South Korean actor Ji Chang Wook plays the lead character of Kim Je-Ha in tvN's 'The K2.' (Photo : YouTube/Sparklez Tuntun)
There is now doubt Ji Chang-Wook is one of the successful celebrities in the South Korean entertainment industry. However, his early career is full of ups and downs.
In a sit-down interview with local media, as cited by Soompi, the 29-year-old Hallyu star recalled his early-career days living and struggling as a fresh-faced actor in South Korea. He revealed that his lack of acting ability during his "Smile, Dong-Hae" (2010) days seemingly made him question if he could continue acting.
Ji's doubts event intensified when he received no casting calls for a couple of months after the 2012 SBS melodrama "Five Fingers" wrapped up. He said that it was not until "Empress Ki" and the "Healer" that his popularity finally took off.
The immense success of MBC's "Empress Ki" apparently made Ji a household name in South Korea. His popularity then started to soar in China after he portrayed the role of an illegal mercenary, Seo Jung-Hoo, in the 2014-2015 action thriller drama "Healer."
When asked about his "Acting Drama Expert" image in the entertainment industry, Ji stated he underwent several martial arts lessons for the role. He revealed that he is just rehearsing a lot, making it sure to focus during filming action scenes since the possibility of getting hurt is high.
Since he hit his late twenties, the Hallyu star made sure to set aside a few minutes to work out regularly in order to avoid getting hurt while filming action scenes. He goes ahead to discuss his impending military enlistment.
As per Ji, the military enlistment is a different kind of challenge and hopes that after two years, he can become a respected senior to his juniors. He added, "If I continue to enjoy acting as I do now, tirelessly and happily, won't that bring me slightly closer to that goal?"
Nonetheless, fans can still watch Ji in the upcoming web drama "First Seven Kisses." He will star alongside Lee Jong-Suk, Park Hae-Jin, Lee Joon-Gi, EXO's Kai, Lee Min-Ho and 2PM's Taecyeon, according to local newsoutlet News 1, as cited by All Kpop.
Watch Ji as Kim Je-Ha in tvN's "The K2" here:
