After marking a major milestone with a KBS Drama Awards win, actress Um Ji-won is charting her next chapter toward 2026. Rather than resting on accolades, she is moving forward with renewed resolve.

Um recently unveiled her 2026 profile photos, focusing not on the title of “award winner,” but on who she is right now—an artist carrying the honor while returning to the starting line. The result highlights inner strength and balance built over years of work, free from ostentation.

Dressed in sleek black, her natural poses and deep gaze convey both the depth validated by the award and a confidence that refuses complacency. It’s a portrait that favors substance over spectacle.

The award is widely seen as the culmination of a career spanning genres and platforms—and equally as fuel for the next stage. Her agency confirmed plans to continue across dramas and films starting with the TVING series Proxy CSAT, while also exploring variety shows to reveal a warmer, approachable side. All eyes are on Um Ji-won’s 2026 trajectory.