Go Hyun Jung once felt competitive with her, a sentiment that has come to light more than a decade after she first hinted at it.
A resurfaced clip from a 2012 episode of the South Korean talk show Go Show has been gaining traction online. The episode featured Go Hyun Jung and fellow actress Kim Jung Nan, both alumni of Dongguk University, as they reflected on their college days and professional journeys.
During the show, Kim Jung Nan recounted her early impressions of Go Hyun Jung, saying, “When she entered college, she was already Miss Korea. She glowed about her, with porcelain skin and a stunning figure. Everyone envied her. I’d ask what makeup or perfume she used, but she never answered. It drove me crazy!”
Go Hyun Jung responded lightheartedly, “I didn’t say anything because I was actually jealous of Kim Jung Nan’s acting skills. Our professors always praised her performances. I remember thinking, I hope she doesn’t appear on TV too much. There was definitely some friendly competition between us.”
Kim Jung Nan later clarified, “Go Hyun Jung didn’t become popular just because she was Miss Korea. She constantly received praise from professors in class, though I did too,” she added with a laugh. “But I never saw her as a rival. She was taller and slimmer than I was. I couldn’t compete with that!”
Go Hyun Jung first rose to fame as a runner-up in the 1989 Miss Korea pageant, later becoming a household name after her role in the iconic 1995 drama Sandglass. She went on to star in acclaimed series like Queen Seondeok, H.I.T., Big Thing, The Queen’s Classroom, and Return. She’s currently preparing for her upcoming project, The Mantis: Original Sin.
Kim Jung Nan, who began her career as part of KBS’s 14th class of actors, has also enjoyed a successful run with standout roles in hit dramas like Reborn Rich and Queen of Tears.
