Oh Min-ae | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 September 1965 Seoul, South Korea |
| Other names | O Min-ae |
| Education | Soongsil University (Graduate in Psychological Counseling) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1999 – present |
| Agent | Beom Entertainment |
| Known for | My Liberation Notes The Running Actress Blind |
| Children | 1 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 오민애 |
| RR | O Minae |
| MR | O Minae |
| Stage name | |
| Hangul | 오주희 |
| RR | O Juhui |
| MR | O Chuhŭi |
| Website | Official website |
Oh Min-ae is a South Korean actress. [1] She is known for her roles in dramas such as Mr. Sunshine , My Liberation Notes , The Penthouse:War in Life and Blind . [2] She also appeared in movies The Running Actress , Memento Mori , One Line , The Outlaws and Race to Freedom:Um Bok Dong . [3]
Oh Min-ae was born on September 10,1965,in Seoul to an unwed single mother. She had to give up high school and support herself by doing odd jobs,such as newspaper seller,delivery work,bar waitress,and teaching aerobics. When she was 27,she visited a travel agency to inquiry about backpacking trip to India. During this visit,the travel agent guessed that she might be a stage actor. This sparked her interest,and the agent introduced her to an acquaintance in the theater world. Since then,she started her acting journey,starting from theater staff. [4] [5] [6]
She made her first film appearance in 1999 in Memento Mori . Starting January 1,2000,she spent about a year and a half living as a monk at Cheongunsa Temple. After leaving the temple,she used stage name. She thought life must be hard because of her name,she wanted to be ordinary,so she used the characters for "female" and "hope." and resumed her activities as a theater actress under the name for ten years. [7] [8]
In her 40s,Oh later got married and had a child. She also passed the high school equivalency exam and enrolled in the Department of Cultural Studies at Broadcasting and Communication University. She needs to make money for childcare so she decided to pursue career as counselor. She entered Soongsil University’s Graduate School of Social Welfare in 2010,where she earned a social worker license. [9] [10]
Oh Min-ae established Dongjak Theater Association (동작연극협회) with fellow theater actors. It was approved as a branch of the Seoul Theater Association on August 12,2013. Oh served as 1st branch president until 2017. [11] [12] She took on various administrative roles,including serving in educational and volunteer work. Handling too many responsibilities led to depression. Financial difficulties forced her to also work as a card salesman. She rely on connections with junior colleagues in the theater. Due to her union status,she was required to do a performance called Forest Fire. Reading the play's script reignited her love of acting and made her realize she could no longer return to a salesman. [4]
In 2015,Oh served as director of 36th Seoul Theater Festival. [13] Oh,served as director for Dongjak Theater Association's 'Hongsiyeol-neun House' (written by Kim Jeong-suk,directed by Oh Min-ae,performed on March 10,2016. [14] Dongjak Theater Association's 2nd Seoul Citizen Theater Festival entry,Their Chatter. [15] [16]
On March 27,2017,the founding ceremony of the Performing Arts Workers' Union took place at the multipurpose hall of the Good Performance Information Center in Marronnier Park,Daehak-ro,Seoul. Oh was elected as co-vice chairman alongside Cho Jae-hyun,while Lee Jong-seung was appointed as the first chairman. [17]
In 2018,the MeToo movement shed light on numerous sexual violence cases within the theater community. During this period,Oh played a key role in receiving reports of these incidents and helped organize a rally demanding accountability within the community. [18] These efforts led to personal challenges and legal troubles,including defamation lawsuits,which she handled without legal representation. Ultimately,these experiences caused her to step away from the theater scene. [4]
Acting in films had mostly been a side job,but in 2019,with her family facing financial difficulties,her in-laws offered to help her find another job. However,she felt she could not step back from acting. Determined,she declared,"Mother,please give me just three years to pursue this seriously. If I can't establish myself,I'll go roll kimbap at a shop." Around this time,she got the script for To Each Your Sarah. Her acting in this short film won her a special jury award at the 18th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival,which led to many more roles in short films and a busy period where she made seven short films in just six months. This experience helped her move past earlier struggles and fully commit to her film career. [4]
Oh stars as In-sook in Beyond You,the third feature-length film by Park Hong-min. In-sook,who suffers from Alzheimer's,struggles to hold on to her fading memories and fails to recognize her daughter,Ji-yeon. As In-sook clings to her past,Ji-yeon navigates the memories of others,while Kyung-ho is drawn into reflections of the past. The film has been screened at various festivals,including the 25th Busan International Film Festival (2020),The 46th Seoul Independent Film Festival (2020),The 16th Osaka Asian Film Festival (2021).The 9th Muju Mountain Film Festival (2021). [19]
She featured in several independent films,including a supporting role in Yoon Seo-jin’s debut feature,Chorokbam. In Director Heo Jeong-jae's feature debut,The First Child,she played a Korean-Chinese nanny working for Park Ha-sun's character. She also did supporting role in commercial film Unframed,Soulmate,A Year-End Medley.
In 2021,Oh appeared in several short films includes Treetop (Udeumji),Woman Who Killed a Lion,The Granddaughter,Obituary,My Prayer,Training Session,The Noon of Seoul,Dinner Ceremony,Dink. Oh also portrayed the independent-minded Seo-am-daek in Lee Tak's film Wasteland,which was invited to the Jeongdongjin Independent Film Festival [20] and the 47th Seoul Independent Film Festival. [21]
Oh starred in Missing Yoon as Soon-yi,an impersonation singer of Yoon Si-nae,marking her first leading role in a feature film. Soon-yi had emulated Yoon Si-nae for two decades,driven by her deep admiration for the artist. To prepare,Oh studied Yoon's videos and honed her singing skills. She even met Yoon in person,carefully observing every detail of her appearance,from her wig and makeup to her gentle speech. For her performance,Oh received the Best Actress Award at the 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival. [9] [22]
In Kim Jin-han's short film The Way to Rest,Oh takes on the role of Ha-eun's mother. The story follows Ha-eun as she returns to her hometown upon learning that her mother is terminally ill. [23] The film garnered the Excellence Award for Director Kim Jin-han,and Oh was awarded the Stella Award for her performance at the 9th Catholic Film Festival in October 2022. [24]
In the film Concerning My Daughter,directed by Lee Mi-rang and adapted from Kim Hye-jin's original novel,Oh plays the role of a mother. The story revolves around her character as she starts living with her daughter,Im Se-mi,and her daughter's same-sex partner,Ha Yoon-kyung. Together,they navigate their relationships and strive for a deeper understanding. The movie premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2023,where Oh won the Best Actress award. She also received Best Actress award at the 3rd Korea Art Film Association Awards in 2025 and the 12th Wildflower Film Awards in 2025. [25] [26] [27]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Memento Mori | Nurse |
| 2013 | Boomerang Family | Aunty's housekeeper |
| Happiness for Sale | Caregiver | |
| The Five | Baker | |
| 2017 | One Line | Joo Hee-mo |
| The Running Actress | Act 2-PB team leader | |
| The Outlaws | Garibong-dong female merchant | |
| 2018 | After Spring | Shaman |
| 2019 | Race to Freedom:Um Bok Dong | Sang-goong |
| To Each Your Sarah | Jung-ja / Sarah | |
| Way Back Home | Eun-sook | |
| 2020 | ID Card | Min-ae |
| Moon Power | Mother-in-law | |
| Beyond You | Lee In-sook | |
| 2021 | The First Child | Jung-ah's aunt [28] |
| Unframed | Mother | |
| Chorokbam | O Min-a | |
| A Year-End Medley | Sang-gyu's wife | |
| 2022 | Missing Yoon | Soon-yi |
| Strange | Mother | |
| Ju Yeon | Mother | |
| 2023 | Soulmate | Yeong-ok |
| 2023 | Because I Hate Korea | Min-ae |
| 2023 | Concerning My Daughter | Mother |
| 2024 | Pilot | Kim An-ja |
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Friend,Our Legend | Jin-sook's mother | [29] |
| 2011 | Pit-a-pat,My Love | Ming-Ming's aunt | [30] |
| 2013 | Miss Korea | Director Choi | [31] |
| 2018 | Mr. Sunshine | Mr. Im's wife | [32] |
| 2020–21 | The Penthouse:War in Life | Ms. Byeon | [33] [34] [35] |
| 2021 | D.P. | Jun-mok's mother | [36] |
| The One and Only | Young-chan's mother | [37] | |
| 2022 | My Liberation Notes | Byeon Sang-mi | [38] |
| Blind | In Seong-mo | [39] | |
| Bargain | Lee Chun-nam | [40] | |
| The Glory | Do-yeong's mother | [41] | |
| 2023 | Trolley | Welfare center staff | |
| The Glory Part 2 | Do-yeong's mother | [42] | |
| Dr. Romantic 3 | Ko Kyung-sook | [43] | |
| Race | Hwa-ja | [44] | |
| Daily Dose of Sunshine | Seo-wan's mother | [45] | |
| 2024 | A Killer Paradox | Deacon Kim | [46] |
| The Whirlwind | Yoo Jeong-mi | [47] | |
| 2025 | When Life Gives You Tangerines | Kwon Gye-ok | [48] |
| Tastefully Yours | Han Yeo-ul | [49] |
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Theater Group | Venue | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | ||||||
| 2004 | The Abduction of King Yeomra | 염라대왕납치사건 | — | Kim Hyun-mook | J. M | Jeil Hwaje Theatre | October 14 to 31,2004 [51] |
| 2011 | Yulgok Yi I | 율곡이이 | Shin Saimdang | Kim Soo-bo | Paju City Hall Grand Performance Hall | 2011/12/24 ~ 2011/12/24 | |
| 2013 | Black Swan | 블랙스완 | Queen | Hwang Jin-gyeong | Bujihwa | Naroo Art Center | 2013.12.13 ~ 2013.12.26 |
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Theater Group | Venue | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | ||||||
| 1992 | The Last Kiss | 마지막키스 | — | Park Jang-soon | Batanggol | — | |
| 1992 | Phoebe's Romantic Comedy | 피비의로맨틱코메디 | — | Kim Hyuk-soo | Blue Bird | Samto | — |
| 1993 | A Portrait of a Seeker | 탈속- 어느구도자의초상 | Park Reporter | Kang Young-geol | Minye | Art Center Small Theater | June 4,1993 –June 30,1993 |
| Please Turn Off the Lights | 불좀꺼주세요 | Female | Kang Young-geol | Daehakro Theater | Daehakro Theater | January 1,1992 –January 31,1992 [54] | |
| 1995 | The Peddler | 뺑끼통 | Eun-young | Yoo Seung-hee | Minye | Dongsung | January 20,1995 –February 26,1995 [55] |
| Raguio | 라구요 | — | Namgung Hyuk | Creative Village | Durebak | — | |
| 1996 | Arirang Jeongseon - The Sound of Life,The Sound of Love | 아리랑정선- 삶의소리,사랑의소리 | Bongine | Kim Tae-soo | Minye | Hakjeon | April 26,1996 –May 8,1996 [56] |
| 1997 | The Pine Tree in Front of the Yard | 뜰앞의잣나무 | — | Kim Tae-soo | Wanjamu Pattern | Dongsung | — |
| 1998 | All Houses,Beds,and Churches | 모든집,침대,그리고교회 | Female | Lim Su-taek | Minye | Marronnier | July 1,1998 –September 30,1998 [57] |
| 1999 | Daughter-in-Law's Sorrow | 며느리설움 | — | — | MBC,Minye | Sejong Cultural Center | — |
| 23rd Seoul Theater Festival:Muguk Boheoja | 제23회서울연극제 :步虛子[묵극보허자] | Garinae | Kim Seong-gu | Kim Seong-gu Mime | Dongsung | October 2,1999 –October 4,1999 [58] | |
| 2001 | Anti-Imperialist Committee | 반민특위 | N/A | Kim Hyun-mook | Yesung Dongin | Rhythm Space | — |
| 2003 | Flower Wind | 꽃바람 | — | Park Jeong-wook | Park Jeong-wook Sound | Art Center Great Theater | — |
| 2003 | My Hometown in a Dream | 꿈에본내고향 | Lee Kyeong-ja | Kim Hyuk-soo | Actor Association | Dongduk Women's University Art Center | 2003 [59] |
| 2004 | Let’s Live Together and Get Married | 살아보고결혼하자 | — | Park Byeong-mo | Yeou | Kkamang Small Theater | — |
| 2006 | The Place Where Traces Remain | 흔적머무르는곳 | — | Yang Seon-hee | Dance Dasom | Sejong Cultural Center | — |
| 2007 | One Day | 하루 | — | Yang Seon-hee | Dance Dasom | Sejong Cultural Center | — |
| 2008 | Empress Myeongseong - I Have Something to Say | 명성황후-내가할말이있다 | Empress Myeongseong | Park Young | Tio Pepe | Ewha Women's University 100th Anniversary Hall | February 1,2008 –February 10,2008 [60] |
| Her Bitter Tears | 그녀의쓰디쓴눈물 | N/A | Lim Cheol-bin | Yeoul | Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation | N/A | |
| Ashes to Ashes | 재는재로 | N/A | Jang Tae-jun | SRT | Sangmyung University Art Theater | December 2,2008 –December 14,2008 [61] | |
| 2009 | Dongchimi | 동치미 | Female lead | Kim Yong-eul | Globe Theater | Black Box | July 28,2009 –August 23,2009 [62] |
| 2010 | Arirang | 아리랑 | 길령 | Lee Woo-cheon | Daehakro Theater | Daehakro Theater | 2010.12.10 ~ 2010.12.26 |
| 2011 | Women’s Story - Mother’s Heart | 여자이야기-엄마의심장 | N/A | Park Mi-ri | Mirror Labyrinth | Jeongmiso | N/A |
| The Rice Barrel Next Door | 이웃집쌀통 | Soo-ni | Seon Wook-hyun | Pil-tong | Ida Theater 2 | March 18,2011 –June 26,2011 [63] | |
| Green Sun | 녹색태양 | professor's wife,professor | Lee Ja-soon | Salt Warehouse | Jeongmiso | December 1,2011 –December 11,2011 [64] | |
| 2012 | White - Therapeutic Theater | 화이트(치료적연극) | N/A | Park Mi-ri | Theater Therapy Association | Square Theater | September 6,2012 ~ September 10,2012 |
| Jo Il-jae's Comedic Patients | 조일재의병자삼인 | Gong So-sa | Kim Tae-soo | Wanjamu Pattern | Daehakro Art Theater | September 13,2012 –September 16,2012 [65] | |
| 2013 | An Endless Play | 끝나지않는연극 | N/A | Son Jeong-woo | Nomad | Daehakro Art Theater | 2013.05.02 to 05 |
| 2014 | Mud | 진흙 | Script Reader | Jang Yong-cheol | Mia Ridge Arts Theater | 2014.09.12 ~ 2014.09.13 | |
| 2014.09.20 ~ 2014.09.21 | |||||||
| The Boy in Underwear | 팬티입은소년 | Mom Cooking Dog Soup | Lee Woo-cheon | (The) Daehakro Theater | Daehakro Art Theater | June 4,2014 –June 8,2014 [66] | |
| 2014–2015 | Fish Tree | 나무물고기 | Budha | Kim Kyung-ik | Happy People | Art Space Orda | 2014.12.17 ~ 2015.01.04 |
| 2015 | Hello Angkor | 안녕앙코르 | Jang Bok-sun | Son Jung-woo | Nomad | October 23 to November 8 | |
| 2016 | House of Ripe Persimmons | 홍시열리는집 | - | Oh Min-ae | Dongjak Theater Association | Elim Hall | March [67] |
| 2017 | Forest Fire | 산불 | Yoon Hyun-sik | Dongjak Theater Association | Howon Art Hall | ||
| Immortal Hero,Ahn Jung-geun | 불멸의영웅,안중근 | Yoon Woo-young | Uijeongbu Arts Center | August | |||
| Facing Death Alone | 홀로맞는죽음 | Chae Seung-hoon | Changpa Theater | Elim Hall | November | ||
| One-Man Show | 원맨쇼 | mother | Park Jang-ryeol | Jigo Theater Cooperative | Shared Small Theater | December 12 to 17,2017 [68] | |
| 2018 | Mom Discovered the Sea at Fifty | 엄마는오십에바다를발견했다 | Mother | Lee Seung-hee | Scarecrow Theater | Scarecrow Small Theater | 2018.03.16 ~ 2018.07.01 |
| If I Could See You for Three Days | 사흘만볼수있다면 | Kim Sang-jin | Dream Association | Jeongdong Cecil Theater | |||
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busan International Film Festival | 2023 | Actress of the Year | Concerning My Daughter | Won | [69] |
| 9th Catholic Film Festival Stella Awards | 2022 | Best Actress | Time For Laundry To Dry | Won | [70] |
| 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival Korean Competition | 2022 | Best Actress Award | Missing Yoon | Won | [71] [72] |
| Korean Academy of Film Arts Awards | 2020 | Best Actress Award | To Each Your Sarah | Won | |
| 3rd Korea Art Film Association Awards | 2025 | Actress of the Year | Concerning My Daughter | Won | [73] |
| 18th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival | 2019 | Jury Special Award for Acting | To Each Your Sarah | Won | [74] |
| 12nd Wildflower Film Awards | 2025 | Actress of the Year | Concerning My Daughter | Won | [75] |