Your Complete Ji Chang Wook Drama Guide
From ‘Healer’ and ‘Empress Ki’ to the recently concluded ‘Lovestruck in the City’, the hallyu heartthrob has truly captured our hearts with his outstanding performances in a total of 15 dramas (and counting!)
After finishing Lovestruck in the City, we are already having major withdrawals! At just 33 years of age, Ji Chang Wook has truly displayed an impressive and interesting choices of roles as an actor so far in his 13 year old career. His roots in the industry begin with musical theater, but he quickly gained the attention and recognition in film and TV, deservingly so, we must add.
From action thrillers Healer and The K2, as well as sageuk dramas such as Empress Ki, to romcoms like Suspicious Partner and Backstreet Rookie, the Hallyu hunk has always thrilled audiences with his versatility and range.
Ji Chang Wook in 'Healer'
If you, like us, were reaching for your phone recently in search for more Ji Chang Wook (because, who wouldn't?), you're in luck. Below, we round up all 15 of his drama performances and lead roles, many of which are simply too good to miss or skip out on!
Your Ultimate Ji Chang Wook Drama Guide
Your Ultimate Ji Chang Wook Drama Guide
You Stole My Heart (2008)
Following the story of Deok-bae’s family as the move into the house of Gi-jo, a well-respected middle-class herbal doctor, this family drama portrays real human characters as they navigate their way up in their lives.
Photo Credit: KBS
You Stole My Heart (2008)
The 156-episode drama saw Ji Chang Wook in his first television role. Albeit minor, it was a role that ultimately launched his drama career after he started with musical theater and film.
Photo Credit: KBS
My Too Perfect Sons (2009)
This weekend family drama tells the story of the Song family with 4 sons, and the families that are connected to the sons. The brothers are Jin-Poong (Son Hyun-Joo), Dae-Poong (Lee Pil-Mo), Sun-Poong (Han Sang-Jin), and Mi-Poong (Ji Chang-Wook).
Photo Credit: KBS
My Too Perfect Sons (2009)
As Song Mi-Poong, the timid, youngest brother who is still in college. In the drama, he brings his best friend's baby and, shortly later, the baby's mother to their house as the mom and baby have no place to live and the baby's father is serving in the military.
Photo Credit: KBS
Hero (2009)
This action-comedy series is about passionate reporters working for a third-rate newspaper who fight against corruption and inequality in society and stars Lee Joon Gi, Yoon So-yi, Um Ki-joon, and Baek Yoon-sik.
Photo Credit: MBC
Hero (2009)
Ji Chang Wook played the supporting role of Park Jun-Hyeong, an employee at the new newspaper Yeongdeok Ilbo.
Photo Credit: MBC
Smile Again (2010)
Ji Chang Wook nabbed his first lead role in the highly rated daily drama, Smile Again, playing the role of Carl Laker, a Korean-American short track speed skater. His mother, Anna Laker, is an adoptee from South Korea, who had worked hard to raise him on her own. To protect his mom, Carl Laker worked vey hard.
Photo Credit: KBS
Smile Again (2010)
The mother and son duo return to South Korea where Carl competes in a short track speed skating competition. He also plans to marry his Korean girlfriend Sae-Wa (Park Jung-Ah). All the while, he's also on the search to find his father.
Photo Credit: KBS
Warrior Baek Dong Soo (2011)
Fusing action and history, this sageuk drama sees Ji Chang Wook in the titular and lead role of Baek Dong-soo, a carefree swordsman who alters the fate of the nation as a member of the royal guard.
Photo Credit: SBS
Warrior Baek Dong Soo (2011)
Alongside Ji are Yoo Seung-ho, Yoon So-yi, Shin Hyun-bin, Choi Min-soo, and Jun Kwang-ryul bringing this coming-of-age series. The drama is against the backdrop of political maneuverings in Joseon between different factions and is a drama about brotherhood, friendship, loyalty and honor.
Photo Credit: SBS
Bachelor's Vegetable Store (2011)
After proving to be a great fit for sageuk action dramas, Ji played the lead role in a cable drama, Bachelor's Vegetable Store, which is based on the true story of Lee Young-seok—a young man who turned a tiny 350-square-feet vegetable store in 1998 into a nationwide franchise with 33 stores.
Photo Credit: Channel A
Bachelor's Vegetable Store (2011)
In this 24-episode drama, Ji Chang-wook is Han Tae-yang, who also falls for Mok Ga-on (Wang Ji-hye) as he is on his path to success through hard work and perseverance.
Photo Credit: Channel A
Five Fingers (2012)
His first role as an antagonist, Ji plays a pianist who envies his older brother's natural gift for music in Five Fingers. The melodrama also stars Ju Ji-hoon, Chae Shi-ra, and Jin Se-yeon.
Photo Credit: SBS
Five Fingers (2012)
Playing the cocky Yoo In-Ha, a piano prodigy and son of a wealthy CEO of a piano company, Ji Chang Wook proved on still expanding his range as an actor.
Photo Credit: SBS
Empress Ki (2013)
An K-drama fan's essential sageuk drama starring Ha Ji-won as the titular role, with Joo Jin-mo, Ji Chang-wook, and Baek Jin-hee alongside her, Empress Ki's story revolves around Gi Seungnyang. A Goryeo-born woman, Seungnyang ascends to power despite the restrictions of the era's class system, and later marries Toghon Temür/Ta Hwan, the Emperor of Mongol Empire, to become an empress of the Yuan dynasty, instead of her first love, Wang Yu.
Photo Credit: MBC
Empress Ki (2013)
Portraying Toghon Temür/ Ta Hwan proved to be Ji Chang Wook's true breakout role as an actor in the industry. The sageuk drew solid viewership ratings nationwide throughout its 51-episode run, earning him acclaim and recognition from both the critics and the audience alike.
Photo Credit: MBC
Secret Love (2014)
This limited series features five different love stories told starring members of idol group, Kara. Themes touched in the five-episode series involve first love, dating methods in love and breakup, unrequited love, and immortal love.
Photo Credit: Dramacube
Secret Love (2014)
Ji Chang Wook appears in episodes 9–10: "Have You Ever Had Coffee with an Angel?"—playing Guardian Angel No. 2013, Chun Sa Nam
Photo Credit: Dramacube
Healer (2014)
The series begins with an old murder incident involving a group who ran an illegal broadcasting station which brings together different people—a mysterious errand guy "Healer" who possesses disguise and fighting skills, a reporter from a second-rate tabloid, and a famous journalist, as they fight to deal with the cruel conflict of truth versus faith.
Photo Credit: KBS
Healer (2014)
As Seo Jung-hu/Park Bong-soo/Healer, Ji Chang Wook won us, as well as audiences in China and other parts of Asia, completely over.
Photo Credit: KBS
The K2 (2016)
This action thriller drama starring Ji Chang-wook and Im Yoon-ah follows the story of Kim Je Ha, a former solider for hire who is also called K2. A former military operative stationed in Iraq, Je Ha had returned to South Korea after being framed for murder.
Photo Credit: tvN
The K2 (2016)
His exemplary skills get noticed by Choi Yoo-Jin (Song Yoon-ah) and she hires him to work for her security agency JSS Security and is tasked with body-guarding Go An-na (Im Yoon-ah) the secret illegitimate daughter of her husband, Jang Se-joon. An-na is a girl with PTSD and apparent sociophobia. He falls for her, convincingly so, in this thrilling action melodrama.
Photo Credit: tvN
Suspicious Partner (2017)
Ji Chang-wook, Nam Ji-hyun, Choi Tae-joon, and Kwon Nara star in this romantic comedy thriller series. The drama is mainly about Noh Ji-wook (Ji Chang-wook), a prosecutor, and Eun Bong-hee (Nam Ji-hyun), a prosecutor trainee, and how they work together on a mysterious case involving a sly psychopath murderer.
Photo Credit: SBS
Suspicious Partner (2017)
In the process of their investigation and working together, they find out how deeply connected they are by their past, and sparks definitely fly.
Photo Credit: SBS
Melting Me Softly (2019)
This romantic-comedy series marked Ji Chang Wook's comeback after military enlistment. He plays the role of a television producer, Ma Dong-chan, who finds himself waking up 20 years into the future following an unsuccessful human-freezing project. Also part of the experiment is Ko Mi-ran (Won Jin-ah). To survive the side effects of their cryogenic sleep, they must follow a set of restrictions to maintain their body temperature at 31.5°C and keep their heart rate normal.
Photo Credit: tvN
Melting Me Softly (2019)
Unfortunately, the only one who knows the key to their survival is the scientist behind the experiment, who has lost his memory after an accident. Racing against time, Melting Me Softly focuses on the two leads as they attempt to resume normalcy and catch up on the lost time of their lives.
Photo Credit: tvN
Backstreet Rookie (2020)
Based on the 2016–2017 webtoon "Convenience Store Saet-byul" written by Hwalhwasan, Backstreet Rookie is a light hearted and easy drama to watch if you're in the mood for something that will leave you grinning from ear to ear.
Photo Credit: SBS
Backstreet Rookie (2020)
Ji Chang Wook plays Choi Dae-hyun, a former public-relations director of convenience stores franchises who becomes a convenience store manager himself. Although, many school girls like to come in and take pictures with him, the store doesn't make much money. Will Jung Saet-Byul (Kim Yoo-jung) be the answer to his problems?
Photo Credit: SBS
Lovestruck in the City (2020)
Directed by Park Shin-woo (It's Okay To Not Be Okay), the series depicts the real, interconnected stories of love and friendship of a group of young people who live and love fiercely. Starring Ji Chang-wook, Kim Ji-won, Kim Min-seok, So Joo-yeon, Ryu Kyung-soo, and Han Ji-eun, the mockumentary style invites audiences to take a closer look and get them more involved in the characters' lives and love problems.
Photo Credit: Kakao TV/Netflix
Lovestruck in the City (2020)
Ji Chang-wook is Park Jae-won, a 32 year old architect by profession has a passionate and honest personality. He fell in love with a woman named Yoon Seon-a, a "camera thief" who stole more than just his cameras, but also his heart. Kim Ji-won is Lee Eun-oh/Yoon Seon-a, who struggles with her love for Jae-won and revealing her true identity. The 16 plus 1 episodes portrays the many ups and downs of their relationship and gives audiences an interesting, relatable, and at times, wild, ride!
Photo Credit: Kakao TV/Netflix
And that's all 15 of Ji Chang Wook's K-dramas so far into his prolific career!
Since we're missing him big time, it looks like we'll be cozying up on the couch this weekend with the K-drama heartthrob by putting on any one of his awesome dramas. Which one will you be watching?
Kim Ji Won and Ji Chang Wook in 'Lovestruck in the City'
