Song Jae-jeong

Song Jae-jeong (born on November 28, 1973) is a South Korean film television screenwriter.

Song is best known for her dramas, Nine, W: Two Worlds Apart, Memories of the Alhambra, and Yumi's Cells.

Song Jae-jeong was born in Daejeon on November 28, 1973.

Raised in a bustling restaurant environment, she found solace in solitude and cultivated a love for comic books, mystery novels, and gaming.

With aspirations of becoming a journalist, she enrolled in the Department of Journalism and Broadcasting at Ewha Womans University in 1992.

She majored in journalism, but she had hardly ever written anything until that point, so she never dreamed of becoming a writer.

Her true aspiration was to become a journalist.

However, she did not study enough, and her grades were poor that she could not even take the employment exams.

Thinking she had to work at a broadcasting station due to her major, she realized that becoming a writer was a way to get in without considering school grades or exams.

So, she enrolled in the Broadcasting Academy.

For an assignment, she submitted a sketch comedy.

The comedy instructor praised her talent, to which she responded in disbelief, "Me? I've never made anyone laugh before!"

Even her family doubted it, "How could a kid who always sits alone and never talks have a knack for comedy?"

But since she was told she had a talent, she joined a production company as a broadcast writer.

Song began her career as a cultural programs writer in 1996, choosing not to pursue a career as a drama writer because of the high intellectual demands.

She also believed she did not have the talent to be an entertainment writer.

However, a comedy writer at a broadcasting station noticed her potential.

Song was then recruited by Yoo Seong-chan, a key figure in SBS TV's entertainment department.

She started her career as an entertainment writer on SBS TV comedy show Laughter High School, and went on to work on other shows such as I Love Comedy, Game of Life, Lee Moon-se's Live, and Game Show High Five.

While working on the sitcom Dad is the Boss, Song found that sitcom writing was a perfect fit for her.

In 1997, Kim Byung-wook who was at the same production company, asked her to join a new SBS TV sitcom called Miss and Mister due to a shortage of staff.

She attended a meeting and found it enjoyable, but the program ended abruptly before she could learn much.

In 1998, there was talk within the broadcasting station about planning the sitcom Soonpoong Clinic.

Song dropped everything she was doing and joined the team.

She learned writing techniques of comedy, romance, and more through sitcoms.

Initially, Soonpoong Clinic had difficulty attracting attention, only securing one advertisement.

However, as the show's characters and episodes evolved, its popularity surged and exploded within a year.

"'The response to Soonpoong was truly explosive. Not only did Oh Ji-myeong, who was already considered the 'Midas hand of sitcoms' with General Oh, become a star, but Sunwoo Yong-yeo, Park Young-gyu, Song Hye-kyo, and even the child actress who played Mi-dal also became stars. Thanks to that, I also became famous.'"

Soonpoong Clinic was a pivotal moment in Song's life, as it established her reputation as the top sitcom writer.

She believes that Soonpoong set the standard for Korean sitcoms, with its natural humor, unexpected twists, and heartfelt family stories.

Song also cherishes her time working on Soonpoong because it brought her together with directors Kim Byung-wook, Kim Young-ki, and other writers, creating a strong sitcom team that lasted for a decade.

She reflects on the challenges of creating instant laughter in a sitcom, emphasizing the importance of quick wit and comedic timing.

The success of Soonpoong Clinic led to further collaborations with director Kim Byung-wook.

The two were evaluated as having established the prototype of Korean sitcoms by successively releasing hit sitcoms like Why Can't We Stop Them (2001–2002), Honest Living (2002–2003), and Cute or Crazy (2005).

Together, they were recognized as a duo of sitcom geniuses in the broadcasting industry.

Their next sitcom, High Kick! was highly anticipated as a standout work from the start.

During the production of High Kick!, the staff had unique nicknames, with Song being referred to as "Bright Cow" due to her email ID being "Merry Cow."

The project plan was developed in May, and the writers came together in July to work on High Kick!.

Song has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the 4th KIPA Awards Writer's Award, the 20th Korea Broadcast Writer's Award (Entertainment), and the Korea Content Awards Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Commendation in 2013 and 2016.

Additionally, she was honored with the Writer of the Year Award at the MBC Drama Awards.