Actress Kim Ji Won is finally returning to the small screen after more than two years of anticipation. Following the immense popularity of her role as third-generation chaebol heiress Hong Hae In in “Queen of Tears,” her next transformation will see her step into the shoes of a brilliant surgeon. Leaving behind the glamorous chaebol world, Kim Ji Won is moving into the operating room for a role that promises to be completely different from her previous character.
Kim Ji Won will star as Gye Soo Jung in SBS’s upcoming drama “Doctor X: Age of the White Mafia,” hereafter referred to as “Doctor X.”
Her return to television comes approximately two years after tvN’s “Queen of Tears,” which aired in 2024. In the drama, she played Hong Hae In, the department store president of Queens Group. She captivated audiences with her portrayal of a poised and cold-hearted chaebol heiress who gradually revealed a vulnerable side when faced with love, helping drive the drama’s success.
“Queen of Tears” became another major turning point in Kim Ji Won’s career. The drama achieved high ratings in Korea while also becoming popular internationally, further raising her profile among viewers both at home and overseas.
Rather than rushing into her next project after completing such a successful drama, Kim Ji Won took a relatively long break. The project she chose to return with after roughly two years is the medical noir drama “Doctor X.”
This time, it will be difficult to find any trace of Hong Hae In. Kim Ji Won’s character, Gye Soo Jung, is a surgeon with exceptional operating skills. As a confident character who relies on her abilities and moves decisively within the hospital setting, she is vastly different from her previous role in everything from character to genre.
Playing a doctor is also a new challenge for Kim Ji Won. Having previously showcased her strengths in romantic comedies and melodramas, she will now take center stage in a medical drama, making her performance one of the key points to watch.
The difference between Hong Hae In and Gye Soo Jung is also immediately apparent in the released photos. In “Queen of Tears,” Kim Ji Won sported long hair paired with glamorous accessories and tailored suits, creating the sophisticated, urban image of a chaebol department store executive. In “Doctor X,” however, she has chopped her hair into a short bob that reaches her jawline and wears blue surgical scrubs beneath a white doctor’s coat. Her understated styling and neat appearance create a strikingly different impression from her previous role.
Her new project has also coincided with a meaningful charitable contribution. Kim Ji Won recently donated 100 million won to Seoul National University Children’s Hospital. The donation reportedly came after her experiences encountering the medical field while preparing for and filming “Doctor X.”
From “Fight for My Way” and “My Liberation Notes” to “Queen of Tears,” Kim Ji Won has built an impressive filmography by taking on distinct characters in each project. Among them, Hong Hae In in “Queen of Tears” was the role that once again propelled her into a new career peak.
Naturally, expectations for her next project are high. Two years after making viewers around the world shed tears as Hong Hae In, Kim Ji Won is now putting on a doctor’s coat. Attention is focused on whether “Doctor X,” the carefully chosen project she selected after “Queen of Tears,” will become another signature work in her career.
Sources: Daum