Pretty Korean Actress, Choi Ji Woo [최지우]

Choi Ji-woo (birth name: Choi Mi-hyang) (born June 11, 1975 in Paju, South Korea) is a South Korean actress and model. Her parents are Choi Woon-yong and Yun Gil-ja, and she has one older brother.

Biography

Choi graduated from Pusan Sooyoung Elementary, Sooyoung Girl's Jr. High, and Dukmoon Girl's High School, and majored in aerobics at Pusan Woman's Professional College's Dance Department. She was first discovered when she won a talent audition organized by MBC in 1994, and made her debut in the 1995 drama series War and Love, after which she adopted the stage name Choi Ji Woo.^[1] She also appeared in the popular drama First Love, where she was first paired with actor Bae Yong Joon.

In 2001, Choi gained popularity with her role as an orphaned girl suffering from leukemia in the series Beautiful Days, in which she starred alongside Lee Byung-Hun.^[2] That same year, she enrolled in Hanyang University's Department of Theater/Film Studies. Although Choi completed her first year, she had to withdraw from college studies due to her hectic work schedule.

Choi's most recent work is the MBC weekend drama "Air City", her first series in three years. In the series, she plays Han Do-Kyung, Chief Operating Officer of Incheon Airport, a role that requires her to be multi-lingual. Her co-stars include Lee Jung-jae and Lee Jin-wook, and the trio completed their photo shoot for the series poster in February 2007. The 16-episode drama made its debut on MBC on May 12 and will conclude on July 15.

[edit] Korean wave

In 2002 Choi co-starred again with Bae Yong Joon in the popular drama series Winter Sonata, produced by KBS and directed by Yoon Suk-ho. The second installment of Yoon's seasonal dramas (collectively referred to as "Endless Love"),^[3] Winter Sonata has been credited as one of the initiators of the Korean Wave in Japan.^[4] As a result, Choi has gained a wide Japanese following, and her Japanese fans sometimes refer to her as "Princess Ji Woo".^[5] She continued her success by appearing in the 2003 drama Stairway to Heaven with Kwon Sang Woo.

[edit] Personal Life

In 2009 it was said that she was dating her co-star in Air City, Lee Jin-Wook.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] TV drama

• 2009: Winter Sonata Anime voice only (JV: Korean Key East & Japanese Total Promotion)
• 2008: Star's Lover (SBS)
• 2007: Air City (MBC)
• 2006: RONDO (TBS)
• 2003: Stairway to Heaven (SBS)
• 2003: 101 Proposal
• 2002: Winter Sonata (KBS)
• 2001: Beautiful Days (SBS)
• 2000: Mr Duke (MBC)
• 2000: Truth (MBC)
• 1999: Message-Love Stories 2000 (SBS)
• 1999: Love In Three Colors
• 1998: Love/Sarang (MBC)
• 1997: Happiness is in our heart (SBS)
• 1996: First Love (KBS)
• 1995: War and Love

[edit] Film

• 2009: Actresses
• 2006: Now and Forever
• 2005: Shadowless Sword (cameo role)
• 2004: Everybody Has Secrets
• 2002: The Romantic President
• 1999: Nowhere to Hide
• 1998: First Kiss
• 1997: The Hole
• 1996: The Adventures of Mrs Park

[edit] Awards

• 2009: Busan tourism ambassador
• 2009: South Korean Presidential commendation for promoting Korea's tourism
• 2009: Admitted into Star Hall of Fame at the Seoul Drama Awards
• 2006: Timeless Beauty Acting Award (Seoul)
• 2005: Korean Movies Association — Special Award
• 2005: 41st BaekSang Arts Awards — Special Award (cont. to Hallyu wave)
• 2004: 40th BaekSang Arts Awards — Most Popular Actress in TV Part
• 2003: Golden Film Awards — Most Popular Actress Award
• 2003: SBS Acting Award — Best Actress Award for Special Production Drama Stairway to Heaven
• 2003: SBS Acting Awards — Top 10 Popularity Award
• 2002: KBS Acting Awards- Popularity Award
• 2002: KBS Acting Awards- Best Actress Award - Winter Sonata
• 2002: Best Dresser Awards- TV Talent Category
• 2002: 38th BaekSang Arts Awards- Popularity Award
• 2001: SBS Acting Awards- Best Actress Award for Special Production Drama Beautiful Days
• 2001: SBS Acting Awards- Top 10 Popularity Award
• 2000: MBC Acting Awards- Great Female Performer Award Mr Duke
• 1999: Video Music Awards- Golden Video Actress Award For Your Soul
• 1998: 34th BaekSang Arts Awards- Newcomer Actress Award The Hole
• 1998: 21st Grand Bell Film Awards- Newcomer Actress Award The Hole
• 1995: Korean Isabelle Ajani Award