Actress Um Ji-won stated that her blossom years have not yet arrived.
Um Ji-won met with reporters on the 30th of last month at the By4M Studio in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul, to conduct a wrap-up interview for KBS2's weekend drama 'For Eagle Brothers' (written by Kwon Hyun-sook and directed by Choi Sang-yeol).
'For Eagle Brothers' portrays a well-ripened family story created by the eldest brother-in-law, who suddenly becomes the head of the family due to the unexpected death of her husband just ten days after their wedding. Premiering in February, 'For Eagle Brothers' recorded the highest viewership rating of 21.9% (episode 40), leading to a decision for a 4-episode extension, concluding with a total of 54 episodes on the 3rd.
Um Ji-won plays the role of Ma Gwang-sook, the counter chief at a post office, known for her cheerful and forthright personality, which lives up to her nickname of being a great person. With her striking features, fair skin, and playful expressions, she convincingly embodies a character who, despite being quick to anger, is full of laughter and tears.
The year 2025 is unforgettable for Um Ji-won. Having met viewers at home through her first KBS weekend drama 'For Eagle Brothers', she also made appearances in Netflix series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' and 'Dear Hongrang', bringing three projects to audiences in the first half of the year alone.
Um Ji-won made a significant impact in her role as Min-ok in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines.' Making a memorable special appearance, she proved her presence, stating, "I didn't appear in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' to leave a particular impact, but because I really liked the project. After reading the script for the first episode, I cried a lot, and I thought that if I could be part of such a great work, even if my role was small, I would be happy. Also, seeing the director's previous works made me more convinced, as even small roles were all vividly alive. Ah, of course, I still have a desire to play the role that actress Lim Hye-ran took on."
Um Ji-won commented on the concentration of her three projects in the first half of 2025, saying, "I cannot determine the release schedule of the projects. 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' and 'Dear Hongrang' were works I filmed two years ago, and while viewers might think they coincidentally overlapped, I was originally working at my own pace."
She continued, "Therefore, I have been training myself to maintain my composure for a long time. While I feel happy when things go well, it hurts when they don't, so I try not to get hurt over these things. I've been cultivating my mind so that I don't get overly excited when things go well or too sad when they don't, so my current emotional state remains similar. I feel happy and grateful about the success of the projects, but the intensity of those feelings feels similar."
Especially since Um Ji-won is approaching her 30th anniversary in her debut, 2025 is even more special. However, she mentioned that her blossom years have not yet arrived and expressed her determination to work even harder in her acting.
"It makes me wonder if I have been doing this for so long, but I have not yet experienced the blossom years as an actress. I believe that I can still act because I continue to dream of that moment. If I work hard, I wonder if I can meet those blossom years. The audience has shown great love for my works, and I think that the moment everything aligns will lead to great success. Right now, I want to find a work that satisfies me artistically."
[OSEN]