Jang Ja-yeon explained

Jang Ja-yeon
Native Name:장자연
Native Name Lang:kr
Birth Date:1980 1, df=y
Birth Place:Jeongeup, North Jeolla, South Korea
Death Place:Seongnam, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Death Cause:Suicide by hanging
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2006–2009
Module:
Child:yes
Headercolor:transparent
Hangul:장자연
Rr:Jang Ja-yeon
Mr:Chang Chayŏn

Jang Ja-yeon (; 25 January 1980 – 7 March 2009) was a South Korean actress. She was born in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, South Korea. She debuted in the entertainment industry when she appeared in a television commercial in 2006. She was known for being part of the KBS television drama series Boys Over Flowers as Sunny, one of the antagonists of the series, at the time of her death. She died by suicide on 7 March 2009 at the age of 29.

At the time of her death, Jang had been suffering from depression, and it was revealed in 2019 that the initial investigation into her death in 2009 had been corrupt.[1] The 2009 investigation had concluded that her death was a suicide, but the investigation was reopened in 2018.[2] Her death caused a national scandal in 2009 when it was widely reported that she had been sexually and physically abused by a number of prominent entertainment executives during her career, including the CEO of Jang's former talent agency, The Contents Entertainment, Kim Sung-hoon.[3] After three witness testified against the CEO, Kim was found guilty of abuse by the Korean courts, specifically of forcing girls from his agency to come to his birthday party where he forced them to sexually entertain the executives.[4]

Career

2006–2009: Acting debut with Boys Over Flowers

Jang made her debut in 2006 in a television commercial.[5] Her big break came in Boys Over Flowers playing the role of Sunny, one of a trio of girls who antagonize the female lead played by Ku Hye-sun. At the time of her death, Jang was awaiting the release of her first two films, They Are Coming and Penthouse Elephant.

Jang was known to have had difficulties with her management agency.[6]

Personal life

Since the death of her parents in a traffic accident in 1999, Jang had been living with her older sister and younger brother.[7] Prior to her own death, Jang had been suffering from clinical depression and had received medical treatment for her condition during the past year.

Death and later investigation

Jang died by suicide. She was found hanging in her home in the Bundang district of Seongnam, Gyeonggi province, on 7 March 2009. During a phone call at 3:30 p.m. that afternoon, Jang had complained to her sister about the "overwhelming stress" she was under, saying that she "wanted to die". Having later been unable to reach her on the phone, Jang's sister returned to their shared home at 7:42 p.m. to find her body hanging from the stairway banister.[8]

A police investigation concluded that her death was a suicide, and found no evidence of foul play. Jang is believed to have killed herself at around 4:30 pm.[9] [10]

According to widespread South Korean entertainment news reports, it was believed that Jang claimed that her agent Kim Sung-hoon had regularly beaten her and forced her to sleep with a string of VIPs, including directors, media executives and CEOs. Kim Sung-hoon, who was in Japan, denied the accusations.[11] It was unconfirmed that Jang wrote a 7-page note listing at least 31 names of media executives, CEOs, and directors that she claimed she was forced into having sex with. South Korean police have suppressed the full list.[12] Later on, it was also reported that the 7-page note might not be written by Jang herself.[13]

The former manager of Jang's management agency, Kim Sung-hoon, was arrested in Tokyo, Japan in June 2009 for overstaying his visa. Korean police requested Kim's extradition on a warrant related to Jang's death. At the time of his arrest, Kim stated that he "committed a crime in South Korea and overstayed in Japan to avoid being arrested".[14] Twenty figures were investigated by the police, resulting in seven prosecutions. Kim was sentenced to one year in jail, two years of probation and 160 hours of community service.[15]

Approximately 250,000 fans visited Jang's website on the day of her death to express their condolences, with a further 700,000 visiting the site the following day, while the entire cast of Boys Over Flowers paid their last respects at the mourning hall set up at the Seoul National University Hospital in Bundang. Jang's funeral was held there on 9 March, and was attended by family, friends and fellow actors, including Boys Over Flowers lead Ku Hye-sun. Her cremated remains were buried next to her parents in Jeongeup, North Jeolla province.[16]

In 2019, President Moon Jae-in issued a thorough re-investigation into Jang's case as well as a proper investigation into the Burning Sun scandal and the sex scandal of former high-ranking Ministry of Justice official, Kim Hak-eui. Jang's former labelmate, Yoon Ji-oh, came forward publicly with her testimony about the agency's mistreatment of Jang as a result of the reopened investigation into Jang's death. Later on, Jang's ex-boyfriend, Mr. Choi, came forward to suspect Yoon's intention while she was promoting her book regarding Jang's death and also receiving money donation on her crowdfunding accounts regarding the case. Choi accused Yoon that she was not a friend of Jang and he never heard of Yoon's name when Jang was alive. Due to Yoon's testimonies were not consistent over the years and her other allegations of lies, defamation and frauds, South Korean government has issued 3 arrest warrants on Yoon since October 2019, including one red arrest warrant by the International Criminal Police Agency (ICPO, Interpol)[17] to summon Yoon back to South Korea for the lawsuits.[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] Yoon is currently in Canada. Yoon is also being sued by the people from South Korea who donated money to her.[23] [24] [25]

Due to the controversy of Jang's case and the rumors since Jang's death, all the accusations from the media could not be used as evidence to press charges on any figures involved. Thus, Jang's former manager, Kim Sung-hoon is the only person who has been arrested so far in this case.

In film

Her case inspired the 2013 film Norigae.[26] [27] [28] [29]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleRef.
2009Searching for the ElephantHye-mi[31]
The Weird Missing Case of Mr. JMin-a[32]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 승리부터 장자연 최진실 다 연결된거 같음. 2019-03-13. Nate Pann. ko. 2019-03-19. 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330222157/https://pann.nate.com/talk/345813299. live.
  2. Web site: South Korean TV star Jang Ja-yeon's suicide note claimed she was abused by high-profile figures. Carey. Alexis. 2018-04-05. news.com.au. 2019-03-19. 3 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190703200241/https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/other-industries/south-korean-tv-star-jang-jayeons-suicide-note-claimed-she-was-abused-by-highprofile-figures/news-story/ff5d5ce717db823c600fcdbe6fa1b995. live.
  3. Web site: New figure emerges in the Jang case. Jang. Joo-young. 2009-03-26. Korea JoongAng Daily. 2019-03-19. 24 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210224125809/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2902747. live.
  4. Web site: Actress Jang forced to sexually entertain: appeals court. Kim. Yon-se. 2014-10-12. The Korea Herald. 2019-03-19. 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330235235/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20141012000228. live.
  5. News: Chung Ah-young . Boys over Flowers' Actress Jang Found Dead in Apparent Suicide . . 8 March 2009. Seoul . https://web.archive.org/web/20090310002538/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/03/178_40909.html . 10 March 2009 .
  6. News: Glionna . John M. . In South Korea's entertainment industry, exploitation remains an issue . . 9 January 2011 . 12 January 2011 . 21 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181121011800/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/09/entertainment/la-ca-cultural-exchange-20110109 . live .
  7. News: Actress Jang Ja-yeon in Apparent Suicide. Digital Chosunilbo. 9 March 2009. 30 August 2015. 28 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191028094839/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/03/09/2009030961021.html. live.
  8. News: Kim Mi-ju . Actress from 'Boys Over Flowers' hangs herself . . 9 March 2009 . . Seoul . 9 March 2009 . 13 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713115900/http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2901981 . live .
  9. News: Kwon Mee-yoo . Late Actress Was Forced to Have Sex With Showbiz VIPs . . 15 March 2009. Seoul . https://web.archive.org/web/20090322001134/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/03/117_41308.html . 22 March 2009 .
  10. News: Park Si-soo . Police Tracing Sex Contacts of Late Actress Jang . . Seoul . 15 March 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090324000317/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/03/117_41741.html . 24 March 2009 .
  11. News: Storm in South Korea over Jang Ja-yeon's suicide. McCurry. Justin. 1 April 2009. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. London. 17 December 2016. 15 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200515070005/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/apr/01/south-korea-entertaiment-jang-jayeon. live.
  12. Web site: Si-soo . Park . Jang Ja-yeon scandal resurfaces . The Korea Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20140715003637/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/03/117_82649.html . 15 July 2014 . live . 7 March 2011 .
  13. Web site: Netizens uncover offenders' names from the 'Jang Ja Yeon list'. 8 March 2011. Allkpop. 10 March 2011. 5 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121005105636/http://www.allkpop.com/2011/03/netizens-uncover-offenders-names-from-the-jang-ja-yeon-list. live.
  14. News: S. Korean held over starlet's suicide . Japan Times Weekly . 4 July 2009 . 30 August 2015 . 5 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305203309/http://info.japantimes.co.jp/weekly/news/nn2009/nn20090704a4.htm . live .
  15. News: Suicide Actress 'Forced into Sex with 31 Influential Figures' . 7 March 2011 . . Seoul . 8 March 2011 . 21 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191121013950/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/03/07/2011030701350.html . live .
  16. Web site: "Boys over Flower" actress Jang Ja-yeon Laid to Rest. 9 March 2009. KBS World. https://web.archive.org/web/20090311015207/http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=9282. 11 March 2009.
  17. Web site: '명예훼손·후원금 사기 등 의혹' 윤지오 인터폴 적색수배. 2019-11-07. The Korea Economic Daily. ko. 2019-11-07. 8 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191108074727/https://www.hankyung.com/society/article/201911072833Y. live.
  18. Web site: 인터폴, '장자연 사건' 증언 윤지오 적색 수배 내려. 2019-11-07. Hankook Ilbo. ko. 2019-11-07. 7 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191107190732/https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201911072254038853. live.
  19. Web site: 윤지호, 故 장자연 성접대 증인에서 도망자로...입국시 바로 체포. 케이앤뉴스 KN NEWS. ko. 2019-11-05. 15 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615193127/http://knnws.com/news/view.php?idx=7562. live.
  20. Web site: [故장자연·김학의 사건 재조사] [속보]경찰, '장자연 사건' 증인 자처 윤지오 체포영장]. 2019-10-30. Kyunghyang Shinmun. ko. 2019-10-30. 15 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615193142/http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201910301648001&code=940100. live.
  21. Web site: [속보] '장자연 사건 증인' 윤지오 체포영장 발부]. 2019-10-30. Hankook Ilbo. ko. 2019-10-30. 10 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191210052004/https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201910301655054758. live.
  22. Web site: 윤지오 여권 곧 '무효' 된다…"인터폴에 적색수배". 이 . 유경. 2019-10-30. MBC News. ko. 2019-10-30. 30 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191030174235/http://imnews.imbc.com/replay/2019/nwdesk/article/5571481_24634.html. live.
  23. Web site: "윤지오 전용차·신변보호...여성가족부 예산 쓴 정황". 2019-10-23. JoongAng Ilbo. ko. 2019-10-23. 24 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191024002242/https://news.joins.com/article/23612630. live.
  24. Web site: 한수지 기자 - '故 장자연 사건 증인' 윤지오, 체포영장 발부…거짓말-사기 의혹 등 사건 정리. 2019-10-30. 톱스타뉴스. ko. 2019-10-30. 15 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615193137/http://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=688527. live.
  25. Web site: 2019-10-30 . "유일 증인에서 사기 피의자로"...윤지오 송환되나? . . ko . 30 October 2019 . 11 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191211230336/https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0103_201910302226079635 . live .
  26. Web site: Trailer for NORIGAE Seeks Justice. Pierce. Conran. 26 March 2013. 26 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000308/http://twitchfilm.com/2013/03/trailer-for-norigae-seeks-justice.html. 31 December 2013.
  27. Web site: Tong-hyung. Kim. True-story indie films get popular. The Korea Times. 31 March 2013. 8 April 2013. 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330222122/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2013/04/141_133049.html. live.
  28. Web site: Film inspired by true story lacks sensitivity for real-life victim. 23 April 2013. 24 April 2013. 6 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200206134015/http://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130423000934&ntn=0. live.
  29. Web site: Hangul Celluloid: Director CHOI Seung-ho interview – February 2014. hangulcelluloid.com. 2 March 2014. 23 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191123100510/http://www.hangulcelluloid.com/choiseunghointerview.html. live.
  30. News: Actress from 'Boys Over Flowers' hangs herself. Kim. Mi-ju. Jeon. Ick-jin. 9 March 2009. Korea JoongAng Daily. 28 July 2018. 28 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210228122041/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2901981. live.
  31. News: Late Korean actress' work invited to Polish film fest. 30 March 2010. The Korea Herald. 28 July 2018. 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190330234521/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20090929000088. live.
  32. Web site: 정승필 실종사건. The Weird Missing Case of Mr. J (Jeongseungpil Siljongsageon). Korean Movie Database. ko. 28 July 2018. 2 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190402135955/https://www.kmdb.or.kr/db/kor/detail/movie/K/10473. live.

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