Choi Jin-sil leaves behind tragic legacy

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The nation was thrown into shock yesterday at the news of the death of Choi Jin-sil, Korea's iconic actress and the people's sweetheart.
Choi, who took her own life at the age of 39, was one of Korea's most loved actresses, having starred in numerous hit TV series and movies. She was praised for her ageless appearance and celebrated acting skills.

But her hard-won glitz and fame was also shadowed by scandals, such as an ugly divorce in 2004. Her tragic death came after being involved in a rumor surrounding the death of actor Ahn Jae-hwan, who also committed suicide last month.

Raised by a single mother in a down-and-out household, Choi first entered the entertainment business in the late 1980s through her younger brother Choi Jin-young, who was a model at the time.

Upon her first role in a periodic MBC TV drama series in 1988, Choi rapidly rose to stardom.

One of her biggest hits was a television commercial for Samsung Electronics Co. where she used a catch phrase that said she had her (virtual) husband in the palm of her hands.

She went on to star in the movies "My Love, My Bride" (1990) and "Mr. Mama" (1992), as well as TV drama series "Our Paradise" in 1990.

Choi's biggest break came in 1992, when she acted as a spunky travel agent in "Jealousy," aired on MBC. The mega-hit series was considered a harbinger of the country's now globally popular dramas.

Choi's following roles were also vastly popular including "Wish Upon a Star" (1996), and the movies "How to Top My Wife" (1994) and "The Letter" (1997).

She won numerous awards throughout her career, including the breakthrough role awards at Daejong Film Awards, Chunja Film Festival and the Blue Dragon Awards in 1991. In 1995, she won best actress awards at Daejong Film Awards and PaekSang Arts Awards in 1991, 1995 and 1997.

She was awarded best MBC award in 1997 and best female talent award by Korea Broadcasting Prizes in 1998.

Choi was also well-known among the fans for her rags-to-riches story, which she said enabled her family to stay close.

Choi's first run-in with public tragedy was the death of her former manager Bae Byoung-soo in 1994. Bae, who put Choi on the map, was killed by Choi's then-driver. The actress was summoned for a court hearing as a witness.

At the height of her career in 2000, Choi married professional baseball player Cho Sung-min, drawing massive media attention. It was called the wedding of the century.

The marriage, however, was rocky and they split in 2002. The couple, who had a son and a daughter together, remained separated until August 2004, when Cho was arrested for domestic violence. The two were officially divorced a month later and Cho gave up rights to his children in exchange for being removed from his obligation to pay off debts to Choi and her family.

Upon the divorce, Choi was forced to stay out of the limelight. A construction company that hired her as a spokesperson filed for damages worth 3 billion won, citing "damages to the company image for failing to manage her personal life properly."

Rising again, Choi returned to the small screen in 2005, taking the role of a divorced woman earning her living despite being diagnosed with cancer in "My Rose Life." She won PaekSang Arts' best actress award for the role that tugged the heartstrings of viewers nationwide.

Her recent works included "Bad Woman, Good Woman" in 2007 and "The Last Scandal of My Life" this year. "Scandal" about a middle-aged superstar falling for his first love again was a huge hit, prompting the so-called "jumderella" syndrome, a combination of Cinderella and "ajumma," or a middle-aged Korean woman.

Recently, Choi was preparing for the second season of "Scandal." She was also hosting her own talk show for a cable channel.

Choi made headlines earlier this year for succeeding in changing the surnames of her two children to her's. Her son is 7 and daughter is 5.

She was most recently involved in rumors surrounding the death of Ahn Jae-hwan, who committed suicide last month after allegedly suffering from heavy debt. Ahn was also a husband of Choi's close friend, comedian Jung Sun-hee.

Choi was found by her mother early yesterday morning in her home in southern Seoul, an apparent suicide by hanging.

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