Cover Before her upcoming slate of high-profile international thrillers and ensemble dramas hits screens, take a step back to examine how South Korean actress Won Ji-an built one of the most compelling, low-key filmographies in contemporary television (Photo: IMDb)
Before her upcoming slate of high-profile international thrillers and ensemble dramas hits screens, take a step back to examine how South Korean actress Won Ji-an built one of the most compelling, low-key filmographies in contemporary television (Photo: IMDb)
1 / 1
Discover the roles that built the career of South Korean star Won Ji-an before her upcoming releases
Won Ji-an first caught viewers’ attention in Netflix’s military drama D.P., playing a stolen-money courier in a story that introduced audiences to her understated screen presence. Since then, the South Korean actress has taken on roles across thrillers, teen dramas and character-driven series, showing a knack for playing complicated characters without relying on exaggerated performances. Her deep voice, measured delivery and quiet intensity have become recognisable features of her acting, making her an interesting talent to follow as her body of work expands.
For fans who discovered her through D.P. or are looking forward to her upcoming projects, her earlier performances are worth revisiting. Here’s a look at Won Ji-an’s dramas and other screen appearances, and how her roles have showcased different sides of her acting.
Read more: 9 essential Kim Young-kwang dramas and films to watch before ‘Take Charge of My Heart’
1. ‘Made in Korea’ (2025-2026)
Above Won Ji-an takes on a central role amidst 1970s political turmoil and corporate corruption alongside Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung
Set against the backdrop of turbulent political and economic shifts in 1970s South Korea, this period crime drama features Won Ji-an in a central role alongside heavyweights Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung. The series tracks the collision between an ambitious broker pushing to exploit state wealth and a dedicated prosecutor attempting to dismantle corrupt networks. Streaming globally on Disney+, the narrative uses its ensemble setup to examine corporate greed, political leverage, and black-market intrigue.
Don’t miss: 9 bad boy K-drama characters we know we shouldn’t love
2. ‘Surely Tomorrow’ (2025-2026)
Above A slow-burn study of rekindled romance that pairs Won Ji-an with Park Jung-min as ex-lovers crossing paths years after an abrupt breakup
Shifting from period intrigue to modern romantic melodrama, Surely Tomorrow pairs Won Ji-an with Park Jung-min in a study of rekindled relationships. The story follows a long-separated couple who encounter one another years after an abrupt breakup, forced to navigate unaddressed past issues while operating in starkly different professional environments. The production streams on JTBC locally and internationally via Netflix, focusing heavily on conversational realism and slow-burn character dynamics.
3. ‘Tempest’ (2025)
Above Won Ji-an joins Gianna Jun and Gang Dong-won in a high-stakes diplomatic thriller centered on covert peninsular attacks
This high-stakes political thriller follows an international ambassador and a former special operative working to unravel a massive covert attack threatening stability on the Korean peninsula. Won Ji-an joins a veteran cast led by Gianna Jun (Jun Ji-hyun) and Gang Dong-won. Streaming on Disney+, the series focuses on espionage, diplomatic negotiations, and high-level surveillance, giving her a supporting role within a wide-reaching thriller plot.
4. ‘Squid Game’ (2024-2025)
Above Stepping into Hwang Dong-hyuk's global franchise, she joins the high-stakes survival arena for seasons two and three
Joining the cast for the second and third seasons of Hwang Dong-hyuk’s global survival franchise, Won Ji-an appears alongside returning star Lee Jung-jae, as well as new additions Yim Si-wan and Kang Ha-neul. The narrative continues the battle against the underground deadly contest, following Player 456 as he attempts to tear down the organisation from within. The series streams exclusively on Netflix worldwide, with her role forming part of the new cohort of desperate participants drawn into the arena.
5. ‘Heartbeat’ (2023)
Above Playing a pragmatist who inherits a rundown guest house, Won Ji-an shares a dynamic screen partnership with Ok Taec-yeon's half-vampire
Blending fantasy, romantic comedy, and domestic conflict, Heartbeat stars Won Ji-an as Joo In-hae, a cold, intensely pragmatic school nurse who unexpectedly inherits a dilapidated guest house. Her life grows complicated when she accidentally awakens a half-human, half-vampire—played by Ok Taec-yeon—who missed his chance to become fully human by a single day. Streaming globally on Amazon Prime Video, the series relies on the sharp dynamic between her grounded character and her co-star’s dramatic comedic performance.
6. ‘If You Wish Upon Me’ (2022)
Above This hospice-set human drama features Won Ji-an in an emotionally intense role opposite Ji Chang-wook
Inspired by an actual Dutch charitable foundation, this human drama centers on a hospice facility where staff and volunteers fulfill the final wishes of terminal patients. Won Ji-an plays Ha Jun-kyung, an emotionally scarred young woman whose obsession with a troubled ex-convict—portrayed by Ji Chang-wook—drives her choices. Featuring Choi Soo-young as a hospice nurse, the show streams on Viki and Viu, offering an intense look at trauma, dependency, and redemption.
7. ‘Juvenile Delinquency’ (2022)
Above Anchoring this dark youth noir, she plays an 18-year-old drug mule who stumbles upon a rural marijuana ring
Also released under the title Hope or Dope, this dark youth noir miniseries stars Won Ji-an as Da-jung, an 18-year-old girl used as a drug mule by her own mother. After a transaction goes wrong, she flees to a rural village, discovering a hidden marijuana field cultivated by local teenagers played by Yoon Chan-young, Yoon Hyun-soo, and Han Se-jin. Streaming on seezn and Viki, the two-season series centers on small-town crime, familial abuse, and survival strategy.
8. ‘D.P.’ (2021)
Above Won Ji-an's single-episode debut as Moon Young-ok delivered an immediate breakout turn that launched her career
Serving as her official acting debut and immediate breakout project, the military drama D.P. introduces Won Ji-an in the third episode, titled “That Woman.” She portrays Moon Young-ok, a hotel clerk tied to a military deserter who finds herself caught between her evasive boyfriend and the Deserter Pursuit duo played by Jung Hae-in and Koo Kyo-hwan. Streaming globally on Netflix, her brief turn garnered critical acclaim and industry nominations, establishing her distinct presence on screen and directly launching her trajectory as a leading performer.
9. ‘Pyongyang Home Video’ (Upcoming)
Directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, this international drama project stars Won Ji-an alongside British actress Jameela Jamil. The production explores cross-border media smuggling, underground distribution networks, and cultural exchanges.
10. ‘Pleasant Outcast’ (Upcoming)
Adapted from the webtoon Cheerful Bullying, this disaster-thriller drama follows high school students trapped in a collapsed building following a sudden disaster. Won Ji-an stars alongside Sung Yoo-bin and Cho Hyun-chul as the trapped survivors navigate a harsh collapse of social order and emerging power struggles.
11. ‘Outback’ (Upcoming)
A mystery noir series set against the Australian landscape, Outback centers on a brother searching for answers surrounding his sister’s mysterious death. Directed by Jeon Du-gwan and executive produced by Han Jun-hee (D.P.), the Netflix project stars Hong Kyung alongside Ryu Jun-yeol, Hoyeon, Won Ji-an, and Justin H. Min. Won Ji-an portrays Si-young, the late sister whose tragic demise serves as the catalyst for the entire series.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
