There are strict conditions to qualify as a k-drama girl-next-door: (1) must have "accessible" beauty and physical features that women can relate to, (2) must be simple and humble in demeanor yet gutsy when needed, and (3) must be surprisingly strong and/or interested in sports.
Jung So-min fits these criteria and more.
Photo from HanCinema
Birthday: March 16, 1989
Instagram: @somin_jj
She excels in bringing a down-to-earth quality in whichever roles she plays, whether it be as a high school student who openly pursues her love interest (Playful Kiss), a physically aggressive girlfriend (The Sound of Your Heart), an earnest talent manager (My Father Is Strange), a burnt-out screenwriter (Because This Is My First Life), or a hurting designer (Hundred Million Stars from the Sky).
She made her TV debut in 2010 in Bad Guy (2010), showcasing both her ballet and sports skills. This was followed by her first leading role in Playful Kiss (2010), where she played an indefatigable high school student when it comes to love. After graduating from the Korean National University of Arts, she paid her acting dues by working diligently in a long list of not only dramas but also films—Twenty (2015) and Homme Fatale (2019) among others.
An all-rounder, she also recorded songs for her shows’ OSTs, hosted her own radio show Jung So Min’s Young Street, and joined her first variety program Little Forest.
She starred in the Hong sisters' new fantasy drama Alchemy of Souls with Lee Jae-wook.
Her latest rom-com film 30 Days (2023) with Kang Ha-neul is a certified box-office hit.
Her k-drama opposite Jung Hae-in, Love Next Door, has been in the Netflix charts since its release.
Both in drama and persona, she exudes a sense of goodness. This goodness makes you root for her, whether as the heroine or the anti-hero, as an actress or as a person.
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