She once revealed that she suffered more than 300 unspoken rules in a year, resulting in 9 abortions, and even more so that she didn't even let go of the toilet and menstrual period. She is Zhang Nara, who is known as the "first beauty" in South Korea, and the sad past of blowing herself up during the interview.
In fact, most Korean celebrities are chaebol "toys". Like Korean female stars Zhang Ziyan, Choi Xueli, Lin Yuna,
Former member of the girl group AOA, Kwon Min-a, etc
Zhang Ziyan once broke the news in her suicide note that she was forced to sleep with her more than 100 times, as well as the list of major bosses.
And Cui Xueli was required to become a "first-class product" when she exposed her debut.
There is even an "X-Files", which records the unknown side of many popular stars in South Korea.
Regarding Zhang Nara's "unspoken rules" incident, it may be because she didn't grasp the big market in China well and was played by herself, or she might not be able to suffer from these.
Zhang Nara's "Circle Money Gate" incident
In 2009, Zhang Nara participated in the Korean variety show "Strong Heart". Talking about her most scarce money, she blurted out: "Fortunately, I have often been invited to participate in activities in China over the years, which has made me a lot of money." ”
The program team then typed a line of subtitles: "Every time the production fee is tight, I will go to China to perform to make money." "
And Zhang Nara's remarks immediately caused an uproar in China. Many netizens felt that their likes were trampled on, and thought that Zhang Nara's practice of "going to China if she was short of money" broke their hearts.
For a time, criticism came and went. Even her loyal fans can't hide their disappointment.
The turmoil intensified, and the cooperation between Zhang Nara and the brand was terminated one after another. The once beloved Korean goddess became the target of public criticism overnight.
What's even more embarrassing is that Zhang Nara's father and daughter explained and apologized many times afterwards, but they couldn't save the hearts of the public. So how did Zhang Nara get involved with China?
South Korea's "No. 1 Beauty" Chinese love
Jang Nara was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1981. When she was in the fifth grade of primary school, she began to appear in her father's stage plays, showing her extraordinary acting talent and accumulating valuable stage experience.
In high school, Zhang Nara began to shoot TV commercials for student supplies and chocolates, and her talent was recognized by more people, which laid a good foundation for her future acting career.
With a love for the performing arts, Jang Nara became a student in the Drama Department of Seoul National University. During her university years, she worked hard to learn professional knowledge and constantly improve her acting skills to fully prepare for her future development.
In May 2001, the opportunity finally came. With her outstanding appearance and sweet voice, Zhang Nara officially stepped into the showbiz as a singer.
However, in 2003, Zhang Nara entered the film and television industry. With her debut film "Naughty Girl Courtship", she quickly became popular in South Korea.
Jang Nara also successfully won two nominations for Best Female Newcomer and Best Actress at the 40th Daejong Awards in South Korea, which is a proof of her strength. The following year, Zhang Nara was appointed ambassador for China's propaganda, shifting her focus to China.
In 2006, the TV series "Unruly Princess" starring Zhang Nara became popular all over the country, and the ratings reached new highs. Her fresh and sweet temperament and good acting skills have conquered the hearts of countless audiences, making her gain a large number of loyal fans in China in a short time.
Zhang Nara is known as "Korea's No. 1 Beauty" by netizens with her mixed-race three-dimensional and delicate facial features, and even has the reputation of "plastic surgery template".
Jang Nara can be said to be a pioneer of cultural exchanges between China and South Korea. Even kung fu superstar Jackie Chan has a discerning eye and invites her to participate in the concert. For a time, Jang Nara became a hot Hallyu star.
In 2008, Jang Nara became the first Korean star to participate in singing the theme song of the Beijing Olympics "Beijing Welcomes You".
In the same year, Zhang Nara also served as a torchbearer for the Seoul leg of the Beijing Olympic Games. These honors all show that Zhang Nara has a bright future in the Chinese entertainment industry and has already become an envoy of cultural exchanges between China and South Korea.
However, who would have thought that this female star, who was at the peak of her career, an inconspicuous variety show, would make Zhang Nara's popularity suddenly fall to the bottom, causing an uproar.
Zhang Nara's grievances and hatreds with Chinese audiences can be called a microcosm of the development of Korean stars in China, which is confusing and intriguing.
The apology was fruitless
In the face of overwhelming accusations, Zhang Nara and her father both came forward to clarify. They stressed that it was just an entertaining discourse and that it was in no way disrespectful to the Chinese audience.
As for the "circle of money", they even flatly denied it, believing that the media took it out of context and misled public opinion.
However, in an effort to regain the trust of Chinese audiences, Zhang Nara and her father created the sketch "Learning Chinese" and performed it on the stage in Shenyang as a sign of sincerity. also starred in the sequel "The Pretty Imperial Doctor", hoping to revive his prestige in China, but with little success.
No matter how she explains it, the negative effects are already difficult to eliminate. Watching the audience who once loved him drift away, Zhang Nara had to be sad and return to South Korea for development.
Zhang Nara, who returned to South Korea, has a career that is far worse than before. In the rapidly changing Korean entertainment industry, she has been interrupted for several years, and she is not as good as before. Although she has launched new works one after another, such as "Childlike Beauty" and "Remember You", the response has been very mediocre.
To add insult to injury, she was exposed to "playing a big name" in private, and she missed press conferences many times with an arrogant attitude. It's just that in the era when the Internet was not yet developed, these negative news were little known. With her career stalling and her reputation damaged, Zhang Nara's situation is becoming more and more difficult.
Zhang Nara's current situation
Time has passed, and Zhang Nara has quietly disappeared from the Chinese entertainment industry. 40-year-old Zhang Nara is still a dream under the forced marriage of her father.
And she once envied Choo Ja Hyun for finding a "Chinese husband", hoping to find a Chinese actor like her. It's a pity that the good times didn't last long, Choo Ja Hyun's extramarital affair was exposed, and Jang Nara's last Chinese complex was shattered.
In June 2022, Zhang Nara married a director of photography who was 6 years younger than herself. She is still active in the Korean entertainment industry, and she maintains a good state with proper skin and body maintenance.
Interestingly, she is somewhat similar to mainland actress Zhao Liying, which has also sparked a lot of discussions.
Netizens have different opinions on whether Zhang Nara can return to the Chinese market. Some people think that time has passed, and everyone has long forgotten the turmoil of the year; There are also those who believe that once trust is lost, it is difficult to rebuild.
Zhang Nara, the Korean beauty who was once a smash hit, whether she still has a chance to turn the tables now, I'm afraid only time can tell.
Epilogue:
俗话说：“水能载舟，亦能覆舟”。
Jang Nara's short but dazzling trip to China is the epitome of many Korean stars who have profoundly influenced their fate in foreign countries. This once commanding "Korea's No. 1 Beauty" cannot escape the ruthless trial of public opinion. Her little-known ups and downs may be a warning to those who come after her: on the road of cross-cultural communication, we must not let down the goodwill, but also respect the culture and audience of other countries. Otherwise, even the glory of the peak period will not be able to withstand the fall overnight.