Kim Ji-won is a South Korean actress. She gained attention through her roles in television series The Heirs, Descendants of the Sun, Fight for My Way and Arthdal Chronicles. The success of Kim's television dramas throughout Asia established her as a Hallyu star.
Early life and education
Kim Ji won was born on October 19, 1992 in Seoul and has an elder sister who is two years older than her. After graduating from Paekahm High School, she pursued her studies in drama in Dongguk University.
Career
2008–2012: Beginnings
Kim was trained in singing and acting but chose to pursue the latter. She was a background vocalist for the singer Younha and appeared in her music video "Gossip Boy" in 2008 with the stage name "JessicaK". She rose to fame by appearing in commercials, and became known as the "Oran C Girl" and "Lollipop Girl". She was also called Little Kim Tae-hee due to her resemblance to the actress. Kim made her acting debut in the drama Mrs. Saigon. Kim first gained attention after starring in the 2011 sitcom . She was then cast in her first major television role in the musical drama What's Up and made her film debut in the romance omnibus filmRomantic Heaven. Kim then starred in the high school dramaTo the Beautiful You and headlined the horror filmHorror Stories. Kim also appeared in Baek Seung Heon's debut music video "Till the Sun Rises" alongside JYJ's Kim Jae-joong.
2013–2016: Rising popularity and breakthrough
In 2013, Kim starred as one of the lead roles in the KBS Drama special Waiting for Love, about how four different youths with different views toward love start seeing each other. The same year Kim co-starred in teen drama The Heirs, wherein she played a chic and haughty heiress. The drama's popularity raised Kim's profile, and won her the New Star Award at the SBS Drama Awards. In 2014, Kim starred in the crime thrillerGap-dong as a high school student and a webtoon artist. The same year, she played a supporting role in the KBS Drama special The Reason I'm Getting Married. In December 2014, Kim signed an exclusive contract with King Kong Entertainment. In 2015, Kim starred alongside So Ji-sub in the romance web series One Sunny Day in 2015. The same year, Kim made a cameo appearance in TVN drama Hidden Identity as Kim Bum's girlfriend. In 2016, Kim co-starred in KBS2's military romance dramaDescendants of the Sun, playing an army surgeon. The drama was a pan-asia hit, and its success brought Kim further recognition outside Korea. She hosted the year end KBS Drama Awards with Park Bo-gum and Jun Hyun-moo, where she won the Excellence Award. Kim also won the Best Supporting Actress award at the APAN Star Awards.
2017–present: Leading roles
In 2017, Kim was cast in her first leading role in KBS2's romance comedy drama, Fight for My Way alongside Park Seo-joon; as a department store employee at the information desk but dreams of becoming an announcer. The series was a success and solidified Kim's status as leading actress. Kim once again won the Excellence Award at the KBS Drama Awards. In 2018, she starred in her first period role in the third installment of the Detective K film series, . She plays the role of a mysterious lady who loses her memory and joins the investigation. Kim, along with her Descendants of the Sun co-star Jin Goo made a cameo appearance in the historical drama Mr.Sunshine by Kim Eun-sook. In 2019, Kim played the role of Tanya, who is the head of Wahan tribe and Song Joong-ki's love interest in the historical fantasy drama Arthdal Chronicles. The drama serves as a reunion project for Song and Kim, who both starred in the 2016 hit drama Descendants of the Sun. In February 2020, Kim signed with new agency S.A.L.T Entertainment.
