Six Memorable K-Drama Characters of Ji Chang-wook

While romance appears to be his preferred genre, Ji Chang-wook has perfected the art of portraying people with accuracy in that he is truly in charge of every role, notably as an action hero. Six of his most memorable K-drama characters are included here, demonstrating his skill in employing himself while letting go of the character.

Toghon Temür – Empress Ki (2013-2014)

I imagine that the South Korean superstar shot to international renown with his ground-breaking portrayal of Toghon Temür (aka Ta Hwan)—the 16th monarch of the Yuan Dynasty—in the epic saga Empress Ki. It follows a Goryeo-born woman rising to prominence and eventually marrying Toghon Temür to become a Yuan empress, notwithstanding the restrictions imposed on her by the time’s class system. Ji’s acting range in the king’s role shines through a multitude of emotions as he falls for the woman, in conjunction with his natural empathy that becomes apparent in the romantic scenes.

Seo Jung-hoo/Healer – Healer (2014-2015)

The actor stands out in Healer thanks to his stylish all-black ensemble. The plot revolves around a murder committed by a group and brings together a cast of characters—a man adept at fighting and masking himself, a reporter, and a respected journalist.

In the drama, Ji nails it as a valiant hero, an illegal night courier recognized as “Healer,” by seamlessly executing perilous stunts, in addition to being logical, witty, adorable, and a devoted lover.

Kim Je-ha/K2 – The K2 (2016)

One of Ji’s many notable action roles is The K2. An incredibly competent former mercenary soldier disappears after being wrongfully convicted of murder. A powerful man employs him to protect his daughter after noticing his abilities. If you’ve watched the drama, you’re aware of how Ji rocked it with his appearance, acting, fighting style, and—most importantly—his romantic prowess.

Insiders claim that Ji performed the action sequences alone. To make his character appear more genuine, he underwent rigorous training. But what grabbed me was watching him play an atypical hero, one whose frailty made him seem very desirable beneath his tough façade.

Noh Ji-wook – Suspicious Partner (2017)

Noh Ji-wook is a talented attorney who decides to represent a woman who initially grows fond of him while serving as his apprentice on a murder case. Then things abruptly alter when she unexpectedly becomes a suspect. In the best possible ways, Suspicious Partner balances romance with suspense, and Ji exudes charm in both his swoon-worthy lover and genius attorney avatars.

Park Jae-won – Lovestruck in the City (2020-2021)

An impassioned architect named Park Jae-won embarks on a search for the woman who stole his heart after a whirlwind romance. As the title suggests, this series is completely saturated in love, and Ji’s depiction of a hopeless romantic will make you feel love-sick. His image of a man who is utterly in love with a woman is a wonderful illustration of true love that doesn’t wither away with time but rather deepens.

Ji appears as a dreamboat in his role as Jae-won. I can never forget his gentle, loving scrutiny of Kim Ji-won as they are in his car on a rainy day—one of my favorite scenes from the drama.

Lee Eul – The Sound of Magic (2022)

Magician Lee Eul’s role in The Sound of Magic or Annarasumanara is fundamentally opposed to Ji’s previous roles. The drama is an immersive musical coming-of-age fantasy series about a struggling student who wishes to grow fast [to end her miseries], while Lee wants to stay a child. When the girl meets him, her life progressively alters as she becomes his disciple.

“Do you believe in magic?” Lee asks his audience with his signature flair each time he is about to perform in the story. I’m not sure about magic, to be honest, but I do think Ji Chang-wook always works magic when he’s on screen.