After graduating from Chung-Ang University's Department of Theater and Film, Yum Jung-ah entered the entertainment industry through beauty pageants. She was the first runner-up at the Miss Korea 1991 pageant. That same year, she made her acting debut in the MBC dramaOur Heaven. In 1992, she represented South Korea in the Miss International pageant, where she also finished as the second runner-up.[9]
Early in her career, public recognition was not immediate. Yum Jung-ah recalled that even in her twenties, she was persistently known by the modifier "actress who was a Miss Korea," stating, "There were times when I complained, 'Why do I only get flashy roles?'"[9]
In 1998, she appeared in the KBS 2TV dramasWhen Azaleas Bloom andLegend of Ambition, earning theKBS Drama Awards Excellence Award for Actress.[9]
It was with directorKim Jee-woon's 2003 filmA Tale of Two Sisters that Yeom Jeong-ah truly left her mark. This film established her reputation as a formidable actress. In the film, she portrayed a hysterical and grotesque young stepmother who mistreats her children, delivering a chilling performance that solidified her presence in the Korean film industry.[10]
In 2004, she further established herself as a prominent actress with her portrayal of a mature femme fatale in director Choi Dong-hoon's debut film, The Big Crime. This role earned her the Best Actress award at the Blue House Film Critics Association Awards, marking the beginning of her golden era. That same year, in Teacher vs. Student, she showcased her versatility as an "acting chameleon" by taking on a comedic role that was a stark contrast to her typical characters. Beyond her acting talent, she made a name for herself with this film, leading it to box office success.[10]
Yum Jung-ah married Heo Il on December 30, 2006.[11] They have 2 children.[12]
Her younger sister Yeom Jeong-yeon participated in the 1st KBS Super Talent Contest in 1995 along withSong Yoon-ah andCha Tae-hyun and won a prize.[13]
^Park Ah-reum (January 8, 2020).염정아 측 "최동훈 감독 신작 합류, 류준열 김태리와 호흡"(공식입장 [Yeom Jung-ah's side "Join Choi Dong-hoon's new film, working with Ryu Jun-yeol and Kim Tae-ri" (official position)] (in Korean). Newsen.Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. RetrievedApril 12, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kim Na-ra (May 3, 2022).류준열X김우빈→김태리X소지섭 '외계+인' 1부, 올여름 개봉 확정 [공식] [Ryu Jun-yeol X Kim Woo-bin → Kim Tae-ri X So Ji-seop 'Alien + Human' Part 1 confirmed for release this summer [Official]] (in Korean).MyDaily.Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. RetrievedMay 3, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Jeon Hyung-hwa (May 6, 2021).[단독]김혜수·염정아·조인성·박정민·고민시·김종수, 류승완 '밀수' 호화 라인업 완성[종합] [[Exclusive] Kim Hye-soo, Yeom Jeong-ah, Jo In-seong, Park Jeong-min, Ko Min-si, Kim Jong-soo, Ryu Seung-wan's 'Smuggling' luxury lineup completed [Comprehensive]].star.mt (in Korean).Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. RetrievedMay 6, 2021.
^Kim, Bo-ra (June 15, 2023).""6인 6색" '밀수' 김혜수→고민시, 색다른 변신" ["6 people, 6 colors" 'smuggling' Kim Hye-soo → Go Min-si, a different transformation] (in Korean).OSEN.Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. RetrievedJune 15, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Lee, Ha-neul (October 26, 2023).류준열·김태리·김우빈 '외계+인' 2부, 2024년 1월 개봉 확정 [Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri, Kim Woo-bin's 'Alien + Human' Part 2, confirmed to be released in January 2024] (in Korean). Ten Asia.Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. RetrievedOctober 26, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Jo Ji-young (December 20, 2023).[공식] 전 국민 분노 유발 황정민X밀수 퀸 염정아 만난 '크로스', 2024년 2월 설 개봉 확정 [[Official] 'Cross', which provokes national anger and features Hwang Jung-min and smuggling queen Yeom Jeong-ah, is confirmed to be released in February 2024].Sports Chosun (in Korean). RetrievedDecember 20, 2023.
^Kang Min-kyung (June 9, 2022).[단독] 염정아, '별빛이 내린다' 특별 출연...옹성우·최국희 감독과 재회 [[Exclusive] Jung-ah Yeom to make a special appearance in 'Starlight Falls'... Reunion with Ong Seong-wu and Choi Kuk-hee] (in Korean). Ten Asia.Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. RetrievedJune 11, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Lee Seung-gil (March 21, 2022).염정아·전소민·김재화, 주식 전쟁 뛰어든다...'클리닝업' [Yeom Jeong-ah, Jeon So-min, and Kim Jae-hwa, plunge into a stock war... 'Cleaning up'] (in Korean).MyDaily.Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. RetrievedMarch 21, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Chang, A-leum (May 22, 2024).조진웅·유재명·김무열·허광한·이광수 '노웨이아웃'...7월 첫공개 확정 [Cho Jin-woong, Yoo Jae-myung, Kim Mu-yeol, Hsu Kuang-han, Lee Kwang-soo 'No Way Out'...First release confirmed in July] (in Korean). News1.Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. RetrievedMay 30, 2024 – viaNaver.
^Choi, Hee-jae (June 11, 2025).염정아, 셀럽 의사 된다...스릴러 '아이쇼핑' ENA 편성 [Yeom Jeong-ah becomes a celebrity doctor... Thriller 'I Shopping' to be aired on ENA].edaily.co.kr (in Korean). RetrievedJune 11, 2025 – viaNaver.
^Park, Jae-hwan (May 28, 2025).염정아X박해준 '첫,사랑을 위하여' 대본 리딩 현장 [Yeom Jeong-ah X Park Hae-joon 'First, For Love' Script Reading Site].KBS K-star (in Korean). RetrievedMay 28, 2025 – via Naver.
^Nam, Yoo-jung (August 28, 2022).헤어질 결심 브로커 둘 다 8개 부문 후보 올라 [Decision to break up and Broker both nominated for 8 categories] (in Korean).Busan Ilbo.Archived from the original on August 28, 2022. RetrievedAugust 28, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kim, Da-eun (December 9, 2022).박해일·염정아, '주연상' 트로피 들어 올리다 [제58회 대종상영화제] [Park Hae-il and Yeom Jung-ah lift the 'Best Actor' trophy [58th Grand Bell Awards]].Ilgan Sports (in Korean).Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. RetrievedDecember 10, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kim, Hyun-rok (November 7, 2022).헤어질 결심, 43회 청룡영화상 13개 부문 최다 후보...한산 헌트 10개 후보[공식] [Decision to break up, the most nominations in 13 categories at the 43rd Blue Dragon Film Awards... 10 candidates for Hansan and Hunt [Official].SporTV News (in Korean).Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. RetrievedNovember 7, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Kim Ji-hye (February 9, 2023).디렉터스컷 어워즈, 오프라인 개최...'외계+인' 최동훈 감독 후보 올라 [Director's Cut Awards held offline... Choi Dong-hoon nominated for director of 'Alien + Man'].SBS Entertainment News (in Korean).Naver.Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023.
^Cho, Yeon-kyung (April 7, 2023).제59회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 최종 후보 공개 [59th Baeksang Arts Awards, TV/Film/Play Finalists Revealed] (in Korean).JTBC.Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. RetrievedApril 7, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Nam, Yoo-jung; Lee, Woo-young (August 27, 2023).누가 받아도 될 정도로 훌륭한 후보들, 그중 최고는 누구? [Great candidates to anyone can accept, who is the best of them?] (in Korean).Busan Ilbo.Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. RetrievedAugust 27, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Oh, Seung-hyun (October 24, 2023).송강호·이병헌→송혜교·한효주 '대격돌'...대종상, 수상 후보자 발표 [Song Kang-Ho - Lee Byung-Heon → Song Hye-Kyo - Han Hyo-Joo 'Daejong'...Daejong Awards announces nominees] (in Korean). X-ports News.Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. RetrievedOctober 27, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Kim, Yu-jin (November 6, 2023).제44회 청룡영화상 후보 발표...'밀수'·'콘크리트 유토피아' 11개 부문 최다 노미네이트 [44th Blue Dragon Film Awards Nominations Announced...'Smuggling'-'Concrete Utopia' Receive Most Nominations in 11 Categories].X-ports News (in Korean).Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. RetrievedNovember 6, 2023 – viaNaver.
^Hwang, So-young (April 8, 2024).60회 맞은 '백상예술대상' TV·영화·연극 후보 공개 [60th 'Baeksang Arts Awards' TV, Film and Theater Candidates Revealed] (in Korean).JTBC.Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. RetrievedApril 23, 2024 – viaNaver.
^Bae, Dong-mi (December 31, 2021).2022년 주목해야 할 작품과 배우는...한국 영상산업 리더 62명이 꼽았다 [Works and actors to watch out for in 2022... Selected by 62 Korean video industry leaders].Cine21 (in Korean).Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. RetrievedJanuary 1, 2023.
