Uhm Jung-Hwa Is Happy To See Dr. Cha Pursue Her Passion

In the k-drama Dr. Cha, Uhm Jung-hwa plays Jeong-suk, a devoted wife, mother and daughter-in-law, who cares for everyone’s needs but her own. Such devotion is rarely reciprocated. Her family takes her for granted and she’s given up on her dream of becoming a doctor. A medical crisis changes Jeong-suk’s priorities she decides to continue her medical training at the hospital where her surgeon husband works. He isn’t pleased, but his behavior during her medical crisis taught Jeong-suk that he can’t be relied on.

Jeong-suk’s husband, played comically by Kim Byung-chul, is so annoyingly selfish he would not make any sacrifices to save his wife’s life. When Jeong-suk wakes up from surgery, she lets him know just how selfish he really is. It’s a pivotal moment in their relationship. The confrontation makes for a satisfying scene and it was one of Uhm’s favorite scenes to film.

“It feels cathartic to see Jeong-suk finally burst out the emotional baggage that had piled up in her for too long,” said Uhm. “Many of our viewers also liked it when Jeong-suk slapped In-ho in his sleep and told her colleagues that her husband was dead. Jeong-suk is a person with a big heart, who knows how to embrace others, but at the same time she doesn’t hesitate to say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done at the right time. Such sides of her make her even more likable.”

The drama features many scenes that Uhm enjoyed filming.

“I loved every scene from the drama that portrayed her journey as a medical resident, which entailed hardships, but ultimately a significant growth as an individual. They were made out of my support for Jeong-suk that I always had in mind while shooting.”

Uhm fell in love with Jeong-suk’s story the first time she read the script for the SLL drama. The character faces prejudice when it comes to her age and disappointment in her marriage, but she doesn’t give in. With the help of her fellow residents she survives and thrives.

“The story of her growth and transition into a new version of herself, depicted through various episodes and stories, was something I truly wanted to deliver as an actor,” said Uhm. “Also, I have always wanted to do a medical drama, so I was really glad to have encountered Dr. Cha.”

As soon as Jeong-suk starts to pursue her passion, her life changes for the better. It’s important to have something to be passionate about.

“Passion could be the most important part of life,” she said. “That you have passion in certain things, whether big or small, means that you have dreams to pursue. And to work your way toward them step-by-step is one of the forces that keep us going in our lives.”

Uhm is even more passionate about her career than when she first started performing more than 30 years ago.

“Yes, the passion and excitement I have for acting is actually getting bigger as I get older,” she said. “I have spent a fair amount of time working as an actor, but acting never grows old or boring, and rather motivates me to be more enthusiastic toward new opportunities and challenges. The fact that there are so many stories and characters I haven’t explored yet excites me, and makes me look forward to what is ahead of me.”

Uhm’s long, successful and multi-faceted career have made her a role model for Korean artists. She began her career as a singer and dancer and proceeded to win multiple awards for her roles. Her performance in the 2002 erotic comedy Marriage Is a Crazy Thing won her a Best Actress award at the 39th Baeksang Arts Awards. She received another nomination for Best Actress in 2006 with Princess Aurora and won again in 2012 with Dancing Queen. She recently appeared in the TV drama Our Blues, playing Lee Jung-eun’s self-absorbed best friend. Over the last few decades, Uhm also enjoyed success with her music career. In the summer of 2020, she joined singers Lee Hyori, Jessi, and Hwa-sa to form the group Refund Sisters. Their first single, Don’t Touch Me, reached #1 on the Gaon chart.

“Currently, I am not only acting,” said Uhm. “But also actively performing as an artist and a member of the Dancing Queens on the Road.”

The TV program Dancing Queens on the Road features Uhm and artists Kim Wan Sun, Lee Hyori, BoA and Hwa-sa on a concert tour through Korea.

“I have also been preparing for an album for a few years now,” said Uhm. “I don’t have specific dates or details planned out for now, but it is in the making.”

Ratings for Dr. Cha have risen with succeeding episodes, reaching almost 20% in mid-May. The SLL drama can be seen on Netflix
NFLX
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