Korean Actress Reveals Chow Yun-fat as Lifetime Idol, Sparking Nostalgic Memories
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Korean actress Lee Jung-eun (李姃垠) appeared as a guest on the talk show Yoo Quiz on the Block, which aired on September 9, sharing heartfelt stories about her admiration for Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat (周潤發). Lee revealed that watching A Better Tomorrow (英雄本色) during her high school years transformed her life trajectory, inspiring her to pursue studies in theater and film . The host, Yoo Jae-suk (劉在石), also made a rare confession during the episode, admitting that he began smoking after being influenced by Chow's charismatic on-screen presence in the same classic film . This episode highlighted the profound cultural impact Hong Kong cinema had on Korean youth during the 1980s, shaping careers and even personal habits across generations .
Key Points
- Lee Jung-eun was deeply influenced by A Better Tomorrow in her senior year of high school, leading her to study theater and film as a career
- She revealed she once carried a debt of 50 million Korean won (approximately 293,000 HKD) and borrowed money from actors Shin Hyun-jun and Ji Jin-hee
- To repay the debt, she took on various jobs including food delivery, soy sauce sales, and hotel receptionist positions, finally clearing the debt after 13 years
- At age 40, she was discovered by actor Kim Hee-won, launching her acting career in productions like Mr. Sunshine, Shining Victory, and Parasite
- Yoo Jae-suk confessed that Chow Yun-fat's cool persona in A Better Tomorrow inspired him to start smoking, revealing the film's lasting cultural influence
Why It Matters
This revelation underscores the soft power of Hong Kong cinema during its golden era in the 1980s, demonstrating how a single film could shape career paths and personal habits of young people across Asia . The story also serves as inspiration for aspiring actors, showing that success can come at any age, as Lee Jung-eun only achieved mainstream recognition after turning 40 after decades of persistence .
This revelation underscores the soft power of Hong Kong cinema during its golden era in the 1980s, demonstrating how a single film could shape career paths and personal habits of young people across Asia . The story also serves as inspiration for aspiring actors, showing that success can come at any age, as Lee Jung-eun only achieved mainstream recognition after turning 40 after decades of persistence .