Jessica Jung[3] 

(born Jessica Sooyoun Jung on April 18, 1989),[1] also known by

the mononym Jessica,[4][5] is a Korean-American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman
known for her work as a former member of South Korean girl group Girls' Generation. As an actress,
Jung portrayed Elle Woods in the Korean version of the musical  Legally Blonde in 2010 and played
a role in the television drama Wild Romance in 2012. In early 2014, she established a fashion
brand, Blanc & Eclare. Later that year, she was dismissed from Girls' Generation due to conflicts
between the group's schedule and her own business activities. Following the dismissal, Jessica
ended her contract with SM Entertainment and signed with Coridel Entertainment in 2016, prior to
the release of her debut solo album With Love, J. In May 2018, Jessica signed a contract with United
Talent Agency.[6] Her debut best-selling novel Shine was released in September 2020.[7] Jessica was
the first member of what would become Girls' Generation to sign with SM Entertainment in 2000. In
2007, she was chosen as a member of the nine-member girl group that debuted on August 5, 2007.
In addition to her group activities, Jessica released two singles with Seohyun and Tiffany: "Love
Hate" (Korean: "오빠 나빠", lit. Bad Older Brother)[10] and "Mabinogi (It's Fantastic!)".[11] Jessica
collaborated with 8Eight for the song "I Love You" from their second album, Infinity, which was
released on March 3, 2008. Though she was the one singing the harmony and adlibs, she is not
seen in the music video. In addition, she had various duets — one with Shinee member, Onew,
called "One Year Later", and one with Park Myung-soo, "Naengmyeon". She sang the "Seoul Song"
with Super Junior's Leeteuk, Sungmin, Donghae, Siwon, Ryeowook and Kyuhyun and fellow group
members Taeyeon, Sunny, Sooyoung and Seohyun. Jessica made her musical theatre debut in the
South Korean production of Legally Blonde, alongside Lee Ha-nui and Kim Ji-woo;[12] the production
opened on November 14, 2009.[13] The same year, she took a special part on the show Infinity
Challenge for their summer special, in which she was chosen to sing a duet entitled "Naengmyun"
with Park Myung-soo, one of the MCs.[14]

Jessica as a member of Girls' Generation during a performance at MBC Gayo Daejejun in 2013.

In March 2010, she had a cameo role on SBS' Oh! My Lady.[15] In May 2010, Jessica became a
regular guest on the show Happy Birthday until she withdrew on June 7, 2010, due to Girls'
Generation's overseas activities.[16] She was also a regular guest on the show Star King with fellow
member Yuri. Jessica released a digital single titled "Sweet Delight" on October 13, 2010. In 2011,
Jessica participated on the soundtrack of the KBS drama Romance Town with the song "Because
Tears Are Overflowing" (Korean: 눈물이 넘쳐서).[17] Jessica made her acting debut in Wild
Romance in 2012.[18] In the same year, Jessica returned to musical theatre once again with Legally
Blonde, alongside Jung Eun-ji and Choi Woori. Her first performance was on November 28. In the
same year, Jessica sang "What To Do" (featuring Kim Jin-pyo) for the drama Wild Romance,
"Butterfly" (featuring Krystal) for To The Beautiful You,[19] "Heart Road" for The King's Dream,[20] as
well as "My Lifestyle", a Hyundai i30's commercial song.[21] In 2013, she had "The One Like You"
for Dating Agency: Cyrano.[22]
In 2014, Jessica released "Say Yes"' for the Make Your Move soundtrack, featuring her sister,
Krystal, and Exo's former member, Kris. In August, Jung launched her own fashion line, Blanc, which
was later renamed Blanc & Eclare.[23] There are now sixty stores located around the world.[24] Jessica
and her sister Krystal starred in their own reality television show Jessica & Krystal.[25] It premiered on
June 3[26] and consisted of ten episodes.[27]
On September 30, 2014, Jessica announced on her personal Weibo account that she had been
"forced out" of the group.[28] SM Entertainment later confirmed this, stating that Jung would no longer
be a member of Girls' Generation. The company also stated that Girls' Generation would continue to
promote with eight members while it would still manage her solo activities.[28][29] Jessica also released
a statement of her own through her fashion company, Blanc Group, explaining that she had been
asked to leave Girls' Generation by the agency and the other members of the group.[30] Jessica's final
song with Girls' Generation was "Divine", which was included in the repackaged version of their
Japanese greatest hits album, The Best.