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| Jang Yoon-ju / Courtesy of Esteem Entertainment |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
After accumulating nearly two decades of experience in the modeling world, Jang Yoon-ju finally made her acting debut at the age of 35. Acting has always been her passion, so Jang decided to pursue her dream while working as a model.
Jang began her modeling career at age 17, and since then she has walked on fashion runways for major designers, worked with some of the greatest photographers in the fashion industry and landed modeling jobs for luxury brands.
However, she also ensured she received an education, majoring in film studies at Seoul Institute of the Arts. There she went to college with some big name actors including Son Ye-jin, Jung Woo and Han Hye-jin as well as directors Kim Jong-kwan of "Josee" (2020) and Park Sang-hyun of "Innocence" (2020).
"For me, I just do what I like. I love working and meeting people. I think life is all about experiences. Since debuting as a model, I've received countless film offers. But I turned them all down because I thought I wasn't ready," she said during an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.
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| Jang Yoon-ju, third from left, in a scene from the film "Veteran" / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment |
In 2015, Jang finally made an impressive feature debut as tough Miss Bong in director Ryoo Seung-wan's crime action film "Veteran," which exceeded 10 million ticket sales in Korea.
"I initially rejected the role of Miss Bong, but changed my mind because I really wanted to work with director Ryoo and actors Hwang Jung-min and Yoo Ah-in," she recalled.
Six years later, she is returning to the big screen with "Three Sisters," a family drama that revolves around three sisters Hee-sook (Kim Sun-young), Mi-yeon (Moon So-ri) and Mi-ok (Jang). They gather in their parents' home for their father's birthday and which brings back unpleasant childhood memories they thought they had left behind.
Asked why it took her so long to choose her next film, Jang said, "After the success of Veteran, I wasn't sure if I was heading in the right direction. I'm an energetic, outgoing person, but at the same time, sensitive and extremely careful in making choices. During the six-year hiatus from the film industry, I also got married and became a mother," she said.
When she got the script for "Three Sisters," she was surprised because she is the youngest of three sisters in real life, just like her character Mi-ok.
"When I heard that Kim Sun-young had already been cast as Hee-sook and Moon So-ri as Mi-yeon, I thought it would be really interesting to work alongside them. But again, I couldn't make up my mind because I wasn't sure whether I could do it well," she said.
The oldest sister Hee-sook runs a small flower shop to pay off her ex-husband's debt and looks after her out-of-control teenage daughter. Making things worse, she is diagnosed with cancer.
The middle sibling Mi-yeon lives an enviable life until she finds out her husband is having an affair with a college student and member of the church choir, for which Mi-yeon serves as conductor.
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| A scene from the film "Three Sisters" / Courtesy of Little Big Pictures |
"My friend suggested that it would be nice if Mi-ok had bleached hair. I agreed and bleached my hair and this change gave me the confidence to play the character. I also tried to completely forget about my modeling career and image as a model. I had the mindset that I am starting from the beginning," she said.
Jang shared that she was raised more like a son. "My parents really wanted a boy, but I turned out to be a girl. So they raised me like a boy and thought of me as the pillar of the family. I think I carry characteristics of all three sisters in the film. Sometimes I'm too shy but sometimes I'm too confident. And sometimes, I'm a troublemaker," Jang said.
The model-turned-actress shared that as a viewer, she tends to opt for relaxing films that can give her stressed-out mind a break.
"I prefer drama movies that portray daily life over the thriller, crime and action genres. Modeling work is electronic and has rhythm and base vibes. But I personally like acoustic styles. For this movie, I wanted to capture and reflect the reality of everyday life. That's why I participated in Mi-ok's styling and went shopping to find clothes that suit her character," she said.
Jang also revealed that her secret to be successful in every field ― as a model, actor, musician and TV show host ― is her natural desire to express herself.
"It's always exciting to work with people I like and watch the result come out amazingly. I'm the type of person who can't sit still and I just need to constantly roam around. The only time I took a break from work was when I had a child," she said. "I always keep my options open for the future and hope I can handle things naturally and professionally."
She said she feels hesitant talking about her acting career because she has only starred in two films.
"Whenever I face a new challenge, I tend to think about it for a long time because I'm nervous. But once I make the decision, I never look back," Jang said. "I'm glad that I ventured into acting in my 30s because I finally gained confidence after building a successful career as a model and spending much time abroad."
"Three Sisters" will hit local theaters, Jan. 27.
