Background and career
Jeon Do-yeon (Korean: 전도연; born February 11, 1973) is a South Korean actress. She began her career in television before making her film debut with The Contact (1997), a melodrama that established her as a leading actress. Jeon gained further acclaim with A Promise (1998), a romantic tragedy, and The Harmonium in My Memory (1999).
Jeon's career reached new heights with You Are My Sunshine (2005). However, it was her role in Lee Chang-dong's Secret Sunshine (2007) that cemented her status as one of South Korea's finest actresses. Her portrayal of a grieving mother navigating faith and despair won her Best Actress at the 60th Cannes Film Festival, making her the first Korean actor to receive such recognition. Jeon's subsequent work included The Housemaid (2010), Way Back Home (2013), The Shameless (2015), Birthday (2019), and Kill Boksoon (2023).
Alongside her film work, Jeon has continued to appear in television dramas. In recent years, she starred in the series Crash Course in Romance (2023) and The Price of Confession (2025). Jeon is considered a role model for many young actresses in South Korea.
