Jeon Ji-hyun made her acting debut in the movie White Valentine in 1991 but only started to receive attention when she was featured in a Samsung commercial for My Jet printer later that year. Her role as The Girl in the 2001 romantic comedy movie My Sassy Girl launched her to fame. It was one of the highest-grossing Korean comedies of all time. She was nicknamed the “Nation’s First Love” due to movie’s immense popularity. She also took home the Best Actress trophy at the 2002 Grand Bell Awards for her performance in the film. In 2013, she starred in fantasy romantic comedy series My Love from the Star, opposite Kim Soo-hyun. The drama was so popular that it sparked trends in fashion, makeup, and restaurants. Jeon Ji-hyun took home the Daesang for TV at the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards for her role in the drama. In 2015, she was named Best Actress at the 52nd Grand Bell Awards for the espionage action film Assassination. In 2016, she returned to small screen through the fantasy romantic comedy drama Legend of the Blue Sea, opposite Lee Min-ho.

Jeon Ji-hyun’s real name is Wang Ji-hyun. She has a brother who is five years older than her. Her childhood dream was to become a flight attendant, but her mother and her mother’s friends encouraged her to become a model or an actress due to her towering height and slim figure. On April 13, 2012, Jeon Ji-hyun married her childhood friend Choi Jun-hyuk. They have two sons together.