Boys Over Flowers Wiki
Jang is a common Korean surname. For others who share the name, see Jang.

Jang Ja-yeon (Hangul: 장자연, January 25, 1980 – March 7, 2009) was an actress best known for her supporting role as Park Sun-ja on the hit drama, Boys Over Flowers. After suffering from depression, she committed suicide in early 2009. Jang's death was and remains a major scandal for South Korea's entertainment industry

Biography[]

Early life[]

Jang Ja-yeon was born on January 25, 1980 in Jeongeup, North Jeolla, South Korea. Her parents died in a car accident in 1999. Jang had an older sister and younger brother, both of whom she lived with at the time of her death.[1][2]

She received her education from Harksan High School, Gwangju University, where she earned her bachelor's in Journalism, and Chosun University.

Career[]

Jang-Ja-yeon-bts

Jang while filming

In 2006, Jang made her show business debut in a television commercial.[3] Jang's first major role was in the hit drama Boys Over Flowers (2009) as "Sunny" / Park Sun-ja. She acted alongside Gook Ji-yeon and Min Young-won as a group of girls whom bullied Ku Hye-sun's character.[4] Her final roles were in the films, The Weird Missing Case of Mr. J and Searching for the Elephant, which were released posthumously in 2009.[5]

Death[]

Ja-yeon-funeral-photo

Jang's photo displayed at the mourning hall

Jang suffered from clinical depression and had received medical treatment for her illness. On March 7, 2009 at 3:30 PM, she spoke over the phone to her sister about the "overwhelming stress" she felt and that she "want[ed] to die".[3] Her sister was later unable to reach her and, upon entering their shared home, found her body hanging from the stairway banister around 7:30 PM. Jang's death was ruled a suicide by police.[6]

On March 8, 2009, the cast of Boys Over Flowers paid their last respects to Jang at the mourning hall set up at Seoul National University's Bundang hospital.[6] Her funeral was held there the following day. It was attended by family, close friends, and fellow actors, including Ku Hye-sun, Lee Min-ho, Kim Hyun-joong, Kim Bum, and Kim Joon. She was cremated and buried next to her parents in Jeongeup.[5]

Aftermath[]

In an alleged suicide note left by Jang, she describes the physical and sexual abuse she endured at the hands of several program directors, CEOs and media executives.[7][8] In alleged letters written to friends, Jang identified thirty-one men whom she was forced to "serve." The letters also state that the CEO of her management agency threatened to sue her if she refused.[9][10] Her manager, who was arrested in Tokyo for overstaying his visa in June 2009, was extradited by the Korean police.[11] He was sentenced to one year in jail, two years of probation and community service. Police investigated some twenty others and seven were prosecuted.[10] Ultimately, only Jang's manager and the CEO of her agency were brought to charges.[12]

Jang's case was reopened in April 2018.[13] In March 2019, an emergency order by President Moon Jae-in extended the investigation deadline by two months,[14] following the Burning Sun scandal. An investigation team submitted a 250-page report which was reviewed by a panel. The panel concluded that the original investigation was flawed, though the veracity of Jang's alleged list could not be confirmed. A re-investigation of the chief of Jang's agency, regarding whether he perjured himself, was the only action recommended by the panel.[15]

Filmography[]

Television dramas

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Boys Over Flowers Park Sun-ja

Films

Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Weird Missing Case of Mr. J Min-a
Searching for the Elephant Hye-mi

Notes[]

  • The original broadcast of episode eighteen of Boys Over Flowers included a message of condolence for Jang.[16]
  • At the April wrap-up party for Boys Over Flowers, Min Young-won spoke about Jang in her speech, asking the audience to "remember and reminisce" about her.[4]
  • On March 17, 2019, Ku Hye-sun posted a still from Boys Over Flowers, featuring her and Jang. In the caption, she wrote that it was the only picture she had of them together.[17]

  • Her suicide and the ensuing scandal are believed to have inspired the 2013 film, Norigae.[18][19]

  • References[]

    1. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/03/09/2009030961021.html
    2. http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0002011034 (Korean)
    3. 3.0 3.1 https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/03/178_40909.html
    4. 4.0 4.1 https://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2009040127757 (Korean)
    5. 5.0 5.1 http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/entertainment/enter_chart_detail.htm?No=9282
    6. 6.0 6.1 http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2901981
    7. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/03/117_41308.html
    8. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/03/117_41741.html
    9. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/03/117_82649.html
    10. 10.0 10.1 http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/03/07/2011030701350.html
    11. http://info.japantimes.co.jp/weekly/news/nn2009/nn20090704a4.htm
    12. https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/330815/the-case-of-jang-ja-yeon-sponsorships-and-the-metoo-movement-in-south-korea/
    13. https://www.soompi.com/article/1325924wpp/ministry-justice-decision-whether-recommend-jang-ja-yeon-case-reinvestigation
    14. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/03/251_265636.html
    15. https://meaww.com/south-korean-actor-jang-ja-yeon-suicide-probe-in-2009-had-flaws-confirms-truth-panel
    16. https://www.hkn24.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=23769 (Korean)
    17. https://www.instagram.com/p/BvG-Z-dBBwQ/ (Korean)
    18. http://m.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130423000934&ntn=0#jyk
    19. http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2970012

    See also[]



    External links[]

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