Jang Na-ra / Yonhap

Actress Jang Na-ra recently displayed her candid and confident charm as she reflected on her career and personal life in an interview with SBS's "Morning Wide - Entertainment News with Yoo Soo-kyung." Now in her 25th year in the entertainment industry, Jang looked back on her journey while sharing heartfelt moments.

Last year, Jang received immense love from viewers and won the grand prize at the SBS Drama Awards for her role in "Good Partner." Her emotional acceptance speech brought applause and support. Jang said she hadn't expected it at all, revealing that she celebrated the award with her family by ordering fried chicken and tteokbokki at home.

Jang, who met her husband — a cinematographer six years her junior — on the set of the drama "VIP," shared about her happy marriage. Now entering the third year, she said, "Since we haven't been married for long, I think I talk about him quite a lot. We stay in touch often, even when I'm around colleagues, so maybe it comes across as me encouraging marriage," she said with a shy smile.

Describing her fateful encounter with her husband, Jang said, "I prayed a lot. But I didn't pray specifically to meet someone to marry. I just prayed, ‘If you send someone, I'll get married, and if not, I'll live a good life doing meaningful things. But if you do send someone…' And that's how it happened naturally."

Jang also revealed that she took the first step in approaching her husband, saying, "I waited a long time, didn't I? But when the time came, I didn't hesitate to express my feelings."

Jang is the only celebrity to have won grand prizes for both singing and acting. She humbly credited her success to others, saying, "Winning the music award was thanks to incredible luck and the help of so many people. There are moments when it feels like everyone is destined to support you. It was truly a blessing, far beyond my abilities, and I'm deeply grateful for it."

Jang Na-ra / Courtesy of Lawon Munhwa

Passion for bread and upcoming documentary

Jang will soon appear on SBS's flagship documentary program "SBS Special." A self-proclaimed bread lover, she expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming two-part documentary "The Bread," airing in February.

"I participated in an SBS documentary about bread, which includes some of my footage and narration. It's a fun and informative program that explores the philosophy of trendy bakeries and the world of bread that's popular these days," she said.

Jang also shared her love for desserts, saying, "I love all kinds of desserts —not just eating them, but also looking at them in photos or art. I try to eat everything in moderation because I don't aim for an extremely thin body. For health, I avoid overly sweet or high-cholesterol foods, but I still enjoy a bit of everything."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.