Sports Chosun, Korean news reported last November 28, 2019, that actress Jeon Jihyun will be appearing in the finale of Netflix’s "Kingdom" season two. A second season was also confirmed to return with actors Joo Ji Hoon, Bae Doona, and Ryu Seung Ryeong from the first season. According to Sports Chosun, Jeon Jihyun will appear in the season two finale and then became a key character in the rumored season three of "Kingdom".
Jeon Jihyun’s appearance in season two was kept a secret even with Netflix’s production team. Culture Depot, Jeon Ji Hyun’s agency has stated that the actress took part in filming the series’s season two. However, the agency stated that they cannot mention anything about the drama itself. With regards to the actress joining Netflix’s "Kingdom" season three, the production has not been confirmed. But if they will receive an offer, they will review it.
A source from Netflix also stated that the production of "Kingdom" season three has not been confirmed yet.
"Kingdom" will be Jeon Jihyun’s first drama appearance after the successful drama "Legend of the Blue Sea" and will be her first attempt in sageuk drama.
Jeon Jihyun, born Wang Jihyun, also known as her English name Gianna Jun, is an actress and made a notable success for her role in the romantic comedy "My Sassy Girl". Other movies that made her rose to fame are Il Mare in 2000, Windstruck in 2004, The Thieves in 2012, The Berlin File in 2013, and Assassination in 2015. Jihyun also starred in dramas "My Love from the Stars" in 2013-2014 and Legend of The Blue Sea in 2016-2017. The success of her dramas and her movies made her established her career, making her one of the Queen of Hallyu star.
At the age of 16, her highschool friend who was a model at that time introduce her to a photographer. With Jeon Jihyun as her stage name, she began her career as a model for Ecole Magazine in 1997. She became a well-known commercial model and a TV Actress. She made her film debut in "White Valentine" in 1999. She was featured in Samsung commercial’s My Jet Printer which made her became a popular sensation. Her dancing and attitude in the ad made her the Korea icon in their late teens and early twenties.
My Sassy Girl which made the actress became a well-known sensation not only in Korea but all around Asia. The film became a high grossing Korean comedy of all time in Korea and also two weeks No. 1 film in Hongkong, making Jeon Jihyun as one of the biggest Hallyu star in the Chinese market. The huge success of the film made her have the title of "Nation’s First Love", resulting in her to grow popularity and endorsement from bigger and famous companies. She also won Best Actress at Grand Bell Awards in 2002.
In late 2006, Jeon Jihyun made her Hollywood debut, taking her stage name as Gianna Jun. She played the lead role of the movie "Blood: The Last Vampire". It was filmed in China and Argentina in 2007, the movie is the live-adaptation of a popular anime. Jeon Jihyun also launched her own luxury jeans brand in 2008 namely "Gianna by True Religion", her first celebrity line. In 2010, she acted opposite Chinese actress Li Bingbing in the film "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" based on Lisa See’s novel with the same name; which was directed by Wayne Wang. Jeon Jihyun was also photographed by Annie Leibovitz for the July American issue of the magazine Vogue. She is the first Korean actress to be included in the prestigious fashion magazine.
In 2012, she married the banker Choi Junhyuk on April 12 at Shilla Hotel in Jangchung-dong. More than 600 guests, including celebrities, close friends, and families attended the wedding. Her husband is the grandson of famous hanbok designer Lee Younghee and the son of fashion designer Lee Jungwoo. Jihyun gave birth to their first child on February 10, 2016, and to their second child on January 26, 2018.
After playing the roles in the movies such as "The Thieves", "The Berlin File", Jeon Jihyun made her drama comeback in the fantasy romance "My Love from the Stars" alongside with actor Kim Soohyun. The drama series was a huge success, making it trending from fashion, make-up, and restaurants. Jeon Jihyun won the Daesang award at the 2014 Baeksang Arts Award and the 2014 SBS Drama Awards. The drama made Jeon Jihyun reestablished as a leader of Hallyu and she was also given the President’s Award at the Korean Pop Culture and Arts Awards.
In 2015, she was also in the film "Assassination", making the movie a huge success. The movie was the highest-grossing Korean film of the year and the seventh all-time highest-grossing film in Korean cinema history. Jeon Jihyun was awarded Best Actress at the Grand Bell Awards and Max Movie Awards.
In 2016, Jeon Jihyun was ranked 8th on Forbes Korea Power Celebrity, it was her second consecutive year in the top 10, having 4th ranked in 2015.
In November 2016, the actress made her small-screen drama comeback in SBS "Legend of the Blue Sea", with actor Lee Minho. Jeon Jihyun was ranked 9th on Gallup Korea’s list of the 10th Best Actors of 2016, becoming the only woman included on the list.