In the world of K-dramas, unassuming characters are best to be remembered. The role of Choo Ja Hyun as Jin Hwa-young in Netflix’s Little Women certainly proved that—because, let’s be real, even secondary leads can get their main character moment!
If you’re curious to know more about the actress just as much as her mysterious character, then look no further. Here are quick 101s on the Korean and Chinese star that you might wanna keep in your back pocket.
.jpg)
10 Fast Facts About K-Drama Actress Choo Ja Hyun
1. Choo Ja Hyun is an Aquarius.
Ja Hyun was born Choo Eun Joo in Daegu, South Korea on January 20, 1979.
2. Choo Ja Hyun’s blood type is A.
In East Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, a person’s blood type is as big of a peek into their personality as much as their zodiac sign! Ja Hyun reportedly is a blood type A, which, according to the theory, means that she's emotional, passionate, patient, and peace-loving. People of this blood type can also appear to be perfectionists in their craft—and judging from her acting skills, that one seems like a bull’s eye!
3. Choo Ja Hyun went to the same university as several Korean actors and K-pop idols.
The actress is a proud degree-holder of Theater and Film from the prestigious private research institution Dankook University. Ja Hyun joins the long list of notable alumni from the school, namely Park Hae Soo (Squid Game, Money Heist: Korea), Park Bo Young (Strong Girl Bong-soon, Oh My Ghost), Ji Chang Wook (Backstreet Rookie, The Sound of Magic), and musicians like Jay Park, Rain, SS501’s Kim Hyung Jun and Park Jung Min, and Big Bang’s T.O.P.
4. Choo Ja Hyun is managed by BH Entertainment.
Fun fact: Ja Hyun is actually labelmates with her Little Women co-star Kim Go Eun! She’s definitely in the company (quite literally!) of Hallyu’s biggest names in BH Entertainment, including Dankook alumnus Park Hae Soo, Squid Game’s Lee Byung Hun, and more!
5. Choo Ja Hyun had her start in the '90s.
Before she ventured into the acting scene, Ja Hyun was actually a teen model. She made her acting debut in 1996 just before she graduated from university, starring in the film The Adventure of Mrs. Park and SBS-produced K-series 18, Feeling of Growing Up, which were both released in the same year!
6. Choo Ja Hyun is also a famous actress in China.
However, it wasn’t an instant upward trajectory for Ja Hyun’s career in her homeland. To continue having her craft as a working job, she made the move to China where she kickstarted her international career.
“I did not have a choice [but to debut in China],” she explained in a documentary with SBS. “Acting is my trade, and I have to act to make a living, but in Korea the work was not steady enough for a stable income.”
In 2003, she appeared in the high-ranking Taiwanese drama Scent of Love. After her move to China, she bagged a leading lady role in The Legend of the Banner Hero, an adaptation of a fantasy wuxia novel. Ja Hyun—named Qiu Cixuan in Mainland China—later catapulted into Chinese stardom status with a remake of K-drama Temptation of Wife titled The Temptation to Go Home. At one point, it was reported that her fee was 10 times larger after that!
7. Choo Ja Hyun is married to a Chinese actor and singer.
After launching her career in Mainland China, aside from success, she also found love! Ja Hyun dated Chinese actor and singer Yu Xiaoguang (also known as Ethan Yu) in 2015, after meeting him while filming a C-drama in 2012. The two also starred in the Korean reality show Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny.
The couple eventually tied the knot in January 2017. A year after, they welcomed the birth of their son!
8. Choo Ja Hyun has more than 40 acting credits.
With the combo of her presence in both Korean and Chinese media, Ja Hyun has proven to be a prolific actress with more than 40 acting credits to date. In 2022 alone, she starred in three K-dramas, including Green Mothers Club and Netflix’s Little Women and Narco-Saints. Her next film While You Were Sleeping sees her play opposite Lee Moo Saeng (The World of the Married, Thirty-Nine) as a newlywedded wife who tragically loses her memory.
9. Choo Ja Hyun is a multi-award winning actress
Whether in Korea or China, Ja Hyun has several awards under her belt. In 2006, she gained recognition for her role in the Korean action crime Bloody Tie, where she portrayed a devastated drug addict. Later on, she would also be on the receiving end of critical acclaim for Portrait of a Beauty, a Joseon-era period beauty film. Alongside critics’ recognition, Ja Hyun has also bagged popularity awards of her own, like China’s CCTV Chinese TV Star of the Year in 2012.
10. You can follow Choo Ja Hyun on Instagram.
Curious to see more of Ja Hyun behind the scenes? Be in the know on all things about the star by tapping "follow" on her Instagram page!
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
