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Yang Jung-ah Basks in Resurgent Popularity

Yang Jung-ah (40) is enjoying a resurgence in popularity as she juggles roles in movies, TV dramas and on radio. Yang, who was a teen idol in the 1990s, has evolved into a versatile actress capable of handling a wide range of genres.

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Although she debuted on MBC in 1992, her new movie "In Love and the War" marks her first appearance on the silver screen. The movie is set during the 1950-53 Korean War and Yang plays the role of a warm-hearted widow. "'In Love and the War' is a warm comedy, and I grew very attached to the story since I play a middle-aged farm woman, which is different from my usual roles as urban professionals", Yang says. "It was tough to play that role, but I'm happy that I did quite a good job".

As soon as she finished promoting the movie, Yang started filming the new TV drama "Romance Town" for KBS 2. "I play the villain and I plan to give it my best and get a lot of people to hate me", she says.

Yang sensed her potential to handle a wider variety of genres after appearing on an entertainment program in 2008 that deviated from her usual roles in TV dramas. "It was through my appearance on an entertainment program that I realized how limited my genre has been", she says. "I got a broader perspective and became more flexible. I used that experience to try radio". She has been hosting an evening radio show on SBS since April last year.

She hopes to do a lot of different things and would like to host a TV show. "I don't think age has anything to do with challenging yourself", she says. But she stresses that her main focus will remain on acting. "I think I was born to act, judging by how excited I get when I walk on a set", she says.

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