Quick Answer: Song Ji-woo — born December 15, 1997, in Anyang, South Korea — is a South Korean actress best known for playing Kang Mi-na (Player 196) in Season 2 of Netflix’s global hit Squid Game and young Choi Hye-jeong in The Glory. Now 28 years old, she stands 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) tall, is signed to talent agency Billions, and was one of the most searched actors worldwide in Google’s 2025 Year in Search.
Who Is Song Ji-woo?
Song Ji-woo (송지우) is a South Korean actress who has spent the better part of a decade quietly building one of the more interesting résumés in the K-drama world — long before international audiences caught up to her. She debuted in 2019, spent several years playing supporting and “young version of” roles in acclaimed dramas, and finally broke through globally in December 2024 as Player 196 in Squid Game Season 2.
That single role — and the gut-punch storyline attached to it — turned her into one of the most searched actresses in the world almost overnight. Many fans felt her early elimination from the game was unfair, sparking heated debate online, and the controversy only fueled more curiosity about who she was.
Unlike many K-drama breakout stars, Song Ji-woo isn’t a newcomer — she’s a classically trained actress with a university theater degree and nearly half a decade of consistent work behind her before Squid Game made her a global name.
Early Life & Education
Song Ji-woo was born on December 15, 1997, in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, though some records place her birth specifically in Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. She has an older sister.
Her academic path is notably rigorous for a K-drama actress: she attended Yeonhyeon Middle School, then Yangmyeong Girls’ High School, before going on to study at the prestigious Korea National University of Arts, majoring in Acting within the School of Drama. In 2016, before settling on her university, she actually received offers from four different schools — Korea National University of Arts, Chung-Ang University, Konkuk University, and Dongdeok Women’s University — and chose the most theater-focused program of the group.
Her baptismal name is Seraphina, reflecting her Catholic background.
She is represented by the South Korean talent agency Billions.
Career: From Daily Dramas to Squid Game Stardom
Early Roles & Debut (2019)
Song Ji-woo made her acting debut in 2019 in a particularly demanding way — not with one show, but with an unusually packed slate of roles in a single year. Her credits from 2019 alone include:
- Blessing of the Sea (MBC) — her official acting debut
- Welcome 2 Life (MBC) — played Lee Da-som
- Extraordinary You (MBC) — played Park Ae-ri
- Secret Boutique (SBS) — played Yoon Hye-ra
- Welcome to Waikiki 2 (JTBC) — played Choi Mi-na
- Selection: The War Between Women (TV Chosun) — played Jong-hee
This kind of output in a debut year is rare and signals an actress who hit the ground running, picking up small but varied roles across multiple networks simultaneously.
Building Momentum (2020–2021)
She continued steadily through the early 2020s with roles in Modern Girl (KBS2), Eccentric! Chef Moon (Channel A), and Love Scene Number (MBC/Wavve), playing Oh Han-na.
The Glory: Her First Major Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Song Ji-woo’s first true moment of recognition came with Netflix’s The Glory (2022–2023), one of the most acclaimed K-dramas of the decade. She played the young version of Choi Hye-jeong, one of the central antagonists in the revenge thriller. The role put her in direct creative dialogue with veteran actress Park Joo-hyun, who played the adult Hye-jeong — a connection that turned into a genuine offscreen friendship Song Ji-woo has spoken about publicly.
She also appeared in The Forbidden Marriage (MBC, 2022–2023) as Yeh Hyun-hee during this same period.
The Breakout Year: 2024
2024 was, without question, Song Ji-woo’s defining year. She landed main or significant roles across an unusually wide spread of platforms and genres:
- Squid Game Season 2 (Netflix) — Kang Mi-na / Player 196, the role that made her a global name
- Doctor Slump (JTBC) — played Do Hye-ji
- Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale (TVING) — played Ban Da-ah, a main role
- Love, Andante (Lifetime) — played Kyung Ha-na, a main role
- Gangnam B-Side (Disney+) — played Oh Jin-young
- A Time Called You (Netflix, 2023 release) — played Byeon Da-hyeon
- Love to Hate You (Netflix, 2023 release) — played Hwang Ji-hye
This was the moment she transitioned from “reliable supporting actress” to “actress people specifically search for.”
Squid Game: Going Global (December 2024)
When Squid Game Season 2 premiered globally on Netflix on December 26, 2024, Song Ji-woo’s portrayal of Kang Mi-na immediately struck a chord. She gained significant hype for the role at just 27 years old, with the storyline becoming a hot topic online alongside lead stars Lee Jung-jae and Gong Yoo.
The reaction to her character’s arc was intense enough that it drove sustained search interest well into 2025 and 2026 — turning a supporting role into one of the most talked-about performances of the season.
Awards Recognition (2024)
Her breakout year was formally recognized when she won the Rising Star Award for Best Actress at the Korea Hallyu Entertainment Awards in 2024 — validation of a multi-year body of work finally hitting its peak.
Modeling & Public Appearances (2025–2026)
Beyond acting, Song Ji-woo has expanded into modeling. She walked in Seoul Fashion Week 2026 Spring/Summer, and posed at the Han Na-shin show during Seoul Fashion Week 2026 Fall/Winter, held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul in February 2026.
She has also embraced her newfound international fanbase directly. In 2025, she attended a Squid Game pop-up fan event in Taiwan, where she successfully completed Biseokchigi — one of the traditional Korean games featured in the show — live in front of fans. She also threw the ceremonial first pitch for the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Stadium in 2025, a nod to her long-standing fandom of the baseball team.
What’s Next: To My Beloved Thief (2026)
Song Ji-woo’s upcoming project is To My Beloved Thief on KBS2TV, where she plays a character named Geum Nok — continuing her streak of consistent, varied casting across Korea’s major networks and streaming platforms.
Personal Life
Song Ji-woo, 28, is single and has not been publicly linked to any relationships. She maintains a notably private personal life, focusing her public-facing energy on her career and direct fan engagement rather than personal disclosures — a deliberate choice common among South Korean actresses navigating sudden international fame.
She is based in South Korea, most likely Seoul. One of her most recognizable physical features is a distinctive mole on her nose, which is considered a “beauty mark” in South Korean culture and is frequently mentioned by fans.
She remains genuinely close with several of her The Glory co-stars, particularly fellow actresses who played younger versions of the show’s characters, and shares a long-running friendship with actress Park Joo-hyun.
Her hobbies, visible through her active Instagram account (handle: zwu1215, with over 1 million followers), include traveling and direct fan interaction. She is also a long-time, genuine fan of the Doosan Bears baseball team — Korea’s first professional baseball franchise.
Song Ji-woo: Full Body Measurements & Physical Stats
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Song Ji-woo (송지우) |
| Romanization | Song Jiu |
| Date of Birth | December 15, 1997 |
| Age (2026) | 28 years old |
| Birthplace | Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Religion | Christianity (Catholic — baptismal name Seraphina) |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Chinese Zodiac | Ox |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in / 168 cm |
| Weight | Not publicly disclosed |
| Blood Type | O |
| MBTI Type | ESFP-A |
| Distinctive Feature | Mole on her nose (“beauty mark”) |
| Education | Korea National University of Arts (Acting) |
| Agency | Billions |
| Siblings | One older sister |
| Boyfriend | Not confirmed (single, as of 2026) |
| Children | None |
| @zwu1215 (1M+ followers) |
Filmography at a Glance
| Year | Title | Role | Network/Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Blessing of the Sea | — | MBC (debut) |
| 2019 | Welcome 2 Life | Lee Da-som | MBC |
| 2019 | Extraordinary You | Park Ae-ri | MBC |
| 2019 | Secret Boutique | Yoon Hye-ra | SBS |
| 2019 | Welcome to Waikiki 2 | Choi Mi-na | JTBC |
| 2020 | Modern Girl | Shin Jun-ryeo | KBS2 |
| 2020 | Eccentric! Chef Moon | Kong Hyo-sook | Channel A |
| 2021 | Love Scene Number | Oh Han-na | MBC/Wavve |
| 2022–2023 | The Glory | Young Choi Hye-jeong | Netflix |
| 2022–2023 | The Forbidden Marriage | Yeh Hyun-hee | MBC |
| 2023 | Love to Hate You | Hwang Ji-hye | Netflix |
| 2023 | A Time Called You | Byeon Da-hyeon | Netflix |
| 2024 | Squid Game (Season 2) | Kang Mi-na / Player 196 | Netflix |
| 2024 | Doctor Slump | Do Hye-ji | JTBC |
| 2024 | Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale | Ban Da-ah | TVING |
| 2024 | Love, Andante | Kyung Ha-na | Lifetime |
| 2024 | Gangnam B-Side | Oh Jin-young | Disney+ |
| 2026 | To My Beloved Thief | Geum Nok | KBS2TV (upcoming) |
Awards & Recognition
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Korea Hallyu Entertainment Awards | Rising Star Award – Best Actress | Won |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How old is Song Ji-woo in 2026? Song Ji-woo is 28 years old. She was born on December 15, 1997.
Q: How tall is Song Ji-woo? She stands 5 feet 6 inches tall (168 cm).
Q: What is Song Ji-woo’s real name? Song Ji-woo (송지우) is her real birth name — it is not a stage name. In Korean naming order, “Song” is her family name and “Ji-woo” is her given name.
Q: What role did Song Ji-woo play in Squid Game? She played Kang Mi-na, known by her contestant number as Player 196, in Season 2 of Squid Game on Netflix.
Q: Where is Song Ji-woo from? She was born and raised in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
Q: Did Song Ji-woo go to university? Yes. She studied Acting at the Korea National University of Arts, one of South Korea’s most prestigious performing arts schools.
Q: Does Song Ji-woo have a boyfriend? As of 2026, she is single and has not been publicly linked to any relationship.
Q: What agency is Song Ji-woo signed to? She is represented by the talent agency Billions.
Q: What other K-dramas has Song Ji-woo appeared in? Beyond Squid Game, she’s known for The Glory, Doctor Slump, Gangnam B-Side, Love to Hate You, A Time Called You, and Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale, among many others.
Q: Does Song Ji-woo have siblings? Yes, she has one older sister.
Q: What award has Song Ji-woo won? She won the Rising Star Award for Best Actress at the 2024 Korea Hallyu Entertainment Awards.
Q: Is Song Ji-woo also a model? Yes. She has walked and appeared at multiple Seoul Fashion Week shows in 2026, including Seoul Fashion Week Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.
Q: What is Song Ji-woo’s distinctive feature? She has a mole on her nose, which is considered a beauty mark in South Korean culture and is one of her most recognized physical traits.
Q: Why did Song Ji-woo become so popular after Squid Game? Her character Kang Mi-na’s storyline in Squid Game Season 2 generated significant fan debate over her early elimination, which drove a major spike in global search interest and made her one of the most searched actresses worldwide.
Q: What is Song Ji-woo’s upcoming project? She is set to star in To My Beloved Thief on KBS2TV, playing a character named Geum Nok.