Park Jeong-suk [MBC drama series "Jewel in the Palace" (left), YouTube channel "Jo Eun-ju's Q" (right)]
Park Jeong-suk [MBC drama series "Jewel in the Palace" (left), YouTube channel "Jo Eun-ju's Q" (right)]

Park Jeong-suk, the actress who played Queen Munjeong in the MBC drama series "Jewel in the Palace," has drawn public attention after it emerged she is now serving as chief executive of a women's organization under the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

A recent interview with Park, 56, chief executive of the Seoul Foundation of Women and Family, was released on the YouTube channel "Jo Eun-ju's Q."

Park made her debut in 1993 as host of a KBS live special broadcast for the Daejeon Expo. "It was work to introduce Korea to the world as a promotional ambassador for the Daejeon Expo," she said. She went on to host numerous programs, including SBS's "Departure! Morning Wide" from 1994 to 1997. She drew particular public attention for her role as Queen Munjeong in the MBC drama series "Jewel in the Palace," which ended its run in 2004. That production marked her farewell to the entertainment industry, as she left to study abroad.

"Media is incredibly attractive and has strong influence," Park said. "I only worked in media for exactly 10 years — and that was already 20 years ago." She laughed, adding, "Even so, everyone still remembers me as the queen from 'Jewel in the Palace.'"

She explained her decision to leave acting: "'Jewel in the Palace' let my face become known around the world, and as hallyu — the Korean Wave — was just beginning to emerge, I thought it might be a good idea to take a short break and go abroad to study."

After leaving the entertainment industry, Park studied international affairs at Columbia University's graduate school in the United States, where she came to know Ban Ki-moon, then UN secretary-general. Through that connection, she built a wide network at the UN and went on to serve for about 10 years as the Korean representative for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, an international organization in whose founding Bill Gates was deeply involved. She later served as secretary-general of the WeGO (World Smart City Organization), building a career across international organizations and the public sector. She took office as chief executive of the Seoul Foundation of Women and Family in September 2024 and has been in the role for about two years.

"There were many trials along the way," Park said. "When you challenge yourself in a new field, the people who have been there all along wonder why you are doing that work. It was very hard to earn their trust. Every time that happened, I felt compelled to work even harder and to produce results within two or three years. That drive helps you grow, but on the other hand it makes you too combative — not having any breathing room is not a good thing. Still, doing new work is fun."

In 2012, at the age of 42, Park married Lee Jae-young, a former Assembly member five years her junior who served as a proportional representative for the Saenuri Party in the 19th National Assembly. The couple had a son the following year. "When I was working hard at the broadcasting station, it was still an era when women were expected to retire once they married," she said. "I thought I would not marry until I had fully succeeded. I happened to meet my husband, who was working at an international organization, and after we married he happened to go into politics."

Park offered advice to younger generations: "When you join an organization and do something, I hope you think of it as a chance to grow yourself as well. I feel I grew in proportion to the effort I put in. If you stop worrying about being shortchanged and instead think of that hard-won experience as building your own capabilities, you will have nothing to feel bitter about."


paq@heraldcorp.com