In March 2023, a string of casting reports was released, announcing the actors that would be leading in the Netflix series, Hierarchy. The romantic mystery show set in a prestigious high school follows students in the top 0.01% of society as they navigate corruption, discrimination, and teenage angst. When a mysterious new student arrives, the once-firm social ladder begins to topple over. From Roh Jeong-eui to Lee Won-jung, EnVi Media introduces the promising cast of Hierarchy.
Roh Jeong-eui
Leading the ranks is Roh Jeong-eui who plays Jung Jae-i, the heir to business conglomerate Jaeyul Group and the most popular girl in Jooshin High School. Opposing the mistreatment of the new scholarship student, Jae-i decides to protect him by engaging in a fake romantic relationship with him.
Before Hierarchy, Roh had her breakout role in the Netflix show Our Beloved Summer, where she starred alongside Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi. The coming-of-age show revolves around ex-lovers who are forced to reconnect when a documentary they filmed in high school goes viral. For Roh’s first main role, she played NJ, an idol who develops a crush on anonymous building illustrator, Choi Ung (Choi Wooshik). At the 2021 SBS Drama Awards, Roh was awarded the Best New Actress Award for her role in the series. In 2022, Roh appeared in the main cast of Dear.M, playing as campus girl crush, Seo Ji-min.
Earlier in her career, Roh often played minor parts in dramas such as Bachelor’s Vegetable Store, Phantom Detective, and most notably, 18 Again. Based on the 2009 American film 17 Again, the 2020 South Korean television series tells the story of a 37-year-old man who suddenly changes into his 18-year-old self amidst an imminent divorce. Roh played Hong Shi-ah, the older twin daughter of rookie news announcer Jung Da-jung (Kim Ha-neul) and freshly unemployed Hong Dae-young (Yoon Sang-hyun). Outside of her acting activities, Roh briefly worked as an MC on the SBS music program Inkigayo with actor Seo Bum-june and TXT member Choi Yeon-jun.
Lee Chae-min
Lee Chae-min stars as Kang-ha, a mysterious transfer student. Unlike everyone else at Jooshin, he does not come from old money but instead attends the school on a scholarship. Due to his low status, Kang-ha endures relentless bullying from the most popular boy in school Ri-an, and the elite classmates. That is until Kang-ha makes a deal with the most popular girl in the school, Jae-i.
Lee made his television debut in 2021 with a minor role in High Class. The mystery drama details the imperfect lives of women in the top 0.01% of society. Lee also appeared in dramas like Love All Play, Crash Course in Romance, and See You in My 19th Life. Lee’s role in the romantic comedy Crash Course in Romance created the most buzz due to his chemistry with love interest Nam Hae-yi (Roh Yoon-seo). A year after the show, it was announced that Lee was dating his onscreen friend Jang Dan-ji (Ryu Da-in).
The young actor is now a man of many feats as he balanced MC work with his acting gigs. From September 2022 through May 2024, Lee was a host on the KBS music program Music Bank. During his two-year run, he hosted the show alongside various idols including IVE’s Wonyoung, NewJean’s Minji, and LE SSERAFIM’s Hong Eunchae.
Kim Jae-won
Kim Jae-won plays the role of Ri-an, the most popular boy at Jooshin High School. Ri-an is Jae-yi’s ex-boyfriend and the heir to Jooshin Group. With his family owning the school, he is at the top of the food chain, until a mysterious new student turns everything upside down.
Initially making his start as a model, Kim Jae-won made his official acting debut in the 2021 English-language Filipino web series, Love From Home. The series, directed by Kristel Fulgar, revolves around the story of Jana (Joyselle Cabanlong), a Filipina flight attendant who loses her job during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an attempt to make up for her loss of income and inability to travel, she takes up online English tutoring. Things take a turn when Jana meets Jay, a Korean college student who requests Filipino courses instead. Through the series, viewers gain insight into Korean and Filipino languages and culture. Leading actors Kim and Cabanlong also lent their voices for the original soundtrack “Sa’yo Lang.”
In 2022, Kim appeared in the Netflix drama Our Blues, playing a younger version of Choi Han-soo (Cha Seung-won). In the following year, Kim secured his first main role with the comedy-action drama, Stealer: The Treasure Keeper, playing a former homicide detective. The series revolves around Hwang Dae-myung (Joo Won), a seemingly normal public official working for the Cultural Heritage Administration. Hwang gets accused of being involved with Skunk, a mysterious thief who steals cultural assets from the rich. To keep his identity a secret, he teams up with an unofficial assets recovery team, known as Karma.
For his most recent project, Kim appeared in King the Land alongside Lim Yoona and Lee Jun-ho. In an interview, Kim spoke about the impact of his seniors’ on him. “[They] showed a good appearance and image during the filming,” he stated. “From them, I learned the mindset that a lead actor must have on set and how the actor’s attitude can shape the atmosphere.”
Ji Hye-won
The series’s main antagonist is Yoon He-ra, played by Ji Hye-won. Yoon is the most popular girl in the school after her best friend Jae-i. She is the youngest daughter of the trading company International Yoon.
Ji Hye-won made her debut in the 2019 legal drama Justice, playing a rookie actress caught up in a twisted scheme. In 2020, Ji scored a minor role in the Netflix show, It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, where she portrayed a psychiatric patient who suffers from anxiety. Making her return to Netflix in 2022, Ji starred in the musical fantasy series, The Sound of Magic. In the show, Ri-eul (Ji Chang-wook) is a magician who refuses to be confined by the constraints of adulthood. After meeting a poverty-stricken student named Yoon Ah-yi (Choi Sung-eun), he teaches her magic and helps her reignite her dreams. In the series, Ji plays Baek Ha-na, a bully to Ah-yi. With a lack of belief in magic, Baek aims to uncover the truth regarding the relationship between her classmate and the outcast magician.
Despite playing mean girl roles, Ji’s real-life personality is easygoing. In late 2022, Ji reunited with the cast of The Sound of Magic and showcased her unique flair in Young Actors’ Retreat. In this relaxing reality show planned by director Kim Seong-yoon, various actors from his previous works came together to create long-lasting memories and friendships.
Ji did not participate in any formal acting training until her college years. Initially assuming her parents would oppose her dreams, Ji studied English in high school, “I wanted to study English to reassure my mom and dad,” she said in an interview. In her junior year, Ji revealed her true ambitions to her parents to which they replied, “You should have told [us] sooner. Start preparing now.” From that moment on, Ji diligently studied for her college entrance exam and later was accepted into Korea National University of Arts.
Lee Won-Jung
The final character in the main cast is Lee Woo-jin, played by Lee Won-jung. Lee is the son of a congressman and presidential candidate. Lee harbors two secrets of varying degrees — a crush on He-ra and a secret relationship with a teacher.
Lee’s breakout role came in 2023 with My Perfect Stranger, where he played Baek Hee-Seop, a high school student from 1987. The fantasy-drama centers around Yoon Hae-jun (Kim Dong-wook) and publishing editor Baek Yoon-young (Jin Ki-joo), both who wish to change the past. Though their motives are separate, they quickly realize that their fates are connected.
Before My Perfect Stranger, Lee made appearances in several dramas like Class of Lies, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and Brainworks. If Lee didn’t pursue acting, there was a chance that he would have debuted as an idol. During his appearance on Knowing Bros, Lee revealed that HYBE contacted him several times asking for him to join their label as a trainee. Showing no interest in becoming an idol Lee declined the offer, later revealing, “I said I didn’t want to join if I can’t be an actor, and I told them to stop contacting me.”
Want the scoop on more young actors? Check out our Gener-Asian Z: K-Actor Edition piece here!
