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Jeon Ok (Korean: 전옥; April 2, 1911 – October 22, 1969) was a Korean actress and singer. Jeon was referred to as "Queen of Tears" for her excellence at acting for tragic dramas.

Biography

Jeon Ok was born Jeon Deok-rye on April 2, 1911 in Hamhung, Kankyōnan-dō, Korea, Empire of Japan (now South Hamgyong Province, North Korea). When Jeon was 15 years old, she was introduced to the film industry by her brother. Jeon aspired to be an actress in Towolhoe (토월회), her debut role was as a supporting actress in the 1927 film Jal itgeora (잘 있거라), directed by Na Woon-gyu. Jeon gained popularity after taking a lead role in Arirang Gogae (아리랑고개), based on Park Seung-hui (박승희) and produced by Towolhoe. However, when the theatre closed, she moved to Joseon Yeongeuksa in 1930. Jeon was noted for her monologues as well as her tragic performances which often brought audiences to tears, so she was dubbed the "Queen of Tragedy" or "Queen of Tears". After the liberation of Korea, Jeon was mainly active in film.

Personal life

Jeon Ok married Kang Hong-shik, an actor, film director and singer. Kang Hong-shik and Jeon Ok were the first married couple in Korean entertainment history. Their daughters, Kang Hyo-shil and Kang Hyo-son, became their parents' step. Later, Jeon and Kang divorced. Kang went over to North Korea along with Hyo-son who later became a famous actress in North Korea. Kang Hong-shik was honored as "Merited artist" as well. Meanwhile, Hyo-sil married Choi Moo-ryong, a popular actor of the 1960s and 1970s. Choi then had an affair with Kim Ji-mee, the most popular Korean actress of that time, so that Choi and Kang divorced in 1962. Jeon's grandson is Choi Min-soo between Choi Moo-ryong and Hyo-shil, who is also a famous active actor.

Jeon met her second husband Choe Il, who was a former football coach of Pyongyang Football Team and also engaged in her entertainment business when she reestablished Namhae yeneungdae (남해예능대) into (백조가극단) in 1946.

Jeon ran an orchid in Deoksong-ri, Byeollae-myeon, Yangju, Gyeonggi province. Jeon died of her chronic diseases, high blood pressure, kidney failure on October 22, 1969.

Filmography

*Note; the whole list is referenced.

Awards

• 1958, Korean Stage Art Association Awards (한국무대예술원상)

References

1. The death date differs from source to source, but newspapers published her obituary in 1969 stated that she died on October 22, 1969.
2. Darcy Paquet Essays from the Far East Film Festival : A History of the Korean Musical to 1980 Archived May 12, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Koreanfilm.org
3. 전옥 [Jeon Ok] (in Korean). Korean Movie Database (KMDb). Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
4. "전옥 全玉 a(1911 ~ 1974)" [Jeon Ok] (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
5. 여배우 캐릭터로 보는 사회문화사 (in Korean). Korean Film Archive. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
6. ^ 전옥 (全玉) [Jeon Ok] (in Korean). Nate / Britannica. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
7. 전옥 (全玉) [Jeon Ok] (in Korean). Nate / Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
8. "네이버 전문정보". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
9. Lee, Geun-tae (이근태) 무성영화 배우 가수 강홍식 Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in Korean) Gayo 114
10. Lee, Geun-tae (이근태) They have one daughter together, Choe, Shin Ok (Julie Chun), Julie was a famous Korean folk dancer who performed all over Asia before marrying Kim, Sok Ha, who was a speed skater for the Korean National Team. They have 3 children together. Kim, Hyung Joon (Thomas), Kim, Shi Yon(Suzi), and Kim, Pom Joon (David) 눈물의 여왕 – 전옥 Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in Korean) Gayo 114
11. 『눈물의女優(여우)』全玉(전옥)씨死亡(사망) (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. October 23, 1969. p. 7. "눈물의女優(여우)" 全玉(전옥)씨死亡(사망) 「눈물의여왕」으로 많은 팬들의 심금을 울렸던 배우全玉(전옥)여사"사진·五八(오팔)·서울동대문區(구)이문洞一五五(통일오오)의六(육))가二(이십이)일 오후 (일)시경 고혈압으로 성바오로병원에서 발세했다. (전)여사는 이날오전 (팔)시반경 (경기도) 양주(군) 별내 (면) 덕송(이) 자기과수원에 들렸다가 고혈압으로 쓰러져 성바오고병원으로 옮겼으나 숨을 거두고 말았다.
12. 全玉여사 別世 (in Korean). Kyunghyang Sinmun. October 22, 1969. p. 7.
13. 全玉(전옥)여사 영결식엄수 (in Korean). Maeil Gyeongje. October 27, 1969. p. 4.
14. "Cast and Crew DB >Jeon Ok >Filmograpies". Korean Movie Database (KMDb). Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2010.

External links

• Jeon Ok at the Korean Movie Database
• Jeon Ok at IMDb

• 1911 births
• 1969 deaths
• 20th-century Korean actresses
• South Korean film actresses
• People from Hamhung
• Korean film actresses
• South Korean people of North Korean origin