Your Face, Her Embrace – The Art and Heart of Jung Eun-hye
Korean artist Jung Eun-hye, born with Down syndrome, transforms lives and perceptions through her touching portraits and message of inclusion and beauty.
Introduction: The Power of Seeing with the Heart
In a world obsessed with symmetry, filters, and perfection, what does it mean to truly see someone?
For Korean artist Jung Eun-hye, the answer lies not in visual accuracy but in emotional connection. Diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth, she has become a national icon through her vivid portraits and quiet, radical love. Through thousands of hand-drawn faces, Jung invites us to look again—not just at others, but at ourselves.
Her art speaks not of technical mastery but of something rarer: dignity, recognition, and presence.
Who Is Jung Eun-hye?
Jung Eun-hye was born in 1990 and raised in South Korea. Diagnosed with Down syndrome, she experienced delayed speech and social development. But rather than placing her in an institution, her mother, Jang Cha-hyun-sil, decided to raise her daughter with love, creativity, and belief in her potential.
Eventually, Eun-hye began to draw at Maum Studio (“Heart Studio”) in Yangpyeong, a space that supports neurodiverse and marginalized individuals. It was here that she discovered her talent and passion for portrait drawing. What began as a casual interest quickly evolved into a profound artistic practice.
Today, Eun-hye has drawn more than 4,000 portraits, each capturing the essence of a person in a way that transcends physical likeness.
Your Face: A Portrait of Human Dignity
Jung Eun-hye’s portrait series titled “Your Face” is a testimony to radical empathy. She doesn’t just draw faces; she studies them with care and presence. Her portraits are imperfect by academic standards, yet they feel more emotionally accurate than most hyper-realistic renderings.
Each drawing is completed in 10 to 15 minutes. She observes the subject’s facial features and gestures while maintaining strong eye contact. The result is a colorful, expressive, and honest representation of the person’s humanity.
Her portraits have been displayed at national galleries and public exhibitions. “Your Face” is not just an art project – it’s a social statement. It tells us that every face is worth remembering, and every person is worthy of being seen.
Onscreen and Unfiltered: Her Role in Our Blues
In 2022, Jung Eun-hye stepped into the national spotlight through her role in the acclaimed Korean drama Our Blues. Playing a character loosely based on herself, she portrayed Young-hee, a young woman with Down syndrome living on Jeju Island.
This role was groundbreaking. Not only was she playing a lead character, but she was doing so as an actress with a developmental disability. Her performance moved viewers across the country, offering a rare representation of disability that centered warmth, independence, vulnerability, and love.
Audiences responded with overwhelming support. For many, it was the first time they saw a disabled person portrayed not through pity, but through personhood.
The Second Book: Eun-hye’s Hug
Following the success of her first art collection, Jung published her second book, Eun-hye’s Hug. Unlike the portrait-focused Your Face, this book is more introspective, including poetic reflections, letters, and journal-like entries alongside colorful illustrations.
The theme of the book is emotional healing. It offers comfort and warmth to readers who feel lost, anxious, or overwhelmed. Jung’s simple yet profound lines are more than drawings – they are embraces on the page.
The book was endorsed by top Korean writers like Noh Hee-kyung and Choi Eun-young, who praised it as a gift of gentleness in a chaotic world.
Her Mother, Her Anchor
Jung’s journey would not have been possible without her mother, Jang Cha-hyun-sil. From the very beginning, she defied societal pressure to institutionalize her daughter. Instead, she advocated for her, nurtured her creativity, and became her partner in art and life.
Their relationship is more than familial; it is a collaboration rooted in trust and mutual love. Today, they work together to manage Eun-hye’s schedule, public appearances, exhibitions, and book promotions. In every interview, Eun-hye never forgets to say, “Thank you, Mom.”
Love, Independence, and a Wedding
In 2025, Jung Eun-hye surprised and delighted fans by announcing her engagement to Yeong-nam, a fellow artist and friend. Their relationship began at work, deepened through shared experiences, and blossomed into a loving partnership.
Their story is revolutionary not because people with disabilities fall in love, but because society so rarely acknowledges it. The public embraced the news as a celebration of love, equality, and agency.
Her mother expressed both joy and hope:
“Even when I’m no longer here, I want her to live with someone who truly cherishes her.”
Conclusion: Seeing Differently, Loving Deeper
Jung Eun-hye’s art is a quiet rebellion against perfectionism. Her two books — Your Face and Eun-hye’s Hug — are not just collections of work; they are messages of hope, inclusion, and radical gentleness.
She teaches us to:
- Value authenticity over flawlessness
- Listen with our eyes and hearts
- Honor each face as a sacred story
Her life and work continue to challenge how society views ability, worth, and love. And in doing so, she shows us that the most powerful portraits aren’t about what we see, but how we choose to see.
Books by Jung Eun-hye
1. Your Face (니 얼굴)
Author: Jung Eun-hye
Publisher: Bori Publishing | 2023
Language: Korean
Description:
A portrait collection of over 4,000 faces drawn with sincerity by Jung Eun-hye, an artist with Down syndrome. The book includes poems, diary entries, and handwritten letters, capturing how she sees and honors each person's face with dignity and warmth.
Purchase: BoriBooks Official Link
2. Eun-hye’s Hug (은혜씨의 포옹)
Author & Illustrator: Jung Eun-hye
Publisher: Iyagijangsu
Language: Korean
Description:
An illustrated essay collection filled with love, comfort, and gentle wisdom. With colorful drawings and simple reflections, Eun-hye embraces those who are hurting or feeling lost — offering solace through art and words.
"A Dream Come True: The Wedding Story of Eun-hye and Young-nam – YouTube"
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