A recent social media post by Go Hyun Jung reveals her longing for her children. The South Korean star shared a rare photo of herself with her children, accompanied by the caption, “Spring is in bloom. I’ve been looking through some old things.”
According to South Korean media, Go Hyun Jung lost custody of her children in 2003 following her divorce from Jung Yong Jin, the vice chairman of Shinsegae Group and grandson of Samsung Group founder Lee Byung Chul.
The actress has previously spoken about her longing for her children and her inability to participate in their upbringing.
Go Hyun Jung shared a photo of herself with her children on social media (Photo: Instagram).
Go Hyun Jung’s children are now grown. Her eldest son, Jung Hae Chan (born 1998), studied hotel management at Cornell University (USA).
After completing his military service in May 2023, Jung Hae Chan took an internship at Samjong KPMG, a major auditing firm. He is now pursuing an MBA at a US university.
South Korean media reports that Hae Chan is expected to inherit the family’s hotel business.
In the few available photos, Jung Hae Chan appears tall and has a strong face. He has lived with his father, stepmother, sister, and half-siblings in recent years, rarely mentioning his biological mother.
Go Hyun Jung’s daughter, Jung Hae In (born 2000), is also pictured in a few rare images online. She is said to bear a resemblance to her famous mother.
Hae In has a round face and large eyes. She was educated in the USA. Like her brother, Hae In rarely mentions her mother.
Jung Hae Chan, Go Hyun Jung’s son (Photo: Naver).
Jung Hae In (right) shares a striking resemblance to her mother, actress Go Hyun Jung (Photo: Naver).
Earlier this year, on the Yoo Quiz On The Block program, Go Hyun Jung cried while discussing her relationship with her children. “Many people wonder if I see my children,” she said. “A normal mother would feel comfortable talking about her children, but I don’t have that. Living apart, I realize how painful it is not being close to my children. This sadness is something that cannot be filled because what’s lost can never be recovered. It hurts me deeply.”
She added, “I don’t want to be a burden on my children. I just want them to know that their mother is still living happily, diligently, and trying to repay the love that the public has shown her.”
Go Hyun Jung (born 1971) grew up in a South Korean village, displaying remarkable artistic talent from a young age.
As she matured, she moved to Seoul to pursue her career.
The actress earned an excellent degree in Performing Arts from Dongguk University, a prominent private university in South Korea.
In 1989, she gained attention by winning the 1st runner-up title in the Miss Korea pageant. This win paved the way for her entry into the South Korean entertainment industry. She was praised by the media as a beauty icon and a talented actress.
Go Hyun Jung married Jung Yong Jin in 1995 (Photo: Naver).
Go Hyun Jung’s notable filmography includes Hourglass, Spring Day, Woman on the Beach, Queen Seondeok, Daemul, and Friendship in Later Years.
In 1995, meeting Jung Yong Jin in the USA marked a significant turning point in her life. That year, she chose to abandon her flourishing entertainment career to marry Jung Yong Jin.
She gave birth to her first son in 1998 and a daughter in 2000. However, her life as a wife in a wealthy family was challenging.
The actress revealed she had to wake up before 5 am each day to prepare food for the entire family and adhere to seven strict family rules. Her lack of a privileged background meant she was treated without respect, and her opinions were often disregarded.
In 2003, Go Hyun Jung and her husband divorced. Custody of the children was granted to Jung Yong Jin, with Go Hyun Jung receiving a substantial alimony payment of 1.5 billion won (approximately $1.4 million USD).
The divorce became a major media event in South Korea. She was referred to by the media as the “Samsung daughter-in-law abandoned by the Samsung empire.”
Despite the tumultuous divorce, Go Hyun Jung stated she held no resentment towards her former husband.
She spoke fondly of her marriage: “We dated for two years. I married when I was 22 and my husband was 25. Since we were young, I didn’t understand what was so special about becoming a tycoon. When I married him, many people said I married him for money, not love.”
The Mask Girl actress further stated that if she could do it all over again, she would still marry Yong Jin, but she hoped he would mature and lead a normal family life, not a life of wealth and power.
Go Hyun Jung still respects her ex-husband’s family (Photo: Naver).
Explaining the reasons for their divorce, she said, “I think we married too young. We went from dating to marriage too quickly. If I had known him better and met him when I was a little more mature, I think I could have met his expectations, but I don’t think I could have done that then.”
Jung Yong Jin remarried in 2011, while Go Hyun Jung remained single, focusing on her career. She is considered a beauty icon in the South Korean entertainment industry and a high-earning actress.
Go Hyun Jung established her own entertainment company, actively participated in book publishing, film production, fashion businesses, university lecturing, and hosting TV programs.
Last year, she announced her absence from the press conference for the Namib television series due to health concerns. Later, she updated her social media, revealing a recent surgery and her recovery process.
