Ji Jin-hee

Career

Early career

Ji Jin-hee graduated from Myongji University with a degree in graphic design. He was working as a photographer at an advertising agency when Park Seong-hye approached him about pursuing a career in entertainment. Content at his present job and doubtful that he had any acting talent, Ji refused the offers for a year, but finally agreed when the ad agency downsized during the IMF financial crisis and he got laid off.

In 1999, Ji appeared in the music video for Jo Sung-bin's "Like a Third-rate Movie," and he made his acting debut in 2000 with the television drama Female Secretary. In the next few years, he continued his television career with Juliet's Man (2000), Four Sisters (2001), and the Korean-Japanese co-production Afternoon After the Passing Rain (2002) with Ryoko Yonekura.

Ji made his big screen debut in 2002, playing a detective in the thriller H. This was followed by If You Were Me, a human rights-themed omnibus where he starred in Park Kwang-su's short film Face Value.

Breakthrough

He had drawn positive reviews for his portrayal of a surgeon caught up in a love triangle with a priest in the melodrama Love Letter, but Ji's breakthrough came in late 2003 with period drama Dae Jang Geum (also known as Jewel in the Palace). As a Joseon-era government official who falls in love with a female chef turned royal physician (played by Lee Young-ae), Ji's gentlemanly and integrity-filled character attracted female fans across Asia, for not only did Dae Jang Geum receive high viewership ratings domestically (reaching a peak of 57.8%), it also became popular overseas and became one of the proponents of the Korean Wave.

Ji later parlayed his pan-Asian stardom into roles in the Chinese musical film Perhaps Love and the Taiwanese drama The 100th Bride, both in 2005. He next played an amnesiac in Spring Day, the Korean remake of Japanese drama Hoshi no Kinka ("Heaven's Coins").

Fighting against being typecast in nice roles after Dae Jang Geum, Ji also played a playboy slacker in romantic comedy series Miss Kim's Million Dollar Quest (2004), for which he received his first acting award. And in black comedy Bewitching Attraction (2006), he was cast as a cartoonist who shares a past with a promiscuous professor.

In 2007, Ji starred in Im Sang-soo's The Old Garden, adapted from Hwang Sok-yong's novel about a couple who meet during the turbulent 1980s surrounding the Gwangju Uprising; he played an anti-government activist who gets released from prison after serving 17 years for his political activities. This was followed by Ji's first action film, Yoichi Sai's Soo, in which he played dual roles as a hired killer who avenges the death of his twin brother.

Ji returned to television in 2008, as a veteran news reporter in Spotlight. In 2009, he played a fussy, 40-year-old bachelor architect in He Who Can't Marry, the Korean remake of Japanese drama Kekkon Dekinai Otoko ("The Man Who Can't Get Married"). Ji next appeared in the Korean-Japanese "telecinema" Paradise, which both received a theatrical release and aired on SBS and TV Asahi.

He also published Ji Jin-hee in Italy: A Walk in the Clouds, which featured photos and essays about his travels in Rome, Florence and Milan, as well as Ji's recommendations and tips about wine.

In 2008, Ji signed an exclusive contract with NOA Entertainment. NOA Entertainment is a management company established in October 2007 by former managers of his previous agency Sidus HQ.

In 2010, Ji starred in Parallel Life, playing Korea's youngest ever chief presiding judge, who upon his wife's murder discovers that his life may exactly replicate that of someone who died 30 years ago. He was next cast as a music critic and radio show host who goes in search of his missing spouse in the road trip comedy Looking for My Wife (also known as Runaway from Home).

Then Ji reunited with Dae Jang Geum television director Lee Byung-hoon in another period drama Dong Yi, which also proved popular with audiences. As King Sukjong, who falls for a palace maid (played by Han Hyo-joo) and makes her his royal concubine, Ji said he wanted to show a monarch who had "weak spots that show through his charismatic exterior. Rather than being a dignified king, he is an outgoing and adventurous character."

Ji continued playing leading roles in television, as an airline pilot in Take Care of Us, Captain (2012), general and Joseon dynasty founder Yi Seong-gye in The Great Seer (2012), an adulterous husband in One Warm Word (2013), and a villainous doctor in Blood (2015). He also wrote the original draft of the screenplay of horror-comedy Ghost Sweepers (2012), for which he received a story by credit.[[File:Ji Jin-hee on June 26, 2013.jpg|thumb|245x245px|Ji in June 2013]] In 2013, Ji signed an exclusive contract with HB Entertainment.

From 2014 to 2015, Ji starred in three Chinese films, namely: On the Way opposite Eva Huang, in which a recently divorced Korean man meets a Chinese woman on a train while traveling in China; Bad Sister opposite Ivy Chen, a romantic comedy where a father who wants to stop his daughter's wedding teams up with the groom's equally disapproving older sister; and Helios, a crime thriller about the theft of nuclear weapons by a group of terrorists.

On April 30, 2019, Ikkle Entertainment announced that Ji signed an exclusive contract with them.

Personal life

Ji Jin-hee married his long-time girlfriend, advertising graphic designer Lee Soo-yeon, at the Central City Millennium Hall in Banpo, Seoul on November 19, 2004, at 5 PM. They first met when Ji Jin-hee was working as an advertising photographer before his acting debut and had been in a relationship for six years. The wedding was attended by 1,500 guests. Their first son was born in 2005. Their second son was born in 2012.

Philanthropy

In 2008, Ji Jin-hee attended a charity event in China (Beijing), where he put his and his wife's wedding rings up at an auction to help the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

Filmography

Film

Television series

Variety shows

Music video appearances

Narration

Discography

Book

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. link
2. "Ji Jin-hee". Korean Film Council.
3. "JI Jin-hee".
4. (February 9, 2010). "Ji Jin-hee: 'I Don't Regret a Thing'".
5. "Ji Jin-hee Profile".
6. (December 16, 2002). "Serial Killer Turns in Himself... Game Goes on".
7. Shin, Nam-su. (March 22, 2004). "Curtain Falls on Hit Historical TV Drama ''The Great Janggeum''".
8. (June 12, 2007). "Japanese Press Gushes for Ji Jin-hee".
9. Kim, Ji-soo. (September 23, 2013). "Hallyu drama celebrates 10 years".
10. (May 3, 2005). "Ji Jin-hee Cast to Star in Hong Kong Movie".
11. (November 17, 2005). "Ji Jin-hee launches Asian tour".
12. (December 5, 2005). "Ji Jin-Hee Tests His Pulling Power in Southeast Asia".
13. (April 10, 2006). "Actor Ji Jin-hee Emerges as Hallyu Star in Thailand".
14. (April 11, 2006). "Actor Ji Jin-hee Visits Thailand to Promote Film ''Perhaps Love''".
15. (October 28, 2005). "Ji Jin-hee and Cho In-sung to meet with Japanese fans".
16. Lee, Ji-hye. (February 24, 2010). "Ji Jin-hee's Movie Picks".
17. Edwards, Russell. (April 7, 2006). "Review: ''Bewitching Attraction''".
18. Park, Soo-mee. (April 4, 2007). "DVD Review: Cost of courage is measured in tears".
19. (January 8, 2007). "Chinese Fans of Ji Jin-hee Descend on Korea".
20. (August 11, 2006). "Ji Jin-hee Transforms into Tough Guy".
21. (March 24, 2008). "Actor Ji Jin-hee to Promote Film ''Soo'' in Japan".
22. Han, Sang-hee. (May 13, 2008). "Spotlight Shows Lives of Reporters".
23. Oh, Jean. (June 15, 2009). "KBS' bachelor battles MBC's queen".
24. (November 19, 2009). "Ji Jin-hee returns as king in drama ''Dong Yi''".
25. (August 20, 2008). "Actor Ji Jin-hee Renews Modeling Contract with Korea Exchange Bank".
26. (May 10, 2009). "Ji Jin Hee's new wine/travel book, "it's all about the variety of wine tasting"".
27. link
28. (February 5, 2010). "Ji Jin-hee feels bad for making Ha Jeong-woo murderer again".
29. Yi, Ch'ang-ho. (August 31, 2009). "YANG Ik-june casts JI Jin-hee".
30. Song, Woong-ki. (March 16, 2010). "Ji Jin-hee shows his funny side".
31. Lee, Ji-hye. (April 2, 2010). "Press conference for film ''Looking for My Wife''".
32. "All That Star: Ji Jin-hee".
33. Han, Sang-hee. (March 21, 2010). "Will Dong-yi Become Next Jewel in the Palace?".
34. Kim, Heidi. (December 14, 2010). "Actor Ji Jin-hee receives warm welcome in Hong Kong".
35. Oh, Jean. (March 22, 2010). "Upbeat rom-com vs. court romance".
36. Wee, Geun-woo. (May 7, 2010). "Ji Jin-hee says "happy to break stereotype" as a king".
37. (June 9, 2010). "Interview: ''Dong Yi'' director says Ji Jin-hee "mischievous"".
38. Lee, Wing-sze. (March 29, 2012). "Q&A: Ji Jin-hee".
39. (October 21, 2011). "Ji Jin-hee cast as male lead in upcoming SBS TV series".
40. (November 1, 2011). "Shooting begins for new Ji Jin-hee, Ku Hye-sun TV series".
41. (June 7, 2012). "Ji Jin-hee to portray historical figure in new Mon-Tue soap opera".
42. Ahn, Sung-mi. (February 12, 2015). "Little brother from ''My Love'' gets shot at big time".
43. (April 4, 2013). link
44. (August 8, 2011). "Ji Jin-hee finishes filming upcoming Chinese movie".
45. Kim, Soo-yeon. (November 28, 2014). "Korean-Chinese Co-production BAD SISTER, released in China November 28th".
46. (December 12, 2013). "Working together".
47. link
48. (December 2004). link. [[Kyunghyang Shinmun]]
49. Kim, Heidi. (April 1, 2011). "Actor Ji Jin-hee to voice Korean version of ''Thomas and Friends''".
50. (January 31, 2018). "Romance thriller 'Misty,' enthralling story of success, unpretentious love".
51. Yeo Ye-rim. (March 19, 2019). "tvN names 'Survivor' remake cast".
52. (February 27, 2024). "Ji Jin-hee to Star in Remake of Popular U.S. TV Series".
53. Kim Na-kyung. link. (March 29, 2021)
54. link. (June 4, 2020)
55. Han Eun-ki. link. The Seoul Economic Daily. ko. 서울경제. (March 30, 2021)
56. Woo Da-bin. (May 31, 2022). "'D.P.'가 돌아온다…지진희·김지현 합류". [[Hankook Ilbo]].
57. Jae-ha, Hwang. (July 8, 2024). "지진희·김지수 주연 '가족X멜로' 다음달 10일 첫 방송". [[Yonhap News]].
58. link. Newsen. Kim. Myeong-mi. (December 11, 2024)
59. Baek, Seung-hoon. (May 7, 2025). "'나인 퍼즐' 김다미X손석구, 의심하거나 협력하거나".
60. link. Kim. Yang-soo. (September 15, 2025)
61. link. Jung Ah-reum. News 1. (October 25, 2021)
62. Kim, Hannah. (March 4, 2010). "''WE'' are singing for charity".
63. "2003 MBC 연기대상".
64. Choe, Min-ji. (October 21, 2011). "Ji Jin Hee Wins Top 10 Hottest Asia Award in China".
65. (October 24, 2011). "Jin Hee Ji won the ''Top 10 Popular Star Award'' by CETV, China.".