Ji Chang-wook (; born 5 July 1987) is a South Korean actor and singer. He rose to fame for playing the lead role of daily drama series Smile Again (2010–2011), and gained further prominence with television series Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011), Empress Ki (2013–2014), Healer (2014–2015), The K2 (2016), Suspicious Partner (2017), The Worst of Evil (2023), Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023–2024), and film Fabricated City (2017).
Career 2006–2009: Beginnings Ji began his career in musical theatre. He made his onscreen debut in the 2006 short film Days... and had a minor role in the 2008 television drama You Stole My Heart. He officially debuted in 2008 through the film, Sleeping Beauty.
In 2009, he appeared in My Too Perfect Sons, playing the timid, youngest brother who ends up raising his best friend's daughter at just 20 years old. The weekend family drama received over 40% ratings. He then took on a supporting role in the action-comedy Hero.
2010–2012: Rising popularity
In 2010, Ji was cast in his first lead role in the 159-episode daily drama, Smile Again, playing the role of a Korean-American short track speed skater. Smile Again topped the ratings chart for 15 consecutive weeks, and he was awarded "Best Actor in a Daily Drama" at the KBS Drama Awards.
He then played the titular character in 2011 historical-action series, Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011). Adapted from Lee Jae-heon's manhwa, Honorable Baek Dong-soo, it is an origin story about Joseon-era swordsman, Baek Dong-soo, showing his early years until political intrigue creates a rivalry with his childhood best friend-turned-enemy. The series topped in its timeslot for 13 weeks, and Ji received a "New Star Award" at the SBS Drama Awards. 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.
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. Ji returned to musical theater in 2013 with The Days, playing a presidential bodyguard who went missing 20 years ago along with a mysterious female companion. The Days was a jukebox musical using the folk rock songs of Kim Kwang-seok.
2013–2022: Breakthrough and overseas ventures Ji's breakthrough came through his role as Toghon Temür (also known as Ta Hwan), the 16th emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, in the historical drama Empress Ki. 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. Ji then starred as the titular character in action-thriller television series, Healer (2014–2015). After the airing of the drama, Ji became popular in China and other parts of Asia. He then took on roles in Mandarin-language dramas such as The Whirlwind Girl 2 and Mr. Right. In 2016, Ji starred as the male lead in tvN's action-thriller The K2, a bodyguard who is betrayed by his fellow countrymen and falls in love with a girl with PTSD and apparent sociophobia. The drama received favorable reviews, topping cable channel viewership ratings throughout its 8-week broadcast. In November 2016, he co-starred in the promotional web-drama series, 7 First Kisses for Lotte Duty Free.
In 2017, Ji starred in the action film, Fabricated City, playing the role of a jobless game addict who is framed for murder. The same year, he was cast in SBS's romantic comedy thriller series, Suspicious Partner, as a prosecutor, which premiered in May. Following his discharge from military in 2019, Ji was cast in the romantic comedy series Melting 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.
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. He also starred in romantic comedy web series Lovestruck in the City which premiered on Kakao TV in December 2020.
In 2021, he starred in the Kim Chang-ju's thriller film Hard Hit, playing a mysterious caller who blackmails the protagonist and his family with a bomb planted inside the car they are driving. In 2022, Ji appeared in the Netflix series The Sound of Magic, based on a webtoon of the same name, in the role of mysterious magician Ri Eul. That same year, he starred in the KBS2 drama If You Wish Upon Me in the role of an ex-convict who volunteers at a hospice.
2023–present: New agency In March 2023, Ji ended his contract with Glorious Entertainment. 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. In April 2023, Ji signed with Spring Company. On 13 November 2023, Ji was confirmed to be cast in the role of the main character of series The Manipulated.
Ji is set to perform in Manila on 19 October 2025, as part of IAM WORLDWIDE 's anniversary show dubbed DOMIN8 along with fellow Koreans from NTX and Philippine pop group Bini.
Personal life Military service Ji began his mandatory military service on 14 August 2017. He underwent his basic military training at the Army's 3rd Infantry Division at Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. Upon completion, he was awarded a prize for his exemplary performance. Ji was assigned to the Army's 5th Artillery Brigade at Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, to complete the remainder of his military service. He was appointed as a Platoon Leader and promoted to Corporal. He was further promoted to Sergeant. Ji was discharged on 27 April 2019.
Philanthropy In 2017, Ji donated his dubbing fee as male lead in the Japanese animated film, "Your Name", to the Korean Barrier Free Films Committee (KOBAFF).
After his military discharge in April 2019, he graced the June cover of The Big Issue Korea and Japan, the magazine sales profits of which support the homeless.
In February 2020, he donated KRW 100 million to the Daegu branch of the Korean Red Cross to support medical staff, provide hygiene products (like masks and sanitizer), and aid citizens in self-quarantine at the epicenter of Korea's initial COVID-19 outbreak.
He supported Miral Welfare Foundation by starring in their 2020 "How You See Me?" awareness campaign, which advocates for the rights of disabled children, and in their 2022 "I'M AN ARTIST" special project, which highlights the talents of artists with developmental disabilities.
In February 2023, Ji donated to help 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, by donating money through UNICEF.
In February 2024, he donated JPY 10 million to Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan to support victims of the Noto Peninsula earthquake.
In March 2025, he donated KRW 100 million to Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association for the recovery from the forest fire damage in Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Ulsan, and to support the firefighters.
In April 2026, Ji and an Indonesian snack brand commemorated the success of their collaboration, "One Bite One Dream" campaign, that helped fund the building of two eco-friendly PAUD (Early Childhood Education) centers in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, and provide scholarships for students across Jakarta and East Java.
Tax audit In June 2026, South Korean media reported that the Seoul Regional Tax Office had conducted a non-routine audit of Ji around March 2026 and assessed additional taxes in the billions of won, with some outlets describing the amount as tens of billions of won; the exact figure was not disclosed. Reports said the review concerned whether income from his entertainment work should be treated as personal income or as income of a one-person corporation under the substance-over-form principle.
His agency, Spring Company, apologized for public concern and denied any intentional omission of income or tax evasion by improper means. It said it had cooperated with the audit, that the disagreement was over tax-law interpretation, that Ji had fulfilled his tax obligations since his 2008 debut, that it respected the National Tax Service's findings, and that the assessed amount would be paid without delay.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 2006 Days... Soo-bin In Search of Lost Time Min-seong Short film 2008 Sleeping Beauty Jin-seo 2009 The Weird Missing Case of Mr. J Sun Gun-man Bit part 2010 Death Bell 2: Bloody Camp Soo-il Confession Grandson Short film 2013 How to Use Guys with Secret Tips Hong-jun's brother Cameo 2015 The Long Way Home Military police Cameo 2016 Your Name Taki Tachibana Voice; Korean dub 2017 Fabricated City Kwon Yoo The Bros Young Choon-bae Cameo 2021 Hard Hit Jinwoo 2024 Revolver Andy / Mad Dog 2026 Colony Choi Hyun-seok scope="row" The Generals Heo Hak-sung Netflix film
Television series Year Title Role Notes 2008 You Stole My Heart Lee Phillip 2009 My Too Perfect Sons Song Mi-poong 2009–2010 Hero Park Jun-hyeong 2010–2011 Smile Again Carl Laker / Dong-hae 2011 Warrior Baek Dong-soo Baek Dong-soo 2011–2012 Bachelor's Vegetable Store Han Tae-yang 2012 Five Fingers Yoo In-ha 2013–2014 Empress Ki Toghon Temür / Ta Hwan 2014–2015 Healer Seo Jung-hoo / Park Bong-soo / Healer 2016 The Whirlwind Girl 2 Chang An Chinese drama Mr Right Wang Weian Chinese drama (NOT RELEASED) The K2 Kim Je-ha / K2 2017 Suspicious Partner Noh Ji-wook 2019 Melting Me Softly Ma Dong-chan 2020 Backstreet Rookie Choi Dae-hyun 2020–2021 Lovestruck in the City Park Jae-won 2022 The Sound of Magic Lee Eul If You Wish Upon Me Yoon Gyeo-rye 2023 The Worst of Evil Park Joon-mo 2023–2024 Welcome to Samdal-ri Cho Yong-pil 2024 Queen Woo Go Nam-mu / Gogukcheon of Goguryeo Gangnam B-Side Yoon Gil-ho 2025 The Manipulated Park Tae-jung 2026 The Scandal Cho Won Merry Berry Love Lee Yubin Korea-Japan collaboration 2027Human X Gumiho Choi Seok Men of the Harem Special appearance
Web series Year Title Role Notes 2014 Kara: Secret Love Angel No. 2013, Chun Sa Nam Ep. 9–10 2016 7 First Kisses Himself Ep. 3–4
Television show Year Title Role 2022 Young Actors' Retreat Cast member 2024 My Name is Gabriel 2025 Abracadabra! The Galaxy of Ultimate Healing Himself 2026 Kumusta
Music video appearances Year Title Artist 2007 "Are You Ready" Lena Park feat. Dynamic Duo 2009 "We Broke Up Today" Younha 2010 "I Have to Let You Go" Young Gun 2011 "Cry Cry" T-ara 2012 "Lovey-Dovey" "I Need You" K.Will 2013 "That's My Fault" Speed "It's Over" "Runaway" Kara 2024 "No More Drinks" Lee Juck 2025 "Even if" Heize
Theater + Musical play performances Year Title Role English Korean 2007 Fire and Ice 2010 Thrill Me 쓰릴미 Richard Loeb 2013–2017; 2023 The Days 그날들 Mu-young 2013 Jack the Ripper 살인마 잭 Daniel Brothers Were Brave 형제는 용감했다 Lee Joo-bong 2018–2019 신흥무관학교 Dong-gyu
Discography Extended plays Year Title Notes 2016 Be With You Mandarin
Full album Year Title Notes 2025 Assemble Japanese, includes 6 songs from released singles and 4 new songs: "Celebration", "Glass", "Feel me,feel you" , and "My Christmas Wish"
Singles