went on to become a model for television advertisements in her high school days before entering Chung-Ang University's Department of Theater, Faculty of Fine Arts, where she majored in Theater and Film in March 2000. She graduated 10 years later, on February 19, 2010. The delay was due to her continuous work since her debut after entering the university. She also received an alumni association award for her contributions to the university during the graduation rites.

Jang made her debut in the entertainment world as a singer in May 2001. She started her singing career by becoming a trainee and by signing a contract with SM Entertainment. Jang released her debut album First Story with the title track Burying My Face In Tears. Initially, it was not well-received and only reached number 12 on 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 ranked at the top in various music charts. The album sold 300,000 copies. Jang then became a host for MBC's music show, Music Camp and KBS's 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. 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 on 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. Due to the success of Sweet Dream, Jang 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. She also received the Korean Singer of the Year from China's CCTV-MTV Awards in 2003. In December 2003, Jang released her third album, aptly titled 3rd Story, which included top tracks I am a Woman Too and Is That True?. Jang released a Best Hits Album in 2004 consisting of songs from her 3 previous albums. She followed it up with her fourth album titled My Story released in December 2004, consisting of hit songs 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, making her the first foreign artist in China with over 1 million copies sold. This was followed by the release of two more Chinese albums, Kungfu (2005) and Flying High (2006). She returned to the Korean music scene in 2007 with her fifth Korean album entitled She, which consists of medium tempo Masquerade and the dance piece, You & I. The following year, she released a multi-lingual album titled Dream of Asia, which includes 26 songs in 5 languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, and English. Jang held a mini concert in Beijing to promote the album. 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. In 2009, she released a duet with Jimmy Lin for the soundtrack of their film Flying with You. The track was produced by famed Singaporean musician JJ Lin. In 2012, four years after releasing Dream of Asia, Jang returned to the Korean music scene with the digital single I Only Think of You. The same year, she released her fourth Chinese album, Love Journey. On May 20, 2018, Jang Na-Ra performed Sweet Dream, I am a Woman Too, April Story on Sugar Man season 2, which was the highest audience rating among all terrestrial and non-terrestrial programs broadcast at the same time. Sweet Dream by Jang Nara became the most-viewed performing video among all Sugar Man singers.

Jang also has a successful acting career. She first appeared in the popular MBC TV sitcom New Nonstop, and received attention for her cute image. In 2002, Jang landed her first leading role in a drama in SBS's romantic comedy Successful Story of a Bright Girl. The drama was well-received and recorded high audience ratings. She won the Best New TV Actress Award 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. The same year, she starred in another romantic comedy series, My Love Patzzi, which also attained high ratings. In 2003, she made her feature film debut in the film Oh! Happy Day. In 2004, she came back to the small screen and starred in MBC's weekend drama Love Is All Around, followed by KBS' romance drama Wedding. Wedding, which established Jang as an actress, and she received viewer acclaim for her portrayal of a woman's growth and identity in marriage. 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 was My Bratty Princess. The success of My Bratty Princess catapulted her as a hallyu or Korean Wave star in China. She made several other drama series in China which includes Good Morning Shanghai in 2007, Iron Masked Singer in 2010, and Unruly Qiao in 2011. In 2009, she returned to the big screen with Sky and Ocean, playing a gifted violinist with the mental age of a 6-year-old, diagnosed with Savant syndrome. The movie was a commercial failure, and was criticized for Jang's unfair nomination at the Grand Bell Awards even before the movie was released. However, despite the controversy, Jang won the Best Actress for a Foreign Film Award at the 19th China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards. The film also became the first Asian film to be invited to the eighth Tirana International Film Festival in Albania, where it won the Media Award. In May 2011, Jang starred in the KBS romantic-comedy Baby Faced Beauty. This marked her return to Korean screens after six years. The series averaged 10% ratings throughout its run and won favorable reviews. She later won the Excellence Award for an Actress in a mini-series at the 2011 KBS Drama Awards. The following year, she filmed her first Chinese movie, Flying With You, starring opposite Taiwanese singer and actor Jimmy Lin. She also made a cameo appearance in another Chinese film starring Jaycee Chan titled Whoever. The same year, she appeared together with her father in a Chinese drama entitled Race Course. In December 2012, Jang reunited with her Baby Faced Beauty co-star Choi Daniel for KBS's teen drama School 2013. She received her second consecutive Excellence Award for an Actress in a mini-series at the 2012 KBS Drama Awards. After filming for School 2013 concluded, Jang immediately returned to China to film a drama titled Red Palanquin. • Illustration — Jang in July 2017 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 in You Are My Destiny, the Korean adaptation of the 2008 Taiwanese hit drama Fated to Love You. This TV series reunited her with Jang Hyuk 12 years after both starred in the highly rated drama Successful Story of a Bright Girl. You Are My Destiny was a hit in China and gained 200 million views. Shortly after, Jang starred in a one-episode drama special entitled Old Farewell for MBC's Drama Festival, pairing her once again with Jang Hyuk. She then took on the lead role opposite Shin Ha-kyun in the fantasy-romantic-comedy drama, Mr. Back. She later won the Top Excellence Award at the 2014 MBC Drama Awards for both television series she starred in that year. In 2015, Jang played a police detective in the mystery thriller Hello Monster. In 2016, she starred in the romantic comedy One More Happy Ending, portraying a former pop idol. In 2017, Jang was cast in the romantic fantasy drama Confession Couple. The series was a success, and won acclaim from viewers. She also won the Excellence Award for an Actress in a mini-series at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards. • Illustration — Jang in October 2019 In 2018, Jang was cast in the mystery thriller drama The Last Empress, playing a musical actress who becomes the Empress of a modern-day monarch. The series received high ratings and Jang was praised for her performance with her wide range in acting. In 2019, Jang returned to the small screen with the office mystery drama VIP. She won the Producer Award for her role as Na Jeong-seon at the 2019 SBS Drama Awards. In 2020, Jang starred in the romance comedy drama Oh My Baby as manager of a magazine, The Baby. In 2021, she appeared in the occult TV series Sell Your Haunted House as Hong Ji-ah, an exorcist and CEO of Daebak Realty, a real estate company which only sells haunted properties. In 2024, Jang won the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the 2024 SBS Drama Awards for her role in Good Partner as Cha Eun-kyung. In 2025, Jang signed with LAELBnc after working for 23 years under her own agency, Rawon Culture.

Jang does much charity work such as sending 500 million won worth of commodities and 200 million won worth of powdered milk to the hungry North Korean children. She also established a US$10,000 Jang Na-ra scholarship foundation in the Philippines. 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 diplomatic relations between China and South Korea. Twelve hundred seats at the concert venue sold out early. After the concert on stage, a Chinese charity organization appointed Jang as a goodwill ambassador, making her the first foreigner to receive such an honor. The same year, she was appointed as one of the goodwill ambassadors for the China-ROK Exchange Year. In the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Jang donated 150,000 dollars to a charity organization in China and 8 billion won of clothing for the victims. Jang is also known to contribute her talent in singing for charitable causes. In 2013, she recorded a TV campaign song named "Nanoom Song" for the Community Chest of Korea. She also performed with Jackie Chan at his charity concert "Jackie Chan and his friends" on June 24, 2006, at Nanjing, Jiangsu province of China. In 2015, Jang was recognized for her charity activities by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. In 2017, it was revealed that Jang had secretly donated more than 13 billion won, or close to 12 million US dollars, since her debut in 2001 to various charities, disaster reliefs, and academic organizations. She is also known to have a big affection for animals. Aside from donating money to animal shelters, she also participates at charity events for animal care and volunteers actively for such things as cleaning sick dogs' shelters.

Jang served as the public relations envoy for fair elections in the 2002 South Korean presidential election. She renewed this commitment as she was chosen as one of the honorary public relations ambassadors for the 2017 South Korean presidential election. In 2004, Jang was named public relations envoy for China by the Embassy of China, Seoul. In 2011, Jang was appointed as Seoul's Gangnam District's ambassador to promote tourism in the area.

In 2002, Jang was named as "CF Queen" by various news outlets. This is due to her rising number of product endorsements ranging from telecommunications (KTF), automobile (Kia Spectra), fashion (SMART uniform), fast food (Popeyes), to alcoholic beverages. In March 2020, it was revealed that Jang had signed an exclusive model contract with air purifier brand Clair back in December 2019. It was revealed that Jang would promote Clair's products not only in Korea but throughout Asia as well. Jang signed a contract with Korean cosmetic brand CharmZone as an official model, as revealed in April 2020. This was to promote the company's diversification into the inner beauty market.

In June 2010, Jang was appointed as an associate professor at the Beijing Huajia University. The Filipino novel Revolution: 80 Days (2022) featured a Korean vessel named after Jang Na-ra.

2002 was Jang's year, with best-selling albums, multiple endorsements, and highly rated TV shows under her belt. Her popularity throughout South Korea is massive, often dubbed as "Jang Na-ra Syndrome". And eventually, her popularity extended to China and other Asian countries. However, her workload took a toll on her health. She disclosed in an interview on Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy that she suffered from gastric ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, panic disorder, bulimia, and acrophobia due to intense stress and pressure as a celebrity. She also halted her singing activities in 2014 due to stage phobia and focused her work on acting. Jang belongs to a family of actors. Her father, Ju Ho-seong (real name Jang Yeon-gyo), is a theater actor, producer, and director. He has also been managing Jang's career since her debut. She has her own agency, Rawon Culture, which was established by her father. Jang is also known for her youthful appearance. She is a practicing Christian and has expressed her faith numerous times at the SBS Drama Awards.

On June 3, 2022, Jang announced that she would be marrying her non-celebrity boyfriend. Their private wedding ceremony was held on June 26, 2022. Her husband is a cinematographer who is 6 years younger than her, they first met on the set of the drama VIP (2019).

• Title — Album details — Peak chart positions — Sales • KOR • First Story — * Released: June 18, 2001 * Label: SM Entertainment * Formats: CD, cassette — 7 — * KOR: 323,168 • Sweet Dream — * Released: October 2, 2002 * Label: SM Entertainment * Formats: CD, cassette — 1 — * KOR: 442,422 • 3rd Story — * Released: December 2, 2003 * Label: SM Entertainment * Formats: CD, cassette — 1 — * KOR: 161,103 • My Story — * Released: December 20, 2004 * Label: Warner Music Korea * Formats: CD, cassette — 8 — * KOR: 39,791 • She — * Released: February 21, 2007 * Label: Warner Music Korea * Formats: CD, cassette — — • Dream of Asia — * Released: March 25, 2008 * Label: LOEN Entertainment * Formats: CD Track listing — 11 — * KOR: 5,492 * • "—" denotes album did not chart. • Sales data only available through June 2008.

• Title — Album details • One (一张) — * Released: January 20, 2005 • Gong Fu (功夫) — * Released: December 7, 2005 • Journey of Love (爱的旅途) — * Released: August 2, 2012

• Title — Album details • History My Love — * Released: May 4, 2002 • Jang Nara and Friends — * Released: April 17, 2003 * Label: Warner Music Korea * Formats: CD, cassette Track listing • Vol. 3: Cheer Up — * Released: March 30, 2015 • Calling of the Heart – The Second Story Part 2 'Rest — * Released: May 21, 2015 * Label: FNC Entertainment

• Title — Year — Peak chart positions — Album • KOR • As lead artist • "Burying My Face in Tears" — 2001 — — — First Story • "Sweet Dream" — 2002 — — — Sweet Dream • "Is That True?" (기도, 그게 정말이니?) — 2003 — — — 3rd Story • "Winter Diary" — 2004 — — — My Story • "Calling Out Love" — 2007 — — — She • "Ladylike" — — — rowspan="2" • "Cotton Clouds" — — • "Scar" — 2008 — — — Dream of Asia • "If You Ask Me To" — — — rowspan="4" • "Tinker Bell" — 2009 — — • "I Only Think of You" — 2012 — 36 • "Love" — 2013 — — • Soundtrack appearances • "It's Alright" — 2008 — — — Opposites Attract OST • "Distant Horizon" — 2010 — 79 — Dong Yi OST Part 1 • "Snowman in May" "Orange Tree" — 2011 — — — Baby Faced Beauty OST Part 1 & 2 • "All Day" — 2014 — — — Mr. Back OST Part 4 • "Someday" — 2018 — — — Your House Helper OST Part 4 • "DayDream" — 2021 — — — Sell Your Haunted House OST Part 4 • "—" denotes releases that did not chart. The Gaon Music Chart was established in 2010.

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination • Award ceremony — Year — Category — Nominee / Work — Result — Ref. Reference(s) • APAN Star Awards — 2014 — Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries — You Are My Destiny • 2018 — Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries — Confession Couple • 2021 — Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries — VIP • Asia Model Awards — 2008 — Asia Star Award — Jang Na-ra • Asia-Pacific Music Chart Awards — 2005 — Asia's Best Female Singer • Award for Outstanding Contribution to Korean-Chinese Cultural Exchange • Top 10 Golden Song • Baeksang Arts Awards — 2003 — Best New Actress – Television — Successful Story of a Bright Girl • 2025 — Best Actress – Television — Good Partner • CCTV-MTV Music Awards — 2003 — Korean Singer of the Year — Jang Na-ra • China Golden Disk Awards — 2005 — Most Popular Singer • Culture Day — 2008 — Today's Young Artist Awards — Jang Na-ra • China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards — 2010 — Best Actress in a Foreign Film — Sky and Ocean • Chunsa Film Art Awards — 2007 — Hallyu Cultural Award — Jang Na-ra • 2018 — Special Achievement Award • Golden Disk Awards — 2001 — Best New Artist — First Story • 2002 — Main Prize (Bonsang) — Sweet Dream • Grand Bell Awards — 2009 — Best Actress — Sky and Ocean • KBS Drama Awards — 2011 — Top Excellence Award, Actress — Baby Faced Beauty • Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries • Netizen Award, Actress • Best Couple Award — Jang Na-ra with Choi Daniel Baby Faced Beauty • 2012 — Top Excellence Award, Actress — School 2013 • Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries • Netizen Award, Actress • 2015 — Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries — Hello Monster • Netizen Award, Actress • Best Couple Award — Jang Na-ra with Seo In-guk Hello Monster • 2017 — Top Excellence Award, Actress — Confession Couple • Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries • Netizen Award, Actress • Best Couple Award — Jang Na-ra with Son Ho-jun Confession Couple • 2021 — Top Excellence Award, Actress — Sell Your Haunted House • Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries • KBS Entertainment Awards — 2002 — Best Newcomer in a Variety Show • KBS Music Awards — Grand Prize (Daesang) — Sweet Dream • KMTV Korean Music Awards — KMTV Award • Korea Advertisers Association — 2003 — Good Model Award — Jang Na-ra • Korea Drama Awards — 2015 — Top Excellence Award, Actress — Hello Monster • MBC Drama Awards — 2004 — Excellence Award, Actress — Love is All Around • 2014 — Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries — You Are My Destiny, Mr. Back • Popularity Award, Actress • Best Couple Award — Jang Na-ra with Jang Hyuk You Are My Destiny • 2016 — Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries — One More Happy Ending • MBC Music Awards — 2001 — Best New Artist — First Story • 2002 — Grand Prize (Daesang) — Sweet Dream • Most Popular Artist • Mnet Asian Music Awards — 2002 — Best Female Artist — Sweet Dream • Special Jury Prize • Mobile Popularity Award • 2004 — Best Female Artist — Is That True? • SBS Drama Awards — 2002 — Top 10 Stars — Successful Story of a Bright Girl • 2018 — Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama — The Last Empress • 2019 — Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries — VIP • Producer Award • 2024 — Grand Prize (Daesang) — Good Partner • SBS Music Awards — 2001 — Best New Artist — First Story • Seoul International Drama Awards — 2019 — Outstanding Korean Actress — The Last Empress • Seoul Music Awards — 2002 — Main Prize (Bonsang) — Sweet Dream • Seoul Tour Awards — 2008 — Best Korean Star Promoting Seoul Tourism — Jang Na-ra

Name of country, name of award ceremony or organization, year given, and name of honor • Country — Ceremony or Organization — Year — Honor or Award — Ref. Reference(s) • China — Beijing Film Academy — 2004 — Honorary Master's Degree • South Korea — Secretary of Defense — 2004 — Commendation • 2008 Culture Day — 2008 — Today's Young Artist Award Popular Art Category • CSR Korea Awards — 2009 — Special Award (Individual) • 60th Anniversary Ceremony of Fisheries Cooperatives — 2022 — Award plaque promoting seafood consumption • Korean Youth Hope Awards — 2023 — National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's Commendation • Switzerland — Inter-Parliamentary Union Award — 2005 — Social Service