Actor Ji Chang Wook looks to test the waters with a new agency as an FA (free agent).  According to the coverage of World Biz & Sports World on 7 March, Ji Chang Wook will go his own way as soon as his exclusive contract with Glorious Entertainment ends.*  An official said, “Both sides have decided on a beautiful breakup.  We agreed to support each other’s future without signing a new contract.”

In order to transfer to another agency, several conditions must be met.  In the case of Ji Chang Wook, it seems that he will carefully consider whether the company he is transferring to has reliable acquaintances and whether his eyes for viewing the work are trustworthy.

Ji Chang Wook rose to the ranks of Hallyu Star with his acting skills recognized for his dramas “Warrior Baek Dong Soo” and “Empress Ki.”  Since then, he has shown his potential in “Healer,” “Suspicious Partner” and “The K2.”  Now is the time to leap forward again.

After being discharged from the military in 2019, Ji Chang Wook continued his acting skills through steady work activities such as the dramas “Melting Me Softly,” “Convenience Store Saet Byeol,” “Lovestruck in the City,” “Annarasumanara” and “If You Wish Upon Me.”  However, his ratings and ripple effect are disappointing compared to before his enlistment.

Nevertheless, his popularity in Asia remains strong.  Ji Chang Wook is an actor who can hold fan meetings in Asia.  Last year, he met 15,000 fans in Seoul, Manila in the Philippines, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Osaka in Japan.  He plans to communicate directly with fans in the first half of the year through a fan meeting tour.  Thanks to the solid Asian fandom, “Convenience Store Saet Byeol” was simultaneously aired all over the world, including China and Japan. The Netflix original series ‘Annarasumanara’ rose to Number 4 globally within two days of its release, and topped the list in 13 countries.  Therefore, his upcoming free agency is expected to be an inflection point to determine whether or not he is rising as a Hallyu star.

Meanwhile, Ji Chang Wook’s next drama, “The Worst of Evil,” is set to be released worldwide through Disney+ in the second half of 2023.

*Glorious Entertainment has confirmed that Ji Chang Wook’s exclusive contract with them has officially expired, and they “wish him all the best in his future works.”

Credit:  Sports World