K-Drama Stars with the Golden Touch

By Jae-Ha Kim
Kocowa.com
September 28, 2019

When Yoo Ji-Tae was doing press interviews to promote “Healer,” he said he was confident about signing onto the project when he heard that Park Min-Young was the female lead. Why? Because Park is one of those actresses who has the magic touch when it comes to picking projects that will become hits. He wasn’t wrong. That got us wondering: Who else has the golden touch when it comes to K-Dramas?

Park Min-Young (Age: 33)

Let’s start with Park. You may have seen her recently as the relatable fangirl in “Her Private Life” and the well-heeled personal assistant in “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?” Her acting ability is first-rate, showing diverse range. She won critical attention for her role as a young woman who disguises herself as a man to attend school in “Sungkyunkwan Scandal.” And she starred opposite Lee Min-Ho in “City Hunter,” where she portrayed a member of the President’s security detail. Later, she tackled the role of an ill-fated member of royalty in “Queen for Seven Days.” But one can’t talk about Park without mentioning “Healer,” where her chemistry with Ji Chang-Wook was off the charts (and, of course, got the dating rumors flowing). Her character there was one who refused to give up and someone who would protect her loved ones at all costs.

Ji Chang-Wook (Age: 32)

Ji’s discharge from the Army earlier this year was everyone’s birthday and Christmas gift all rolled into one! I know all his fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of his latest K-Drama, “Melting Me Softly” (which will premiere on September 28). And given his track record of being selective about the projects he chooses, it’s sure to be another hit. Prior to starting his mandatory military duty on August 14, 2017, Ji left us with his legal procedural, “Suspicious Partner,” where he played an prosecutor who takes a young attorney (Nam Ji-Hyun) under this wing. The drama had a little of everything: cases to solve, murder and, yes, romance. It didn’t have the kind of action scenes fan came to expect after “Healer” and “The K2.” But Ji had said he wanted to steer away from the more physically-demanding roles now that he was “older.” If you want to watch a K-Drama where he plays a character that you’ll love to hate, check out “Five Fingers.” Ji plays a morally bankrupt classical pianist who hates his brother (played by Ju Ji-Hoon of “Kingdom” fame). The latter is more like an American daytime soap opera than a K-Drama.

IU (Age: 26)

Born Lee Ji-Eun, IU is unparalleled in her field. A talented singer and songwriter, she’s also a phenomenal actress who won rave reviews for her portrayal of the conflicted owner of “Hotel del Luna” — where ghosts come to rest before heading off to heaven (or hell). Her first K-Drama was 2011’s “Dream High,” where she played a sweet, baby-faced singer-songwriter trying to make it big as a K-Pop idol. Four years later, she played Korea’s most famous idol in “The Producers.” (Coincidentally, her good friend Kim Soo-Hyun was in the cast for both series as well.) Sprinkled into her acting repertoire were tour de force performances where she showed her range as an actress. She played a young woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders in “My Mister” and a 21st century woman who travels back into the days of the Goryeo Dynasty in “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.”

Kim Soo-Hyun (Age: 31)

Kim’s another one whose comeback we are all looking forward to, now that he’s finished his mandatory military duty. Unlike Ji Chang-Wook, he hasn’t selected one yet. But fans got a taste of what they’re in for when he made a much-publicized cameo in the series finale of “Hotel del Luna.” Though he had been acting for a few years, it was 2011’s “Dream High” that made Kim a star. He played a country boy who became an unlikely pop star (and also the second male lead for Suzy‘s attention). Rather than signing on to the series sequel, Kim followed up that with a completely different role as a lovelorn king in “The Moon Embracing the Sun.” That sageuk was followed up with “My Love From the Star,” which paired him with Jun Ji-Hyun, his co-star in the feature film “The Thieves”). That series made him an international star, with the ability to pick and choose just about any role. Instead of selecting a flashy lead role, he chose an ensemble part in “The Producers” where he wasn’t the definitive lead (in a cast that also included fan favorites Cha Tae-Hyun and Gong Hyo-Jin). The fact that being front and center is less important to him than picking a strong part in a good K-Drama bears well for whatever he chooses as his comeback.

These are just four of our favorites with the Midas touch when it comes to selecting K-Dramas. Who would make it onto your list?

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