Cover Ji Chang-wook charms as the sweet and earnest Cho Yong-pil in ‘Welcome to Samdal-ri’. (Photo: JTBC)
Ji Chang-wook charms as the sweet and earnest Cho Yong-pil in ‘Welcome to Samdal-ri’. (Photo: JTBC)
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As K-drama’s ‘king of action’ turns a year older, we revisit Ji Chang-wook’s most memorable roles that showcase his talent, range and undeniable charm
Ji Chang-wook, K-drama’s “king of action”, celebrated his birthday last July 5. To mark the occasion, we look back at his most memorable roles, from thrilling action heroes and green-flag love interests to a musical magician.
With each role, the actor has left a lasting impression on fans. Whether he’s parkouring on rooftops in Healer, pining for Kim Ji-won and Shin Hye-sun in Love in the City and Welcome to Samdal-ri, respectively, or singing his heart out and convincing Choi Sung-eun to believe in magic in The Sound of Magic, he has captured the hearts of viewers with his commitment to his characters and his range as an actor.
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Seo Jung-hoo in ‘Healer’
This was the role that catapulted Ji Chang-wook to international fame and earned him the title of K-drama’s “king of action”. As Jung-hoo (code name: Healer), he established himself as both a compelling action star and a dashing romantic lead, earning praise for his believable fight scenes and sizzling chemistry with co-star Park Min-young. When his character goes undercover as a bumbling reporter, he adds a quirky, Clark Kent-esque charm that brings another layer to the role and further showcases his range.
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Kim Je-ha in ‘K2’
Further cementing his action star status, Ji Chang-wook plays Kim Je-ha, the bodyguard to Im Yoona’s Go An-na, in K2. He reportedly trained extensively for the action sequences and performed his own stunts, earning praise from the director and fans for his dedication to the role. The intense bathhouse fight is among the drama’s standout action scenes. And while viewers found his chemistry with Yoona endearing, it was his intense dynamic with Choi Yoo-jin, who played the K-drama’s antagonist, that proved most memorable and intriguing.
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Noh Ji-wook in ‘Suspicious Partner’
In Suspicious Partner, another fan-favourite Ji Chang-wook K-drama, he went from action roles to romantic comedy lead. Although he had already displayed a knack for comedy in Healer, it’s in this drama that he truly showcased his effortless comedic timing. As a romantic lead, audiences fell for his intense gaze and boyish charm. Meanwhile, his strong chemistry with co-star Nam Ji-hyun is widely considered one of the highlights of the K-drama.
Park Jae-won in ‘Lovestruck in the City’
In this romcom about the modern lives and loves of six young urbanites (presented in a mockumentary format), Ji Chang-wook stars as Park Jae-won, a talented and successful architect pining for Kim Ji-won’s Lee Eun-o/Yoon Seon-ah. Further moving away from action roles, Ji Chang-wook’s Jae-won is sensitive and wears his heart on his sleeve. A heartbreaking flashback where he drunkenly and tearfully reminisces about the love he lost is memorable for his portrayal of longing and heartache. Once again, he shares a palpable chemistry with co-star Kim Ji-won that had fans of the K-drama rooting for their love story.
Cho Yong-pil in ‘Welcome to Samdal-ri’
Yong-pil, from the slice-of-life healing K-drama Welcome to Samdal-ri, is a fan-favourite green-flag character, an absolute softie who is head-over-heels in love with his childhood best friend—and ex-girlfriend—Sam-dal (played by Shin Hye-sun). Fans praised his raw depiction of grief and fell in love with his earnest portrayal of Yong-pil’s steadfast devotion to Sam-dal. It’s one of the more grounded roles he’s played. Warm, relatable, endearingly human and with nary an action sequence in sight, it’s memorable for being quite unlike any role he’s played before.
Ri Eul in ‘The Sound of Magic’
The Sound of Magic may not be one of Ji Chang-wook’s most popular K-dramas, but his role as Ri Eul is noteworthy for its sharp departure from roles he has come to be known for. There are no heart-pounding action sequences here or swoon-worthy romance. Instead, there’s singing and dancing and magic. Bringing the same dedication he once brought to learning stunts, he trained for months in performing magic tricks and dancing to bring Ri Eul to life.
Maggie Adan is a content writer, editor, and strategist with extensive experience across print, digital, and social media publishing. Formerly editor-in-chief at K-Zone Philippines, Summit Books and Content Lab, she has written lifestyle stories covering everything from entertainment and travel to beauty and wellness. A storyteller at heart with a keen editorial eye and a passion for narrative, she contributes to various publications and helps brands create and curate content for their social media platforms.
