Won Ji-an has steadily built a reputation as one of South Korea’s rising actresses, taking on roles that range from military dramas and youth noir to romance, fantasy and high-stakes thrillers.
The actress first drew wider attention with her brief but memorable appearance in D.P., before moving into increasingly prominent roles across Korean television and streaming productions. Her understated delivery, distinctive voice and restrained screen presence have become recognizable features of her performances.
For viewers discovering her through Squid Game or her more recent projects, her earlier work offers a look at how her career has developed and the variety of characters she has taken on.
- Made in Korea
Made in Korea places Won Ji-an in a period crime drama set against the political and economic upheaval of 1970s South Korea.
The series stars Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung and follows an ambitious broker seeking to exploit state wealth and a prosecutor determined to uncover corrupt networks. Won Ji-an takes on a central role within the ensemble, which also explores corporate greed, political influence and black-market dealings.
- Surely Tomorrow
Surely Tomorrow moves into contemporary romantic melodrama, with Won Ji-an starring opposite Park Jung-min.
The series follows former lovers who cross paths again years after a sudden breakup. Their reunion forces them to confront unresolved issues from their past while navigating very different lives and professional circumstances.
The drama takes a slower approach to romance, placing greater emphasis on conversations, emotional history and the complications that come with reconnecting with someone after years apart.
- Tempest
In Tempest, Won Ji-an joins a high-profile cast led by Gianna Jun and Gang Dong-won for an international political thriller.
The story centres on an ambassador and a former special operative who become involved in an investigation surrounding a major covert attack that threatens stability on the Korean peninsula.
The Disney+ series shifts Won Ji-an into the world of espionage, diplomatic negotiations and international intrigue, giving her a supporting role within a much larger thriller narrative.
- Squid Game
Won Ji-an became part of the global phenomenon Squid Game in its second and third seasons, appearing as Se-mi, Player 380.
She joined returning star Lee Jung-jae alongside newcomers including Yim Si-wan and Kang Ha-neul as the survival franchise expanded its cast and continued the story of Player 456’s attempt to challenge the organisation behind the deadly competition.
Her appearance introduced her to an international audience on a much larger scale than her earlier projects.
- Heartbeat
Heartbeat gave Won Ji-an a very different character to play.
She stars as Joo In-hae, a pragmatic school nurse who unexpectedly inherits a rundown guest house. Her life changes after she becomes involved with a half-human, half-vampire played by Ok Taec-yeon.
The 2023 series combines fantasy, romance and comedy, with the contrast between In-hae’s practical personality and the supernatural character at the centre of the story providing much of the drama’s humour and conflict.
- If You Wish Upon Me
In If You Wish Upon Me, Won Ji-an takes on a considerably darker role.
She plays Ha Jun-kyung, an emotionally scarred young woman whose intense attachment to a troubled former convict becomes an important part of the story. The drama is set largely around a hospice where staff and volunteers work to fulfil the final wishes of terminally ill patients.
Starring Ji Chang-wook and Choi Soo-young, the series explores trauma, dependency, difficult relationships and redemption against the emotional setting of the hospice.
- Juvenile Delinquency
Also known as Hope or Dope, Juvenile Delinquency is a youth noir series that gave Won Ji-an one of her more challenging early roles.
She plays Da-jung, an 18-year-old girl who is exploited by her mother as a drug mule. After a failed transaction, she escapes to a rural area, where she discovers a hidden marijuana operation involving local teenagers.
The two-season drama combines crime, family abuse and survival, placing its young characters in situations that force them to make difficult decisions.
- D.P.
D.P. was the project that introduced Won Ji-an to audiences in her official acting debut.
She appears in the third episode as Moon Young-ok, a hotel clerk connected to a military deserter. Her character becomes caught between the deserter and the military police unit searching for him.
Although her appearance was limited to a single episode, the performance helped establish her screen presence and became an important early step in her acting career.
The role also demonstrated her ability to create an impression without relying on a large amount of screen time.
- Pyongyang Home Video
Among her upcoming projects is Pyongyang Home Video, an international drama directed by Yoon Sung-hyun.
The project stars Won Ji-an alongside British actress Jameela Jamil and explores cross-border media smuggling, underground distribution networks and cultural exchanges.
The unusual premise gives Won Ji-an another opportunity to move into territory outside conventional romantic and youth dramas.
- Pleasant Outcast
Pleasant Outcast is another upcoming project featuring Won Ji-an.
Based on the webtoon Cheerful Bullying, the disaster thriller follows a group of high school students trapped inside a collapsed building after a sudden disaster.
As the students struggle to survive, the collapse of normal social structures leads to conflicts over power and control. Won Ji-an stars alongside Sung Yoo-bin and Cho Hyun-chul.
- Outback
Won Ji-an is also set to appear in the upcoming Netflix mystery noir Outback.
Set against the Australian landscape, the series follows a brother searching for answers surrounding his sister’s mysterious death. Won Ji-an plays Si-young, the deceased sister whose death sets the story in motion.
The ensemble includes Hong Kyung, Ryu Jun-yeol, Hoyeon and Justin H. Min, with D.P. producer Han Jun-hee serving as executive producer.
From her one-episode breakthrough in D.P. to her appearance in Squid Game and increasingly prominent roles in major streaming productions, Won Ji-an’s career has covered a notably broad range of genres.
Her filmography includes military drama, youth crime, fantasy romance, psychological melodrama, survival thriller and political intrigue. With several international projects in development or release, her upcoming work continues to expand the range of characters she is taking on.
