Kim Ji Won
김지원 | Kim Ji Won
Explore Kim Ji Won's biography, age, height, career, K-dramas, movies, and fun facts.
Kim Ji Won Profile
- Birthday
- Oct 19, 1992
- Age
- 34
- Height
- 164 cm
- Nationality
- South Korean
- Blood type
- A
- MBTI
- INFP
- Zodiac
- Libra
- Place of birth
- Seoul, South Korea
Dramas & Roles1 title
About Kim Ji Won
Background
Kim Ji Won (김지원) is a South Korean actress best known for her performances in popular Korean dramas such as The Heirs (2013), Descendants of the Sun (2016), Fight for My Way (2017), Arthdal Chronicles (2019), My Liberation Notes (2022), and Queen of Tears (2024).
Before establishing herself as an actress, Kim Ji Won trained as a singer and initially considered pursuing a career in music. She entered the entertainment industry in 2010 through commercial appearances, gaining early recognition as the "Oran-C Girl" and "Lollipop Girl." Her fresh image and screen presence helped introduce her to South Korean audiences.
In 2011, she made her film debut in Romantic Heaven and began building her acting career through supporting roles. Her breakthrough came in 2013 when she portrayed the wealthy and sharp-tongued Yoo Rachel in The Heirs, earning the New Star Award at the SBS Drama Awards.
Her popularity continued to grow with her portrayal of military surgeon Yoon Myung Joo in Descendants of the Sun (2016). She subsequently starred opposite Park Seo Joon in Fight for My Way (2017), playing the outspoken and ambitious Choi Ae Ra.
In 2022, Kim Ji Won received praise for her understated performance as Yeom Mi Jeong in My Liberation Notes, demonstrating her ability to portray emotionally complex characters. She reached another major career milestone in 2024 with Queen of Tears, starring opposite Kim Soo Hyun as Hong Hae In, a powerful department store executive navigating a troubled marriage and a life-changing illness. The drama became one of tvN's biggest hits and introduced her to an even wider international audience.
Known for her versatility, expressive acting, and ability to transition between romantic comedies and emotionally intense dramas, Kim Ji Won has established herself as one of South Korea's most recognizable leading actresses.
Fun facts
- Kim Ji Won was discovered through street casting in 2007 while she was still in middle school, leading to her first entertainment agency contract.
- Before becoming an actress, she spent approximately three years training in singing, dancing, and acting.
- She was originally considered for a singing debut under the stage name "JessicaK" before deciding to focus on acting.
- In 2008, she appeared in singer Younha's "Gossip Boy" music video and also worked with Younha as a keyboardist and backing vocalist.
- One of her earliest major commercial appearances was a 2010 Lollipop advertisement alongside members of BIGBANG, earning her the nickname "Lollipop Girl."
- She became widely recognizable through an Oran-C beverage commercial, which earned her the nickname "Oran-C Girl."
- Kim Ji Won spent nearly a year living in Chicago, Illinois, with relatives during her middle school years.
- After returning to South Korea, she took a qualification examination before continuing her high school education.
- She has an older sister who is approximately two years older than her.
- Her role as Rachel Yoo in The Heirs was particularly memorable because she portrayed the character's vulnerability beneath her seemingly arrogant personality.
- Both The Heirs and Descendants of the Sun, two dramas that helped establish her career, were written by acclaimed screenwriter Kim Eun Sook.
- Her character Yoon Myung Joo in Descendants of the Sun was a military doctor who fought against family expectations to pursue her romantic relationship.
- Her on-screen romance with Jin Goo in Descendants of the Sun became one of the drama's most popular secondary love stories.
- She won the Best New Actress award at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards for Descendants of the Sun.
- Her performance as Choi Ae Ra in Fight for My Way earned her the Excellence Award for Actress in a Miniseries at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards.
- She and Park Seo Joon received the Best Couple Award for their chemistry in Fight for My Way.
- She played Tan Ya, a character with spiritual significance to her tribe, in the fantasy drama Arthdal Chronicles, demonstrating her ability to work outside contemporary romance genres.
- For Lovestruck in the City, she underwent surfing training to prepare for her character's beachside lifestyle.
- Preparing for her surfing scenes was particularly challenging because she had experienced a fear of water since childhood.
- Her portrayal of the quiet and emotionally exhausted Yeom Mi Jeong in My Liberation Notes earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards.
- In a 2022 interview, she described her everyday fashion as comfortable and casual, favoring wide-fit pants and cropped tops.
- She has shared that she enjoys exercising during breaks from acting projects.
- Queen of Tears achieved a nationwide finale rating of approximately 24.9%, becoming tvN's highest-rated drama at the time.
- In 2024, she received the Prime Minister's Commendation at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards in recognition of her contributions to Korean entertainment.
- She is set to portray the genius surgeon Gye Su Jeong in Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia, a medical drama centered on hospital politics and corruption.
- Kim Ji Won was discovered through street casting in 2007 while she was still in middle school, leading to her first entertainment agency contract.
FAQ
- How tall is Kim Ji Won?
- Kim Ji Won is 164 cm tall.
- How old is Kim Ji Won?
- Kim Ji Won is 34 years old.
- Where is Kim Ji Won from?
- Kim Ji Won is from South Korean.
- What is Kim Ji Won's MBTI?
- Kim Ji Won's MBTI type is INFP.
