Uhm Jung-hwa is a South Korean singer, actress and dancer. Uhm is considered to be one of the most influential women in the Korean entertainment industry, finding success in both music and film. Her legacy and career reinventions have given her the nickname of "Korean Madonna".
Uhm began her career in 1989 as a chorus member for the broadcasting company MBC. She starred in the 1993 romance drama film, On a Windy Day, We Must Go to Apgujeong, and released her debut studio album, Sorrowful Secret, that same year. Though both releases found limited audiences, the album's lead single, "Pupil", helped to establish a sensual image for Uhm.
She pivoted to dance music with 1996's "Sad Expectation", and found success with "Rose of Betrayal" from her third studio album, After Love. Subsequent releases Invitation and 005.1999.06 were bolstered by a string of hit singles: "Poison", "Invitation", "I Don't Know", and "Festival", which gained status as her signature songs.
Starting in 2001, Uhm began to concentrate efforts on her acting career.