Choi Jin-sil facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Choi Jin-Sil
Choi Jin-Sil in September 2008
Born	(1968-12-24)December 24, 1968 Seoul, South Korea
Died	October 2, 2008(2008-10-02) (aged 39) Seoul, South Korea
Cause of death	... by hanging
Nationality	South Korean
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1988–2008
Spouse(s)	Cho Sung-Min (2000–2004; divorced)
Children	2
Korean name
Hangul	최진실
Hanja	崔眞實
Revised Romanization	Choe Jin-sil
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe Chin-sil

Choi Jin-Sil (December 24, 1968 – October 2, 2008) was a South Korean actress. She was considered one of the best actresses in South Korea, nicknamed "The Nation's Actress". She played leading roles in 18 films and 20 television dramas, appeared in 140 commercials and won the 33rd Grand Bell Award for Best Actress. She died by ... by hanging on October 2, 2008, at her home in Seoul.

Early years

Choi was born as the first child to her parents Choi Guk-Hyeon and Jeong Ok-Suk on December 24, 1968, in Seoul. Her mother separated from her father in 1985 and divorced him in 1998. She had a younger brother, Choi Jin-young, who was an actor and singer.

Her family was so poor that her mother once managed the household by running a pojangmacha (a small street stall selling foods). She dreamed of becoming a star to escape from the poverty. She said in talk shows her nickname during her school days was "Choisujebi" because she used to eat sujebi (a dumpling soup) instead of ordinary meals due to the home environment. Although she later became a high-paid model and actress, she was known for frugality, even receiving awards for her savings activity and frugality.

Career

In 1987, Choi graduated from Seonil Girls' High School. She began in Korea's entertainment circles as an advertising film model. She began to gain celebrity status in an advertising campaign for Samsung Electronics in which she acted as a newly wedded housewife. In 1988, she became a TV actress starring in the MBC historical drama, 500 Years of Joseon. Her first film was North Korean Partisan in South Korea (1990). After several experiences in TV dramas as a supporting actress, Choi played leading roles in the movie My Love, My Bride (1990) and the MBC drama Jealousy (1992). In 1998, Choi published an autobiography Yes, Let's Live Truthfully Today Too, looking back at the change from an ordinary high school graduate to a famous actress. She largely stayed out of the limelight, raising her two children after her high-profile divorce in 2004. In 2005, she returned with the soap opera My Rosy Life in a role that resurrected her career. Her last work was Last Scandal (2008), generating many positive reviews from critics and viewers. A second season of Last Scandal was being planned for broadcast in November 2008 before her death. She was also an MC in a talk show, Choi Jin-sil 'Truth and Lie' in 2008.

Personal life

In 1994, her former manager Bae Byeong-su, who was an influential figure in the entertainment field, was murdered by her road manager. She was called in as a witness. The incident shocked the Korean public. Rumors circulated that she was implicated in the crime and she was defamed by unspecified individuals. She had a traffic accident in 1995 and was often the victim of stalking, having nearly been abducted in 1994 and 1998.

Marriage and divorce

In 2000, her marriage to Cho Sung-min received widespread attention in South Korea. Cho was a professional baseball player with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan. They first met on a television show in 1998. Choi gave birth to a son Hwan-Hee [ko] (2001) and a daughter Joon-Hee (2003).

Cho insisted that Choi was a blameful spouse through the press without filing a lawsuit for divorce in December 2004. It was senseless act according to South Korean civil law. Choi privately had the consideration period in connection with divorce for about two years from 2002 to 2004. Choi had not been sued for divorce for the period. In September 2004, Choi decided to divorce Cho.

Cho committed a breach of marital fidelity, violence and defamation against Choi for about two years from 2002 to 2004. In addition, Cho borrowed money from Choi's mother and Choi's younger brother and defaulted on the debt; Cho was sued for it by them. In November 2002, Cho physically attacked Choi, who was pregnant at the time with their second child. In August 2004, Cho again assaulted her. The former violence was known to people in December 2002 by Cho and Cho insisted that the violence had been mutual attack to the press. Cho insisted that the latter violence also had been mutual attack. The case was widely publicized in the media.

Choi won the parental rights and child custody over the children on condition of exempting Cho's debt to her mother and brother as well as dropping several charges against Cho. Cho could visit his children regularly according to the mutual agreement. Choi won sole custody.

In January 2008, the South Korean family register (hoju) was changed. As a result, children could now use their maternal family name. According to the register, her children changed their surname from "Cho" (paternal family name) to "Choi" (maternal family name).

After Choi's death, her mother managed the inheritance and was awarded custody of the children. The older of the two children is singer Choi Hwan-hee, who goes by the stage name Z.flat and made his debut in November 2020.

Filmography

Film

TV drama

Awards

Film awards

• Grand Bell Awards
  • 1995 (33rd) - Best Actress for How to Top My Wife
  • 1993 (31st) - Most Popular Actress
  • 1991 (29th) - Best New Actress for My Love, My Bride
• Blue Dragon Film Awards
  • 1991 (12th), 1992 (13th), 1993 (14th), 1994 (15th), 1995 (16th), 1997 (18th), 1998 (19th) - Popular Star Award
  • 1990 (11th) - Best New Actress for Nambugun
• Baeksang Arts Awards
  • 2006, Best Actress for Television
  • 1991, 1995, 1997 - Most Popular Actress
• Chunsa Film Art Awards
  • 1991, Best New Actress

Broadcasting awards

• KBS Drama Awards
  • 2005, Top Excellence Award, Actress; Netizen Award; Best Couple Award
  • 1998, Top Excellence Award, Actress
• MBC Drama Awards
  • 1997, Top Excellence Award, Actress
  • 2008, Achievement Award
• SBS Drama Awards
  • 1994, Top Excellence Award, Actress
  • 1995, Top Excellence Award, Actress
• Grimae Awards
  • 1998, Best Actress
• Korea Broadcasting Association Awards
  • 1998, Best Actress

Broadcasting nominations

• 2008 MBC Drama Awards
  • Top Excellence Award, Actress
  • Best Couple Award
• 2007 MBC Drama Awards
  • Top Excellence Award, Actress

See also

In Spanish: Choi Jin-sil para niños