Remember Jung Hae-ri, the lovable yet mischievous “Pangku-ttongku” from the hit sitcom High Kick Through the Roof? South Korean actress Jin Ji-hee (陳智熙), who shot to fame as a child star in the role, is now 27 years old. Recently, she released a series of new actor profile photos, and her fresh yet mature aura immediately sparked a buzz online, with some netizens exclaiming, “Is that Park Min-young (朴敏英)?”
Jin posted new photos to her personal social media accounts on the 12th and 13th. On the first day, she captioned her post “vertical format,” and the next day, she wrote “today is horizontal format,” unveiling multiple new actor profile shots. In the photos, she poses against a light blue background, experimenting with both color and black-and-white styles. With long hair and natural, light makeup, she alternates between a subtle smile and a serene expression, exuding a pure, elegant, and mature charm.
Compared to her child star days, Jin has clearly shed her youthful innocence, with more defined features and a calmer demeanor. Several photos, in particular, led netizens to note a striking resemblance to actress Park Min-young, sparking immediate discussion in the comments section. Many exclaimed, “She’s all grown up!” and “The little girl from before has become a goddess.”
Born in 1999, Jin made her official debut at age 4 through the drama Yellow Handkerchief, marking 23 years in the entertainment industry. In 2009, she starred in the MBC classic sitcom High Kick Through the Roof, playing the distinctive character Jung Hae-ri. In the show, when angry or scolding someone, she would often rapidly shout the Korean expletive “빵꾸똥꾸” (pronounced “ppang-kku-ttong-kku”), which became an incredibly popular catchphrase due to its catchy sound and exaggerated, humorous delivery. This role propelled her to stardom, making her a memorable child star for Korean audiences.
However, the high recognition she gained in childhood meant the character image of “Jung Hae-ri” followed her into adulthood. Now 27, Jin is at a stage where she needs to establish a mature actor image. Therefore, in recent years, she has continuously challenged various roles through different projects, gradually shedding her child star label and expanding her acting repertoire.
Beyond her acting work, Jin’s academic achievements have also garnered attention. In 2018, she was admitted to Dongguk University’s Department of Theater and Film, and even publicly shared an impressive “all A’s” transcript, showcasing a side of her vastly different from her on-screen image.
Before July of this year, she also performed on stage in the play The Old Man’s Dream, continuing to build her stage experience. From the unforgettable Jung Hae-ri in High Kick Through the Roof to now showcasing a mature elegance with her new profile photos, Jin Ji-hee, with 23 years in the industry, is steadily shedding her child star label and advancing towards becoming a truly mature actress.
