13 New Things We Discovered About Kim Ji Won at Her “BE MY ONE” Press Con in Manila

Hours before her eagerly awaited fanmeeting in Manila, Queen of Tears superstar Kim Ji Won graced a press conference where she left a treasure trove of insights about her life, career, and stardom. A wave of thrill bubbled up for her grand entrance and it was not as far off as what a luxurious beauty we see onscreen—as Kim Ji Won walked to the stage all dressed to the nines! Exuding her Hong Hae In queenly aura in a plain pastel cyan cropped coat and volume skirt, the Hallyu actress greeted the press with all smiles, graciously sending her thanks for “coming all the way.”

Organized by PULP Live World, the “2024 Kim Ji Won Asia Fanmeeting Tour <BE MY ONE>” was a sold-out event in the Philippines, underscoring the star’s immense popularity following the massive success of her rom-com drama with Kim Soo Hyun. Her first-ever fanmeet took place at the New Frontier Theater on August 3. (By the way, Kim Ji Won’s partner in Lovestruck in the City, Ji Chang Wook, also had a fanmeet in Manila the day after hers. And before that, last June 29, her Queen of Tears partner, Kim Soo Hyun, likewise held a fanmeet in Smart Araneta Coliseum. Talk about #KFeverOnMetro!)

Settling onto the couch for a cozy Q&A session, host Kim Kring popped a question over to the actress, asking if she was up for a quick chitchat. With a sparkle in her eye and a lovely smile, she happily chimed “Of course!” (cue that adorable English accent!).

Striking off the fun facts about her almost debuting as an idol or studying Theater in college, we’ve got to uncover more about the aegyo queen, and it’s giving us more reasons to be smitten by her!

Here are the new things we discovered about Kim Ji Won during her press conference:

Her favorite outfit of Hong Hae-in is…

...the olive green wool suit she wore in the series’ Episode 2. Recalling the hunting scene where Baek Hyun-woo tried to save her from a wild boar, she shared through an interpreter, “That outfit was one of my favorites where there was also a gun and stuff.”

Her top priority is creating good and fun memories with her fans.

When prodded about any projects or collaborations she’s most excited about, Kim Ji-won is stoked to make the most out of her first fanmeet experience. From soaking in every fan-filled second to relishing heartwarming moments of fans waving banners and calling out her screen role names—those are such sweet interactions that truly touch her soul.

She recommends her fans to watch Queen of Tears… again!

Out of all the dramas she has been a part of, she expressed pride in the series where she starred as an ice-cold chaebol heiress. Without a hinge of hesitation, she warmly urged her fans to revisit the smash hit once more despite its novelty. “Sana panuorin niyo ulit ang Queen of Tears,” her translator put it. On top of that, she named it as the most challenging project she had set foot in. She further noted that she “felt a lot easier to understand and relate and portrayed the character very well,” owing to the script reading session with her co-stars.

She feels a sense of fulfillment when people remember her character roles. 

With over a decade-long career, her greatest achievement lies in the recognition of her diverse onscreen personas. She came to realize how “fulfilling” it was as an actress when fans appreciate her characters often more than just her as an individual.

Her portrayal of Yoo Rachel left the biggest mark on her.

The Heirs was the breakthrough drama for Kim Ji Won as it introduced her to a wider audience. It was her first strong-willed somewhat antagonistic role she had taken on. As she reminisced about her 21-year-old self, she playfully mimicked her character’s iconic full-on bangs.

If not an actress, she would have been…

...a kindergarten teacher, you guess? Well, that was before! Much to our surprise, upon reflecting on today’s era, she fancies herself as an emoticon creator. When host Kim Kring asked where to apply for that (implying there’s no such career in the country), Jiwonie explained as interpreted: “I just know that you have to draw well and you submit it to companies, and when they choose your work, that becomes an emoticon.” This unexpected career choice was met with giggles and approval from the press, especially when she declared, “Ako na lang ang pinaka-first na emoticon creator [here],” earning a round of thumbs up from everyone present.

Her current playlists on repeat are aespa and NewJeans.

Soon after Kim Ji Won revealed her musical obsessions, the host spiced things up by teasing her about whether she is to flaunt some of aespa’s “Supernova” dance moves at her fanmeet. The mere idea prompted the actress to burst into laughter. Had her introverted self shaking, she comically gestured no and told everyone that her fanmeet would be “a little different.”

She finds meeting her fans similar to finally meeting pen pals face-to-face.

This year marks a special milestone for Kim Ji Won as she hosts her first fanmeeting in 14 years since her debut. Overflowing with joy and awe, she gushed about seeing the faces of those who have supported her from all corners of the world; “it’s as if I’m meeting finally those I’m like sending my penpal letters to,” she beamed. Her endearingly old-school analogy led to a playful banter with the host about the good ol’ ‘90s era, breaking language barriers with just a nostalgic term. The room echoed with laughter as everyone got swept up in the retro wave—being fellow ’90s babies!

She handles pressure positively.

Even a chameleon actress like Kim Ji Won feels pressured when stepping into new roles; yet, she takes this pressure in a good light. All the more reason for her to embrace this mindset as it fuels her drive to work harder and deliver best performances.

Her comfort drama so far is Silver Linings Playbook.

Silver Linings Playbook is a 2012 American rom-com drama movie, starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Adding to her go-to universal escape, she divulged that watching easy-breezy, feel-good sitcoms brings her “some kind of relaxation” (oh yes, a guilty pleasure that many of us can relate to!)

Her latest hobby is building LEGO sets.

Outside of acting, looking for a soul-satisfying hobby is no small feat for Kim Ji-won. But to date, she’s having all the fun crafting a rose through stashing her LEGO blocks. Tho her rose piece was put on pause, she said that she’d dive back to finish it once done with her fanmeeting.

If she had the chance to play another genre, she is likely to venture into thrillers.

While romantic comedy remains her favorite, the South Korean icon is not closing her doors to trying something new. “I believe that my fans will be amazed to see [me in] a different role,” she said, sparking excitement for a potential genre shift that could showcase a perspectival range to her acting prowess.

She masters the art of acting through daily script study and constant communication with directors and co-actors.

Kim Ji Won is now a household name, known for her roles in popular K-dramas Descendants of the Sun (2016), Fight for My Way (2017), Arthdal Chronicles (2019), Lovestruck in the City (2020–2021), My Liberation Notes (2022), and Queen of Tears (2024). She keeps solidifying her status in the industry as millions of fans can’t get enough of the alchemy of chemistry she brews with her on-screen partners. When asked about her preparation process, she described it to be “nothing really special” as she pressed on the basics any actor must do. She attributes her success to the collaborative efforts of the whole production team particularly the directors and her co-stars who become instruments in bringing her characters to life in an emotional depth.

Come the closing of the press conference, Kim Ji Won showered her Filipino fans with warm wishes: “Sana ’wag kayong magka-sakit. Please be good [to] your health,” as translated.

After her Philippine leg of “BE MY ONE” Asia Tour, her fanmeeting goes on with three more stops lined up in Macau (August 17), Bangkok (August 24), and Jakarta (August 31).  

Text by by Leigh Sofia Lazo

Photos by Pat Buenaobra