Ji Chang-wook

Ji began his career in musical theatre. He made his onscreen debut in the 2006 film Days... and had a minor role in the 2008 television drama You Stole My Heart. He officially debuted in 2008 through the film, Sleeping Beauty.[3]

In 2009, he appeared in My Too Perfect Sons, playing the timid, sissy youngest brother who ends up raising his best friend's daughter at just 20 years old.[4] The weekend family drama received over 40% ratings.[5] He then took on a supporting role in the action-comedy, Hero.[6]

In 2010, Ji was cast in his first lead role in the 159-episode daily drama, Smile Again, playing the role of a Korean-American short track speed skater.[7] Smile Again topped the ratings chart for 15 consecutive weeks, and he was awarded "Best Actor in a Daily Drama" at the KBS Drama Awards.[8][9]

He then played the titular character in 2011 historical-action series, Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011). Adapted from Lee Jae-heon's manhwa, Honorable Baek Dong-soo, it is an origin story about Joseon-era swordsman, Baek Dong-soo, showing his early years until political intrigue creates a rivalry with his childhood bestfriend-turned-enemy.[10][11] The series topped in its timeslot for 13 weeks, and Ji received a "New Star Award" at the SBS Drama Awards.[12][13] Later that year, he played the lead role in cable drama, Bachelor's Vegetable Store which is based on the true story of Lee Young-seok, a young man who turned a tiny 350-square-feet vegetable store in 1998 into a nationwide franchise with 33 stores.[14]

In his first role as an antagonist, Ji played a pianist who envies his older brother's natural gift for music in the melodrama, Five Fingers (2012).[15][16]

Ji returned to musical theater in 2013 with The Days, playing a presidential bodyguard who went missing 20 years ago along with a mysterious female companion. The Days was a jukebox musical using the folk rock songs of Kim Kwang-seok.[17]

Ji's breakthrough came through his role as Toghon Temür (also known as Ta Hwan), the 16th emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, in the historical drama Empress Ki.[18] The drama drew solid viewership ratings nationwide throughout its run with an average rating of 35.12%. Ji's portrayal left a strong impression on both the critics and the audience, earning him critical acclaim and recognition.[19][20]

Ji then starred as the titular character in action-thriller television series, Healer (2014-2015).[21][22] After the airing of the drama, Ji became popular in China and other parts of Asia.[23][24] He then took on roles in Mandarin-language dramas such as The Whirlwind Girl 2 and Mr. Right.[25][26]

In 2016, Ji starred as the male lead in tvN's action-thriller The K2, a bodyguard who is betrayed by his fellow countrymen and falls in love with a girl with PTSD and apparent sociophobia.[27] The drama received favorable reviews, topping cable channel viewership ratings throughout its 8-week broadcast.[28] In November 2016, he co-starred in the promotional web-drama series, First Seven Kisses for Lotte Duty Free.[29]

In 2017, Ji starred in the action film, Fabricated City, playing the role of a jobless game addict who becomes a framed murderer.[30] The same year, he was cast in SBS's romantic-comedy thriller series, Suspicious Partner, as a prosecutor, which premiered in May.[31]

In 2019, following his discharge from military, Ji was cast in the romantic-comedy series, Melting Me Softly, where he plays the role of a television producer who finds himself waking up 20 years into the future following an unsuccessful human-freezing project.[32]

In 2020, Ji was cast in the romantic-comedy series, Backstreet Rookie, based on a webtoon of the same name. He plays the role of a former public-relations director of convenience stores franchises, who ends up managing his own convenience store.[33] In September, Ji was confirmed to appear in multi-season rom-com web series City Couple's Way of Love of Kakao TV, which will depict the real love stories of young people who live fiercely with "another me" in a complex city. The first series Lovestruck in the City is set to air on December 22, 2020 and it will be available for streaming on Netflix.