Choi Ji Woo rose to fame thanks to her delicate, angelic beauty and her roles portraying tragic characters in Korean dramas of the 1990s.
Choi Ji Woo's beauty over time
 |
| Choi Ji Woo, whose real name is Choi Mi Hyang, grew up in a wealthy family with a military tradition in Paju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. As a child, she showed a talent for singing and dancing, and her parents wanted her to become a singer. However, at that time, Choi Ji Woo only loved dancing. |
 |
| Entering adolescence, Choi Mi Hyang became famous throughout her hometown for her delicate, angelic beauty, yet possessed a strong, stubborn, and energetic personality. The actress confessed that during her school years, she was unpopular with her friends and teachers because of her rebellious nature. After graduating from Busan College of Dance, the beauty born in 1975 decided to move to Seoul to pursue her career. |
 |
| In 1994, at the age of 19, Choi Ji Woo first appeared in an MBC audition and won first place. With her height of 1.74m, striking figure, and beautiful face, she immediately caught the eye of many directors. At that time, Ji Woo realized her passion for film and wanted to immerse herself in acting roles. |
 |
| To hone her acting skills, she enrolled in Han Yang University, majoring in Theater and Film. In 1995, she made her acting debut in the television drama "War and Love." This role became a stepping stone, helping her define her style. From then on, she officially began her artistic career under the stage name Choi Ji Woo. |
 |
| After a few minor roles, in 1996, Ji Woo caused a sensation when she appeared alongside Bae Yong Joon, Lee Seung Yeon, and Choi Soo Jong – top stars at the time – in the hit drama "First Love." She played the wealthy heiress Kang Seok Hee, who loves and pursues Chan Woo (played by Bae Yong Joon) but is not reciprocated. This role earned her the "Best New Actress" award from KBS. |
* Choi Ji Woo in the film "First Love" (1996)
 |
| In the late 1990s, Ji Woo became the muse of many renowned directors and a favorite of major television stations. Her acting skills in television dramas and films such as "The Hole" (1997), "First Kiss" (1998)... made a strong impression on audiences. |
 |
| She was often cast in roles portraying tragic, unfortunate characters who always strived in life. Choi's fame and career soared in films like "The Truth" (2000) and "Beautiful Days" (2001)... She was nicknamed "Queen of Tears," "Crying Beauty," or "Queen of Melodrama." |
* Choi Ji Woo in the film "The Truth" (2000)
 |
| From a talented young actress, she quickly rose to become an A-list star in the Korean entertainment industry. Choi Ji Woo once confessed, "My dream is to portray characters with rough, strong personalities – close to my own nature. In real life, I'm not someone who cries easily and I always try to avoid any pressure." |
* Ji Woo and Lee Byung Hun in"The good days"
 |
| "Winter Sonata" (2002) and "Stairway to Heaven" (2003) are the works that brought Choi Ji Woo's name to prominence throughout Asia. Her powerful crying scenes, requiring deep psychological depth, made it easy for viewers to empathize with the characters' pain. |
* Ji Woo - Bae Yong Joon in "Winter Sonata"
 |
| On Naver, Yoon Suk Ho, the director of the popular Korean drama series about the four seasons, once shared: "Choi Ji Woo is a wonderful actress with a captivating figure. Just looking at her makes viewers feel enchanted." |
 |
| As melodramatic films gradually declined and romantic comedies rose to prominence, Ji Woo and other stars who specialized in playing kind, unfortunate characters struggled to break free from their old image. However, Ji Woo's later works were not as successful as expected because audiences only remembered the characters she had played before. |
 |
| Throughout her 23-year career, Choi Ji Woo has won numerous awards and become a representative star of the Korean Wave (Hallyu) in many Asian countries. Before achieving fame, she dated Song Seung Hun. In 2009, Choi Ji Woo surprised fans by publicly revealing her relationship with Lee Jin Wook, who is six years younger than her. They had previously collaborated on the drama "Air City" in 2007. However, the couple parted ways three years later, due to the pressure of excessive public and media scrutiny. At 42, she remains single. |
According to VNE
