Ju Ji Hoon made his mark in the K-drama world with the 2006 hit Princess Hours, a role that cemented his status as a Hallyu star. Since then, he’s balanced a dynamic career, starring in acclaimed dramas like Kingdom and branching out into a wide range of films. Whether on TV or the big screen, his versatility has kept fans hooked. Want to see what exactly has viewers intrigued? Ahead are 20 films and K-dramas starring Ju Ji Hoon that any fan can’t miss out on.
Movies Starring Ju Ji Hoon
1. Antique (2008)
Ji Hoon’s film debut found him as bakery owner Kim Jin-hyuk in the comedy thriller Antique. Based on a manga series titled Antique Bakery, it revolves around the wealthy Jin-hyuk who seems to have everything but love. Determined to find himself a partner, he sets up a cake shop to meet women. Comprising his oddball team is a genius baker who used to have a crush on him, an ex-boxing champion, and a naive bodyguard.
Also starring: Kim Jae Wook, Yoo Ah In, Choi Ji Ho
2. The Naked Kitchen (2009)
Childhood best friends and married couple Ahn Mo-rae and Han Sang-in have a blissful and passionate relationship. Their ostensibly perfect life together, however, is threatened when Mo-rae finds herself sexually attracted to Park Du-re, a seductive French-Korean chef who starts to live with them as he teaches her husband how to cook in preparation for Sang-in’s dream restaurant.
Also starring: Kim Tae Woo, Shim Min Ah
3. I Am the King (2012)
Watch on: Viu
When his older brother is stripped of his title, the carefree Choong-nyung suddenly finds himself as the crown prince of the Joseon Kingdom. Unwilling to take the throne, he swaps places with Deok-chil, a slave who bears a striking resemblance to him. Before the two can take back their rightful identities, Deok-chil is crowned king, forcing Choon-nyung to live in the streets of Joseon as a poor commoner.
Also starring: Baek Yoon Shik, Byun Hee Bong, Im Won Hee
4. Confession (2014)
Hyun-tae, a paramedic, In-chul, a con man, and Min-soo, a business owner, have been best friends for years. Though their bond seems unbreakable, everything changes when Hyun-tae’s mother asks In-chul to burn down her illegal gambling arcade so she she can acquire an insurance settlement. In-chul does as he’s told, leading to the accidental death of Hyun-tae’s mother, and an eventual falling out between the trio.
Also starring: Ji Sung, Lee Kwang Soo
5. The Treacherous (2015)
Known as the Joseon Dynasty’s worst tyrant, the lustful King Yeonsan incites fear over his countrymen by bringing the beautiful women of Korea to his court and doing with them whatever he pleases. Fed up by his actions, a poor butcher named Dan Hee finds a way to infiltrate the palace, dead set on taking her revenge.
Also starring: Kim Kang Woo, Im Yi Jeon, Lee Yoo Young
6. Asura: The City of Madness
Having served the corrupt dealings of Mayor Park Sung-bae for years, Detective Han Do-kyung suddenly finds himself in a bind when he’s pressured by prosecutor Kim Cha-in to investigate his boss. The situation only gets worse when Do-kyung convinces Moon Sun-mo, his young partner, to do the mayor’s dirty work for him instead.
Also starring: Jung Woo Sung, Hwang Jung Min, Kwak Do Won
7. Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)
Watch on: Netflix
After a firefighter dies a heroic death, he meets three guides in the afterlife who join him in navigating seven trials that will eventually decide his fate. Ji Hoon plays one of the three grim reapers, named Hae Won-maek. He went on to reprise his role for the film's 2018 sequel, Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days.
Also starring: Ha Jung Woo, Cha Tae Hyun, Kim Hyang Gi
8. The Spy Gone North (2018)
Ji Hoon portrays State Security Department Head Jung on The Spy Gone North. Set in the 1990s, it follows a South Korean secret agent who infiltrates the North to investigate the country’s reported army of nuclear weapons. He’s thrown for a loop, however, when he instead uncovers a dangerous scheme plotted by the ruling class members of South Korea and North Korea.
Also starring: Hwang Jung Min, Lee Sung Min, Cho Jin Woong
9. Dark Figure of Crime (2018)
After an incarcerated criminal admits to having committed seven more unrecorded murders, Detective Hyung Min takes it upon himself to find the victims when no one else believes the confession but him.
Also starring: Kim Yoon Seok, Moon Jung Hee
10. Gentleman (2022)
Private detective Ji Hyun-Soo is hired to find a missing pet dog, leading him to a vacation cottage. After an attack, he wakes up to find his client gone and is framed for kidnapping. While in police custody, a car accident causes him to be mistaken for a prosecutor. Now, he embarks on an investigation into his client's disappearance, uncovering a conspiracy involving powerful CEO Kwon Do-Hun.
Also starring: Choi Sung Eun, Park Sung Woong
K-Dramas Starring Ju Ji Hoon
11. Princess Hours (2006)
Ordinary high school student Chae-kyung’s life takes an unexpected turn when she’s forced to marry Crown Prince Lee Shin due to her late grandfather’s will. Struggling to adjust to palace life and her cold, aloof husband, she finds solace in his warm and caring cousin, Prince Yul, who is also second in line to the throne. As emotions grow complicated, royal traditions and unexpected schemes threaten to shake up their lives.
Also starring: Yoon Eun Hye, Kim Jeong Hoon, Song Ji Hyo
12. Mask (2015)
Drowning in debt and desperate for a way out, Byun Ji-sook seizes a risky opportunity when she meets Eun-ha, a wealthy woman who looks exactly like her. Stepping into Eun-ha’s privileged world, she crosses paths with Min-woo, a chaebol heir wary of those around him but drawn to her sincerity. As secrets unravel, Ji-sook finds herself trapped in a dangerous game where her true identity could cost her everything.
Also starring: Park Soo Ae, Yoo In Young, Yeon Jung Hoon
13. Item (2019)
When prosecutor Kang Gon stumbles upon a supernatural object tied to a dangerous conspiracy, he is thrust into a fight for his niece’s life. Driven by his strong sense of justice, he teams up with criminal profiler Shin So-yeong to uncover the secrets behind these mysterious items—each holding extraordinary powers that could alter fate itself.
Also starring: Jin Se Yeon, Kim Kang Woo, Kim Yoo Ri
14. Kingdom (2019)
As rumors spread that the King is dead, Crown Prince Lee Chang sneaks into the palace, only to glimpse a monstrous shadow behind locked doors. With the Queen and her father, Chief State Councilor Jo Hak-joo, tightening their grip on the throne, he embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. His search leads him to a plague-ridden clinic, where physician Seo-bi reveals a terrifying secret—the dead will rise.
Also starring: Bae Doo Na, Ryu Seung Ryong, Kim Hye Jun, Kim Sang Ho
15. Hyena (2020)
In the cutthroat world of elite lawyers, Jung Geum Ja will do whatever it takes to win. Shrewd and relentless, she plays both sides of the law to chase success. On the other hand, Yoon Hee Jae is a brilliant but arrogant attorney who represents Korea’s most powerful figures. When their paths collide, a fierce battle of wits and ambition ensues, blurring the lines between justice and power.
Also starring: Kim Hye Soo
16. Jirisan (2021)
At Jirisan National Park, rangers risk their lives to protect visitors from the mountain’s unpredictable dangers. Seo Yi Kang, the park’s top ranger, is known for her unmatched tracking skills. Partnering with her is rookie Kang Hyun Jo, a former soldier with a keen intuition. Under the leadership of Haedong Branch head Jo Dae Jin, they navigate treacherous terrain and eerie rumors, uncovering secrets hidden deep within the wilderness.
Also starring: Jun Ji Hyun
17. Blood Free (2024)
With its dominance in the genetically engineered meat industry, BF has ended humanity’s reliance on animal meat. But as CEO Yun Ja-yu leads the company forward, doubts begin to surface from both within and outside its walls. Among those entangled in BF’s future is Woo Chae-woon, a former soldier-turned-bodyguard, and On San, a physiology Ph.D. who co-founded the company with Yun.
Also starring: Han Hyo Joo, Lee Hee Joon, Lee Moo Saeng, Park Ji Yeon
18. Light Shop (2024)
A group of strangers, each haunted by a painful past, is inexplicably drawn to a mysterious light shop at the end of a shadowy alley. Guarded by a cautious shopkeeper, the shop may hold the answers they seek—not just about their pasts, but also their futures.
Also starring: Park Bo Young, Kim Seol Hyun, Bae Sung Woo, Uhm Tae Goo, Lee Jung Eun
19. Love Your Enemy (2024)
Born on the same day in the same town, Seok Ji Won and Yoon Ji Won were lifelong rivals, their families locked in a generations-old feud. Years later, Seok Ji Won returns as the chairman of their former high school, where Yoon Ji Won now works as a PE teacher. As they cross paths once more, old tensions resurface—along with the fiery determination that once earned Yoon Ji Won the nickname “Mad Dog.”
Also starring: Jung Yu Mi, Kim Ye Won, Lee Si Woo
20. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (2025)
A world-class trauma surgeon with a bulldozer-like personality, Baek Kang Hyuk takes charge of the severe trauma team at a university hospital. While his team saves countless lives, their high-cost operations put the hospital in financial jeopardy. Among his recruits is Yang Jae Won, a former proctology surgeon who becomes his first protégé. Under Baek Kang Hyuk’s leadership, the once-overlooked trauma unit transforms into a force that actively tackles emergencies in the field.
Also starring: Choo Yeong Woo, Ha Young, Jeong Jae Kwang, Yoon Kyung Ho
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