Success doesn’t happen overnight— and actress Kim Ji Won is a practical example of it. After starring in multiple Korean movies and K-dramas and proving her worth as a supporting actress to finally having her own show with the main character, Kim Ji Won has come a long way. She rose to fame with the K-drama, ‘The Hiers,’ and grabbed her first series as a certified leading lady with ‘Fight for My Way’ alongside Park Seo Joon. Although it took her more than seven years to achieve her dreams, she now stands on the rostrum with her head high, delivering praiseworthy performance with every new project! Since we are aware of how you can’t get enough of this talented beauty, we have listed down the top ten best movies and dramas of Kim Ji Won, that you should definitely watch as her fan.
10. Horror Stories (2012)
Screenwriter & Director: Jung Bum Shik, Hong Ji Young, Min Kyu Dong, Kim Gok, Kim Sun, Im Dae Woong
Starring: Kim Ji Won, Yoo Yeon Seok, Kim Hyun Soo, Noh Kang Min, Choi Yoon Young, Jin Tae Hyun
‘Horror Stories’ as the name suggests, is a Korean movie about horror anthologies. The story follows a high school student, played by Kim Ji Won, who gets kidnapped by a killer, who happens to have a speech impediment. She tells interesting, creepy and scary ghost stories to the killer in order to survive.
9. Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead (2018)
Screenwriter: Lee Nam Gyu
Director: Kim Seok Yoon
Starring: Kim Myung Min, Oh Dal Soo, Kim Ji Won, Kim Bum, Park Geun Hyung, Woo Hyun
Where to Watch: Netflix, Vudu
The series has been set in the Joseon Dynasty, under King Jeongjo, during whose rule a complicated political situation exists, such that whoever reads the novels written by Cheong Woon Mong are murdered. The exiled son of Premier Kim Shin, Kim Min, better known as Detective K, and his loyal friend and servant, Seo-pil, join hands with a pretty vampire, played by Kim Ji Won, who is said to have no memories of her past. She has been revived after thirty years, by a monk. After much investigation, they come to know that the vampire used to be the Crown Princess of the last Crown Prince who was murdered by Kim Min’s father and his group.
The movie marks the third installment of the Detective K series and the direct sequel of the 2015 movie, ‘Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island’. This historical fantasy movie should be a fun watch for you in case you love supernatural elements and action.
8. What’s Up? (2011)
Screenwriter: Song Ji Na
Director: Song Ji Won
Starring: Im Joo Hwan, Oh Man Suk, Kim Ji Won, Im Ju Eun, Jo Jung Suk, Kang Dae Sung
Total Number of Episodes: 20
‘What’s Up?’ is a school romance K-drama which brings twenty-year-old youths in the musical department of a University, each one of whom is passionate about their dreams and aspirations. Despite having different backgrounds, with their own share of shortcomings, they are not afraid of committing to music. Under the guidance of Sunwoo Young, the unconventional professor, they understand the real meaning of being a shining ‘star’ and prove to others that they can achieve success in their chosen paths.
With a well-written story and amazing soundtracks, which is mandatory for a musical drama, ‘What’s Up?’ focuses on human relationships and feelings of fear, guilt, self-esteem, happiness, laughter and satisfaction that all of us can relate to. Actress Park Tae Yi is one of the main leads here, who is a countryside girl living with her grandfather. She comes to Seoul for an audition to get into the university and bring into the limelight the musical talents that she has inherited from her father.
7. Gap Dong (2014)
Director: Shin Yong Hwi, Jo Soo Won
Screenwriter: Kwon Eum Mi
Starring: Yoon Sang Hyun, Lee Joon, Kim Min Jung, Kim Ji Won, Sung Dong Il, Jung In Ki
Total Number of Episodes: 20
‘Gap Dong’ is an interesting and well-written story, full of suspense that revolves around a former Buddhist monk named Moo Yeom, who gets involved with a man named Gap Dong, which eventually costs him something very precious. He cuts ties with him and in order to take revenge, he becomes a detective in the violent crimes unit of the Police department. After twenty years, when Gap Dong appears once again, he determines to catch him and end everything at once.
In this series, Kim Ji-won has portrayed the character of a 17-year-old high school girl named Ma Ji-wool, who is a webtoon artist under the name ‘Matilda’. She plays an important role in the drama as it is found that her webtoon, ‘The Beast’s Path’ has actually been able to foretell the crimes. However, she ends up becoming the next target of the killer, which eventually gives direction to find him.
6. Lovestruck in the City (2020)
Screenwriter: Jung Hyun Jung
Director: Park Shin Woo
Starring: Ji Chang Wook, Kim Ji Won, Kim Min Seok, So Ju Yeon, Ryu Kyung Soo, Han Ji Eun
Total Number of Episodes: 17
Where to Watch: Netflix
The story revolves around six young people talking about their love life in an interview. While Jae Won is a genuine person, a passionate architect and loves the city alleyways, Lee Eun Oh is a simple girl who, due to some reasons, re-invents herself as a completely different person, a free-spirited and spontaneous Yun Seon Ah. Park Jae Won and Lee Eun Oh have had a small encounter during which Eun Oh disappears with his camera, stealing his heart in the process. And as romantic a person he is, he couldn’t forget her even after her disappearance as a fleeting midsummer night’s dream.
Eun Oh as Seon Ah, sets out to discover unknown places where she meets him again and Jae Won falls in love with her all over again. The series delivers a realistic image of young ambitious people living in the complex city environment, trying to find true love in their busy and competitive surroundings.
Read: Best Action Korean Movies To Watch On Netflix If You’re Bored With Rom-Coms
5. To The Beautiful You (2012)
Director: Jeon Ki Sang
Screenwriter: Lee Young Chul
Starring: Choi Min Ho, Sulli, Lee Hyun Woo, Kim Ji Won, Kang Ha Neul, Seo Joon Young
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Watch: Viki
‘To The Beautiful You’ is a romance-comedy drama inspired by a Japanese manga series titled, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e aka For You in Full Blossom, penned down by Hisaya Nakajo. The premise centres around a Korean girl named Jae Hee living in the US. Frustrated by the bullying she faces at her school owing to her looks, she decides to drop out. When she suddenly watches a high jump athlete on the television, Kang Tae-Joon, winning the medal, she gets immensely inspired by him. Instead of frowning upon her life, she works hard to be an athlete as well and give a rocking response to her enemies.
Eventually, she shifts to South Korea, determined to get enrolled in the same school as Tae Joon. Koo Jae-Hee’s determination does not lose way even after knowing that he goes to an all-boys school. Instead, she cuts short her hair like a boy and gets there admitted. Meanwhile, Tae Joon suffers from a major injury forcing him to retire from high jumping. Kim Ji Won plays the character of Tae Joon’s childhood friend, someone who knows and understands him like no other. She is an insolent and spoilt rich kid, but has deep feelings for him.
4. The Heirs (2013)
Screenwriter: Kim Eun Sook
Director: Boo Sung Chul, Kang Shin Hyo
Starring: Park Shin Hye, Lee Min Ho, Kim Woo Bin, Kim Ji Won, Choi Jin Hyuk, Kang Min Hyuk
Total Number of Episodes: 20
Where to Watch: Netflix
We have to admit— almost every cast member from ‘The Heirs’ went on to become a successful actor in the following years and Kim Ji Won is no exception. She plays the supporting character of Yoo Rachel, the rich heir who has been engaged to the main protagonist, Kim Tan, played by Lee Min ho. Kim Tan is sent to the US soon after his half-brother starts thinking of him as a threat to his rights as the heir of their father’s company, which he abides by owing to his immense love for his brother. Three years later, he comes across a girl named Cha Eun Sang who makes a visit to the US in order to meet her older sister. However, a turn of events forces her to take shelter at his residence where they grow fond of each other.
While Eun Sang returns to Korea, Kim Tan thinks of all the right reasons to return as well, and finally comes back only to discover that she is the daughter of his housemaid, currently living at his place. Meanwhile, Yoo Rachel can do anything to own whatever belongs to her and Kim Tan is no exception.
3. Arthdal Chronicles (2019)
Director: Kim Won Suk
Screenwriter: Park Sang Yeon, Kim Young Hyun
Starring: Song Joong Ki, Kim Ji Won, Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ok Bin, Kim Eui Sung, Lee Do Kyung
Total Number of Episodes: 18
Where to Watch: Netflix
‘Arthdal Chronicles’ is said to be the Korean take on the popular series, ‘Game of Thrones’. But guess what? That’s a misconception as the storyline is completely different. The show has been set in the Bronze Age and has been regarded as the first Korean ancient fantasy series. The show’s protagonist, Eun Seom is fated to bring destruction to Arthdal, the land where he is born. Thus, he decides to leave the place and travel together, enduring hardships on the way. However, his fate doesn’t leave him alone and he continues to get treated differently from the land’s natives.
Kim Ji Won, the female lead of the series plays the character of Tan Ya, the next great mother of the Wahan Tribe. The story centres on the obstacles and thorns that Eun Seom faces on his path to bring his tribe back to life, while learning about love and his life origin.
2. Descendants of the Sun (2016)
Screenwriter: Kim Eun Sook, Kim Won Seok
Director: Lee Eung Bok, Baek Sang Hoon
Starring: Song Joong Ki, Song Hye Kyo, Kim Ji Won, Jin Goo, Seo Jung Yeon, Lee Seung Jun
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Watch: Netflix, We TV, Viki, Hulu
Actress Kim Ji Won caught the attention of the public in the 2016 K-drama, ‘Descendants of the Sun’ in which she played the role of one of the main leads, Yoon Myung Ju, who is an army doctor and the love interest of Dae-young, played by actor Jin Goo. It is an action-military drama focusing on the obstacles that a soldier and a doctor face, as both of them give equal importance to serving their country and their love for each other.
The captain of the special forces team Alpha, Yoo Shi Jin, encounters the hard-working surgeon Kang Mo Yeon and soon fall in love with each other. However, when they realise how different are their goals, they decide to part ways, only to meet again at Uruk, where they fight some natural calamities and corruption. Together in a time of war, they bond and overcome the odds against them together.
1. Fight for My Way (2017)
Screenwriter: Im Sang Choon
Director: Lee Na Jung, Kim Dong Hwi
Starring: Park Seo Joon, Kim Ji Won, Ahn Jae Hong, Song Ha Yoon, Kim Sung Oh, Jin Hee Kyung
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Watch: Viki, Netflix, We TV
The series is an edifying pleasure focusing on relatively ordinary people stumbling, learning, losing, winning, understanding their worth and most importantly, dreaming. Kim Ji Won plays the character of Choi Ae Ra, who has been dreaming to become a television anchor, but due to some reasons, she has to work at the information desk of a departmental store. On the other hand, Ko Dong Man is a skilled taekwondo athlete who had to give up on his dream due to a scandal and is now a contract employee in a mundane job. Both of them have been best friends almost all their lives, bickering most of the time, but the closest when one of them is in need.
Kim Joo Man and Baek Seol Hee have been dating each other for the last six years but with time, their relationship has lost spark. All four of them face various difficulties to understand what they really want from life and work hard for it.
Read: Top 7 K-Dramas Of Bae Suzy That Defines Her Career The Best
