Kim Ji-won

Biography

Kim Ji-won (Korean: 김지원; born October 19, 1992) is a South Korean actress. She gained recognition through her roles in the television series The Heirs (2013) and Descendants of the Sun (2016), both written by Kim Eun-sook. She later established herself in leading roles in Fight for My Way (2017), Arthdal Chronicles (2019), My Liberation Notes (2022), and Queen of Tears (2024), the latter of which became tvN's highest-rated series at the time. These roles contributed to her prominence as a hallyu figure.

== Early life and education == Kim Ji-won was born on October 19, 1992, in Geumcheon District, Seoul, South Korea, as the younger of two daughters. She developed an interest in acting during elementary school and participated in school plays. During middle school, she played the piano at church and participated in Christmas performances. She has stated that she is a Christian. During her first year of middle school, Kim spent nearly a year in Chicago, Illinois, United States, living with maternal relatives. After returning to South Korea, she was required to repeat a school year before re-enrolling. She later left formal education and passed the General Educational Development (GED) examination before entering high school. In 2007, Kim was scouted on the street and signed with Lion Media, where she trained for three years in singing, dancing, and acting. In 2008, while still a trainee, she worked as a keyboardist and backing vocalist for Younha and appeared in the music video for the song "Gossip Boy". She was initially set to debut as a singer under the stage name "JessicaK", but ultimately chose acting instead. Following her 2010 debut, she enrolled in the Department of Theatre at Dongguk University in 2011, majoring in acting.

== Career ==

=== 2010–2012: Early career === Kim Ji-won made her acting debut in the 2011 romance omnibus film Romantic Heaven. She gained attention for her role in the sitcom High Kick: Revenge of the Short Legged. She later appeared in the musical drama What's Up. In 2012, Kim starred in the high school series To the Beautiful You, and portrayed a kidnapped student in the horror anthology film Horror Stories.

=== 2013–2016: Breakthrough ===

In 2013, Kim appeared in the KBS Drama Special Waiting for Love. She also starred in Horror Stories 2, portraying a student involved in black magic. That year, she played an heiress in the teen drama The Heirs, written by Kim Eun-sook. The series achieved over one billion views on Youku, contributing to increased recognition for her role. Kim received the New Star Award at the 2013 SBS Drama Awards for her performance. In 2014, Kim portrayed a high school student and webtoon artist in the crime thriller Gap-dong. She also appeared in a supporting role in the KBS Drama Special The Reason I'm Getting Married. In December, she signed a contract with King Kong Entertainment. In 2015, Kim starred in the romance web series One Sunny Day, portraying a woman who meets a stranger while traveling to Jeju Island. Later that year, she made a cameo appearance in the tvN drama Hidden Identity as the girlfriend of Kim Bum's character. In 2016, Kim reunited with writer Kim Eun-sook in the KBS2 military romance drama Descendants of the Sun, playing an army surgeon. She won the Excellence Award at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards and the Best Supporting Actress award at the 5th APAN Star Awards for her performance. The series recorded peak viewership ratings of 38.8% and won the Grand Prize – Television at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards. Its international popularity increased Kim's overseas visibility. That year, she co-hosted the 2016 KBS Drama Awards with Park Bo-gum and Jun Hyun-moo.

=== 2017–2023: Leading roles ===

In 2017, Kim starred in her first leading role in KBS2's romantic comedy drama Fight for My Way, portraying Choi Ae-ra, a department store information desk employee aspiring to become an announcer, alongside Park Seo-joon. The series was noted for its portrayal of young adults facing career challenges and concluded with ratings of 13.8%. Kim won the Excellence Award at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards for her performance. In 2018, Kim appeared in the period comedy-mystery film Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead, playing a woman with memory loss involved in an investigation. That same year, Kim and her Descendants of the Sun co-star Jin Goo made cameo appearances in the historical drama Mr. Sunshine. In 2019, Kim starred in the historical fantasy drama Arthdal Chronicles as Tanya, the spiritual leader and successor of the Wahan tribe's priesthood. The drama served as a reunion with Song Joong-ki, following their appearance in the 2016 series Descendants of the Sun. In December, Kim's contract with King Kong Entertainment expired, and she chose not to renew it. In February 2020, Kim signed with Salt Entertainment. Later that year, she starred in the romance web series Lovestruck in the City, portraying Lee Eun-oh, a woman living under a false identity who becomes involved in a complex urban romance. For the role, Kim underwent surfing training and overcame her childhood aquaphobia. In 2022, Kim starred in the slice-of-life drama My Liberation Notes, portraying Yeom Mi-jeong, an introverted office worker struggling to escape her monotonous life. She was nominated for Best Actress – Television at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards for her performance in the series. In June, Kim's contract with Salt Entertainment expired, and she chose not to renew it. In September, she signed with HighZium Studio.