Born in 1997 and now 28 years old, Ryu Ji Won first entered the entertainment industry as Genie of the girl group Good Day in 2017. After the group disbanded, she returned to the stage in 2020 as Green of RedSquare. In 2022, she made yet another debut her third by joining the four-member girl group IRRIS as leader I.L, building an unusually diverse idol career across multiple teams.
Ryu Ji Won later expanded her career from singer to actress. She made her acting debut through JTBC’s 2021 drama Idol: The Coup, playing ChaeA of the girl group Cotton Candy. In 2024, she appeared in the Disney+ original series Red Swan, portraying the teenage version of Oh Wan Soo, played by Kim Ha Neul.
She continued to gain momentum, taking on the lead role of Yoo Jung in the short-form drama Ready to Beat. Ryu Ji Won also appeared in TV CHOSUN’s DNA Lover and steadily built her filmography across OTT, cable, and general broadcast networks.
But after a promising rise, fans began wondering why she suddenly disappeared from screens until the truth was revealed: she had been battling leukemia.
The actress, who earned praise for her stable performance as young Oh Wan Soo in Red Swan, shocked fans when she confessed her diagnosis. On August 14, 2025, Ryu Ji Won shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, writing, “It has already been three months since I was hospitalized without knowing the reason and was suddenly diagnosed with leukemia.”
She continued, “I successfully completed the first and second rounds of treatment and am now undergoing the third. The first two treatments passed so smoothly that I didn’t even feel like I was fighting something serious, and I’m just grateful for that.”
Ryu Ji Won opened up about her emotional struggles after hearing the diagnosis, explaining, “At first, I didn’t want comfort or contact from anyone. I fell into a very deep pit. But through the messages and concern from my family, friends, and precious people, my heart slowly healed and warmed. Humans truly can’t live alone.”
She also confessed that sharing photos felt terrifying: “I lost my hair, gained weight, and looked so different from the version of myself that always appeared polished. I was scared of how others would see me.”
However, she bravely added, “I finally gained enough courage to post a photo and share how I’ve been doing. I’m doing okay in my own way.”
Ryu Ji Won expressed determination for full recovery: “I want to finish all my treatments and return to my old daily life – no, return even healthier than before.”
Many fans and industry insiders are rooting for the young actress, who proved her potential through Red Swan. Support continues to pour in as people eagerly await the day she overcomes her illness and stands confidently before the camera again.
Sources: daum
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