Ji Chang Wook Evolution (2008-2023) • From "Sleeping Beauty" to "Welcome to Samdalri "

Heartthrob Korean actor Ji Chang Wook is one of the most popular actors in all over the world. Since 2006, without any break, he came up with blockbuster hits for his fans. It’s really surprising how a silent boy from school who did not know how to express himself is now a well-established actor with versatile acting skills. Today we will talk about this amazing star Ji Chang Wook’s history of evolution from 2006 till present. Stay with us till the end of this video to know about all the works of Ji Chang Wook. You can grab a pen to note down the names in case you have missed any!

Being the only son, Ji Chang Wook has had a very tight bond with his family. Growing up, he only had his mother by his side as his father died very early. With many hardships, he grew up with his mom. But the boy had many hidden talents within him from an early age. He started working in the field of musical theater. He made his onscreen debut with a minor role in the 2006 film Days. After two years of that, he had another minor role in a TV drama You Stole My Heart in 2008.

In 2008, Ji Chang Wook got his first main role in a silver screen with Sleeping Beauty which was directed by Lee Han Na. The film was an amazing portrayal of the struggle of a young girl and the people around her. In this slow-paced film, Ji Chang Wook’ character Jin Seo also received critical acclaim for his acting. 

In 2009, Ji Chang starred as the bashful youngest brother who takes on the task of raising his best friend's daughter at the age of 20, in the TV series My Too Perfect Sons. It was his first drama debut as a main actor as well. This weekend drama had been very popular among the viewers receiving 40% ratings.

In 2010, he got his first lead role in the daily soap Smile Again where he portrayed a Korean-American short track speed skater. This show maintained its position at the top of the ratings chart for 15 consecutive weeks! Ji Chang Wook was also recognized as the "Best Actor in a Daily Drama" at the KBS Drama Awards.

2011 came with a more important year for his career as he played the titular character in the 2011 historical-action series, Warrior Baek Dong-soo. This historical drama was star studded with another former child actor Yoo Seung Ho. The plot of this series revolved around the life of Baek Dong-soo, a historical figure from the Joseon era, and depicted his transformation into a skilled swordsman and a popular folk hero. In the same year, he played another lead role in the drama Bachelor’s Vegetable Store. This drama was also based on a true story of a young man named Lee Young Seok, who ran a little 350 sq feet vegetable store in 1998 that turned into a national franchise with 33 stores.

In 2012, Ji Chang took on his first role as a villain in Five Fingers. He played there as a pianist who was jealous of his brother’s natural talent in music. 

In 2013, Ji Chang Wook joined a musical theater named The Days. He did not release any other TV drama that year. But he took the year to prepare for this musical and his next drama Empress Ki.  

Surely Empress Ki was the breakthrough drama of Ji Chang’s career where his character Toghon Temür impressed all the critics and audience. The drama got nationwide viewership ratings during its entire broadcast, with an average rating of 35.12%. 

In 2014, Ji Chang Wook starred in another hit drama Healer which brought him popularity from China and other countries of Asia. The action-thriller was starred by Park min Young and Yoo Ji Tae. Along with Ji Chang’s action scenes, his chemistry with Park Min Young doubled the popularity of this drama. 

After Healer, Ji went on to explore dramas of China. In 2015, he was cast in the drama The Whirlwind Girl 2 alongside Yang Yang, Hu Bingqing and Bai Jingting. 

In the next year in 2016, another of his dramas was aired in Mandarin language, Mr. Right. Same year he starred in tvN's action-thriller The K2. He plays the role of a bodyguard, Kim Je Ha who falls in love with Anna, played by Im Yoon Ah. This drama also topped the viewership ratings on its broadcast. In the same year he starred in a mini web-drama First Seven Kisses, somewhat as the same character as K2 and Healer. 

In 2017, Ji Chang Wook joined the cast of an action film Fabricated City with Shim Eun Kyung and Ahn Jae Hong. Later that year, he paired with Nam Ji Hyun in the thriller rom-com Suspicious Partner. The drama also raised immense popularity globally. Following the release, Ji Chang Wook had to leave for his mandatory military service from August, 2017 to April, 2019. 

After completing his military service, Ji Chang Wook came back in 2019 with the sci-fi, fantasy drama melting me Softly. The drama portrayed the story of two male and females who were trapped in a science lab within freezing capsules. After 20 long years, they wake up in modern time without aging at all. 

In 2020, Ji Chang Wook starred in another rom-com Backstreet Roockie along with Kim Yoo Jung. It was based on a webtoon of the same name where he plays as a convenience store owner. The same year he came with another rom-com web series Lovestruck in the City along with Kim Ji Won. It was more like a mockumentary which proved his acting skill in different paced drama. 

In 2021, he played as a mysterious caller in a film Hard Hit who traumatizes a family with a threat of a bomb planted in their car. 

In 2022, he collaborated with Netflix for the first time in the series The Sound of Magic/Annarasumanara. He plays the role of a mysterious magician Ri Eul who lives in an abandoned amusement park. The drama is a mix of fantasy and musical genre where his theater-musical skill beautifully came out and amazed the viewers. The same year he starred in another drama If You Wish Upon Me in the role of an ex-convict who fights with his situation to find happiness. 

The actor has starred in many dramas and movies with most of them being a global hit. Even though he is a top star, he is quite down to earth who loves to challenge his acting spectrum. The actor recently donated 100 million won for the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria. He has also taken part in many philanthropic activities in the past. 

After Netflix, Ji Chang Wook is going to collaborate with Disney+ in their upcoming drama-series Welcome to Samdalri/The Worst Evil. The drama will star versatile actors like Squid Game star Wi Ha Joon and True Beauty actress Im Se Mi. The drama is one of the most anticipated dramas of 2023 with many twists in its plot. Are you also excited for your favorite oppa Ji Chang Wook’s next drama?