Kim Min-jung (Korean: 김민정; born 30 September 1986), known professionally as Gong Min-jeung (공민정), is a South Korean actress recognized for her work in theater, television dramas and independent cinema. She is best known for her roles in drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) and Marry My Husband (2024). For her performance as prosecutor Na Ye-jin in the 2022 SBS drama One Dollar Lawyer, she received the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 2022 SBS Drama Awards. Her television career also includes notable supporting roles in Temperature of Love (2017), Familiar Wife (2018), and Sweet Munchies (2020).
In addition to her television work, Kim is a prolific figure in independent film. She is a frequent collaborator of director Hong Sang-soo, appearing in his films Yourself and Yours, On the Beach at Night Alone, and Grass. In 2020, she won the Fantastic Best Actor Special Mention Award in the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival for Zombie Crush: Heyri.
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Early life and education
Born on 30 September 1986 in Jongno District, Seoul, Kim Min-jung was a shy child whose personality reportedly became more outgoing following the birth of her younger brother. Her interest in comedy and acting developed during her school years, catalyzed by a favorable response to a class president election speech and her attendance at a performance of the musical Subway Line 1.
Although initially hesitant to pursue a career in the performing arts, Kim later enrolled in the Konkuk University. She subsequently graduated with a bachelor's degree from the university's Film Art Department.
Career
2009 to 2014: Early career
In 2009, Kim made her acting debut in A Perfect Sight, which won Best Short Film at the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards. After graduating, she appeared in various independent and low-budget films. In 2011, she ventured into theater, debuting in the open-run play Rooftop Cat as a multi-girl.
Under her stage name Kim E-jeong, she made her feature film debut in Kim Seung-hyun's independent film Your Time is Up, where she portrayed Hee-young, a femme fatale and bar hostess. After appearing on invitation at the New Currents section of the Busan International Film Festival to positive reviews, Kim described herself as motivated to further her career.
In 2014, Kim starred as the female lead in the short film A Familiar Taste, directed by Kim In-sun. She played Kyung-eon, an elementary school teacher facing her father's absence following her mother's remarriage. The film, which explored themes of distance and reconnection, appeared at several film festivals, winning some awards.
In the following year Kim acted in short films Sunshine. Also in 2015, she starred in the film Byeong-gu (Allergy), opposite actor Seo Hyun-woo, which won the Grand Prize at the 2016 Fukuoka Independent Film Festival.
2016 to 2017: Rising career in independent film industry
In 2016 Kim reunited with Seo Hyun-woo in Choi Ki-yoon's independent film A Man in the Basement, in the supporting role.
The short film Love Triangle, directed and written by Hyung Seul-woo and produced by Cho Hyun-yeol, premiered in 2016 at the 42nd Seoul Independent Film Festival in the Special Invitation Category. The story follows close friends Min-ji (Kim Min-jung) and Han-na (Kim Han-na), both in love with Jun-ho (Jo Hyeong-rae), as they experience an awkward moment while driving to the beach. In 2017, the film was also featured at several festivals: the 27th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Japan, the 16th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival the 11th Guam International Film Festival, where Kim Han-na won the Acting Award, and the 3rd Gosichon Short Film Festival, where it received the Silver Award. In 2018, it was invited to the 1st Hongseong International Short Film Festival in the Domestic Competition.
Kim also acted in Kwon Hang's short film Terrific Weather. It was screened at the 19th Korea National University of Arts' Film Department Graduation Film Festival in February 2017. The movie begins with weather forecaster Yeon-joo (played by Kim Min-jung) predicting the weather. The story revolves around people who perceive weathercasters as mere eye candy for broadcasting rather than professionals are discussing different aspects.
In the same year, Kim achieved a career milestone through her supporting roles in two feature films by Hong Sang-soo, namelyYourself and Yours, followed by On the Beach at Night Alone. Also in 2017, she made her television debut in the SBS drama series Temperature of Love.
2017 to 2019: Rebrand with new the stage name and further acclaim in independent film industry
In 2018, she received acclaim for her performances in the drama Familiar Wife, where she played a supporting role. She was also cast as the lead in Hong Sang-soo's film Grass (2018), credited as Gong Min-jeung, her new stage name. She portrayed Mi-na, who meets Hong-soo (Ahn Jae-hong) at a coffeehouse. She initially mentions a planned trip to Europe, later revealed as a lie. Their conversation turns sour when they discuss a deceased mutual friend, with Mi-na insisting they both share some responsibility. Notably, Grass also featured actors including Kim Min-hee, Jeong Jin-young, Ki Joo-bong, Seo Yeong-hwa, and Kim Sae-byeok. Grass had its premiere at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival on 16 February 2018, and it was also screened in the "Korean Cinema Today – Panorama" program at the 23rd Busan International Film Festival. In the same year, Gong also starred in commercial feature films The Vanished.
In that same year, Gong also did several independent film projects. In Oh Jeong-min's short film Coming of Age, Gong acted opposite Kim Mi-kyung as Baek-seol, a 29-year-old college student in Seoul facing a crossroads after failing to secure a full-time job. The film was invited to several festivals in 2018, including the 16th Asiana International Short Film Festival, the 19th Jeonju International Film Festival, the 17th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival, the 19th Daegu Short Film Festival, the 23rd Indie Forum New Film Exhibition and the 20th Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival. In the following year, it was also invited to the 17th Florence Korean Film Festival.
In Lee Ga-hong's short film I Should Have Killed That Bastard, Gong acted alongside Lim Seong-mi, Kim Ye-eun, and Jeong Soo-ji. The story revolves around the crisis faced by the drama "Descendants of Unicorn" due to the departure of male actors. Officials, unable to halt the airing, convene an emergency response meeting. It was screened at the 2018 20th Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival and the 17th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival. In Park Je-beom's independent film I Am Home, Gong portrayed Gyeong-ran, the best friend of Lee Yoo-young's character Eun-seo. The film was premiered in the 'Today - Panorama' section of the Korean Film Festival at the 24th Busan International Film Festival in October.
Also in 2019, she reached a career milestone by taking on the role of Kim Eun-young, the eldest of three siblings, in Kim Do-young's feminist-themed film Kim Ji-young: Born 1982. Gong expressed a strong desire to portray Eun-young during auditions, stating her preference despite being offered other roles. Director Kim Do-young, moved by Gong's audition, wiped away her tears and remarked that her performance was exceptional, saying she couldn't envision anyone else in the role. Released in October 2019, the film, based on the novel of the same name, received numerous accolades and achieved commercial success, with 3.7 million admissions and grossing $27.16 million.
2021 to present: Mainstream popularity and accolades
In 2021, Gong portrayed Hee-soo in Jeong Gam-won's independent film The Train Passed By. Hee-soo embodies a woman who exists and does not exist simultaneously. As the protagonist, she embarks on a tranquil, solitary journey between the Daegu Dyeing Industrial Complex and a fishing village in Gangwon-do. Along the way, she briefly encounters various individuals, including her former lover, a grandmother with a broken radio, a middle-aged woman at a guesthouse, and a male student on a bicycle.
In May, Gong began filming the drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, remake of the 2004 film Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong, in Pohang. Gong achieved some success with the role of Pyo Mi-seon, a dental hygienist and the best friend of Shin Min-a's character, Yoon Hye-jin. Gong mentioned that she made an effort to fully immerse herself in the role. The atmosphere on set was so delightful that she would occasionally forget she was acting. When she was in Seoul, fans would recognize her on the streets and warmly greet her as "Unnie Mi-seon." Moreover, her parents requested her autograph for their acquaintances for the first time. Gong regards Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha as an endearing and fulfilling project.
In November, Gong made a return to independent film with the movie Sprinter. The film was screened at the 47th Seoul Independent Film Festival, which took place at CGV Art House Apgujeong and CGV Apgujeong from 25 November to 3 December. Prior to the screening, Gong participated in a press conference held at Art Nine in Sadang-dong on December 3rd alongside her co-actors from the film, Lim Ji-ho, Jeon Hwan-hwan, Song Deok-ho, Choi Jun-hyuk, and Choi Seung-yeon. On 29 November 2021, the Korea Independent Film Association announced a special exhibition titled "Isn't It Our Sphere?" at the Naver Indie Theater, scheduled to run from 29 November to 28 December 2021. The exhibition showcased five films featuring Gong, including Family Portrait and I Should Have Killed That Bastard, both directed by Kim Hye-jun. In that same month, her film Nothing Serious was released. For her role as Seon-bin, best friend of Jeon Jong-seo's character Ja-young, She was nominated in best supporting actress in 58th Grand Bell Awards.
In April 2022, Gong signed an exclusive contract with HB Entertainment. That year, she reunited with director Cho Hee-young for two consecutive projects: the short film The Owners, which screened at the Jeonju International Film Festival, and the feature-length indie film The Continuing Land. The latter received an invitation to the Seoul Independent Film Festival following its screening at the 28th Busan International Film Festival. It centers on Ho-rim, an international student in London who encounters various people after finding a camcorder on the street. In June 2022, Gong played Yook Min-jeong in the Just for Laugh! short omnibus project, specifically in the third sequence, Family Portrait directed by Kim Hyeon.
Personal life
While working on the set of Marry My Husband (2024), Gong met Jang Jae-ho, who portrayed Gong's character's husband. They married in September 2024 in a small ceremony. The following January, Gong gave birth to a girl.