Jeon Moo-song

Jeon was born on September 28, 1941, in Nae-dong, Jinsen (modern-day Incheon), Korea, during the period of Japanese rule. He was the eldest of seven children born into a working-class fishing family.^[9][10][11] His father originated from Haeju, Kōkai Province (now part of Hwanghae Province), Korea, and his mother is from Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do.^[12] During his childhood, Jeon frequently visited his maternal relatives in Seosan. His uncle, a farmer and storyteller, performed one-man shows that significantly influenced Jeon.^[13] Supported by his maternal aunt and uncle, Jeon was the only child in his family to attend kindergarten.^[9]

During his second year of elementary school, Jeon and his family evacuated their home due to the outbreak of the Korean War. He continued his education at a school near the evacuation site until the family returned to Incheon following the conclusion of the conflict. Around this time, Jeon began playing baseball at the suggestion of a friend and initially aspired to become a professional athlete.^[10][14]

In the 1950s, Jeon gained admission to Incheon Middle School, a prestigious institution at the time. His enrollment was a source of significant pride for his father, who hosted a celebration for local residents to mark the achievement. Although Jeon intended to continue playing baseball, the school lacked an established team. He organized a baseball club with fellow students; however, the group was soon disbanded by the principal, who argued that athletic pursuits would distract from academic responsibilities.^[9]

Following middle school, Jeon grew concerned regarding the financial burden of higher education on his family, as he had six younger siblings. At the encouragement of principal Gil Young-hee, he enrolled at Incheon Technical High School (now Incheon Mechanical Engineering High School) to study mechanical engineering.^[9] This decision resulted in a three day period of conflict with his father, who disapproved of the vocational path.^[15]

Before beginning high school, Jeon worked briefly at the Ae Kwan Theater, where he assisted a friend employed as a signboard designer. His initial duties involved whitewashing the boards for new advertisements. Though he resigned upon starting high school, his interest in the arts persisted. He frequently bypassed school hours to visit the theater district in Sinpo-dong, changing into civilian clothes to watch films and live theater. At Ae Kwan Theater he watched movies such as "Break Through the Wall" and "Long Live Freedom", along with stage productions by the Yeoseong Gukgeuk Company and Lim Chun-Aeng's Gukgeuk. He was particularly moved by the play "Princess Nangrang and Prince Hodong" and remembered "Blue Bird" with great clarity.^[16] His exposure to cinematic works like "Stagecoach" and "Samson and Delilah" eventually solidified his desire to pursue a career in acting.^[14] Jeon participated in his high school's musical program as a clarinetist in the school band.^[14]

Upon graduating, Jeon gained admission to the Department of Theater and Film at Hanyang University. The high cost of tuition, however, presented a significant financial barrier. Following a period of severe distress, Jeon attempted self harm by ingesting a substance he believed to be rat poison. He survived the incident and subsequently questioned his decision to attempt suicide.^[13]

Jeon later underwent practical training at the Incheon Mechanical Workshop under the Incheon Railroad Administration. Due to positive performance evaluations, he was hired as an apprentice following his training period. His primary responsibility involved the repetitive machining of bolts and nuts. While observing the accumulation of red, rusting iron shavings beneath his machinery, Jeon began to view the decaying metal as a metaphor for his own professional stagnation.^[9][15][17] Reflecting on this experience, Jeon stated that the sight of the iron powder made him feel as though he were rusting. He questioned his career path and eventually resigned from the company to pursue his original ambition in the arts.^[9]

Following his resignation from the mechanical workshop, Jeon accepted a position as a collection agent at the Incheon branch of the Seoul Shinmun. His responsibilities included managing newspaper distribution to local student carriers and soliciting door to door subscriptions.^[17] The flexible schedule afforded by this role allowed Jeon to watch a wide variety of films, which intensified his interest in pursuing a career as a cinema actor. During this period, he frequented bookstores to research the industry and spent significant time in the Chungmuro district, a hub for the Korean film industry.^[9][13][17]

After he had spent over a year working at the newspaper, he was encouraged by friends from Seorabeol Arts College (predecessor of Chung-Ang University College of Arts) who said, "You are so handsome. Why don't you try acting?" Flattered by the compliments, Jeon and his friends gathered at a bakery to plan a theatrical production. When the group was unable to pay the bill, his friends fled, leaving Jeon to settle the debt. Lacking sufficient cash, he was forced to surrender his high school graduation watch to the shop owner as collateral.^[9] To retrieve the watch, Jeon requested an advance on his wages from his branch manager. Upon hearing the request, the manager provided the funds along with two tickets to a 1962 production of Hamlet, the opening performance of the Namsan Drama Center.^[9][10] It turned out that the branch manager's daughter worked as a receptionist there.^[13]

Jeon traveled from Incheon to the Namsan Drama Center to attend the performance of Hamlet, directed by Yoo Chi-jin. He was profoundly affected by the production, which featured prominent actors such as Kim Dong-won in the title role, Jang Min-ho as King Claudius, and Hwang Jeong-soon as Queen Gertrude. The experience was so transformative that Jeon returned the following day to use his second ticket. During this repeat visit, he discovered a recruitment notice for the Drama Center's affiliated theater academy printed on the back of the program. Identifying this as an opportunity, he decided to pursue it.^[17]

For his entrance audition, Jeon was required to perform a physical improvisation task involving the breaking of a honey jar. He successfully passed the examination and was admitted to the Namsan Drama Center Actor Academy in 1962.^{[note 1]} Founded by the playwright and director Yoo Chi-jin, the academy served as the predecessor to the current Department of Theater and Film at the Seoul Institute of the Arts.^[13] Jeon was a member of the academy's first class in 1962, studying alongside future notable figures in Korean entertainment, including actors Shin Goo, Lee Ho-jae, Min Ji-hwan, Kim Ki-soo, Ban Hyo-jeong (who did not graduate), and playwright Yoon Dae-seong.^[19]

Jeon married Lee Ki-soon, a friend of his younger sister, in 1970. The couple had two children: a daughter, Jeon Hyeon-ah [ko] and a son, Jeon Jin-woo [ko]. Due to persistent financial difficulties, the children were temporarily raised by Lee's family. During this period, Lee supported the household through various informal jobs, including transporting goods from weaving factories to sell at Namdaemun Market.^[13]

Both of Jeon's children pursued careers in the performing arts. Jeon Hyeon-ah became a playwright and actress, and she is married to theater director Kim Jin-man. Jeon Jin-woo also became an actor and is married to actress Kim Mi-rim [ko].^[13]