Fresh off the heels of the highly-praised drama, Doctor Cha, Uhm Jung Hwa speaks about her latest drama, motivations and future plans.
As the titular character in the top-rating JTBC series, the phenomenal actress brought in a lot of meaningful messages portraying the role of Cha Jeong-suk.
Doctor Cha navigates the story of a housewife of 20 years whose near-death encounter pushed her to aspire in continuing her halted career in medicine. She then applies as a first-year resident at the Department of Family Medicine where her husband and son also work. Unaware that her husband is having an affair with his first love who is also working in the same hospital, she makes a decision to fully love herself and give love to people who really matters to her and are really genuinely caring to her.
Aside from her recent drama success, Uhm Jung Hwa appears in tvN entertainment program Dance Singer’s Wandering Troupe. She showcases her undeniable allrounder skills as an artist who can sing an perform well.
Conveying her thoughts about her motivation, she explains her immense passion continuously encourages her.
“I don’t know what will happen to me in the future, but as long as this passion doesn’t cool down, I think I can go on.“
Modestly acknowledging the success of Doctor Cha, the actress relayed how she didn’t think that so many people would like the work. She also had worries that it will be all her fault if it will not succeed.
Accordingly, she feels a sense of satisfaction for creating a life character as Doctor Cha. She also has a message to all Cha Jeong-suk in the world who wants to repair their lives.
“You may think it’s too late now, but don’t think like that. Wouldn’t it be possible to see it? Once you start, another perspective will open. Why don’t you give yourself a gift-like time, even if it’s small?“
Attuned to her current mind state, she also announced a new album coming up. “I’ve been preparing for several years, but it’s still in progress. I wonder if I can release an album by this year or next year,” she said.
She also relays her impressions of performing on the stage after a long time in Dance Singer’s Wandering Troupe.
“It’s been a while since I did well on stage, but I couldn’t even think of the choreography. I was very nervous during rehearsal with Hyori. But after rehearsing, I definitely got used to it.”
Debuted in the 1993 movie On a Windy Day We Must Go to Apgujeong, Uhm Jung Hwa released her first album Sorrowful Secret in the same year and walked the path of a multi-entertainer.
Since then, she has been active in the entertainment industry for 30 years and has been working as an actress and singer without rest, but it is not without ups and downs. She was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2010 and suffered partial paralysis of her vocal cords. She had to put the mic down for a while.
Reckoning about that experience, she revealed what helped her during those tough times.
“The surgery was difficult. I was very lonely. At that time, I felt a lot about what I had to put in my heart, and it was difficult. So, I tried to change my mind. I tried to look at the world from a different perspective, not to be consumed by pain. Whether it’s meeting someone, reading a book, or going on a trip, I felt it was important to give myself good energy.”
Speaking about fondness towards Doctor Cha, she expressed how the experience left her valuable lessons.
“I think this work has raised my self-esteem. Originally, I’m kind of mean to myself. I’ve been living without knowing how to praise myself. At one point, I realized, ‘You’ve been too mean to yourself.’ These days, I praise myself. I only listen to good things.”
All episodes of Doctor Cha are now streaming on Netflix!
Source: enews IMBC
Photo: Saram Entertainment
