Summary
Kim Ji-wonhas been one-half of many iconicK-dramacouples, yet two of her best couples could not be more different. From her breakout success in the 2013 melodramaThe Heirsto the record-breaking success of one of2024’s best K-dramas, Kim Ji-won has continued to show new sides to her acting talents and incredible on-screen chemistry with each new co-star she is paired with. Though she tends to favor drama over comedy, two of Kim Ji-won’s best K-drama couples show that she is an expert at portraying both.
Thanks to her acting prowess and her on-screen relationships with her co-stars, Kim Ji-won has received several award nominations for her work as an actress. Her awards range from the New Star Award for her roles as Rachel Yoo inThe Heirsto Best Couple for three of her previous works, includingMy Liberation NotesandDescendants of the Sun. Though only one of herbest K-drama romanceshas received this award so far, it does not make their impact any less profound. In fact,their exact opposite stories make Kim Ji-won’s acting range all the more impressive.
I’m Disappointed That Kim Ji-won Didn’t Receive The Same Award Recognition As Her Queen of Tears Co-star
Queen of Tears is one of the best K-dramas of 2024, yet Kim Ji-won’s lack of award recognition for her role as Hong Hae-in continues to surprise me.
Kim Ji-won’s Queen Of Tears & Fight For My Way Couples Have Opposite Stories
Their Initial Relationships Make A Big Impact On Their Development
From the very start, the differences betweenFight For My WayandQueen of Tears' leading couples are evident.Fight For My Wayspares no expense in showing how close Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won) and Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-joon) have been since their childhood and how they have always been each other’s biggest supporters. On the other hand,Queen of Tearsshows the breakdown of Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won) and Baek Hyun-woo’s (Kim Soo-hyun) marriage, which was initially dubbed the marriage of the century.
13 June 2025
Hong Hae-in
As both relationships develop,their circumstances and backgrounds make their dynamics all the more different.Fight For My Way’s Ae-ra and Dong-man’s friendship lasted for more than 20 years, with them always being each other’s go-to person in times of need. As best friends from the same hometown, they were always on the same playing field. This cannot be said forQueen of Tears' Hae-in and Hyun-woo, as Hae-in’s chaebol status always overshadowed Hyun-woo’s humble beginnings.
In comparison toFight For My Way’s leading couple,Queen of Tears’Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s relationshipwas much more intense. Hae-in’s looming prognosis was the catalyst for them to finally air out their issues and regain each other’s trust, but Hae-in’s worsening condition made it seem like it all happened too late. Alternatively,Fight For My Way’s Dong-man and Ae-ra didn’t need to build trust, but instead had to navigate a new dynamic as lovers rather than friends. This made their relationship shift feel incredibly natural while also showcasing Kim Ji-won’s talent for comedy.
Fight For My Way’s Ae-ra & Dong-man Highlighted Kim Ji-won’s Comedy Chops
Her First Leading Role In A K-drama Is Hilarious
Up until this point in her career, Kim Ji-won hadn’t shown much of her comedy expertise. Many ofKim Ji-won’s best K-dramas, such asThe HeirsandDescendants of the Sun,certainly had elements of comedy. However, as these shows often focused more on drama, action, or romance, the comedic moments were often short-lived. This makesFight For My Wayeven more special, as Kim Ji-won first leading role allowed her to show a new side to her acting skills, and did so with resounding success.
Fight For My Way’s lighthearted concept gave Dong-man and Ae-ra’s relationship room to breathe, and in doing so elicited career-best performances from Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won. The two leading actors perfectly complement each other’s frantic energy and demonstrate their characters’ close bond as lifelong friends. Some ofFight For My Way’s best moments come when Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won comedic talents are let loose, resulting in scenes that are naturally funny without being forced.
“Aegyo” is a Korean phrase which refers to when people act overly cute. Choi Ae-ra uses aegyo a lot throughoutFight For My Wayand Kim Ji-won’s performance has become synonymous with this as she executes it so well.
Though more than this, what makesFight For My Way’s leading couple so good is the contrast between the show’s fast and slow-paced moments. The fast-paced moments are when Dong-man and Ae-ra are at their funniest, with one great example being their “aegyo” battle in episode 13. However, the slower moments give a great tenderness to their relationship that feels completely sincere. These moments are peppered throughoutFight For My Way, and make Dong-man and Ae-ra’s deep relationship seem even more meaningful, giving Kim Ji-won and Park Seo-joon’s performances a lot of dimension.
I’m Grateful That Kim Ji-won’s Queen Of Tears Performance Made My Watch This Other Great K-Drama
Kim Ji-won’s performance as Hae-in is a highlight of Queen of Tears, but she also shines in this other great K-drama from seven years ago.
Queen Of Tears’ Hae-in & Hyun-woo Allowed Kim Ji-won To Show Her Acting Range
Kim Ji-won Makes Hae-in’s Guarded Thoughts Easy To Read
While Kim Ji-won’s performance as the extroverted Choi Ae-ra landed her praise for her comedy skills,her role asQueen of Tears' Hong Hae-in required a lot more restraint. Hae-in is a much more introverted character and finds it hard to express her true feelings due to the trauma of her childhood. As a result, Hae-in can be hard to read, as she chooses to portray a steely exterior rather than show signs of weakness and let those around her know what she is truly thinking.
In the hands of another actor, Hong Hae-in may not have translated well on screen. However, Kim Ji-won’s restrained performance is full of nuance, and the micro-expressions she uses make Hae-in’s innermost thoughts easily apparent. This is especially obvious in her scenes with Baek Hyun-woo. Hae-in could have very easily been a unlikable character, but from the very beginning, Kim Ji-won hints at the fact that Hae-in never stopped loving Hyun-woo. This quickly started a snowball effect that resulted in Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s emotional reconnection.
ThoughQueen of Tearsdoesn’t give Kim Ji-won as many chances to show her comedic talents, it does show her range as an actress in comparison to her other belovedK-dramacouples.
Haein’s growth as she allows herself to become more vulnerable in front of her husband is one ofQueen of Tears' biggest successesand a testament to Kim Ji-won’s acting ability. Her chemistry with on-screen partner Kim Soo-hyun is also one ofQueen of Tears' biggest selling points, and makes the development of Hae-in and Hyun-woo’s relationship feel like a worthy investment. ThoughQueen of Tearsdoesn’t give Kim Ji-won as many chances to show her comedic talents, it does show her range as an actress in comparison to her other belovedK-dramacouples.
Queen Of Tears
Cast
Hong Hae-in, the heiress of the prestigious Queens Group, and her husband Baek Hyun-woo, known as the “supermarket prince,” navigate the complexities of their high-profile marriage. While Hae-in exudes a cold and calculating demeanor, Hyun-woo brings warmth and emotional depth to their relationship. Their union, celebrated as the “wedding of the century,” faces a monumental crisis that forces them to reassess their differences and rediscover the strength in their bond.
Fight For My Way
Fight For My Way is a South Korean television drama series that aired in 2017. Starring Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won, the show follows the lives of four young adults struggling to achieve their dreams in the face of societal expectations and everyday challenges. The series explores themes of friendship, ambition, and romance, offering a nuanced portrayal of the hardships and triumphs faced by its characters.
