Kim Ji-won, star of the popular tvN drama Arthdal Chronicles, is in our spotlight this week. I don’t know about you, but to me, once you’re starring opposite Song Joong-ki in a pretty anticipated drama — well, you’ve made it to the big leagues.
Kim Ji-won debuted in 2010 around the age of nineteen, and was very successful in commercials at the start of her career, though she had been training as an idol for many years. Her first drama role came in 2011 in the popular High Kick sitcom. For the next few years Kim Ji-won had a string of second lead roles, some more visible than others (Heirs over Gap-dong), but of course it was 2016’s Descended From the Sun that catapulted her popularity. After the drama’s massive success, Kim Ji-won landed her first leading rom-com role in Fight My Way, and her first historical film, before joining Arthdal Chronicles.
Here are some dramaland moments from Kim Ji-won, followed by her full filmography.
Heirs (2013)
Just when I think I’m done talking about Heirs it comes around again — but this time it’s about the female antagonist Rachel, played by Kim Ji-won. Rachel, and her bangs, tantrums, and sour expressions, made her the antagonist that was easy to dislike (or love to hate, perhaps?). I know a lot of people got a kick out of her role, and she surely did something right because to this day I still see hints of that Rachel sneer on her face and I have to remind myself that Kim Ji-won is not Rachel, and Rachel is not Kim Ji-won. To her credit, rather than get typecast as the snotty rich girl, Kim Ji-won’s next big role was one that would set her up to be a leading lady.
Descended From the Sun (2016)
The fact that this drama is still getting referenced and spoofed over three years later just goes to show the impact it had on the drama landscape. Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-gyo might have already been big stars, but they only got bigger — and so did second leads Jin Gu and Kim Ji-won. I might be in the minority, but the second lead love line didn’t do that much for me. Was I too swept away by the Song-Song romance to pay much attention? I’m not sure. Either way, this role was a huge one for Kim Ji-won, and she not only got a lot of attention (and awards) for it, but put a pretty good foothold on the kind of roles she excels at.
Fight My Way (2017)
What a fun drama this was! Granted, I was set up to like it from the start since Park Seo-joon playing an MMA fighter has enough of a draw to get me to watch anything — but this was a masterclass in how to do a rom-com without making it boring or relying on tropes. A feisty heroine (Kim Ji-won) and her best friend (Park Seo-joon) fall in love. Simple. And yet enough of a story to watch it unfold hour after hour and enjoy the evolution of their relationship, right along with the friendships, hardships, letdowns, and dreams that propel them forward. I liked the honesty about life in this drama and how it was mixed with comedy by way of fight scenes, aegyo, and some really great banter.
Kim Ji-won’s full filmography: