Ji began his career in musical theatre. He made his onscreen debut in the 2006 filmDays... and had a minor role in the 2008television dramaYou Stole My Heart. He officially debuted in 2008 through the film,Sleeping Beauty.[3]
In 2009, he appeared inMy Too Perfect Sons, playing the timid, youngest brother who ends up raising his best friend's daughter at just 20 years old.[4] The weekend family drama received over 40% ratings.[5] He then took on a supporting role in the action-comedyHero.[6]
In 2010, Ji was cast in his first lead role in the 159-episode daily drama,Smile Again, playing the role of a Korean-Americanshort track speed skater.[7]Smile Again topped the ratings chart for 15 consecutive weeks, and he was awarded "Best Actor in a Daily Drama" at theKBS Drama Awards.[8][9]
He then played the titular character in 2011 historical-action series,Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011). Adapted from Lee Jae-heon'smanhwa,Honorable Baek Dong-soo, it is anorigin story aboutJoseon-era swordsman,Baek Dong-soo, showing his early years until political intrigue creates a rivalry with his childhood best friend-turned-enemy.[10][11] The series topped in its timeslot for 13 weeks, and Ji received a "New Star Award" at theSBS Drama Awards.[12][13] Later that year, he played the lead role in 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.[14]
On his first antagonist role in the melodrama,Five Fingers (2012), Ji played a pianist who envies his older brother's natural gift for music.[15][16] Ji returned to musical theater in 2013 withThe Days, playing a presidential bodyguard who went missing 20 years ago along with a mysterious female companion.The Days was ajukebox musical using thefolk rock songs ofKim Kwang-seok.[17]
Ji's breakthrough came through his role asToghon Temür (also known as Ta Hwan), the 16th emperor of theYuan Dynasty, in the historical dramaEmpress Ki.[18] The drama drew solid viewership ratings nationwide throughout its run with an average rating of 35.12%. Ji's portrayal left a strong impression on both the critics and the audience, earning him critical acclaim and recognition.[19][20] Ji then starred as the titular character in action-thriller television series,Healer (2014–2015).[21][22] After the airing of the drama, Ji became popular in China and other parts of Asia.[23][24] He then took on roles in Mandarin-language dramas such asThe Whirlwind Girl 2 andMr. Right.[25][26] In 2016, Ji starred as the male lead intvN's action-thrillerThe K2, a bodyguard who is betrayed by his fellow countrymen and falls in love with a girl with PTSD and apparent sociophobia.[27] The drama received favorable reviews, topping cable channel viewership ratings throughout its 8-week broadcast.[28] In November 2016, he co-starred in the promotional web-drama series,7 First Kisses for Lotte Duty Free.[29]
Ji in February 2017
In 2017, Ji starred in the action film,Fabricated City, playing the role of a jobless game addict who is framed for murder.[30] The same year, he was cast in SBS'sromantic comedy thriller series,Suspicious Partner, as a prosecutor, which premiered in May.[31] Following his discharge from military in 2019, Ji was cast in the romantic comedy seriesMelting Me Softly, where he played the role of a television producer who finds himself waking up 20 years into the future following an unsuccessful human-freezing project.[32]
In 2020, Ji was cast in the romantic comedy series,Backstreet Rookie, based on a webtoon of the same name. He played the role of a former public-relations director of convenience stores franchises, who ends up managing his own convenience store.[33] He also starred in romantic comedy web seriesLovestruck in the City which premiered onKakao TV in December 2020.
In 2021, he starred in theKim Chang-ju's thriller filmHard Hit, playing a mysterious caller who blackmails the protagonist and his family with a bomb planted inside the car they are driving.[34] In 2022, Ji appeared in theNetflix seriesThe Sound of Magic, based on a webtoon of the same name, in the role of mysterious magician Lee Eul.[35] That same year, he starred in theKBS2 dramaIf You Wish Upon Me in the role of an ex-convict who volunteers at ahospice.[36]
In March 2023, Ji ended his contract with Glorious Entertainment.[37] On 14 March 2023, Ji is in the stage on preparing to establish a one-man agency with his manager who has been working with him for more than ten years.[38] In April 2023, Ji signed with Spring Company.[39] On 13 November 2023, Ji was confirmed to be cast in the role of the main character of seriesThe Manipulated.[40]
Ji is set to perform inManila on 19 October 2025, as part of IAM WORLDWIDE 's anniversary show dubbed DOMIN8 along with fellow Koreans fromNTX and Philippine pop groupBini.[41]
Ji began hismandatory military service on 14 August 2017.[42] He underwent his basic military training at the Army's3rd Infantry Division at Cheorwon, Gangwon Province.[43] Upon completion, he was awarded a prize for his exemplary performance.[44] Ji was assigned to the Army's 5th Artillery Brigade at Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, to complete the remainder of his military service.[45] He was appointed as aPlatoon Leader and promoted toCorporal.[46] He was further promoted to Sergeant.[47][48] Ji was discharged on 27 April 2019.[49]
In February 2023, Ji donated ₩100 million to help2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, by donating money through Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association.[50]
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^Lee, Seung-hoon (14 March 2023).[단독]'FA 대어' 지창욱, 결국 홀로서기 [[Exclusive] Ji Chang-wook, 'FA', finally stands alone].Star News (in Korean).Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved14 March 2023 – viaNaver.
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^Kim, Myung-mi (19 June 2023).지창욱 신혜선 '웰컴투 삼달리' 캐스팅...JTBC 드라마 첫 출연[공식] [Ji Chang-wook and Shin Hye-sun cast in 'Welcome to Samdalri'... First JTBC drama appearance [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen.Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved15 November 2022 – viaNaver.
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^지창욱 '2019 AAA' 베스트 엑터상 수상 "책임감 느껴" [Ji Chang-wook Wins Best Actor Award at '2019 AAA' "Feel A Sense of Responsibility"].Star News (in Korean). 27 November 2019. Retrieved29 December 2024.
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