Jeon Ok (; April 2, 1911 – October 22, 1969) was a Korean actress and singer. Jeon was referred to as "Queen of Tears" for her excellence at acting for tragic dramas.

Biography

Jeon Ok was born Jeon Deok-rye on April 2, 1911 in

Hamhung Hamhŭng (''Hamhŭng-si''; ) is North Korea's List of cities in North Korea, second-most populous city, the capital of South Hamgyong, South Hamgyŏng Province and the 16th largest city in the Korea, Korean Peninsula. Located in the southern part ...

Kankyōnan Province , alternatively Kankyōnan Province or South Kankyō Province, was a province of Korea under Japanese rule. Its capital was Hamhung, Kankō (Hamhung). The province consisted of modern-day South Hamgyong Province, North Korea. Population Numb ...

Korea, Empire of Japan From 1910 to 1945, Korea was ruled by the Empire of Japan under the name Chōsen (), the Japanese reading of "Joseon". Japan first took Korea into its sphere of influence during the late 1800s. Both Korea (Joseon) and Japan had been under polic ...

(now

South Hamgyong Province South Hamgyong Province (, ''Hamgyŏngnamdo''; ) is a province of North Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the southern half of the former Hamgyong Province, remained a province of Korea until 1945, then became a province of North Kor ...

, North Korea). When Jeon was 15 years old, she was introduced to the film industry by her brother. Jeon aspired to be an actress in Towolhoe (), her debut role was as a supporting actress in the 1927 film ''Jal itgeora'' (), directed by Na Woon-gyu. Jeon gained popularity after taking a lead role in ''Arirang Gogae'' (), based on Park Seung-hui () and produced by Towolhoe. However, when the theatre closed, she moved to ''Joseon Yeongeuksa'' in 1930. Jeon was noted for her monologues as well as her tragic performances which often brought audiences to tears, so she was dubbed the "Queen of Tragedy" or "Queen of Tears". After the liberation of Korea, Jeon was mainly active in film.

Personal life

Jeon Ok married Kang Hong-shik, an actor, film director and singer. Kang Hong-shik and Jeon Ok were the first married couple in Korean entertainment history. Their daughters, Kang Hyo-shil and Kang Hyo-son, became their parents' step. Later, Jeon and Kang divorced. Kang went over to North Korea along with Hyo-son who later became a famous actress in North Korea. Kang Hong-shik was honored as "Merited artist" as well. Meanwhile, Hyo-sil married

Choi Moo-ryong Choi Moo-ryong (; February 25, 1928 – November 11, 1999) was a South Korean actor, producer, and director. He was the father of Choi Min-soo. Biography Choi was born in Paju, Keiki Province, Korea, Empire of Japan (now in Gyeonggi Province, S ...

, a popular actor of the 1960s and 1970s. Choi then had an affair with

Kim Ji-mee Kim Ji-mee (; born July 15, 1940) is a South Korean actress, producer, and film planner whose activity began in 1957. She was born in Daedeok, Chūseinan Province, Korea under Japanese rule, Korea, Empire of Japan in 1940. While a student of Deok ...

, the most popular Korean actress of that time, so that Choi and Kang divorced in 1962. Jeon's grandson is

Choi Min-soo Choi Min-soo (; born March 27, 1962) is a South Korean actor. One of the leading actors in Korean film and television in the 1990s, he has received numerous accolades throughout the span of his career, including five Baeksang Art Awards, six Bl ...

between Choi Moo-ryong and Hyo-shil, who is also a famous active actor. Jeon met her second husband Choe Il, who was a former football coach of Pyongyang Football Team and also engaged in her entertainment business when she reestablished Namhae yeneungdae () into () in 1946. Jeon ran an orchid in Deoksong-ri, Byeollae-myeon,

Yangju Yangju (; ) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yangju is located south of Dongducheon and north of Uijeongbu, not far from Seoul. In the past, it was one region with Uijeongbu-si, Guri-si, Namyangju-si, Dongducheon-si, and some parts ...

Gyeonggi Gyeonggi Province (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea. Seoul, the nation's largest city and capital, is in the heart of the area but has been separately administered as a provincial-level ''special city'' since 1946. Incheon, ...

province. Jeon died of her

chronic disease A chronic condition (also known as chronic disease or chronic illness) is a health condition or disease that is persistent or otherwise long-lasting in its effects or a disease that comes with time. The term ''chronic'' is often applied when the ...

high blood pressure Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms itself. It is, however, a major ri ...

, kidney failure on October 22, 1969.

Filmography

*Note; the whole list is referenced.

Awards

*1958, Korean Stage Art Association Awards ()

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jeon, Ok 1911 births 1969 deaths 20th-century Korean actresses South Korean film actresses People from Hamhung Korean film actresses South Korean people of North Korean origin