Actress Gong Ji Ho debuts with the successful 2025 SBS K-drama, "Buried Hearts," after the K-pop girl group OH MY GIRL's Jiho decided to become an actress.

Gong Ji Ho, who first emerged in the entertainment industry as a visual member of OH MY GIRL in 2015, shifted her focus to acting in recent years.

After her contract with WM Entertainment ended in May 2022, Jiho decided to leave the group and subsequently signed with P&Studio in July 2023 to pursue acting.

"While being 'K-Pop idol Jiho' for a decade was great, I am not planning on going back to idol-ing, at least for now," Jiho said in a recent interview with TENASIA. "I have a goal of being recognized and called by my character's name."

Her decision to venture into acting proved rewarding. "Buried Hearts," in which she plays the role of hacker Tae Geum, ranked among the top 10 highest-rated SBS Friday-Saturday series—an achievement rewriting SBS history.

During a two-year hiatus, Jiho prepared for her acting debut by auditioning, traveling, and maintaining a strict workout regimen. "I chose to trust the CEO of my current management company. Every step I've taken up until now was entirely my own choice," Jiho said. "Changing the outcome is up to me, no one else."

Inward gaze focusing on the future, JIHO posits. "I am filled with anticipation for a future that I can't even predict. It's amazing," she reflected.

For Gong Ji Ho, the transition from idol to actress has been a conscious evolution—a journey she navigates with determination and hope for the growing opportunities ahead.