Uhm Ji-won Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Stories of Dear Hongrang & When Life Gives You Tangerines

Actress Uhm Ji-won shared the behind-the-scenes story of her special appearance in When Life Gives You Tangerines during a recent episode of the YouTube show Jjanhan Hyung Shin Dong-yup.

On the May 19 episode, Uhm appeared alongside Cho Bo-ah and Park Byung-eun, her co-stars from the Netflix series Dear Hongrang (also titled Tangeum), for a fun and candid drinking chat with host Shin Dong-yup.

Uhm Ji-won Shines in ‘For Eagle Brothers’ and 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'

When asked about her cameo appearance in the Netflix hit series When Life Gives You Tangerines, Uhm Ji-won reveals she wanted to play the role of Ae-soon's (IU) mother. Yet she couldn't say no to the cameo she was offered, and eventually enjoyed playing a different character.

In addition to her recent buzzworthy cameo in When Life Gives You Tangerines, actress Uhm Ji-won is earning acclaim for her lead role in KBS2’s weekend family drama For Eagle Brothers (독수리 5형제를 부탁해!). The series, which follows the intricate dynamics of a traditional family running a Korean brewery, has quickly become a staple in weekend prime time.

Uhm portrays Ma Gwang-sook, a fiercely independent and emotionally layered character who navigates the complexities of family, responsibility, and unexpected romance. Her chemistry with co-star Ahn Jae-wook, who plays the gentle and principled Han Dong-seok, has been drawing praise from viewers who appreciate the grounded, mature take on relationships often underrepresented in K-dramas.

Her role in For Eagle Brothers marks a significant return to KBS weekend drama for Uhm, whose versatility continues to resonate with both longtime fans and new viewers. With each episode, she proves once again why she remains one of Korea’s most respected and sought-after actresses.

Netflix’s Dear Hongrang (Tangeum)—A Dark Period Thriller with a Powerhouse Cast

Meanwhile, Uhm Ji-won continues her strong run into 2025 with a key role in the highly anticipated Netflix original series Dear Hongrang (Korean title: Tangeum), a gripping period mystery packed with intrigue, betrayal, and emotional depth.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kim Seong-su, Dear Hongrang is based on the popular web novel of the same name. Set during Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, the story follows Jae-yi (Cho Bo-ah), a noblewoman whose life is upended after a devastating incident strips her of status and identity. As she seeks the truth behind her fall, she crosses paths with the enigmatic Hong-rang (Lee Jae-wook), a man torn between loyalty, revenge, and buried secrets. Their fates intertwine through a series of dangerous conspiracies that threaten the very core of the royal court.

Uhm Ji-won plays Min Yeon-ui, a composed yet calculating noblewoman whose elegant façade conceals her strategic maneuvering within court politics. As both a protector and occasional adversary to Jae-yi, Min Yeon-ui holds sway over pivotal events, operating from the shadows with icy precision. Uhm’s performance is expected to lend the series emotional complexity and dramatic gravitas, perfectly suited to her range in portraying morally ambiguous yet commanding women.

The confirmed main cast includes:

Lee Jae-wook as Hong-rang, a man with a hidden identity and conflicted loyalties

Cho Bo-ah as Jae-yi, a fallen noblewoman driven by revenge and truth

Uhm Ji-won as Min Yeon-ui, a politically powerful aristocrat with hidden motives

Jung Ga-ram as Mu-jin, a key figure in Jae-yi’s journey

Park Byung-eun as Shim Yeol-guk, a high-ranking official entangled in royal secrets

Kim Jae-wook as Prince Han Pyeong, a mysterious royal with his own ambitions

Dear Hongrang promises to be a visually lush and narratively rich series, with Netflix reportedly investing heavily in historical detail, costume design, and production scale to match the intensity of its plot. With a focus on slow-burn romance, political power plays, and survival in a patriarchal world, the show is poised to attract both K-drama loyalists and global historical drama fans.

As she takes on Min Yeon-ui, Uhm Ji-won continues to assert her status as one of Korea’s most versatile leading actresses—masterfully shifting between modern and period roles. The series is currently in production and is expected to premiere globally on Netflix in late 2025.

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