5·18 광주 민주화 운동
In 2007, Ji starred in Im Sang-soo's "The Old Garden", adapted from Hwang Sok-yong's novel about a couple who meet during the turbulent 1980s surrounding the Gwangju Uprising; he played an anti-government activist who gets released from prison after serving 17 years for his political activities. This was followed by Ji's first action film, Yoichi Sai's "Soo", in which he played dual roles as a hired killer who avenges the death of his twin brother.