K-drama’s Ji Chang-wook before the fame: what did the star of Netflix’s Lovestruck in the City and Backstreet Rookie really look like growing up?
Hallyu heartthrob Ji Chang-wook is back, showcasing a fiery onscreen chemistry with romcom darling Kim Ji-won in Kakao TV’s new romance series Lovestruck in the City, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
Check out these older photos of the actor and see how his looks have evolved over the years.
Memorable visuals, charming smiles
Pre-debut, Ji looked like any other kid. According to Channel-Korea, these are his childhood photos.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of young Ji Chang-wook and a recent photo of him in glasses:
The Korean Herald have also published a photo of young Ji Chang-wook, reportedly when he was in high school.
On his debut, in 2008 in the film, Sleeping Beauty, Ji Chang-wook was recognised for his distinct facial features. He had a prominent nose and double eyelids that were so attractive to the Korean audience.
He was then cast in various movies and dramas that showcased his charms and acting skills. Stills of him in dramas like My Too Perfect Sons and Smile Again are claimed to be “pre-plastic surgery”.
In another drama, Warrior Baek Dong-soo, Ji played the title role. Comparing his looks then to his present appearance you might see how his nose appears sharper now. Whatever the subtle differences in his appearance then and now, fans think he’s adorable, regardless of whether he had a cosmetic procedure done or not.
The rest was history: from an epic period drama to thrillers and romcoms
What shot him to mainstream fame was the 2013 historical drama Empress Ki. It was also when fans noticed that his nose became more pointed. Starring with veteran actors Ha Ji-won and Joo Jin-mo, Ji played the dashing Emperor of Yuan, caught in a complicated love triangle, where the woman was driven by both passion and political ambitions.
The highly rated drama is Ji’s most notable television series thus far. It even earned him an Excellence Award for his acting in the MBC Drama Awards. He was also nominated for the Top Excellence Award at the 7th Korea Drama Awards.
A truly multitalented celebrity, Ji has also recorded several pop singles as part of the original soundtracks to his dramas.
You can expect to see Ji Chang-wook in more projects, as he has received a steady stream of offers since his 2019 return from the military.
According to a recent rumour, he might play the lead role as a magician in the Netflix adaptation of the webtoon, Annarasumanara.
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Before starring in Empress Ki, working with Park Min-young in Healer and alongside Girls’ Generation’s Yoona in K2, what did the Hallyu heartthrob look like in his younger days?