When I think of South Korean luxury skincare brand The Whoo I immediately picture veteran top actress Lee Young Ae. She’s been the face of the brand for probably two decades and she remains top visuals and aura with K-netizens. But it’s nice to see fresh blood repping the line as Kim Ji Won has joined as the face of the brand. Her first pictorial is out and she looks so gorgeous, like if using The Whoo makes one have skin like herself then take all my money and ship me the products ASAP haha. Not sure why the hair is all whispy and a tad weird in her blue outfit but the makeup and her features are impeccable.
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Looks good!
It definitely looks photoshopped. A bit of skin texture, like pores, would make it more believable. Even under the eyes, there’s no sign of natural creases. While the work is impressive, let’s not over-praise something that’s not real. I like her- but any woman will look as beautiful with postproduction.
I’m with you on that. I find this look (by no means just these photos) to be real uncanny valley territory. K and C alike, there is something literally not human about the look. Pores, please!
the bitterness smells from within lol
Im sure no matter how photoshop you both have you will never look like her lol
One of the biggest surprise I had recently was that a “pore-less” skin is actually possible. Of course if you look at it up close, you’ll see pores, but on a normal talking distance… girl. Once you see someone in real life like that, and ask them their secret, they always talk about their skin care regimen they take seriously and religiously. I dont know if Jiwon is like that, obviously this is edited to an extent, but just want to talk about being blown away by a flawless skin and inspires me to take good care of my skin.
I do want to praise be it over or not… my choice.
This comment is pure COPE lmao. I’m not denying there’s some editing, but literally all official pics of celebs go through photoshop to give the photos a more polished vibe. But come on, we all can see that KJW looks that beautiful even in candid pics: https://www.koreaboo.com/news/korean-netizens-shocked-queen-tears-kim-ji-won-horrifying-airport-arrival/
Literally unreal visuals, she looks like a doll and doesn’t need photoshop to be that beautiful. Nah, not “any woman look as beautiful with postproduction”, unless this “any woman” you speak of photoshops her photos to copy all KJW’s beautiful features lol. Again, you comment is just something that women tell themselves to feel better, just like how so many women tell themselves that certain celebrities like Megan Fox are only beautiful because of plastic surgeries, when those celebrities already had a good base to start with, so even if other women avail the same procedures these celebrities got, they still won’t look as beautiful because their starting base isn’t good (not saying KJW had surgeries, she’s a natural beauty, just using the surgery comment as another example of the many copes so many women use).
It’s all COPE. Women really are so jealous of other women and will do mental gymnastics just to deny the beauty of beautiful women lmao
@SpareUsYourBS She is pretty, it’s refreshing to know she’s natural. But I don’t she would be considered as gorgeous next to Western beauties. I can’t recall a truly beautiful star from East Asia.
It’s a skin product. When was the last time you saw pores on a skin product ad?
For all I know, most beauty brands skincare, makeups are like that photoshop especially close up make it poreless, perfect with no imperfections I thought of western celebs like kendall jenner comparisons of her magazines and in real life …. even a photo from a fan site (whitewashed, smoothblur whatever you call it), vlogs, brands your ambassador with are like that.
She looks the same even when you see her live on dispatch or unedited fan pics, I can’t really see any “pores” neither. Now if you mean it’s too polished like all formal ads do then yes I agree but that’s the aesthetic the client wants.
What are these comments saying “but any woman will look as beautiful post-production” “looks uncanny” “not real” comments. lol I thought its only Knetz are like these but seems like Jiwon has some antis here in Koala. lmao
She is literally not human, lol and not ordinary looks wise even in phone camera she will look almost the same – she has lots of viral clips in twitter that reaches 51k likes because of her camera clips that look the same. Her actual looks isnt far from these even if its photoshop but what are these salty and bitter comments from Vicki & V-live doing some backhanded compliments hahahaha
Kim Jiwon has non human looks lol and not all women will have the same looks as her post prod, you two smell a lot of bitterness through my monitor lol.
Anyway Jiwon will be the global ambassador and more CFs coming her way soon
For real! Saying all women could look like her with photoshop is straight up COPE for women to feel better about themselves lmao. If that’s true, then why do ordinary women still don’t look like her even with all the editing apps they use? Just look at KJW here: https://www.koreaboo.com/news/korean-netizens-shocked-queen-tears-kim-ji-won-horrifying-airport-arrival/
Unedited, candid pics but she still look so doll-like with her flawless skin, big eyes, and small face.
Also, literally all official photos of celebrities, be it for magazine photoshoots or ads, have varying degrees of editing done to them to make these photos look more polished, but that doesn’t mean the celebrity, in this case KJW, doesn’t look like that. People have eyes and we all can see she has unreal visuals even when you watch her in dramas or in candid videos of her from some event. Also, like I said, all official pics of celebs have some editing, why are people complaining only when it’s KJW? lol smells like jealousy to me, probably salty fans of a certain actress lmao.
KJW is absolutely gorgeous, is THRIVING, and will only go up from here on. Antis can cope and seethe lmao
This photo? It looks blurry with loads of foundation, probably massive amount of shade number 1. Are you sure it hasn’t been edited? It’s so easy to reduce shadows and brighten exposure, especially with AI tools nowadays. Come on, show me a better photo, preferably a close-up if you want to prove your point. LOL. and yes I still believe that anyone can look beautiful with enough Photoshop
What are these comments saying “but any woman will look as beautiful post-production” “looks uncanny” “not real” comments. lol I thought its only Knetz are like these but seems like Jiwon has some antis here in Koala. lmao
She is literally not human, lol and not ordinary looks wise even in phone camera she will look almost the same – she has lots of viral clips in twitter that reaches 51k likes because of her camera clips that look the same. Her actual looks isnt far from these even if its photoshop but what are these salty and bitter comments from Vicki & V-live doing some backhanded compliments hahahaha
Kim Jiwon has non human looks lol and not all women will have the same looks as her post prod, you two smell a lot of bitterness through my monitor lol.
Her visuals exude star aura. I was impressed by her acting in the first few eps of Queen of Tears. Besides that, Descendants of the Sun is the only other drama of her I’ve watched. Yet to watch highly praised My Liberation Notes. MLN isn’t my favorite genre. But so many fans including my fave have been praising it that I always have it on my list to watch.
Please do watch MLN! It’s not fast-paced so others might find it boring, but I’m very much into introspective, slice-of-life dramas like that, that’s why I really loved My Mister as well. Even if you’re not into that type of drama, you’ll probably still like it because it’s very well-written. My sister is more into rom-coms but she ended up liking MLN as well, she told me it’s a comfort drama for her after a long day at work lol. We both find the characters relatable as well.
And yes, I agree about KJW exuding star aura! Don’t understand why she didn’t blow up earlier. But then again, she’s not the type to really promote herself and her agency also didn’t promote her that well, so maybe that’s why
I put off watching MLN for a year because it souded too downbeat for my prersonal tastes. But it was outstanding and is, in my opinion, Kim Ji Won’s best ever performance. It could not be more different to QoT, but I think that if you give it a chance, you’ll be surprised. It is not a FUN Drama, but a powerful one
My girl crush ever since The Heirs! It helps that she knows how to act and it’s not all beauty. From my understanding her beauty is not really standard K-beauty (what is the standard anyhow) so I am so happy that as she’s getting older she seems to be getting prettier and prettier like fine wine!!!
she does fit korean beauty standards tho, she has the big eyes, double eyelids, small face, light skin, and high-bridged nose that koreans like. but i agree, she’s absolutely getting even more beautiful as she ages!
She might be seen that way, but she’s even said she’s been told she doesn’t look Korean and has been mistaken for being from Hong Kong. I like that she doesn’t fit the typical cookie-cutter mold and, for example, hasn’t had work done on her nose.
@Alyza
Doesn’t look like Korean can be a compliment in Korea 🌚 Kim Ji Won was pretty popular after her OranC ad, and she was scouted on the street by agency manager
I honestly don’t think she does, at first glance when she was younger especially she didn’t look Korean more a mix I would say.
Yup, I’ve seen comments saying she resembles 90s HK actresses or looks Japanese. It just means she has versatile looks, which have worked in her favour for different roles and will continue to do so for future roles.
She is too beautiful to be so photoshopped. Please let her shine without filters, it actually diminishes her beauty.
Why are you all being so overdramatic about this? Not like they changed her features or anything, she still looks the same, they just edited the skin to have that super flawless look that you see in any skincare ad. But her features look the same because her features don’t need editing to be beautiful. Look at her candid, unedited pics: https://www.koreaboo.com/news/korean-netizens-shocked-queen-tears-kim-ji-won-horrifying-airport-arrival/
She still looks so unreal and beautiful even without any edit. I don’t know why people are crying about photoshop when literally all celebs’ official pics for ads and stuff get edited. Why single her out when she doesn’t even look all that different?
She looks like an actual person in those candids.
I cry about all over edited photos, she isn’t an exception. I loathe industry standards where even naturally exceptionally beautiful people are over-edited that you can tell so many filters are there.
It’s just harmful to everyone who sees these and thinks this is how they should look.
Now why you stans are so hysterical over people not liking this type of editing, as if anyone is attacking her, should be a subject of psych research. Yikes.
My girl looks like a royalty, her regal vibes really suits this type of endorsements 😌
And I agree with the comments asking why photoshop is only a big deal if it’s kjw? Photoshop has been used for ages! and when was the last time y’all have seen a skincare advertisement where you can see pores and skin texture on the model? literally all the skincare advertisements of k-actresses i’ve seen are like this. why is is only a problem if it’s kjw?
I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me, it is definitely NOT just about Kim Ji Won.
I specifically said, and I quote, “I find *this look* (emphasis added) by no means just these photos” and referenced both K *and* C photoshoots. I dislike the artificiality of photos that show no trace of real human features, like pores. This is not a slight on Ms. Kim as a person or as an actor. She impressed me in QoT, and even more so in My Liberation Notes – her outstanding performance in that Drama was the reason I even botherd to check out QoT when I don’t like the male lead actor from QoT. It is the synthetic, dehumanising nature of photoshoots like these that I dislike, regardless of who the subject is.
But all photoshoots are like this. Not even ad photos, but ordinary photoshoots. She doesn’t look unnatural, synthetic or dehumanising just because they photoshopped her pores. It’s still her real face.
KJW is super pretty and an actor I enjoy watching.
I get your point and prefer natural looks too but all these pictorials are so over edited these days. More than photoshoots, what I really dislike is the over the top skin correction in dramas. Like SJK in 40s with zero pores or wrinkles in Vincenzo! I hate that face blur thing they do in dramas .. ugh. It breaks the immersion.
I don’t know how people can bring negative even on three ad photos. Like it’s the first time you seeing Photoshop work on AD.
This wasn’t even hardly photoshopped, I have the same photoshop level on my passport photo.
And no, this isn’t “inhuman” look, Kim Ji Won looks like Kim Ji Won. Remove of the pores can’t change her face.
Not k-drama fans started talking about photoshopped photos out of nowhere, when all photos on Koala’s articles are photoshopped, some of them even more than that skincare ad. All of you didn’t complain about that not once before, but KJW photos are suddenly “no sing of natural creases”, “uncanny valley territory”, “inhuman look”, “so photoshopped”, “not a slight of Mr. Kim as a person or as an actor”, “synthetic”, “dehumanising nature”. If you saw her irl photos you’d know that she looks the same at them. But It’s NoT jUsT aBoUt KiM Ji WoN!
Yes-yes, as you say.
I’ve completed over 300 KDramas (besides the nearly 200 others I started and dropped) since I started reading Koala’s blog 11 years ago in 2013, and this is by no means the first time I’ve expressed my views on this and similar subjects here, as well as elsewhere. Have a nice day.
The number of the dramas you watched has nothing to do with it.
I’ve read Korean drama news on the Koala site for a long time, and I’ve never seen your or anyone else’s comments about Photoshop on other articles. Previous Nam Da Reum article a perfect example with the same level of photoshop, but no one cares.
Don’t forget about the derogatory words you used towards Kim Ji Won’s photos. For a person who wanted just to say about pores some of your words was pretty harsh.
Have a nice day too.
I recently went to Asia for holiday…I went to buy some skin care treatment as I did not bring any for my trip… But being overseas, I rather get new skin care that is suitable for the weather in the region.
The skin specialist that serve me had the most amazing complexion I have every seen…I meet alot of people in my 50yrs life…this lady, late twenties, has a very fair, rosy, smooth and glossy complexion. It was like a photoshop advert. I just stared at her for a long time looking for ‘pores’… I did not find visible pores within our distances 🧐🧐 …
I ever ask her if I could feel her face, she laughed. Of course I did not do so, it would just be so rude. But it looks smooth and soft like shelled eggs 🥚. I thought it was just something I see in Korean magazines …but it was real…I ask the specialist, how did she get such complexion. She said she used very good skin care plus genes. Okay, I did spend a few hundreds after 🤣🤣..
From then on, I no longer judge every photos as heavily photoshop. There will be some, of course there will be some. Even us ‘lay men’ edit photos if we can, let alone the Pros.
I have seen Kim Ji Won recently on one of her overseas PR trip…I have to say, I cannot see ‘pores’ , mind you I was about 4-5feet away. But I can see very slight tireness in her eyes due to jet lag.
When I say she is beautiful, I really mean she is beautiful. Her skin care treatment is superb. The ‘photoshop’ in these photos are really minimal. The photographer clearly does not need to edit much. He/She is getting her money’s worth of work. Kim Ji Won is a easy subject to photograph. She is just prefect for this brand.
Yes!! If you have good genes, eat
healthy food, don’t eat sweets/sugar,
don’t drink coffee and tea and care
about your skin, pores won’t be
noticeable. I have good genes and I
tried it couple of times, even to eat healthy food is enough to have good skin, but it’s hard to stop eating sweets.
And it’s so cool you saw Kim Ji Won!
I know!!! I was not expecting to see her. She was walking to one of her PR promotion work…I was just there at the same time. I was not with screaming fans…I dont do that. 🤣🤣.
She smiled at me as I looked so shock with my mouth wide open looking at her. Such gentle ad sincere smile. She captured my heart ♥️ from that moment, I swear I dont even say that about my husband, 🤣 …
@HL
Lucky you! I envy you in the good way ☺️ it’s cool that you met someone you saw on TV and got a good impression of them.
@Olesya1..just wait till I meet BTS…I might just faint..🤣🤣 Just kidding, I don’t know the boys individually, dont follow them, but I do enjoy some of their songs..
omg u saw her ???? a lot of people who have seen her in person said she has a very good
personality, talk politely and so gentle. I hope one day I can meet her in person 🥹
Yes…it was really a stoke of luck..I just happen to be on holiday and was shopping when I saw her. 🥰🥰
I am happy about it, it made my day. She was very gentle and have a sincere smile. I would say she looks like she is slightly shy..I may be wrong.
@HL – you saw Kim Jiwon in real life? Lucky you, some of us willing to pay a lot of money for that privilege (her fanmeetings) but can’t get a ticket but you see her just walking to work….
Not surprised to hear she’s beautiful irl, her parents/mother nature obviously blessed her but she’s been taking extra care of her visuals since QoT and looked beautiful even in those airport pics (I feel bad for her being so scared though). Her look is perfect for a classy skincare brand, she has that fresh and naturally pretty look but also her features give off a kind of princess/aristocrat vibe. I actually like that her hair is slightly undone here, it makes the impression softer and more natural even with editing.
When I was about 19yrs old, I saw Michael Jackson who was on a concert tour and he was staying in the hotel I was in. He was o his way back to his hotel after a concert. clearly tired but still friendly…Gosh he was really not tall, about my height but he was so fair. He has guard around him but he smiled at everyone who saw him.
I was not his fan then…but I did go to his concert the next day. He is quiet and gentle in private but on stage, very dynamic.
I bet you have your sightings too. I do consider myself lucky for meeting anyone by chance. It always makes my day fun. Kim Ji Won was a blessing to ‘bump’ into.
She’s definitely now top tier amongst Korean actresses with this endorsement deal, it’s more prestigious than representing any fashion brand. Sulwhasoo should have kept their aesthetics with a top actress as spokesmodel but they decided to cheapen their image with Rose. I’m a loyal user because of SHK but I’m going to consider switching out to history of whoo – still quite upset they discontinued some of my favourite products.
Amore Pacific wanted younger demographics for their products so it’s out with Song Hyekyo, Jun Jihyun, Yoona and in with Rose, Jennie and Jang Wonyoung. Whether you think it cheapens the brand is completely up to you because now they have an even wider market than those hallyu stars. SHK still models facial care products though so you can switch to that if you used skin care products because of her.
I actually have the amore led massager, don’t recommend it though, there are much better brands out there for devices. Amore has a plethora of brands targeted at a younger audience which is fickle, price conscious and flooded with cheaper choices from an overly saturated market. Jennie is well matched with Hera which is trendier, I use Hera lipsticks myself. Rose would have been fine as a spokemodel for the essential range but just her as the main rep (Tilda swinton is pretty invisible as a one) damages their status amongst their key older demographic which is the foundation of their sales in the long term. Quick results in widening their audience but at what cost? Amore Pacific skincare range itself doesn’t have the USP that Sulwhasoo has to be their main luxury range while Sulwhasoo doesnt have the feeling of a luxury line anymore, amore’s brand lineup is a mess now.
Besides Rose from BlackPink, is there another famous Rose in SK? Just curious.
She looks beautiful. She is an excellent choice for such a well-regarded brand