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Kim Ji-won in 'Queen of Tears.' Photo from Netflix K-content's X account

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7 K-dramas showcasing Kim Ji-won’s versatility

ABS-CBN News Intern

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1721967802056JIWON.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kim Ji-won in &#x27;Queen of Tears.&#x27; <em>Photo from Netflix K-content&#x27;s X account</em></span></span></span>From the icy elegance of a privileged heiress to the endearing quirkiness of an aspiring television announcer, Kim Ji-won has won the hearts of K-drama audiences with her portrayal of a wide range of characters.</div><p>Before appearing on the small screen, Ji-won was poised for a different kind of spotlight. She initially trained as a stage performer, with plans for debut as a singer, a<span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">ccording to a South China Morning Post profile.</span></p><p>However, Ji-won’s career path took a different turn. She made her screen debut in 2011 with the romance film “Romantic Heaven” and the sitcom “High Kick: Revenge of the Short Legged” before getting a breakthrough in the hit teen series “The Heirs” in 2013.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/12/07/23/remembering-the-heirs-teen-series-spawns-big-k-drama-stars"><strong>Looking back on &#x27;The Heirs&#x27;: Teen series spawns popular K-drama stars<br/></strong></a></div><p>Ji-won steadily ascended to leading roles in several popular dramas. Her most recent triumph, “Queen of Tears,” <a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/4/29/-queen-of-tears-beats-crash-landing-on-you-with-record-network-ratings-1253"><strong>became the highest-rated series</strong></a> on Korean network tvN to date.</p><p>For fans eager to immerse themselves in the works of Kim Ji-won, we curated below a list of her must-watch K-dramas.</p><div><strong>The Heirs (2013)</strong></div><p><strong>Also Starring:</strong> Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, Kim Woo-bin, Krystal Jung, Kang Min-hyuk, Kang Ha-neul, Park Hyung-sik</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/czBS05rX8t8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>The immensely popular drama “The Heirs” follows a group of students at a school for the wealthy, centering on the romance between the charismatic heir Kim Tan (Lee Min-ho) and diligent part-timer Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin-hye). The series propelled Ji-won to widespread popularity for her portrayal of Yoo Rachel, the spoiled yet complex heiress and Tan&#x27;s fiancée.</p><div><strong>Descendants of the Sun (2016)</strong></div><p><strong>Also Starring:</strong> Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wTGwjDqtfzQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In this hit romance drama, a former couple—Special Forces Captain Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki) and doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo)—are reunited in the fictional war-torn country of Uruk. Here, Ji-won shines as Yoon Myung-ju, an army doctor who faces the complexities of a forbidden love for non-commissioned officer Seo Dae-young (Jin Goo).</p><div><strong>Fight For My Way (2017)</strong></div><p><strong>Also Starring:</strong> Park Seo-jun, Ahn Jae-hong, Song Ha-yoon</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LKGAhuJC01s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>“Fight For My Way” follows four underdogs chasing their dreams. At the center of the show is the classic friends-to-lovers story between Choi Ae-ra (Ji-won), an aspiring news anchor, and Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-jun), a former taekwondo champion. Here, Ji-won wins over audiences with her character’s “aegyo,” a Korean term for cute displays of affection.</p><div><strong>Arthdal Chronicles (2019)</strong></div><p><strong>Also Starring:</strong> Jang Dong-gun, Song Joong-ki, Kim Ok-win</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0kA0DEjCxfU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Set in the mythical land of Arth, the period fantasy drama introduced Ji-won as Tan-ya, a shaman and protector of the Wahan Tribe. However, Ji-won did not reprise her role for the second season, which saw actress Shin Se-kyung taking over the character.</p><div><strong>Lovestruck in the City (2020)</strong></div><p><strong>Also Starring:</strong> Ji Chang-wook, Kim Min-seok, So Joo-yeon, Ryu Kyung-soo, Han Ji-eun</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IwVexhXLUUw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>“Lovestruck in the City” follows an ensemble of couples as they navigate modern love. At its core, the series centers on an architect (Ji Chang-wook) whose heart is stolen by a free-spirited woman (Ji-won) during a whirlwind beach romance. Haunted by their brief encounter, he embarks on a quest to find her in the bustling metropolis.</p><div><strong>My Liberation Notes (2022)</strong></div><p><strong>Also Starring: </strong>Lee Min-ki, Son Sok-ku, Lee El</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/plko1oaTzRc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In this heartwarming slice-of-life story, Ji-won plays Yeom Mi-jung, the youngest of three siblings yearning to break free from their unremarkable lives. Their world is disrupted by the arrival of the enigmatic Mr. Gu (Son Suk-ku), whom Mi-jung develops romantic feelings for.</p><div><strong>Queen of Tears (2024)</strong></div><p><strong>Also Starring: </strong><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/6/11/7-essential-k-dramas-for-kim-soo-hyun-fans-1329"><strong>Kim Soo-hyun</strong></a>, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, Lee Joo-bin</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JJ-xZEEDkkw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In one of the year’s most talked-about dramas, Ji-won brings to life Hong Hae-in, an heiress with an ice-cold demeanor who marries Baek Hyun-woo, a lawyer from humble roots. Their once-enviable union begins to crumble after three years, with Hyun-woo considering divorce until a shocking health crisis turns their world upside down.</p><div><em>For more news and features on K-pop, K-drama, and K-stars, visit the </em><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/kcontents"><em>Hallyu Corner</em></a><em> microsite.</em></div>

<p>From the icy elegance of a privileged heiress to the endearing quirkiness of an aspiring television announcer, Kim Ji-won has won the hearts of K-drama audiences with her portrayal of a wide range of characters.</p>

From the icy elegance of a privileged heiress to the endearing quirkiness of an aspiring television announcer, Kim Ji-won has won the hearts of K-drama audiences with her portrayal of a wide range of characters.

7 K-dramas showcasing Kim Ji-won’s versatility

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7 K-dramas showcasing Kim Ji-won’s versatility

ABS-CBN News Intern,

Judea Tagal

Published Jul 27, 2024 08:00 AM PHT

Read More:

K-content

K-drama list

K-drama

K-drama listicle

K-drama recommendations

Kim Ji-won

Queen of Tears

My Liberation Notes

Lovestruck in the City

Arthdal Chronicls

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