Sung Yu-ri

In this Korean name, the family name is Sung.

Sung Yu-ri
Sung in 2019
Born	(1981-03-03) March 3, 1981 (age 43) Tübingen, West Germany
Nationality	South Korean [note 1]
Education	Kyung Hee University
Occupation(s)	Actress, singer
Years active	1998–present
Agent	Initial Entertainment
Spouse	Ahn Sung-hyun ​ (m. 2017)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Pop
Instruments	Vocal
Years active	1998–2002 2010–2011 2019–present
Labels	DSP Media
Korean name
Hangul	성유리
Hanja	成宥利
Revised Romanization	Seong Yu-ri
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏng Yuri

Sung Yu-ri (born March 3, 1981) is a South Korean actress and singer. She made her entertainment debut in 1998 as a member of the now-defunct K-pop group Fin.K.L. Sung turned to acting in 2002, starring in television dramas such as Thousand Years of Love (2003), The Snow Queen (2006), Hong Gil-dong (2008), and Feast of the Gods (2010).

Early life and education

Sung was born in 1981 in Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany. Her father Sung Jong-hyun, a prominent professor of theology at the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary, was studying at the time in West Germany. Sung's family returned to South Korea when she was four years old and she grew up in Gangdong District, Seoul. She attended Myung Elementary and Middle School, and Kwang Nam High School, and graduated from Kyung Hee University with a Post Modern Music major in 2005.

Career

When Sung was a high school student, she began her entertainment career in 1998 as the youngest member of the four-member K-pop girl group Fin.K.L (which stood for "Fine Killing Liberty"), one of the first Korean idol groups.^[1] Fin.K.L quickly rose in popularity, releasing four albums (Blue Rain (1998), White (1999), Now (2001), Eternity (2002)), and various singles, live concert albums and compilation albums. But after the release of their fourth album, Sung and fellow band members Ock Joo-hyun, Lee Hyori and Lee Jin began doing solo activities.^[2]

Sung made her acting debut in 2002 with Bad Girls, and a year later was cast in her first leading role in Thousand Years of Love (2003). Sung learned horseback riding and martial arts in her role as a Baekje princess who time travels to modern-day South Korea.^[3] This was followed by the romantic comedy First Love of a Royal Prince (2004), partly shot in Japan and Bali, in which Sung's fun-loving sandwich shop delivery girl was a departure from her previous feminine characters.^[4] During this time, she was harshly criticized for her acting.^[5][6][7]

Sung graduated from Kyung Hee University in February 2005 with a degree in Theater and Film; she also received an Achievement Award for promoting her alma mater.^[8] After a brief return to music via Fin.K.L's digital single Corealism in late 2005, she decided to focus solely on her acting career. In line with this, all the Fin.K.L members left their agency DSP Entertainment, and Sung joined SidusHQ in June 2005.

In 2006, she starred in One Fine Day and The Snow Queen, playing, respectively, an orphan adopted by a wealthy but suffocating family, and a cold-hearted heiress with an incurable disease.

But it was fusion-period dramedy Hong Gil-dong in 2008 that changed how the industry perceived Sung as an actress. The series' screenwriters, the Hong sisters were initially criticized for casting her, but they defended Sung, and her portrayal of a tomboyish, vanity-free outlaw drew a positive reception from audiences.^[9]

Sung then played an aspiring show director who joins the Cirque du Soleil in Swallow the Sun, a 2009 big-budget action-romance series with overseas location shoots in Las Vegas and South Africa.^[10] That same year, she also appeared in her first big-screen starring role as a Korean-American adoptee who returns to her native country to search for her biological mother in Maybe (titled Rabbit and Lizard in Korean).^{[6][11][12][13][14]}

In 2011, Sung left SidusHQ and transferred to King Kong Entertainment.^[15][16] She then starred in Romance Town, in the role of a maid who wins ₩14 billion in the lottery and keeps it a secret from her boss and fellow household help.^[17][18][19]

Sung at the Return of the Mafia movie premiere in December 2012

A more traditional melodrama followed with Feast of the Gods (2012), about two rival female chefs of Korean royal court cuisine.^{[7][20][21][22][23]} Afterwards, Sung reunited onscreen with previous Hong Gil-dong co-star Kang Ji-hwan in the action-comedy film Runway Cop, which revolves around a detective who goes undercover as a fashion model for a drug case.^{[24][25][26][27]}

In 2013, she played a genius with psychogenic amnesia in The Secret of Birth.^[28][29] The low-budget indie A Boy's Sister was then released, in which Sung played the titular character who's grieving after her brother's death.^[30][31] Later that year, she replaced Han Hye-jin as one of the hosts of talk show Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy.^[32][33]

When Sung's contract with King Kong Entertainment expired in January 2014, she signed with Fantagio.^[34] She then appeared for free in the short film Chorogi and the Stalker Guy which screened at 6th Seoul International Extreme-Short Image & Film Festival (SESIFF).^[35] Sung next played a diva actress who unexpectedly falls for her loyal manager in the 2015 omnibus Summer Snow.^[36][37]

On April 20, 2015, Sung signed an exclusive contract with SL Entertainment.^[38] She next starred in the revenge melodrama Monster.^[39][40]

Personal life

Sung married golfer Ahn Sung-hyun in May 2017 in a low-key private ceremony. They had been dating for four years and did not publicly announce their marriage until after the ceremony.^[41][42] On July 16, 2021, Sung announced on her Instagram that she was pregnant with twins.^[43] Later on January 8, 2022, Sung's agency announced that Sung had given birth to twin daughters on January 7, 2022.^[44]

Philanthropy

On July 22, 2022, Sung purchased cosmetics worth 30 million won with her own money, which were donated to the Skylight Project.^[45]

Filmography

Main article: Sung Yu-ri filmography

Video game appearances

Sung Yu-ri is a playable character in the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (only in the South Korean PC version).

Discography

Fin.K.L

For Sung Yu-ri's work with Fin.K.L, see Fin.K.L.

Solo artist

Album information	Track listing
연인선언 (Lover's Declaration) Artist: Tim feat. Sung Yu-ri Single Released: August 19, 2010 Label: Sony Music	Track listing 연인선언 (Lover's Declaration) 연인선언 (Lover's Declaration) (Inst.)
한 사람 (One Person)[46] Artist: Sung Yu-ri Single Released: November 20, 2011 Label: CJ E&M	Track listing Forever 한 사람 (One Person) 한 사람 (One Person) (Inst.)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominated work	Result
2002	MBC Entertainment Awards	Best New MC	Section TV Entertainment	Won
	SBS Drama Awards	New Star Award	Bad Girls	Won
2003	SBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Planning Drama	Thousand Years of Love	Won
		Netizen Popularity Award		Won
		Top 10 Stars		Won
2004	2nd Andre Kim Best Star Awards	Acting Award	—	Won
	MBC Drama Awards	Popularity Award, Actress[47]	First Love of a Royal Prince	Nominated
2006	MBC Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress	One Fine Day	Nominated
		Special Award, Actress in a Miniseries		Won
		Popularity Award, Actress		Nominated
		Best Couple Award with Gong Yoo		Nominated
	KBS Drama Awards	Popularity Award, Actress[48]	The Snow Queen	Won
		Best Couple Award with Hyun Bin[48]		Won
2007	3rd Andre Kim Best Star Awards	Female Star Award[49]	—	Won
	1st Mnet 20's Choice Awards	Natural Beauty Award	—	Won
2008	44th Baeksang Arts Awards	Most Popular Actress (TV)[50]	Hong Gil-dong	Won
	2nd Korea Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress		Nominated
	KBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries		Nominated
		Popularity Award, Actress		Won
		Best Couple Award with Kang Ji-hwan		Won
2009	SBS Drama Awards	Best Couple Award with Ji Sung	Swallow the Sun	Nominated
2011	KBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama	Romance Town	Nominated
		Netizen Award, Actress		Nominated
		Best Couple Award with Jung Gyu-woon		Nominated
2012	MBC Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama	Feast of the Gods	Won
		Popularity Award, Actress		Nominated
2013	SBS Entertainment Awards	Excellence Award, MC category	Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy	Won
	SBS Drama Awards	Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries[51]	The Secret of Birth	Won
2014	SBS Entertainment Awards	Producer's Award	Healing Camp, Aren't You Happy	Won
2016	MBC Drama Awards	Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama	Monster	Nominated
2022	2022 KBS Entertainment Awards[52]	Excellence Award in Reality Category	Love Recall	Nominated

State honors

Name of the organization, year presented, and the award given

Organization	Year	Award	Ref.
51st Taxpayers' Day	2017	Presidential Commendation	[53]

Notes

1. Germany only recognize nationality by ethnicity, therefore she does not hold German nationality.

References

1. "Fin.K.L reunites on stage with support of ecstatic fans". The Korea Times. September 20, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
2. "Fin.K.L. Reunites After Two Years". The Chosun Ilbo. March 19, 2004. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
3. Lee, Seung-jae (March 18, 2003). "Romantic Fantasy Transcending Time". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
4. Cho, Katherine (April 29, 2004). "Seong Yuri Stars in MBC's First Love of the Prince Royal". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
5. "Singers-Turned-Actors: the Best and the Worst". The Chosun Ilbo. December 2, 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
6. Lee, Hyo-won (October 5, 2009). "Sung Yu-ri Makes Movie Debut Opposite Jang Hyuk". The Korea Times. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
7. Choi, Eun-hwa (March 2, 2012). "How Sung Yuri Became a True Actress". enewsWorld. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
8. Kim, Hyeon-rok (February 15, 2005). 성유리·옥주현·공유.. "우리는 경희대 졸업동기" [Sung Yu-ri, Ock Joo-hyun, Gong Yoo graduate together from Kyung Hee University]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2014.
9. Kwon, Mee-yoo (January 1, 2008). "Epic Dramas Continues to Boom This Year". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
10. Han, Sang-hee (July 7, 2009). "Swallow the Sun to Capture Love, Revenge". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
11. "Sung Yu-ri Makes Big-Screen Debut". The Chosun Ilbo. October 8, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
12. "Jang Hyuk praises big screen newcomer Sung Yu-ri". 10Asia. October 5, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
13. "Maybe set out to mend hearts". 10Asia. October 14, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
14. "Screening held for Sung Yu-ri's debut movie". Korea JoongAng Daily. October 15, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
15. "Sung Yu-ri". King Kong Entertainment (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
16. Jeon, Su-mi (January 4, 2013). "Sung Yuri Renews Contract with King Kong Entertainment". enewsWorld. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
17. "Sung Yu-ri to make comeback to small screen". 10Asia. March 9, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
18. "Sung Yoo Ri: 'I Have Won 10,000 won Lottery'". KBS Global. July 20, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
19. Sunwoo, Carla (May 12, 2012). "Romance Town actors help launch drama DVD in Japan". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
20. Sunwoo, Carla (December 12, 2011). "Yuri announces return to small screen". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
21. "Sung Yu-ri decides on new TV series". 10Asia. December 12, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
22. "Preview: MBC TV series Supper of the Gods (tentative title)". 10Asia. February 3, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
23. Park, Hyun-min (February 1, 2012). "Sung Yuri Reveals Her Attachment to Acting". enewsWorld. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
24. "Kang Ji-hwan, Sung Yu-ri cast as leads in new movie". 10asia. October 13, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
25. Lee, Jin-ho (May 31, 2012). "Sung Yuri Wants Detective Cha to be No. 1". enewsWorld. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
26. Lee, Jin-ho (June 9, 2012). "Interview: Sung Yuri Says Her Kiss with Kang Ji Hwan was Passionate". enewsWorld. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
27. Lee, Jin-ho (June 11, 2012). "Interview: Sung Yuri's Stance on Nude Scenes". enewsWorld. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
28. Jeon, Su-mi (March 14, 2013). "Sung Yuri to Star in Upcoming SBS Drama The Secret of Birth". enewsWorld. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
29. Lee, Sun-min (April 25, 2013). "Sung Yu-ri isn't worried about her Fin.K.L past in upcoming SBS drama". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
30. Lee, Claire (December 21, 2012). "Sung returns as grieving sister". The Korea Herald. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
31. Lee, Sun-min (June 24, 2013). "A Boy's Sister earns festival invite". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
32. Lee, Sun-min (July 31, 2013). "Sung Yu-ri to host future Healing Camp episodes". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
33. Lee, Sun-min (August 16, 2013). "Sung happy about TV debut". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
34. "Sung Yuri to Join Ha Jung Woo and Yeom Jung Ah's Agency". Soompi. January 30, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
35. Kim, Erika (July 30, 2014). "Sung Yuri and Jung Gyu Woon to Participate in Amateur Short Film Project". enewsWorld. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
36. Won, Ho-jung (November 3, 2015). "Herald Interview: Sung Yu-ri finds comfort on camera". The Korea Herald. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
37. Jung, Hyun-mok (November 3, 2015). "Actress Sung shows her sexy side in new film". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
38. "Sung Yu-ri signs new agency". Kpop Herald. April 20, 2015.
39. "Kang Ji-hwan, Sung Yu-ri to star in drama". Korea JoongAng Daily. February 5, 2016.
40. "Sung Yu-ri to play job seeker". Kpop Herald. March 1, 2016.
41. "Fin.K.L member reveals marriage". Korea JoongAng Daily. May 17, 2017.
42. "Actress Sung Yu-ri Ties the Knot with Pro Golfer". The Chosun Ilbo. May 17, 2017.
43. Lee Young-soo (July 16, 2021). "성유리, 쌍둥이 임신 소식 자필 편지 공개 "태명은 사랑이, 행복이"[전문]" [Sung Yu-ri reveals a handwritten letter on the news of twin pregnancy "My name is love, happiness]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
44. Kim Won-gyeom (January 8, 2022). "성유리, 7일 쌍둥이 딸 출산…"건강하고 예쁘게 잘 키우겠다"[공식입장]" [Sung Yuri gave birth to twin daughters on the 7th... "I will raise them healthy and beautiful" [Official position]] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Retrieved January 8, 2022 – via Naver.
45. Park Jeong-seon (July 22, 2022). "성유리, 소외 계층 아이들 위해 3000만원 상당 화장품 기부" [Sung Yuri donates 30 million won worth of cosmetics to underprivileged children] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved July 22, 2022 – via Naver.
46. Lee, Kyung-nam (November 18, 2011). "Sung Yuri to Release Solo Single". enewsWorld. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
47. "2004 MBC 연기대상 남녀인기상투표하기".
48. "2006 KBS Drama Awards". Korean Broadcasting System (in Korean).
49. "Top Stars Win Andre Kim Award". The Korea Times. May 1, 2007.
50. "The 44th PaekSang Arts Awards Sparkles with Stars". KBS World. April 24, 2008.
51. Cory Lee (January 2, 2014). "Lee Bo-young Grabs 1st Top Prize at the 2013 SBS Drama Awards". TenAsia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
52. Bae, Soo-jung (December 25, 2022). "[종합] 'KBS 연예대상' 신동엽, SF9 찬희의 '대상 10년 주기설'에 설마‥2002-2012년 이후 10년 만에 또 대상 "얄궂다" [[Comprehensive] ‘KBS Entertainment Grand Prize’ Shin Dong-yeop, SF9 Chani’s ‘Daesang 10-year cycle theory’, no way… again 10 years after 2002-2012, “It’s ironic]. TopStarNews (in Korean). Retrieved December 24, 2022.
53. "[한국세정신문] '납세보국'-세금 잘 냈다고 상 받은 연예인은 누구?" [[Korea Sejeong Newspaper] 'Taxation Bureau' - Who is the celebrity who received the award for paying taxes well?]. www.taxtimes.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved October 28, 2023.

External links

• Sung Yu-ri on Facebook (in Korean)
• Sung Yu-ri at HanCinema
• Sung Yu-ri at the Korean Movie Database
• Sung Yu-ri at IMDb