South Korean actress Jun Ji Hyun (also known as Gianna Jun) has officially left the agency IEUM HASHTAG. The news was announced on June 24, 2025, marking the end of a three-year collaboration since she joined in 2022.
The agency stated that their exclusive contracts would not be renewed, and the separation was amicable. Jun Ji Hyun is one of the first artists to join IEUM HASHTAG after CEO Kim Sun Jung founded the company after leaving Culture Depot.
The professional closeness between Jun Ji Hyun and Kim Sun Jung has been established since 2010, when they founded Culture Depot together. Jun Ji Hyun's loyalty and trust in her then manager came into the spotlight when she decided to stay with CEO Kim in the transition to a new agency.
However, 2025 marks a new turning point for the actress. Along with fellow artist Kim So Hyun, who also chose not to renew her contract with the agency, Jun Ji Hyun has now entered the free agent (FA) market.
This decision was met with widespread speculation in the entertainment industry regarding her next career move. Quoting from Allkpop, industry sources said that Jun Ji Hyun is currently considering various offers from several major agencies and will choose the party that best aligns with her future career vision.
As one of Korea's most respected stars, Jun Ji Hyun has built a career spanning nearly three decades. She debuted as a magazine model in 1997 before breaking into acting in 1998 with the film 'Steal My Heart.'
Her name skyrocketed through the legendary film 'My Sassy Girl' (2001), which made her the youngest actress to win the Best Actress category at the 39th Grand Bell Awards. Jun Ji Hyun's portfolio in film includes various box office titles such as 'Il Mare,' 'Windstruck,' 'The Thieves,' 'The Berlin File,' and 'Assassination.'
On television, he is widely known through the dramas 'My Love from the Star' and 'The Legend of the Blue Sea.' In recent years, his appearance in Netflix's 'Kingdom: Ashin of the North' (2021) again demonstrated his deep and stunning acting power.
Despite the change in management, Jun Ji Hyun's acting career is entering a productive phase with big projects. One of the highly anticipated projects is the Disney+ original drama 'Tempest,' which is scheduled to air in late 2025.
In the drama, he plays Moon Ju, a diplomat and former UN ambassador who must work with a mysterious secret agent named San Ho (played by Kang Dong Won) to uncover a major conspiracy that threatens the Korean Peninsula. Actor John Cho will also appear in the series.
Not only that, Jun Ji Hyun has also been confirmed as the main character in the science fiction thriller film titled 'Colony,' which is directed by Yeon Sang Ho—previously successful in directing 'Train to Busan' and 'Hellbound.'
The film will be Jun Ji Hyun's return to the big screen in nearly a decade, with the story set in a building sealed off by a mysterious virus, where the residents undergo dangerous evolutions. She will star alongside top actors such as Ji Chang Wook, Koo Kyo Hwan, Shin Hyun Bin, and Kim Shin Rok.
Jun Ji Hyun’s ever-evolving career journey amidst change shows her capacity as a top artist who is able to adapt and maintain relevance in a competitive industry. With two major projects on the horizon and a free agent status, the legendary actress’ next steps are highly anticipated—by both her loyal fans and the entertainment industry.
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