The Actor

Ji Chang wook the lead in the popular show of 2017 “Suspicious Partner” is one of a kind. He is never extraordinary & then suddenly you notice him, miss him. Not much for his girl friend but I missed him immediately after the show ended.

New to the K drama it was not easy to remember his name but later I began with his another show 2014 “Healer” & knew why his actions are extraordinary. The genre changed to action but with Park Min young he was equally comfortable. ( I couldn’t help but remember the other wook, Kim Jae Wook, in her show, ‘Her Private Life’ which I liked so much!)

Then I decided to go for his historical 2013 show ‘Empress Ki’ with Ha Ji won. With 51 episodes, it needed patience. In the first episode it began with his wedding & then he just disappeared. Main emphasis being on Ki, her change in life is stressed. Again, he is just a puppet in the hands of Yeon Chul, Yuan dynasty’s regent. He is all powerful & plans to get his daughter married to Ta Hwan, who is to become the Emperor.

The assertive Ki Nyang & the not-so-confident Ta Hwan is a mismatched pair. But gradually Ji Chang Wook takes over. The transition is excellent. In the credits his name appears in the third place but how he strengthened his position is worth watching.

2020 show ‘Back street Rookie’ wasn’t well received but his character handling the convenience store was likable. The first episode where he rescues a kitten from the sewer & arrives late for his date. His girlfriend dumps him. Also he meets Kim Yoo-jung, who is trying to buy cigarettes with her friends.

Then the 2021 show ‘Lovestruck in the city’ had love stories of young people in a city. Kim ji won is a freelance marketer who meets Ji Chang wook, an Architect, when on a beach.As the vacation ends, so does the romance. Back in the city, she hesitates to meet him. How they go about it is the story.

A softie in ‘Lovestruck…’ or ‘Backstreet Rookie’ & ‘Suspicious Partner’ he is himself but in action dramas where he did all the action himself like ‘The K2’ or his other show “Healer” he is equally convincing. I hated him hesitating in “Empress Ki” but gradually he is himself.

His ability to blend in the character is superb. Now, waiting for his new show with Choi Sung-eun & Hwang In-youp in ‘The Sound of Magic’ which promises to be another good show.