[1][2] He is known for starring in the television series Bread, Love and Dreams (2010), Ojakgyo Family (2011–2012), Bridal Mask (2012), Good Doctor (2013), Yong-pal (2015), and Alice (2020).

With his love for singing, he became involved in Frees, a co-ed television performance group formed by SBS as part of a children's TV program.

Joo Won first appeared in the 2010 television drama King of Baking, Kim Takgu as the antagonist to the titular character.

King of Baking, Kim Takgu recorded high viewership ratings of over 50%, earning "national drama" status, and Joo shot to fame.

The same year, he starred opposite Park Bo-young in the horror thriller Don't Click,[15] and joined the second season of the popular variety program 2 Days & 1 Night.

[16] In 2013, Joo starred in MBC's drama 7th Grade Civil Servant, based on the action-romance movie My Girlfriend Is an Agent.

[17][18][19] The same year, Joo was offered his most challenging role; an autistic savant who becomes a genius pediatric surgeon for KBS's medical drama Good Doctor.

[33] He next starred in the thriller Fatal Intuition, which opened at the top of the box office, earning more than 1 million ticket sales.

[36] He then starred in the Korean-Chinese film Sweet Sixteen, a romantic drama based on an Internet novel will depict the love story of three men and one woman.