Jang Na-ra

This is a Korean name; the family name is Jang (장/張).

Jang Nara
Born	March 18, 1981 (1981-03-18) (age 30)
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer, Actress
Labels	Pure Entertainment
Associated acts	SM Entertainment
Website	Official Website

Jang Na-ra
Hangul	장나라[1]
Revised Romanization	Jang Nara
McCune–Reischauer	Chang Nara

Jang Na-ra (Korean: 장나라, born March 18, 1981) is a South Korean singer and actress. She also sings in Chinese, and is known in China by her transliterated Chinese name (simplified Chinese: 张娜拉; traditional Chinese: 張娜拉; pinyin: Zhāng Nàlā).

Early life

As a child, Jang spent most of her childhood in her birthplace, Seoul, but appeared with her father in a play, Les Misérables, in her primary school days, thus sparking her interest to become an actress. Jang also went on to become an advertisement model for some television advertisements in her high school days before entering into the Department of Theater, the Faculty of Fine Arts at Chungang University in March 2000.

Music career

Jang moved into a singing career by signing a contract with SM Entertainment, however SM Entertainment had dropped Jang due to assumptions that Jang would have lesser or no popularity than other competing artists. Despite SM's opinion, Jang released her first album with the title song, "Burying My Face In Tears". The album sold 300,000 copies in the process. Her pop ballad style song, Confession and the April Story, was ranked at the top in various music charts. Thus, this resulted in Jang holding an MC job at MBC's music show, Music Camp.

Acting career

Jang also has a successful acting career, in which she appears in a TV sitcom "New Nonstop" with famous South Korean young stars such as Park Kyung-lim and Yang Dong Geun. Together with Jang Hyuk, she also played the leading role in a TV drama, "Successful Story of a Bright Girl", which recorded high audience rating.^{[citation needed]}

In recent years, she starred in a drama in China, called "Bratty Princess". Being the lead actress, she has attracted much affection from Chinese-speaking fans and has become quite popular in Chinese-speaking countries in Asia. She has also released a few Chinese-language CDs. Her first Chinese album was a huge success and it featured her previously released Korean songs translated into Chinese. The Chinese versions of "Sweet Dream", "It's Probably Love" and "I'm A Woman Too" have become very popular on radio throughout Asia. She has performed many concerts in China, often singing both Korean and Chinese songs. Recently she released another Chinese album called "Kung Fu". The video for the song featured her in red qipao (Chinese women traditional dress), fighting villains, and dancing with a cute panda. She is also in the 2008 Olympic song "Beijing Welcomes You", as the only non-Chinese ethnic singer. In the middle of this year Jang Nara decided to ended her 6 year of hiatus by taking a leading role as Lee Seo Young who is 34 year old mistaken for being 25 in a rom-com "Baby Faced Beauty". This on-going drama also a mark for her to start her come back status in K-Drama world.She is a relative of bang Min-ah,from the Girl's Day girl group of Dream tea Entertainment.

Filmography

Year	Film
2012	Flying With You 一起飞
2009	Sky and Ocean 하늘과 바다
2007	Girl's Revolution 麻雀要革命
2003	Oh! Happy Day 오! 해피데이

Drama

Year	Drama
2011	KBS: Baby-Faced Beauty 동안미녀
2011	Diao Man Qiao Yu Yi 刁蛮俏御医 (Unruly Qiao)
2010	Iron Masked Singer 铁面歌女
2007	Chun Bai Zhi Lian 纯白之恋 (Good Morning Shanghai)
2005	KBS: Wedding 웨딩
2005	CCTV: Diao Man Gong Zhu 刁蠻公主 (My Bratty Princess)
2004	MBC: Love is All Around 사랑을 할꺼야
2003	Hello! Balbari 헬로 발바리
2002	MBC: My Love Patzzi 내 사랑 팥쥐
2002	SBS: Bright Girl's Success Story 명랑소녀 성공기
2001	MBC: Nonstop 2 (sitcom)

Charity and other activities

Jang does some charity work such as sending free powdered milk to the hungry North Korean children. She also works with the FHI Charity organization.

Recently, Jang held a fund-raising concert for child patients of leukemia in China. The Jang Foundation was established from the money raised during Jang's fan club meeting at her June 9 concert in Beijing, which was held to mark the 15th year of Korean-Chinese diplomatic relations. Twelve hundred seats at the concert venue sold out early. After the concert on stage, a leading Chinese charity organization appointed Jang as a goodwill ambassador, making her the first foreigner to receive such an honor.^[2]

In June 2010, Jang was appointed as an associate professor at the Beijing Huajia University (北京华嘉学院).^[3]

In 2011, Jang was appointed as Seoul’s Gangnam-gu’s ambassador to promote tourism in the area.

Discography

Albums

#	Information	Tracks
1st	Title: The First Story Released: 21/6/2001 Sales: 323,168[4][5] Language: Korean	고백 (Confession) 눈물에 얼굴을 묻는다 (Burying My Face In Tears) 연 (Yun) Make it Right 물고기자리 (Pisces) 4월이야기 (April Story) 눈물에 얼굴을 묻는다 (Burying My Face In Tears, String Version) Gloomy Sunday Blue 약속 (Promise) My Pain 지독한 사랑 (Vicious Love)
2nd	Title: Sweet Dream Released: 2/10/2002 Sales: 411,253[5] Language: Korean	Sweet Dream 아마도사랑이겠죠 (Amado Sarangigetjyo, "Perhaps Love") 혼자서도 잘해요 (Honjaseodo Jalhaeyo, "I Can Do It Well By Myself") Pinekiss 철부지 (Cheolbuji, "A Mere Child") Ending I'll be there for you 뙈지아가 (Ttwaejiaga, "Pig Baby") 물망초 (Mulmangcho, "A Forget-Me-Not") 사막한가운데서 (Samakhangaundeseo, "In The Middle of the Desert") Snowman 다시 받아주겠니? (Dasi Badajugenni? "Can You Accept Me Again?") 바람아 멈추어다오 (Barama Meomchueodao, "Please Stop the Wind") 아마도 사랑이겠죠 (Amado Sarangigetjyo, "Perhaps Love") (Radio edit) Snowman (Radio edit)
3rd	Title: The Third Story Released: December 2003 Sales: 161,103[6][7] Language: Korean	We 별이 빛나는 밤에 기도 (Last Pray) 10년이 지난 후 나는 그게 정말이니? 나도 여자랍니다 키키 My Boy 약속 늘 그래왔듯이 Say Good-Bye 눈물로 남을텐데 그게 정말이니 (Band ver.) 별이 빛나는 밤에(Ver.2)
4th	Title: My Story Released: December 2004 Sales: 28,940[7] Language: Korean	Intro 달팽이 (Snail) 겨울일기 (Winter diary) I Love School Always 이젠 괜찮아요 (Now no problem at all) 혹시라도 (Perhaps) 모시는 글 (Mosin Gul) 연인 (Duet with 신혜성) (Lover, Duet with Shin Hye Sung (Shinhwa)) 사랑하기 좋은 날 (Good Day to Love) 겨울일기 (Bossa Nova.ver) (Winter diary) 나 (I) Make it right 飛不起來(페이부치라이) (중국드라마'은색연화'주제가) (Cannot fly—Chinese soap opera ' Silver time passage ' Theme song)
5th	Title: She Released: February 23, 2007 Sales: N/A Language: Korean	사랑 부르기 (Calling out love) 마음을 잃다 (Losing one's mind) You & I 손톱 (Fingernails) 가면무도회 ft. HaHa (A Masquerade) 사랑을 향합니다 (Towards love) Everything for you Tonight 이젠 말해볼까 (Shall we talk about it now?) 당신의 모든 것을 사랑합니다 (I love everything about you) 사랑 부르기 (Acoustic Ver.) (Calling out love)
6th	Title: Dream of Asia Released: March 27, 2008 Sales: N/A Languages: Korean, Mandarin, Japanese, Cantonese, English	CD 01 [Korean / Japanese / English] 신기루 (Mirage) Jump!!Jump!! 흉터 (Scar) 미련한 미련이란 것이 (Stupidity What Is Stupidity) Thinkin’ Of You 거짓말쟁이 (Liar) Long Good-Bye 달맞이 꽃 (Evening Primrose) 눈의 아이 (Snow Child) 결혼할래요 - feat. 박묵환 / Park Moon Hwan Shining Day Fairytale [English Version] 신기루 (しんきろう) [Japanese Version] (Mirage) Jump!!Jump!! [Japanese Version] We [Japanese Version] CD 02 [Mandarin / Cantonese] 우리들의 꿈 / 我們的夢想 / Wo Men De Meng Xiang (Our Dream) 독신주의 / 獨身主意 신기루 / 海市蜃樓 / Hai Shi Shen Lou (Mirage) Jump!!Jump!! / 跳!跳! / Tiao!Tiao! 남은 건 추억뿐 / 只剩下從前 나를 따라 해 봐 / 跟我走 / Gen Wo Zou (Follow Me) 못된 성질 / 大脾氣 / Da Pi Qi 멈춘 사랑 / 停愛 / Ting Ai 조금만 / 一点点 / Yi Dian Dian 달빛은 내 마음을 대신해 / 月亮代表我的心 / Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin [Cantonese Version] 달빛은 내 마음을 대신해 / 月亮代表我的心 / Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin [Mandarin Live Version] (Teresa Teng Cover)

Others

Information	Tracks
Title: Jang Nara and Friends Released: April, 2003 Sales: N/A Language: Korean	오 해피데이 (영화‘오 해피데이’삽입곡) 피노키오 그날이후 (영화 ‘오 해피데이’ 삽입곡) friend (Solo Version) and lately Will be mine luv n u today friend (Duet Version) 부디 그래요 아무것도 아닌 이야기 다시
Title: 一张 Released: February 1, 2005 Sales: N/A Language: Chinese	风儿啊！请你停下来 (Wind, please stop) 全世界下雨 (The whole world is raining) 娜拉In China 飞不起来 (Unable to fly) Sweet Dream 恋爱宣言 我也是女人 (I am also a woman) 甜蜜蜜 (Sweet) 可能是爱情 (It's probably love) Ends
Title: Gong Fu Released: December 21, 2005 Sales: N/A Language: Chinese	对不起不爱你 (Sorry, I don't love you) 功夫 爱上你全部 (Loving all of you) 我要你崇拜 梦飞翔 Everyday 危险恋人 天边 出乎预料 烦着呢
Title: Ladylike Released: December 29, 2006 Sales: N/A Language: Korean	안 행복해 (I’m not happy) 그렇담 Good-bye (Then good-bye)
Title: It's Alright (Ah Hyeon Dong's Madam OST) Released: February 14, 2008 Sales: N/A Language: Korean	It's alright It's alright(instrumental)

Awards

• 2003 Singer of the Year (Korea) CCTV-MTV Music Honors
• 2002 KBS Music Awards
• 2002 MBC Singer Award
• 15th International Chunsa Film Festival: Hallyu Grand Award

References

1. ^ The explanation for Jang Nara's name by her father, from Jang Nara's official website. (in Korean)
2. ^ "Jang Nara Named Ambassador of Chinese Charity". KBS GLOBAL. 2007-06-29. http://english.kbs.co.kr/entertainment/news/1463495_11858.html. Retrieved 2007-06-30. 
3. ^ Jo, Sang-won (2010-07-02), "10년만에 대학 졸업한 장나라, 중국에서 교수됐다 [Jang Nara, only ten years out of university, becomes professor in China]", Gyeongwon Ilbo, http://www.kwnews.co.kr/nview.asp?s=801&aid=210070100156, retrieved 2010-07-04 
4. ^ :: 한국음반산업협회 ::
5. ^ ^{a b} :: 한국음반산업협회 ::
6. ^ :: 한국음반산업협회 ::
7. ^ ^{a b} 2004년 총결산 국내음반 판매량집계

External links

• Official Website
• Jang Nara at the Internet Movie Database
• Official English Website
• Official Taiwan Website
• Official Chinese Blog
• Official Chinese MicroBlog

Persondata
Name	Jang, Na-Ra
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	March 18, 1981
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death