Hong Ji-hee (; born July 27, 1988) is a South Korean actress. After graduating from the Department of Theater and Film at Kyunghee University. Hong debuted as a musical actress in 2011 with the fifth season of the open-run musical Finding Kim Jong-wook. Prior to this, she had appeared in minor roles in film Into the White Night (2009) and City of Damnation (2009). She's known for her role in tvN drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and Big Mouth.
Career
Debut and musical career (2009–2014) In 2009, Hong made her feature film debut in Park Shin-woo's film Into the White Night (2009), appearing in a minor role as Cha Young-eun opposite Son Ye-jin. Her second film role that year was as a reporter in the 2009 film City of Damnation.
After completing her studies from Department of Theater and Film of Kyunghee University, Hong began her career as a musical actress. In 2011, Hong passed audition for lead role the open-run musical Finding Kim Jong-wook, portraying a woman searching for her first love. She joined the 5th season cast alongside actors such as Kim Jae-beom, Sang Sang-yoon, Rajun, Kim Ji-hyeon, Baek Eun-hye, Lim Ki-hong, Kim Min-gun, and Lee Ju-hoon for the 5th season of the musical. Director Kim Dong-yeon introduced the cast to the public on June 7, 2011, at the Seoul Theater Center.
In November 2011, director Kim Dong-yeon invited Hong to audition for his new musical, Coffee Prince 1st Store, an adaptation of the popular television drama, but based more closely on Lee Seon-mi's original novel. The musical focused on the romance between Choi Han-gyeol and Go Eun-chan. Hong and Yu Joo-hye were cast as Go Eun-chan, performing opposite Kim Jae-beom and Kim Tae-han as Choi Han-gyeol. Produced by the Kim So-ro Project, the musical ran from February 24 to April 29, 2012, at Filling Hall 1 in Daehangno Cultural Space.
In 2012, Hong also joined the cast of Three Thousands — The Flower of Destruction, a historical musical reimagining the fall of Baekje and its last monarch, King Uija. The production depicted King Uija as a solitary and strong ruler. Hong portrayed Yeon-hwa, a blind court lady. Written and directed by Seo Yoon-mi, the musical was performed from October 26, 2012, to January 20, 2013, at the Daehangno Cultural Space Filling Hall 1.
In 2013, Hong successfully auditioned for the role of Son Na-young in the 13th production of the musical Laundry, which was restaged at the Art One Theater with a new cast. She shared the role with Kwak Sun-young and Park Eun-mi. Preview performances were held on March 13–14, with the full run at Art One Theater 2 in Daehangno continuing until September 29, 2013. In 2014, Hong reprised her role in White Day performance of musical Finding Kim Jong-wook.
The following year, Hong joined the musical Abbocatto. This production, which explores the bittersweet memories of love between singer-songwriter Yoo Jae-min and aspiring writer Jeong Da-jeong, was written by Lee Ho-jeon and composed by Lee Jin-wook. It was selected for the 2014 Creative Musical Development Support Project after a competitive process and had been previously introduced through a reading performance by CJ Creative Mind in 2012, followed by the SMF Yegreen Encore Showcases in 2012. Hong starred as Jeong Da-jeong in both the demonstration performance in February and the re-staged production at the Daemyung Cultural Factory (DCF) Hall 2 in Daehak-ro from March to April 2015. Also in 2015, Hong reprised the role of Son Na-young in the 10th-anniversary performance of Laundry
Theater debut (2015–2017) After four years as a musical actress, Hong sought to expand her repertoire by performing in a play. In 2015, she made her theater debut in Hot Summer, a play produced by the Ganda Theater Company.1 She shared the dual lead role of Chae-kyung and Sa-rang with musical actresses and Shin Ui-jeong, who had been part of the original 2014 premiere cast, which marked the 10th anniversary of the Ganda Theater Company. The play, written and directed by Min Jun-ho, ran at the Daehangno Freedom Theater from August 11 to November 1, 2015.
In 2016, Hong reunited with director Min Jun-ho for an encore performance of John Cariani's play Almost, Maine. The play returned after a three-year hiatus and ran from January 8 to April 10, 2016, at Sangmyung Art Hall 1 in Daehangno. Hong played three roles—Glory, Waitress, and Gayle—and was the youngest actress in the cast.
Also in 2016, Hong appeared as Mariko in the play Round Trip Letter, based on Minato Kanae's 2010 Japanese novel Ōfuku Shokan (往復書簡). Directed by Kim Myung-hwan, the play centers on longtime lovers Junichi and Mariko, who met in middle school. Junichi departs for volunteer work on a remote South Pacific island with limited electricity, and the couple communicates by letter. Through their correspondence, they confront the truth of an incident from fifteen years prior. Hong and Lee Ji-hae were double-cast as Mariko, opposite Park Si-beom, Kang Jung-woo, and Son Yoo-dong, who were triple-cast as Junichi.
In 2016, Hong joined the cast of the musical Mirror Princess Pyeonggang Story. Written by Choi Eun-i and Min Jun-ho of Ganda Theater Company, the musical was based on the folktale Princess Pyeonggang and On Dal. In late 2017, Hong again collaborated with director and writer Min Jun-ho for his play The 100th Debate of the New Humanity, which he both directed and wrote. The play drew inspiration from a television program focused on various debate topics. Hong and Yoo-yeon were double-cast as Hyun Chung-hee, a parasitologist specializing in the study of poisons, parasites, and viruses.
Return to big screen, television debut and recent works (2018-recent)
After almost a decade since her film debut, Hong returned in 2018 with the independent film Daughters Table. Directed by Son Hee-song, the film tells the story of Ms. Jo's three busy daughters—Su-yeon, Ji-yeon, and So-yeon—who return to their hometown upon hearing news of their mother's illness.
In 2018, Hong took on multiple roles in the play Miracles of the Namiya General Store, an adaptation of a novel by Japanese mystery writer Keigo Higashino. Hong played the characters Akiko, Emiko, and Midori. The play itself was adapted from an earlier work written and directed by . It was initially selected for the "Performance, Meet - Accompany" project in 2016, a content development support initiative for the second anniversary of the Daemyung Cultural Factory's opening. Following a pre-reading performance, the play underwent further development before its main staging.
Also in 2018, Hong reunited with director Kim Dong-yeon the musical Vampire Arthur. Hong performed as Emma, a hopeful and pure girl who inspires Arthur, a vampire, to dream of a new world. She subsequently appeared in Sideureus (2020) as Maria and Maybe Happy Ending (2021) as Claire.
Hong's first television role was in the 2019 KBS drama series Unasked Family. She played Trần Thị Trang, a Vietnamese character who falls in love with the eldest son of a prominent Korean restaurant family. Her portrayal of a Vietnamese person who had learned Korean garnered positive viewer reception. In the same year, Hong joined the tvN drama series Arthdal Chronicles as Hae Ga-on.
In 2021, Hong's portrayal of Yoo Cho-hee, a teacher at Cheongjin Elementary School in the tvN drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, was well-received by viewers. She starred as Hannah in the 2021 musical Four Minutes, based on Chris Krauss's 2006 German film of the same name. Hong conveyed Hannah's desperate emotions as Kruger's same-sex lover.
In 2022, Hong participated in drama Big Mouth as Jang Hye-jin. Also in 2022, Hong appeared in the premiere of the creative musical Let Me Fly, playing Park Jeong-bun, a 19-year-old from the countryside who dreams of traveling to the moon. The musical was directed by Lee Dae-woong, produced by Hong Yun-kyung and Lee Young-chan, with lyrics and script by Jo Min-hyung, and music composed and arranged by Min Chan-hong.
Personal life On March 17, 2024, Hong announced her intention to marry her non-celebrity boyfriend the following day.
Filmography Film +Feature film performances Year Title Role English Korean 2009 Into the White Night 백야행 - 하얀 어둠 속을 걷다 Cha Young-eun City of Damnation 유감스러운 도시 as a reporter at the bombing site 2018Daughter's table딸들의 밥상Su-yeonRoom룸Ye-bin
Television series +Television performances Year Title Role Notes English Korean 2017Fight for My Way쌈, 마이웨이Ara's friendMinor role, Scene 2 from Chan-sook's wedding 2019 Unasked Family 꽃길만 걸어요 Trần Thị Trang Arthdal Chronicles 아스달 연대기 Hae Ga-on 2020 Hospital Playlist 슬기로운 의사생활 Hee Gwan's wife Season 1; Ep. 3 2021 Joseon Exorcist 조선구마사 Possessed woman Ep. 2 The Witch's Diner 마녀식당으로 오세요 Seo Ae-sook Young Ae-sook, Ep. 7–8Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha갯마을 차차차Yoo Cho-Hui 2022 Big Mouth 빅마우스 Jang Hye-jin 2023 The Uncanny Counter 경이로운 소문 Lee Min-ji (Joo-seok's wife) Season 2 2024 Nothing Uncovered 멱살 한번 잡힙시다 Mo Soo-rin A Virtuous Business 정숙한 세일즈 Seo Mi-hwa
Stage
Musical +Musical performances Year Title Role Theater Date English Korean2011–2012Finding Kim Jong-wook Season 5김종욱 찾기 시즌5 A woman looking for her first love JTN Art Hall 1June 14, 2011, to February 24, 2012 2011Finding Kim Jongwook - Handsome Party Season 3김종욱 찾기 - 훈남파티 시즌3Sep 26 2012Coffee Prince 1st Store커피프린스 1호점Go Eun-chanDaehak-ro T.O.M. Hall 1Feb 24 to Apr 29 2012–2013 Samcheon – Flower of Ruin 삼천-망국의 꽃 Yeon-hwa Daehak-ro T.O.M. Hall 1 Oct 26 to Jan 20 2013Laundry빨래Seo Na-youngDaehak-ro T.O.M. Hall 1Mar 14 to Oct 5 Seoul Musical2013 서울뮤지컬페스티벌 폐막갈라쇼Chungmu Art Center Grand TheaterAug 12 to 12 2013–2014Laundry빨래Seo Na-youngArt One Theater Hall 2Oct 11 to Mar 2 2014Finding Kim Jong-wook김종욱 찾기A woman looking for her first lovePetitzel Theater/Plus Theater (formerly Culture Space NU)Jan 14 to Jun 29 Finding Kim Jongwook - Handsome Party Season 4김종욱 찾기 - 훈남파티 시즌4February 3 2014–2015Laundry빨래Seo Na-youngOriental Arts Theater Hall 1 (Former Art Center K Square Theater)Oct 16 to May 31 2015 Abbocatto 아보카토 Jeong Da-jeongArt One Theater Hall 2Feb 7 to 15Yes24 Stage 2Mar 13 to Apr 19 2016–2017Laundry빨래Seo Na-youngOriental Arts Theater Hall 1 (Former Art Center K Square Theater)Mar 10 to Feb 26 2016The Mirror Princes Pyeonggang Story거울공주 평강이야기 - 고양Soldier 1Goyang Aramnuri Sara New TheaterSep 23 to Oct 9 2017Daehakro Arts Theater Small TheaterNov 3 to 19 2018Vampire Arthur뱀파이어 아더EmmaChungmu Art Center Medium Theater BlackNov 30 to Feb 10The Mirror Princes Pyeonggang Story거울공주 평강이야기 - 고양Soldier 1Goyang Aram Nuri Sara Sae TheaterDec 15 to 22 2019Little Jack리틀잭JulieDaehak-ro T.O.M. Hall 2Jul 13 to Sep 8 2020Midnight미드나잇WomanYes24 Stage3Apr 11 to Jun 28 Sideureus 시데레우스 MariaArt One Theater Hall 1Aug 12 to Oct 25Yes24 Stage1Oct 31 to Nov 29 2021Four Minutes포미니츠HannahNational Jeongdong TheaterApr 7 to May 23Maybe Happy Ending어쩌면 해피엔딩ClaireYes24 Stage1June 22 to Sep 5Dear Madeleine디어 마들렌MadeleineWooran 2 ScenesSep 17 to 18 2022Let Me Fly렛미플라이Jeong-bunYes24 Stage1Mar 22 to Jun 19Youth Noise청춘소음Han Ah-reumthe Brick Theater DaehangnoMay 24 to July 31Islander아일랜더A-ranthe Wooran Second Scenery of the Wooran Cultural FoundationAug 10 to Sep 18Aloha, my mothers알로하, 나의 엄마들WillowM Theater at the Sejong Center for the Performing ArtsNov 22 to Dec 11 2023 SIX the Musical Catherine Parr Shinhan Card Atrium March 31 to June 25Let Me Fly렛미플라이Jeong-bunYes24 Stage1September 24 to October 12 Pyeongchon Art Hall December 23–24 2023–2024 Il Tenore 일 테노레 Seo Jin-yeon Seoul Arts Centre CJ Towol Theatre December 19 – February 25 2024 Blue Square Shinhan Card Hall March 29 – May 19 Maybe Happy Ending 어쩌면 해피엔딩 Claire Yes24 Stage 1 in Daehakro, Seoul June 18 to September 8 Classic클래식Joo-hee and Ji-hyeCJ Azit Daehangno July 22 and 23
Theater