Profile | Who is Kim Ji-won, ice-cool actress in K-drama Queen of Tears who earned her big break in the smash-hit series Descendants of the Sun?
- Queen of Tears’ Kim Ji-won very nearly chose to become a singer before she opted to become an actress. She’s won hearts and minds with her cool, poised acting
- Her big break came in the form of an award-winning turn in Descendants of the Sun (2016), and she is beloved by many for her role in My Liberation Notes (2022)
With her commanding poise and steely gaze, Kim Ji-won is back on screens as Hong Hae-in, the ice-cold heiress in new K-drama show Queen of Tears, alongside Kim Soo-hyun.
The series began with strong ratings, and it is no wonder Kim Ji-won has attracted a passionate fan base – supporters began warming to her cool style a decade ago.
A Seoul native, Kim Ji-won was discovered by an agent on a street while still in middle school, and subsequently began three years’ training to become a stage performer.
During that period, she could easily have become a K-pop singer – she was a background singer for the performer Youngha – and it was not clear in which creative field she would specialise.
There were even plans for her to make her singing debut under the stage name JessicaK, but in the end she opted to pursue a career in acting.
Aside from her entertainment pursuits, there was also a time when she considered becoming a kindergarten teacher.