Villains: We hate to love them, we love to hate them. The same could be said for these characters in K-dramas, with their constant scheming that often gets our blood boiling!
That said, behind these compelling bad guys are the talented thespians and their acting skills that have us all in awe. With Netflix’s Little Women, the case remains true for veteran actress Uhm Ji Won, who portrayed the ruthless Won Sang-ah.
With several awards and acting credits to her name, her status as an acting genius is as clear as day. But if you’re looking to know more about the woman behind the role, read on!
10 Fast Facts About Korean Actress Uhm Ji Won
1. Uhm Ji Won is a Capricorn.
Ji Won was born in Daegu, South Korea on Christmas Day, December 25, 1977.
2. Uhm Ji Won was a geography major in college.
Not all K-drama actors have an academic background in acting. That’s at least the case for Ji Won, who actually studied a widely different major when she was in university—geography! But when asked what she would take up if she were to enter college again, the actress chose film or literature. However, she’ll remain loyal to her alma mater, Kyungpook National University.
The Daegu school is dubbed as the “Seoul National University” of the South Korean province due to its prestige and reputation for only accepting high scorers. Ji Won joins several distinguished alumni of the university, which includes politicians, scientists, beauty queens, and even the Cannes-award winning director of Burning, Lee Chang Dong.
3. Uhm Ji Won had her start in a Korean tokusatsu movie.
The actress made her film debut back in the late 1990s, where she starred as Princess Radia in Vectorman: Counterattack of the Evil Empire. The movie falls under the tokusatsu genre, which originated from Japan as a sci-fi, fantasy, or horror film that utilizes practical special effects. Think the Godzilla series and Ultraman!
4. Uhm Ji Won is managed by C-JeS Entertainment.
In 2019, Ji Won signed with the South Korean entertainment company C-JeS Entertainment, which has headquarters in both Seoul and Los Angeles. Among its talents include boy band JYJ, singer Gummy, and actors like Lee Jae Wook (Alchemy of Souls) and Ryu Jun Yeol (Reply 1988).
5. Uhm Ji Won was married to a founder of an architectural firm.
Ji Won found love with architect Oh Young Wook, with their relationship publicized in 2013. He’s also the founder of the architectural firm Ogisadesign d’Espacio Architects (ODDAA), and he authored and illustrated several books about travel and art. While they tied the knot in 2014, Ji Won announced seven years later that they eventually divorced. But still, they remain friends.
6. Uhm Ji Won was once featured in a BBC series.
Korean networks aren’t the only TV channels Ji Won has graced. The actress also had a segment on BBC World’s The Third Eye, a documentary series that showcased several countries’ booming cultures, including Spain, Kenya, and Vietnam. For her cameo, the BBC team flew into Seoul to discuss the Hallyu wave with Ji Won, who examined the impact of Korean film.
7. Uhm Ji Won’s father used to be a politician.
In what could be one of the only similarities between Ji Won and her Little Women character, the real-life version actually has an influential dad of her own! The actress' father, Uhm Ie Woong, served as a deputy governor in their province of North Gyeongsang and also as the deputy mayor of Pohang City. As of 2020, he’s now the chairman of Hando Engineering, a company that specializes in design and supervision.
8. Uhm Ji Won is an award-winning actress.
Proving her versatility and performance prowess, Ji Won has bagged several awards in her two-decade career. This includes Best Actress awards for 2018 mystery film Missing, 2015 action thriller The Phone, 2013 drama Hope, 2010 rom-com Romantic Debtors, as well as Best Supporting Actress awards for 2015’s The Silenced, 2007’s Scout, and 2006’s Traces of Love.
9. Uhm Ji Won is a philanthropist.
In March 2022, it was reported that the actress lent a hand in several causes, including a massive wildfire in South Korea, which began in Uljin, North Gyeongsang. She also donated 10 million Korean won to the Save the Children organization for the victims of the Ukrainian-Russian war.
10. You can follow Uhm Ji Won on Youtube, Instagram and Twitter.
The veteran actress is also a certified YouTube star with a channel that’s over 77,400 subscribers strong! In her personal network, Ji Won documents van tours, travel vlogs, makeup routines, and even tutorials. You can check out her channel here.
If, however, you’re seeking some Ji Won behind-the-scenes content on the go, the star is also present in other social media spaces like Instagram and Twitter!
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