Uhm Jung-hwa Reveals Why She Prioritized Career Over Marriage

Veteran singer and actress Uhm Jung-hwa, 56, has openly shared the reasons behind her decision to remain unmarried. She recalled the significant professional constraints faced by female entertainers in the past, stating, "It was unimaginable to perform on stage after childbirth back then."

In a recent appearance on the YouTube channel 'SPNS TV' for an episode titled 'The Eternal Icon of the Korean LGBTQ+ Scene,' Uhm Jung-hwa discussed her life and career. The video has resurfaced and gained renewed attention on the official channel as of the 12th.

Addressing the topic of age, Uhm Jung-hwa mentioned, "When I was in my 30s, I couldn't even imagine being this active today," suggesting this was a primary factor in her not getting married. She believed that marriage would inevitably limit her opportunities as both an actress and a singer. In that era's social climate, married women, especially entertainers, were often relegated to maternal roles, making it nearly impossible for singers to maintain a stage presence.

While many of these barriers have since been dismantled, Uhm Jung-hwa noted the harsh societal gaze concerning age at the time, where women were expected to disappear from the spotlight after a certain age. She expressed a sense of bitterness, remarking, "From my late twenties, my age was always attached to every news article. I wanted to keep challenging myself without thinking about age, but stereotypes and limitations always felt like they were holding me back."

Expressing regret over societal norms that restrict individuals based on age, Uhm Jung-hwa stated, "Everyone ages. But even in that process, people should continue to challenge themselves, express themselves, pursue their passions, and achieve their dreams. It breaks my heart that so many people suffer because of their age." She added, "We live in a 100-year lifespan now. There's still a long way to go, and it's disappointing that society fixates on age."

She agreed wholeheartedly with the sentiment that time accelerates with age, bringing laughter, and also offered words of encouragement to the younger generation. "Life is full of hardships. Despite that, don't fall into despair; courageously choose and pursue what you want to do, what makes your heart race." She emphasized, "In your career, above all, you must do what you love. Never forget that you are your own most precious asset."

Uhm Jung-hwa debuted as an actress in the 1993 film 'When Autumn Leaves Fell in Apgujeong'. She also launched her singing career in 1993 with her first album 'Sorcery', releasing numerous hits like 'The Song of Betrayal', 'Poison', 'Invitation', 'Don't Know', 'Diva', 'Come 2 Me', and 'Voodoo', establishing herself as a top diva and versatile entertainer in Korea. More recently, she received widespread acclaim for her leading role as Cha Jung-suk in the drama 'Doctor Cha'.