Ji Chang-wook is a South Korean actor and singer who was born on July 5, 1987. He rose to prominence as Dong-hae in the daily drama series Smile Again (2010-2011), and has also appeared in Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011), Empress Ki (2013-2014), Healer (2014-2015), The K2 (2016), Suspicious Partner (2017), Melting Me Softly (2019), Backstreet Rookie (2020), Lovestruck in the City (2020-2021), The Sound of Magic (2022), and If You Wish Upon Me (2022).
Career
2006-2009: The Beginning
Ji got his start in musical theater. He made his film debut in Days... in 2006 and had a minor role in the 2008 television drama You Stole My Heart. He made his film debut in 2008 with the film Sleeping Beauty.
In 2009, he starred in My Too Perfect Sons as the shy, younger brother who ends up raising his best friend's daughter at the age of 20. The weekend family drama drew more than 40% of the audience. He then appeared as a supporting actor in the action-comedy Hero.
Rising popularity from 2010 to 2012.
Ji landed his first lead role in the 159-episode daily drama Smile Again in 2010, playing a Korean-American short track speed skater. Smile Again dominated the ratings for 15 weeks in a row, and he was named "Best Actor in a Daily Drama" at the KBS Drama Awards.
He then portrayed the title character in Warrior Baek Dong-soo, a 2011 historical-action series (2011). Honorable was adapted from Lee Jae-manhwa. heon's Baek Dong-soo is a story about the early years of a Joseon-era swordsman, Baek Dong-soo, until political intrigue causes a rivalry with his childhood best friend-turned-enemy. Ji received a "New Star Award" at the SBS Drama Awards after the series topped its timeslot for 13 weeks. Later that year, he starred in Bachelor's Vegetable Store, a cable drama based on the true story of Lee Young-seok, a young man who turned a tiny 350-square-foot vegetable store in 1998 into a nationwide franchise with 33 locations.
Ji played a pianist who envies his older brother's natural talent for music in his first antagonist role in the melodrama Five Fingers (2012).
Ji returned to musical theater in 2013 with The Days, playing a presidential bodyguard who went missing with a mysterious female companion 20 years ago. The Days was a jukebox musical based on Kim Kwang-folk seok's rock songs.
Breakthrough and international ventures from 2013 to 2022
Ji made his breakthrough in the historical drama Empress Ki as Toghon Temür (also known as Ta Hwan), the 16th emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. Throughout its run, the drama received an average rating of 35.12% in the United States. Ji's performance made an indelible impression on both critics and audiences, earning him critical acclaim and recognition.
Ji went on to play the title character in the action-thriller television series Healer (2014-2015). Ji gained popularity in China and other parts of Asia after the drama aired. Following that, he appeared in Mandarin-language dramas such as The Whirlwind Girl 2 and Mr. Right.
Ji starred as the male lead in tvN's action-thriller The K2 in 2016, playing a bodyguard who is betrayed by his countrymen and falls in love with a girl suffering from PTSD and obvious sociophobia. The drama received positive reviews and topped cable channel viewership ratings during its eight-week run. In November 2016, he co-starred in the Lotte Duty Free promotional web-drama series, First Seven Kisses.
Ji appeared as a jobless game addict who becomes a framed murderer in the 2017 action film Fabricated City. The same year, he was cast as a prosecutor in SBS's romantic comedy thriller series Suspicious Partner, which premiered in May.
Ji was cast in the romantic comedy series Melting Me Softly after his discharge from the military in 2019. He played the role of a television producer who wakes up 20 years in the future after an unsuccessful human-freezing project.
Ji was cast in the romantic comedy series Backstreet Rookie in 2020, which was based on a webtoon of the same name. He played a former public relations director for convenience store franchises who eventually manages his own convenience store. In addition, he appeared in the romantic comedy web series Lovestruck in the City, which will premiere on Kakao TV in December 2020.
In 2021, he played a mysterious caller who blackmails the protagonist and his family with a bomb planted inside the car they are driving in Kim Chang-thriller ju's Hard Hit.
Ji played the mysterious magician Lee Eul in the Netflix series The Sound of Magic, which was based on a webtoon of the same name, in 2022. That same year, he played an ex-convict who volunteers at a hospice in the KBS2 drama If You Wish Upon Me.
2023–present: Creating a company
Ji's contract with Glorious Entertainment expired in March 2023. Ji is in the process of establishing a one-man agency with his manager, who has been working with him for over ten years, on March 14, 2023.
Private life
Ji started his mandatory military service on August 14, 2017. His basic military training was completed at the Army's 3rd Infantry Division in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. Upon completion, he was given a prize for outstanding performance.
Ji was transferred to the Army's 5th Artillery Brigade in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, to finish his military service. He was promoted to Corporal after being appointed as a Platoon Leader. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Ji was released on April 27, 2019.
Ji donated 100 million won to help the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake through the Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association in February 2023.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Days... | ||
| 2008 | Sleeping Beauty | Jin-seo | |
| 2009 | The Weird Missing Case of Mr. J | Sun Gun-man | |
| 2010 | Death Bell 2: Bloody Camp | Soo-il | |
| 2011 | Confession | Short film | |
| 2013 | How to Use Guys with Secret Tips | Hong-jun's brother | Cameo |
| 2015 | The Long Way Home | Nation's armed forces conscription military police | |
| 2017 | Fabricated City | Kwon Yoo | |
| Your Name | Taki Tachibana | Voice only, Korean dub | |
| The Bros | Young Choon-bae | Cameo | |
| 2021 | Hard Hit | Jinwoo |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | You Stole My Heart | Lee Phillip | |
| 2009 | My Too Perfect Sons | Song Mi-poong | |
| 2009–2010 | Hero | Park Jun-hyeong | |
| 2010–2011 | Smile Again | Carl Laker / Dong-hae | |
| 2011 | Warrior Baek Dong-soo | Baek Dong-soo | |
| 2011–2012 | Bachelor's Vegetable Store | Han Tae-yang | |
| 2012 | Five Fingers | Yoo In-ha | |
| 2013–2014 | Empress Ki | Toghon Temür / Ta Hwan | |
| 2014–2015 | Healer | Seo Jung-hoo / Park Bong-soo / Healer | |
| 2016 | The Whirlwind Girl 2 | Chang An | Chinese drama |
| The K2 | Kim Je-ha / K2 | ||
| 2017 | Suspicious Partner | Noh Ji-wook | |
| 2019 | Melting Me Softly | Ma Dong-chan | |
| 2020 | Backstreet Rookie | Choi Dae-hyun | |
| 2022 | If You Wish Upon Me | Yoon Gyeo-rye |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Kara: Secret Love | Angel No. 2013, Chun Sa Nam | Ep. 9–10 |
| 2016 | First Seven Kisses | Himself | Ep. 3–4 |
| 2020–2021 | Lovestruck in the City | Park Jae-won | |
| 2022 | The Sound of Magic | Lee Eul | |
| 2023 | The Worst of Evil | Park Joon-mo |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Young Actors' Retreat | Cast member |
| Year | Song title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Are You Ready" | Lena Park feat. Dynamic Duo |
| 2009 | "We Broke Up Today" | Younha |
| 2010 | "I Have to Let You Go" | Young Gun |
| 2011 | "Cry Cry" | T-ara |
| 2012 | "Lovey-Dovey" | |
| "I Need You" | K.Will | |
| 2013 | "That's My Fault" | Speed |
| "It's Over" | ||
| Runaway | Kara |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Fire and Ice | Composed of three short plays: Moon Story, Sandglass, That's Right! | |
| 2011 | Thrill Me | Richard Loeb | |
| 2013 | The Days | Mu-young | Jukebox musical featuring songs by late folk-rock singer Kim Kwang-seok. Starred in the musical's first run from April to September 2013. |
| Jack the Ripper | Daniel | ||
| Brothers Were Brave | Lee Joo-bong | ||
| 2014 | The Days | Mu-young | Reprised his role for the musical's second run from October 2014 to May 2015, December 2015. |
| 2016 | Reprised his role for the musical's third run from August to November 2016 (select performances only). | ||
| 2018 | Shinheung Military Academy Musical | Dong-gyu | Musical staged by the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) in celebration of its 70th founding anniversary. |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Be With You | Mandarin |
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Meet-Again Meet Again" (다시 만나면) | Warrior Baek Dong-soo OST |
| "Oh-Sing-Sing-Men Oh Sing Sing Men" (오싱싱맨) (with Lee Kwang-soo, Kim Young-kwang, Shin Won-ho, Sung-je, and Ji-hyuk) | Bachelor's Vegetable Store OST Japanese release | |
| "Your Warmth" (너의온기) | ||
| 2012 | "Fill Up" (채운다) | Five Fingers OST |
| 2014 | "To the Butterfly" (나비에게) | Empress Ki OST |
| 2015 | "I Will Protect You" (지켜줄게) | Healer OST |
| 2016 | "Kissing You" | First Seven Kisses OST |
| 2017 | "101 Reasons Why I Like You" (네가 좋은 백 한가지 이유) | Suspicious Partner OST |
| 2019 | "When Love Passes By" (사랑이 지나가면) | Melting Me Softly OST |
| 2022 | "Magic In You" (with Sondia, Ye.Z and Lee Yeseul) | The Sound of Magic OST |
| "Do You Believe In Magic?" (당신 마술을 믿습니까?) | ||
| "Don't Make Me Dream" (나를 꿈꾸게 하지 마세요) (with Choi Sung-eun) | ||
| "Merry-Go-Round" (회전목마) (with Choi Sung-eun) | ||
| "A Curse of Asphalt" (아스팔트의 저주) | ||
| "Annarasumanara" (아저씨. 마술을 믿으세요?) (with Choi Sung-eun) |
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APAN Star Awards | 2014 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama | Empress Ki | Nominated |
| 2015 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Healer | Nominated | |
| 2021 | Backstreet Rookie | Nominated | ||
| Popular Star Award, Actor | Nominated | |||
| 2022 | Global Star Award | The Sound of Magic | Won | |
| Asia Artist Awards | 2019 | Asia Celebrity (Actor) | Ji Chang-wook | Won |
| Best Actor | Won | |||
| Asian Film Awards | 2023 | AFA Next Generation Award | Ji Chang-wook | Honoured |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2017 | Best New Actor – Film | Fabricated City | Nominated |
| China TV Drama Awards | 2015 | Most Popular Actor (Overseas) | Healer | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2010 | Best New Actor | Smile Again | Nominated |
| 2011 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Daily Drama | Won | ||
| 2014 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Healer | Nominated | |
| Popularity Award, actor | Won | |||
| Best Couple Award | Ji Chang-wook with Park Min-young Healer | Won | ||
| Korea's Best Dresser Swan Awards | 2016 | Best Dressed Actor | The K2 | Won |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2011 | Best New Actor | Smile Again | Nominated |
| 2014 | Top Excellence Award, actor | Empress Ki | Nominated | |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2013 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Project Drama | Won | |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2011 | New Star Award | Warrior Baek Dong-soo | Won |
| 2012 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Weekend/Daily Drama | Five Fingers | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Wednesday-Thursday Drama | Suspicious Partner | Nominated | |
| Best Couple Award | Ji Chang-wook with Nam Ji-hyun Suspicious Partner | Nominated | ||
| 2020 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Fantasy/Romance Drama | Backstreet Rookie | Nominated | |
| Best Couple Award | Ji Chang-wook with Kim Yoo-jung Backstreet Rookie | Nominated | ||
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2014 | Outstanding Korean Actor | Empress Ki | Nominated |
| The Musical Awards | 2013 | Best New Actor | The Days | Won |
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | July 5, 1987 |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Famous | Film & Theater Personalities, Actors, South Korean Men |
| Universities |
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| Birth Place | Anyang, South Korea |
| Height | 182 |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Cancer |
| Born in | Anyang, South Korea |
| Famous as | Actor |
| Socials |
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