'Dae Jang Geum' Empress, Bill Gates' 'GAVI' Korean Representative... 'White-haired' Park Jung-sook's Unexpected Recent Developments [Star Issue]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actress Park Jung-sook, known for her role as Empress Myeongseong in 'Dae Jang Geum', showcased an unusual career path before becoming the representative of Seoul Women and Family Foundation.

Recently, a video titled "Park Jung-sook, Former Actress and MC, Chooses a New Path After Leaving the Entertainment Industry" was uploaded to YouTube channel 'Jo Eun-ju's Q'.

In the video, Park Jung-sook with white hair appeared, drawing attention. She exuded a more solemn atmosphere compared to her 2003 appearance alongside Lee Young-ae in 'Dae Jang Geum'.

Park Jung-sook directly explained how she transitioned from actress to representative of an international organization and public institution. "For 20 years, I have worked continuously in the public service sector after leaving the media. My time living as an international official was far longer," she began.

Park Jung-sook said, "I started my career as a Daejeon Expo Public Relations Ambassador, traveling abroad to introduce our country. That was in 1993. At that time, when South Koreans introduced themselves anywhere in the world, people would respond with 'Konnichiwa' or 'Ni hao.' To make it clear we were Korean, I wore hanbok everywhere. Introducing that there is a country called Korea, not Japan or China, was my first job. Even while working in media, I frequently conducted interviews and took on roles to introduce our country to the world. Then, through the drama 'Dae Jang Geum,' I became known globally. As Hallyu emerged, I began thinking it might be a good time to take a break and study abroad. Once overseas, however, there was so much interest in my role as Empress Myeongseong from 'Dae Jang Geum' that professors even invited me to meals or asked me to introduce Korea."

She continued, "Initially, I pursued graduate studies in public policy at Columbia University. Upon arriving, I discovered many people misunderstood our culture, diplomacy, and Hallyu—specifically about Korea itself. I learned that Hallyu is not merely an export of cultural content but a form of public policy and diplomacy to introduce our country to the world. Focusing on this, when Ban Ki-moon was Secretary-General of the United Nations, he heard rumors that 'the Queen from Dae Jang Geum' was at Columbia University. Consequently, he frequently invited me to events whenever possible. This gave me opportunities to meet many people at the UN."

Park Jung-sook stated, "At that time, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) was launched. Bill Gates created an international organization to distribute vaccines to the world's poorest countries. I received numerous requests to recommend suitable candidates for opening GAVI's Korean office. After introducing many people, they suggested, 'Why don't you do it yourself?' Thus, I became the Korean representative of GAVI and returned to Korea. As a Korean representative, I worked for about 10 years, then served three years at the Smart City Organization, primarily focusing on international organization work. As of May 2026, I have been serving as the CEO of Seoul Women and Family Foundation for approximately one year and eight months."

Park Jung-sook married former National Assembly member Lee Jae-young, who is five years her junior, in May 2012, and they have a son.

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*This content was translated by AI.