Jang Ja-yeon

Jang Ja-yeon (Korean: 장자연; 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.

In this Korean name, the family name is Jang.
Jang Ja-yeon
장자연
Jang at the 45th Baeksang Arts Awards in February 2009
Born(1980-01-25)25 January 1980
Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, South Korea
Died7 March 2009(2009-03-07) (aged 29)
Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Cause of deathSuicide by hanging
OccupationActress
Years active2006–2009
Korean name
Hangul
장자연
Revised RomanizationJang Ja-yeon
McCune–ReischauerChang Chayŏn

At the time of her death at the age of 29, Jang had been starring in Boys Over Flowers. She had been suffering from depression, and it was revealed in 2019 that the initial investigation into her death in 2009 was corrupted and false.[1] The 2009 investigation concluded that her death was a suicide at first, and was reopened in 2018.[2] Her death caused a national scandal in 2009 when it was widely spread by the media that she had been sexually and physically abused by a number of prominent entertainment executives during her career, most importantly 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 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 illness during the past year.[5]

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".[5] 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,[8] and found no evidence of foul play.[7] Jang is believed to have killed herself at around 4:30 pm.[8][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 directed 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,[7] 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.[8] 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

Television
Year Title Role Ref.
2009 Boys Over Flowers Sunny [30]

Film
Year Title Role Ref.
2009 Searching for the Elephant Hye-mi [31]
The Weird Missing Case of Mr. J Min-a [32]

See also

References
  1. "승리부터 장자연 최진실 다 연결된거 같음". Nate Pann (in Korean). 13 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  2. Carey, Alexis (5 April 2018). "South Korean TV star Jang Ja-yeon's suicide note claimed she was abused by high-profile figures". news.com.au. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  3. Jang, Joo-young (26 March 2009). "New figure emerges in the Jang case". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  4. Kim, Yon-se (12 October 2014). "Actress Jang forced to sexually entertain: appeals court". Korea Herald. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  5. Chung Ah-young (8 March 2009). "Boys over Flowers' Actress Jang Found Dead in Apparent Suicide". The Korea Times. Seoul. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009.
  6. Glionna, John M. (9 January 2011). "In South Korea's entertainment industry, exploitation remains an issue". Los Angeles Times.
  7. "Actress Jang Ja-yeon in Apparent Suicide". Digital Chosunilbo. 9 March 2009.
  8. Kim Mi-ju (9 March 2009). "Actress from 'Boys Over Flowers' hangs herself". JoongAng Daily. Seoul: JoongAng Ilbo.
  9. Kwon Mee-yoo (15 March 2009). "Late Actress Was Forced to Have Sex With Showbiz VIPs". The Korea Times. Seoul. Archived from the original on 22 March 2009.
  10. Park Si-soo (15 March 2009). "Police Tracing Sex Contacts of Late Actress Jang". The Korea Times. Seoul. Archived from the original on 24 March 2009.
  11. McCurry, Justin (1 April 2009). "Storm in South Korea over Jang Ja-yeon's suicide". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media.
  12. Si-soo, Park (7 March 2011). "Jang Ja-yeon scandal resurfaces". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014.
  13. "Netizens uncover offenders' names from the 'Jang Ja Yeon list'". allkpop. 8 March 2011.
  14. "S. Korean held over starlet's suicide". Japan Times Weekly. 4 July 2009.
  15. "Suicide Actress 'Forced into Sex with 31 Influential Figures'". The Chosun Ilbo. Seoul. 7 March 2011.
  16. ""Boys over Flower" actress Jang Ja-yeon Laid to Rest". KBS World. 9 March 2009. Archived from the original on 11 March 2009.
  17. "'명예훼손·후원금 사기 등 의혹' 윤지오 인터폴 적색수배". hankyung.com (in Korean). 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  18. "인터폴, '장자연 사건' 증언 윤지오 적색 수배 내려". 한국일보 (in Korean). 7 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  19. "윤지호, 故 장자연 성접대 증인에서 도망자로...입국시 바로 체포". 케이앤뉴스 KN NEWS (in Korean). Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  20. 수정: 2019.10.30 16:54, 입력: 2019 10 30 16:48 (30 October 2019). "[故장자연·김학의 사건 재조사] [속보]경찰, '장자연 사건' 증인 자처 윤지오 체포영장". news.khan.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  21. "[속보] '장자연 사건 증인' 윤지오 체포영장 발부". 한국일보 (in Korean). 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  22. 이유경 (30 October 2019). "윤지오 여권 곧 '무효' 된다…"인터폴에 적색수배"". MBC NEWS (in Korean). Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  23. ""윤지오 전용차·신변보호...여성가족부 예산 쓴 정황"". 중앙일보 (in Korean). 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  24. "한수지 기자 - '故 장자연 사건 증인' 윤지오, 체포영장 발부…거짓말-사기 의혹 등 사건 정리". 톱스타뉴스 (in Korean). 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  25. ""유일 증인에서 사기 피의자로"...윤지오 송환되나?". www.ytn.co.kr (in Korean). 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  26. Conran, Pierce (26 March 2013). "Trailer for NORIGAE Seeks Justice". Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  27. Tong-hyung, Kim (31 March 2013). "True-story indie films get popular". The Korea Times.
  28. "Film inspired by true story lacks sensitivity for real-life victim". 23 April 2013.
  29. "Hangul Celluloid: Director CHOI Seung-ho interview – February 2014". hangulcelluloid.com.
  30. Kim, Mi-ju; Jeon, Ick-jin (9 March 2009). "Actress from 'Boys Over Flowers' hangs herself". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  31. "Late Korean actress' work invited to Polish film fest". The Korea Herald. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  32. "정승필 실종사건. The Weird Missing Case of Mr. J (Jeongseungpil Siljongsageon)". Korean Movie Database (in Korean). Retrieved 28 July 2018.
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