By Jae-Ha Kim
Kocowa.com
September 13, 2020
There are so many idols who have turned in worthy performances in K-Dramas. We’ve already written about Do Kyung-Soo (D.O. of EXO) making viewers tear up in “It’s OK, That’s Love.” We took a look at how Kim Tae-Hyung (V of BTS) made a superb debut in “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth.” Then there’s Choi Min-Ho (Minho of SHINee), who’s not only a top idol, but also a fierce athlete and actor (“Medical Top Team”). And Bae Su-Ji (Suzy of Miss A) came a long way from “Dream High” to show off her versatility in “While You Were Sleeping.“
It’s time to highlight a few additional idols who are great actors, yes?! In no particular order, here are some more entertainers who are well known for their talented work on screen:
IM SI-WAN: In “The Moon Embracing the Sun,” Im played the younger version of Heo Yeom, who was the Crown Prince’s teacher. A man so beautiful that light surrounded him (literally), giving him an angelic glow, the character was one that viewers were sad to see grow up. (The adult version was played by actor Song Jae-Hee). Originally best known as part of ZE:A, Im has an impressive resume, including work in “Misaeng,” “The King in Love” and a cameo in “Reply 1997.”
PARK HYUNG-SIK: Currently serving his mandatory military duty, ZE:A’s Park is another fan favorite, who is equally at home acting as he is singing. Taking small roles in K-Dramas like “The Heirs,” Park showed off his versatility. His K-Drama Midas touch is evident in the dramas he has tackled: “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth,” “Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon,” “Suits” and “High Society.”
KRYSTAL JUNG: Her sister, Jessica, was a member of the legendary group Girls’ Generation. And Krystal followed suit as a member of f(x). Playing a rich high school student in “The Heirs,” she delivered her rapid-fire dialogue with aplomb. “My Lovely Girl” and the superb “Prison Playbook” followed, showing off that she is equally adept at comedy as she is drama.
KIM MYUNG-SOO: Speaking of “My Lovely Girl,” Krystal’s male lead from that series was L from the group Infinite. He showed his charisma and acting chops portraying the younger version of So Ji-Sub’s character in “Master’s Sun.” He can take a sub-par series like “The Day After We Broke Up” and still make it watchable. But he excels in K-Dramas where he gets to show off his emotions, like “Angel’s Last Mission,” “Ms. Hammurabi,” “The Time We Were Not In Love” and “Welcome.”
LEE HYE-RI: Not long after “Hyde, Jekyll, Me,” Girl’s Day’s Hyeri had a bonafide hit as the female lead in “Reply 1988,” which is my favorite of the Reply trilogy. She was spot-on as a teenager whose best friends were the neighborhood boys. As the middle child, she was often overlooked by her parents, because her sister was brilliant and her brother was, well, a boy. Roles in “Entertainer” and “Two Cops” proved that she could play cutesy, but also had the depth to tackle tougher roles.
HWANG CHAN-SUNG: A member of 2PM, Hwang goes by his stage same of Chansung. His group is known as K-Pop’s beast idols, which references their well-muscled bodies. He made a cameo appearance in “Dream High,” before landing bigger roles in series like “Queen for Seven Days,” “Dr. Romantic” and “Suspicious Partner,” where he had a brief but pivotal role. Here’s hoping that Chansung’s scene-stealing co-starring roles in “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” and “My Holo Love” lead to a meatier leading man roles soon! He’ll be released from mandatory military duty in January 2021.
OK TAEC-YEON: Another idol from 2PM, Taecyeon (as he’s known) has been killing it with his K-Dramas. Whether he’s competing against Kim Soo-Hyun for Suzy’s attention in “Dream High” or trying to extract Seo Ye-Ji from a cult in “Save Me,” the strapping actor conveys all the emotions. Other must-sees include “Bring It On, Ghost,” “The Game: Towards Zero” and “Assembly.”
