Jeon Mi-do

Jeon Mi-do (born August 4, 1982) is a South Korean actress and singer. She debuted as ensemble cast in musical Mr. Mouse in 2006. She later made a name for herself by appearing in famous works such as the musical Finding Kim Jong-wook, Doctor Zhivago, and Maybe Happy Ending. In 2015, she won the Best Actress Award at the 9th The Musical Awards, and in 2018, she won the Best Actress Award at the 2nd Korean Musical Awards.

She transitioned to the small screen with her first television role in the series Mother (2018), and gained wider recognition for her prominent role as Dr. Chae Song-hwa in Hospital Playlist (2020–2021). She subsequently starred in the series Thirty, Nine (2022) alongside actresses Son Ye-jin and Kim Ji-hyun.

Early life
Jeon Mi-do, born on August 4, 1982, in Busan, is an only daughter of three siblings. After her father's passing, she and her two brothers were raised by their mother. Jeon aspired to be a theater actress from the 3rd grade of elementary school. A sacred church play she watched and loved served as her inspiration. During her elementary school years, she participated in a group reading and presentation of a play called "The One-Legged Goose" from a Korean language textbook. She remembers going to a friend's house after school to practice. Jeon memorized her lines effortlessly and performed with confidence, earning numerous compliments. It was at that moment she realized, "I might have talent."

Jeon initially managed to focus on her studies, but she dropped out of school in the second year of middle school. A year later, she returned to school along with her one-year-younger siblings and resumed her education as an ordinary student.

While attending Busan Dongho Information Girls' High School, she watched her first musical, Grease, which further solidified her dream of becoming a theater actress.

During those tumultuous years, Jeon, a sensitive girl going through puberty, struggled to communicate with her family. She yearned for friends with whom she could openly share her thoughts. Finding solace in singing, she frequented karaoke. In her third year, her friend asked her to join as a vocalist for a female band called 'Dali,' with four members, each in charge of vocals, guitar, bass, and drums. The band received numerous invitations, primarily to boys' high school festivals. Her mom grew concerned when her daughter, in her third year of high school, was active in a band instead of studying.

Later, Jeon expressed her desire to enroll in the Department of Theater and Film. Despite surprising her mom, her persistence made her mom reluctantly grant her permission. Her mother gave her another chance to enroll in the major of her dreams. She started studying later than others, but she didn't feel overwhelmed because she had a clear goal in mind. She persevered and successfully enrolled in the Theater and Film Department at Myongji University in Seoul.

She moved to Seoul on her own. Her college friends were unaware that she was from Busan due to her accent. Since she was young, she dedicated herself to learning the Seoul accent because she believed it was an essential skill for an actress. She quickly fixed her Busan accent, but it was difficult for her to adapt to the way people in Seoul speak. This caused some people to think she seemed unfriendly or distant. However, through stage performances, she transformed her way of speaking and her personality. Initially reserved, taking on lively roles allowed her to develop aegyo and express herself more. She participated in around 12 performances before graduating.

2006-2009: Beginnings
After graduating from Myongji University, Jeon Mi-do made her debut in 2006 as Yang Yang-yi in the musical Mr. Mouse. In 2007, she made her theater debut with "Liar," followed by the musical "White Proposal" in 2008. In both productions, she portrayed the role of a high school girl.

In 2008, Jeon and Park Hae-soo starred together in the Korean adaptation of the musical Spring Awakening called 'Puberty.' Jeon chose to participate in the musical because it provided her with the opportunity to showcase her acting range. Her performance received much praise, as she successfully portrayed five different roles, from a high school girl to a teacher, to a nurse, a cafe madam, and a stepmother, displaying her versatility as an actress. She was nominated for the Best New Actress Award.

Later in the same year, Jeon was double-cast with Park Hye-jung in the play Agnes of God. The play revolves around Agnes, a 21-year-old nun with a pure soul, and her interactions with Dr. Livingston, portrayed by veteran actress Yoon Seok-hwa. Dr. Livingston's role is to uncover the truth behind Agnes, who was abandoned after giving birth in the convent. The play was performed at the Daehakro Installation Theater Jeongmiso from December 6th to January 10th, 2008. Jeon received the Best New Actress Award at the 2008 Korean Theater Awards for her performance as Agnes.

To break away from the image associated with her role in the play Agnes of God, Jeon decided to audition for "Finding Kim Jong-wook," a romantic comedy musical, in 2009. She successfully secured the role of the female lead in the musical's fourth season. "Finding Kim Jong-wook" had gained popularity as a romantic comedy musical since its debut. The fourth season performance, which introduced a new stage production, attracted attention as Oh Na-ra, the original female protagonist of the musical, and Jeon Mi-do, the newly introduced female lead, were both cast in the role.

In October 2009, Jeon has secured a significant supporting role in the musical Hero, directed by Yoon Ho-jin. The musical is based on the last year of An Jung-geun's life, from when he planned Itō Hirobumi's assassination in Harbin to his execution following his death sentence. Jeon plays the fictional character Ling-ling, a 16-year-old Chinese girl who tries to hide her feelings for Ahn Jung-geun. Ling-ling is fatally shot by a Japanese soldier while protecting Ahn Jung-geun and dies in his arms.

In the play 'Hoya' directed by Seo Jae-hyung, she played the role of Lady Eo, a noblewoman who became involved with the king while harboring feelings for another man.

In 2010, the musical "Splendid Holiday," based on the 2007 film May 18, had its premiere in Gwangju in May. The musical was staged for five days to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising. It was also performed at the National Theater's Haeoreum Theater for two days from June 12th to 13th. Jeon portrayed the character of Shin-ae, a young nurse residing in Gwangju, and garnered attention for her performance.

Jeon played Ja-sook in The Case of the Crown Prince's Disappearance. Cast members include Jo Hwi, Kim Ji-hyun, Tae-hee, Ahn Se-ho, and promising rookie Kim Dae-hyun. The musical was created by director Seo Jae-hyung and writer Han Ah-reum, originating from a play. The performance features music by composer Hwang Ho-jun. It was selected as an excellent work production supported by the 2009 Creative Factory. It was produced by the theater company Running Until Death, and Doosan Arts Center and Ansan Arts Center participated in joint planning. The performance was held from October 19 to November 7 at Doosan Art Center Space 111.

The crown prince suddenly disappeared from the peaceful palace, throwing it into chaos. Lady-in-Waiting Choi's statement pointed to Lady Ja-sook, who had departed from her residence, and Gu-dong, a eunuch who had left his post around the time of the crown prince's disappearance, as possible suspects. As the investigation continued, the focus of the case unexpectedly changed to the sweet and innocent love story between Ja-sook and Gu-dong.

In December 2010, Jeon reprise her role as Ling-ling in musical Hero. It performed at the National Theater's Haeoreum Theater from the 4th to January 15th, 2011.

In April, Jeon Mi-do acted alongside Seo Sang-won, Kim Young-pil, and Kim Joo-wan in the play "The Author" by British playwright Tim Crouch. Director Kim Dong-hyeon, known for his skill in creating nuanced stage language, reinterpreted this powerful theatrical work and brought it to the stage. "The Author" serves as the inaugural production in the 'Borderline' series, curated by Doosan Art Center. The play breaks down the barriers between art and reality, blurring the lines between the stage and the audience. It explores the story within a story, delving into the impact that a violent and shocking play has on the actors, writers, and audience members involved.

Jeon is a member of Theater Company Man Theater, led by CEO Woo Hyeon-joo. In 2011, Man Theater produced Anton Chekov's play The Seagull, with director Oh Gyeong-taek at the helm. This production marked a reunion for Jeon and Park Hae-soo after their collaboration in the musical "Puberty" in 2008. Middle-aged famous actress Archaina (Woo Hyeon-joo) arrives at her country home, accompanied by her lover, the renowned writer Trigorin (Park Ho-san). Her brother Sorin (Lee Mun-su) also resides there. Archaina's son, Treplev (Park Hae-soo), prepares a new type of performance with his aspiring actress girlfriend, Nina (Jeon Mi-do), who dreams of a career on stage. However, Archazina's interference interrupts his performance, and even Nina finds herself falling for Trigorin.

2012–2017
In 2012, Jeon achieved a significant milestone in her career by securing the lead role in a licensed theater musical for the first time. She made her stage debut as Lara Antipova in the South Korean premiere of the musical Doctor Zhivago. The character of Lara was double cast, with Jeon sharing the role with Kim Ji-woo. Similarly, the role of Yuri Zhivago was double cast, featuring Cho Seung-woo and Hong Gwang-ho.

In the first half of 2012, Jeon played the female lead in the original musical Bungee Jumping. The musical was based on the movie of the same name, which starred Lee Byung-hun and Lee Eun-ju. In the production, Jeon alternated the role of the bold and lovely Tae-hee with Choi Yu-ha. Kang Pil-seok and Kim Woo-hyung, who had previously collaborated in "Doctor Zhivago," portrayed Tae-hee's lovers, In-woo.

In October 2012, Jeon returned to the theater with Man Theater. Taking on the role of Anya, the daughter of Ranevskaya, who owned the cherry blossom orchard, Jeon Mi-do performed in Anton Chekov's play The Cherry Orchard, directed by Oh Gyeong-taek. She shared the stage with Jung Dong-hwan, who portrayed Firs, while the character of Zhiju Lopakhin was double cast, with Park Ho-san and Lee Seok-jun taking turns in the role. The production featured other notable cast members, including Woo Hyun-joo as Ranevskaya, Jeong Soo-young as Ranevskaya's adoptive daughter Varya, Kim Tae-hoon as Ranevskaya's older brother Gaev, Jeong Seung-gil as the college student Trofimov, and Choi Yong-min as Simeonov Pisyk. The play ran from October 12 to 28, 2012, at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts M Theater. It was also invited to the 'Stanislavsky Birth 150th Anniversary Festival' in early February 2013, held at the Stanislavsky Theater in Moscow, although Jeon did not participate in that particular event.

Jeon's final project in 2012 was her portrayal of Juliet in Shakespeare's classic play Romeo and Juliet. It was a joint performance between the National Theater Company and the China National Theater Company, commemorating the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China. The play was directed by Tian Chin-xin, the only female director of the China National Theater Company. It was performed at the National Theater Haorum Theater from December 18th to the 29th. Tian adapted the setting of Verona to China, specifically during the height of the Cultural Revolution.

After the performance of Romeo and Juliet, Jeon took a break for a week. Then, she started practicing for the musical "The Mirror Princess' Pyeonggang Story" in January 2013. Jeon was scheduled to start performing in February. She played the role of Yeon-yi, the maid of honor for the female protagonist, Princess Pyeonggang.

Initially, she held the belief that there was a notable distinction between stage plays and musicals. However, as time passed, that distinction began to fade away. Jeon mentioned her experience appearing in "14 Chekhovs," a collection of Anton Chekhov's one-act plays, in 2013. She recalled watching a long monologue by Park Jeong-ja, where the dialogue had a rhythm that felt like singing. She realized that there is a musical flow within stage plays and a strong emphasis on dialogue in musicals. She explained, "Since then, when delivering lines in stage plays, I have incorporated intensity and tension, making it more dynamic. When singing in musicals, I approached it more like speaking, which made it feel much more natural."

In July 2013, Jeon portrayed Yeon-woo in the original musical adaptation of the drama "The Moon Embracing the Sun." The musical, was a solid production that had taken over a year to produce. It had its preview performance at Poeun Art Hall in Yongin on June 8, 2013, which was followed by a standing ovation from the 1,000 audience members who filled the concert hall. The musical was then performed at CJ Towol Theater at the Seoul Arts Center from July 6th to July 31st. It was also scheduled for regional performances, including in Daegu and Busan in August, and in Tokyo, Japan in December.

In the musical 'Werther', Jeon was the refreshing and elegant Charlotte. Also Starring Lim Tae-kyung, Um Ki-jun, Lee Ji-hye, and Yang Jun-mo. The musical 'Werther' was based on the novel 'The Sorrows of Young Werther' written by Goethe in 1774 and had garnered widespread acclaim for its portrayal of a man's pure and passionate love, emotionally stirring music, and visually captivating stage design. This esteemed production had been consistently performed on domestic stages for over 12 years. In 2013, director Jo Kwang-hwa and music director Koo So-young reunited after seven years. the musical 'Werther' was performed at the CJ Towol Theater in Seoul Arts Center, Seocho-dong, Seoul, until January 12, 2014.

Jeon's next role was the evil character in the play "Mephisto," directed by Seo Jae-hyung. Jeon portrayed Mephistopheles, who entered into a pact to acquire Faust's soul in this adaptation of Goethe's "Faust." This character was a unique embodiment of both male and female qualities, as well as human and animal traits. In this particular production, a female actress took on the role that is traditionally played by a male actor. The play was staged at the CJ Towol Theater within the Seoul Arts Center, running from April 4th to 19th, 2014.

In May 2014, Jeon performed alongside Kim Tae-geun in the play "Some Girls", produced by Man Theater. The play explored themes of love and separation, aiming to resonate with the audience's own experiences. It was staged at the Dongsoong Arts Center Small Theater until July 20th. In late 2014, Jeon Mi-do took on the role of 'Girl' in the musical "Once." It was a new and exciting challenge for her as she aimed to explore different characters beyond her previous roles. To prepare for this role, she dedicated herself to learning how to play the piano, studying the Czech language, and understanding the unique character traits required for the role.

In 2015, Jeon landed her dream role as Aldonza in the musical 'Man of La Mancha', which celebrated its 10th anniversary in South Korea. This was the role she had talked about wanting to play every time she had been interviewed for several years. The performance was held at the D Cube Art Center from July 30th to November 11th.

Additionally, amidst her involvement in 'Man of La Mancha', Jeon also became part of the cast of Maybe Happy Ending, a musical that was planned by Hue Park and Will Aronson in February 2014 and pitched to the Wooran Cultural Foundation in Seoul. It was accepted into the foundation's support program and developed further with the addition of director Kim Dong-yeon. Jeon joined the project based solely on the title and synopsis that were released before the reading performance. Her decision to participate was driven by the trust she had in the creators, which had been developed through their previous collaboration on the musical Bungee Jumping. With Jeon Mi-do and Jeon Uck-jin, the musical had try-out at Project Box Seeya in September 2015 and quickly sold out. It was written in both Korean and English and showcased in a workshop in New York in 2016, supported by the foundation. The English version received the 2017 Richard Rodgers Award.

At the end of the same year, Jeon reprised her role as Charlotte in the encore of the musical Werther. The performance was held at CJ Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center, Seocho-gu, Seoul until January 10, 2016.

In April 2016, Jeon Mi-do back with Man Theater. She portrayed Yeon Baek-hee in the play 'Heuk Heuk Heuk Hee Hee Hee.' Baek-hee, an astronaut who fulfilled her dream but later fell ill with an incurable heart disease upon returning to Earth. Her encounter with Jin Heuk-cheol, a comedian who faced immense criticism and abandonment, gradually transforms her outlook on life.

In June 2016, Jeon Mi-do was cast in the role of Mrs. Lovett for the musical Sweeney Todd. Many people initially assumed she would be playing the character Joanna, so there was confusion when she revealed she would be portraying Mrs. Lovett instead. Despite the initial doubts, Jeon embraced the challenge and found it to be an interesting venture. Her performance in the role earned her a nomination for Best Musical Actress at the 2016 Stage Talk Audience's Choice Awards (SACA), and she won the Best Actress Award at the 1st Korean Musical Awards in 2017, based on votes from both the audience and experts.

Following the final performance of Sweeney Todd, Jeon began rehearsing for the play BEA. Originally written and directed by British playwright Mick Gordon in 2010. Directed by Kim Kwang-bo and produced by Man Theater, this thought-provoking work explores the theme of euthanasia. The title "BEA" is a wordplay on "Bi," which means rain. The play opens with Bea dancing on a bed, but it becomes apparent that she has been bedridden for eight years due to an incurable illness. For her performance in BEA, Jeon won the Best Theater Actress award at the 2016 Stage Talk Audience's Choice Awards (SACA).

2017–present: Maybe Happy Ending, screen debut, and rising popularity
In the end of 2016, Jeon reprised her role as Claire in premiere performance of musical Maybe Happy Ending which was selected for SEEYA STAGE. Produced by the Daemyung Cultural Factory, it was premiered at Lifeway Hall in DCF Daemyung Cultural Factory 2nd Building on December 20, 2016, to March 5, 2017, and ran for 51 performances. The premiere was directed by Kim Dong-yeon, who directed the tryout performance of the work last September.

An encore performance was held at the same venue, Lifeway Hall in DCF Daemyung Cultural Factory 2nd Building, from October 23, 2017, to November 12, 2017. In this encore performance, Jeon Mi-do, Go Hoon-jung, and Jeong Wook-jin, who had been part of the tryout performance, along with Kim Jae-bum, Jung Moon-sung, Choi Su-jin, and Seong Jong-wan, who contributed to the success of the premiere, all reprised their roles. The encore performance also sold out all seats before the opening, and it continued the popularity of the premiere.

For her performance as Claire, Jeon received critical acclaim. She won two popularity awards: the Women Popularity Award at the 2017 Yegreen Musical Awards and the Best Musical Actress Award at the 2017 Stage Talk Audience's Choice Awards (SACA). She also won the Best Actress Award at the 2018 Korea Musical Award.

In November 2017, Jeon was cast in tvN 2018 series Mother portraying Ra-ra, Lee Seol-ak's (Son Seok-ku) former lover. Jeon officially made her television debut in when the show aired on tvN from January 24 to March 15, 2018. Despite her limited screen time, she left an impactful impression.



In March 2018, Jeon reprised her role as Lara Antipova in the musical "Doctor Zhivago". During the press call for the musical, Jeon mentioned that the line, "You can't just cry your whole life," best encapsulates Lara's character. As fate would have it, Lara and Yuri Zhivago (played by Park Eun-tae and Ryu Jeong-han) meet again during the war and develop feelings for each other. However, they are separated, and Yuri settles down in the small library of Yuriatin. Jeon also mentions a conversation Lara has with her colleague Yelenka (played by Baek Jin-joo), where she describes their relationship as a "soft drug". Jeon Mi-do double cast with Jo Jeong-eun and performed alternately at the Charlotte Theater until May 7th.

In the second quarter of 2018, Jeon Mi-do played the role of Mona Juul in J. T. Rogers' play Oslo. Mona Juul is an intelligent diplomat who led the peace agreement between Palestine and Israel in Oslo. It was Lee Seong-yeol's first directing work as the artistic director of the National Theater of Korea. The performance took place at the Myeongdong Arts Theater from October 12th to November 4th. She won the 2018 Stage Talk Audience's Choice Awards (SACA) Best Theater Actor Award, further solidifying her position as one of the actors loved and trusted by audiences.

Since September 2018, Jeon participated in the internal reading of the musical "Paris Bakery", a new work by author Kim Han-sol and composer Kim Ki-yeon. This musical had been supported by the Wooran Cultural Foundation through the 'Wooran Award' since January. A tryout performance of "Paris Bakery" was held four times at Wooran 2 from January 12th to 14th, 2019.

Jeon participated in a reading session of the musical 'Il Tenore' in December 2018, reuniting with Hue Park and Will Aronson. The musical is set in 1930 Gyeongseong and follows the stories of three individuals with forbidden dreams in a world where personal happiness is prohibited. The reading featured 18 actors and an orchestra, with the cast members performing while reading from the script and sheet music. Jeon, Choi Jae-rim, and Lee Sang-yi were among the actors who brought the passionate and emotional stories and music to life.

The following year, she made her big screen debut in the fantasy film Metamorphosis.

Jeon landed her first lead role in a television series with Lee Woo-jung's medical drama Hospital Playlist. During the audition, she thought she was trying out for a patient role, but director Shin Won-ho revealed that he was considering her for the lead role, as Chae Song-hwa, an associate professor of neurosurgery. During an interview, director Shin said that "Although we make the character, [we] felt she was destined to play Song-hwa." Shin also revealed at the online production press conference that Jeon was recommended by Jo Jung-suk and Yoo Yeon-seok, and that this also played a decisive role in her casting. Principal photography for the first season started in early October 2019 and concluded in late April 2020. The first season was broadcast on tvN every Thursday from March 12 to May 28, 2020.

Jeon received multiple awards for her role in Hospital Playlist. She won the Best Acting Award at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards and the Newcomer Actress award at the 2020 Asia Contents Awards. She was also nominated for the Best New Actress at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards. In 2021, she won the Best New Actress award at the APAN Star Awards and was nominated for the Popular Star Award (Actress) at the same awards.

For the drama's soundtrack, she sang a cover of Shin Hyo-beom's song "I Knew I Love" which was originally released in 2006. It peaked at number 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart.

In 2020 encore of musical Maybe Happy Ending, Jeon Mi-do reprised her role as Claire in the production, joined kby actresses Kang Hye-in and Han Jae-ah. Jung Moon-sung, Jeon Seong-woo, and Yang Hee-jun were cast as Oliver. Seong Jong-wan and Lee Seon-geun joined in the role of James. In this season, the actors incorporated artificial feelings into their acting style and vocal tone to emphasize the identity of the robot character. Double K Film & Theater produced the show, which took place at Yes 24 Stage 1 in Daehangno from June 30 to September 13, 2020. The new stage design included the band, including the piano conductor, positioned on the second floor, and a running set with a centrally opening and closing door. The production made use of freely expressed space changes, added a rising floor to the main acting space, and increased the overall use of video.

Jeon reprised her role as Chae Song-hwa and started filming season 2 of medical drama Hospital Playlist in late January 2021. Originally scheduled to begin in early December 2020, filming was postponed the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming ended on September 6, 2021. The second season aired between June 17 and September 16, 2021.

In April 2021, it was announced that Jeon was in talks to appear in JTBC's TV series Thirty, Nine. This 12-episode series is a remake of the Chinese drama Nothing But Thirty and revolves around the lives, friendships, romances, and love of three friends who are approaching the age of forty. Jeon confirmed her participation in August. She portrays the character Jeong Chan-young, a 39-year-old drama coach. Acting alongside Son Ye-jin and Kim Ji-hyun, Jeon's character holds a central role in the story. Filming for the series began in August 2021, and it premiered on JTBC on February 16, 2022.

Jeon decided to reprise her role as Mrs. Lovett in the 2022 encore of the musical "Sweeney Todd" after initially hesitating due to scheduling conflicts. With the postponement of overlapping schedules, she was able to fully focus on the production. Kim Ji-hyun, her best friend for 10 years, played a significant role in helping her make the decision. Both Jeon and Kim Ji-hyun were part of a triple cast in 2022, along with the new actress Rina. Jeon also reunited with Kang Pil-seok and Shin Sung-rok, with whom she had worked on previous projects.

In December 2023, Jeon and Ji Sung were confirmed to star for the series Connection. This marks their first collaboration on a project. It is also Jeon's first time playing a lead role in a drama on a terrestrial channel since her acting debut in 2006. Jeon will portray Oh Yun-jin, a social affairs reporter for the Ahn Hyun Economic Daily, known for her assertiveness and outspoken nature. Connection is a television series created by Lee Hyun, directed by Kim Moon-gyo, and is set to premiere on SBS TV during the first half of 2024.

Personal life
In April 2013, Jeon Mi-do married her non-celebrity boyfriend whom she had first met in July 2012 through a blind date. Just two months after their initial meeting, they made the decision to get married. Their engagement period lasted a mere six months.