Did You Know These K-Drama Actors Can Sing, Too?

By Jae-Ha Kim
Kocowa.com
October 7, 2020

What do Hugh Jackman and Kim Soo-Hyun have in common? Besides both being great-looking and talented actors, they are also thespians who have beautiful singing voices.

We’ve written before about all the amazing Korean idols who have had great success in films and in K-dramas. Now we’d like to highlight a few actors whose voices make us swoon. Here are just a few of our favorites:

KIM SOO-HYUN (“My Love From the Star“): The highest paid actor in South Korea, Kim Soo-Hyun is the total package. A brilliant actor who scored big with this year’s “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” he was one of the few lead actors cast in “Dream High” who wasn’t a professional singer and dancer. (He did train at JYP for a few months so he could be up to speed with IU, Suzy, 2PM’s Taecyeon and Wooyoung and Eunjung from T-ara.) He contributes a song to almost all of the K-dramas he stars in.  One of his best songs that shows off his range and vocal abilities is the emotional “Only One Person” from “The Moon Embracing the Sun.”

YOO YEON-SEOK ( “Dr. Romantic“): In “Hospital Playlist,” Yoo and his fellow doctors formed an endearingly corny band. They would work hard and convene in the evenings to sing songs together and relax a bit. Some viewers were surprised at his singing ability and wondered if he was lip syncing. Nope, that was him. Like his 2013 film role in “Born to Sing,” he was, well, born to sing! Playing the drums didn’t come as naturally to him and he practiced with a music teacher and by himself for his role. He’s no novice to singing, though. He sang “Only Feeling You” with some of his castmates in “Reply 1994.” He’s also a musical theater star, with roles in “Werther,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “Le Passe-Muraille.”

JI CHANG-WOOK (“Healer“): Novice K-drama fans may be unaware that Ji is a veteran of musical theater, who even performed in military productions as an enlisted soldier. In his breakthrough role in “Healer,” he beautifully crooned the ballad “I’ll Protect You.” During one promotion to tout his film “Fabricated City,” he sang the song a cappella, proving that he doesn’t need instruments or auto tuning to make his vocals sound good. His preference in songs he sings tends to lean towards the romantic side. When his fans asked him to sing a peppy K-pop song, he politely declined.

LEE JOON-GI (“Gunman in Joseon“): Is there anything Lee Joon-Gi isn’t good at? A superb actor and skilled martial artist (known for doing his own stunts), the “Flower of Evil” star also is known to treat his fans by singing to them at his in-person meet-ups. One particular favorite is “For You,” from the “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” original soundtrack. In “Tale of Arang,” his feelings for Shin Min-A come across in the ballad “One Day.”

LEE KWANG-SOO (“Running Man“): A former runway model, Lee Kwang-Soo is known these days as being an ace comic and actor (“It’s Okay, That’s Love,” “Puck“). I remember being pleasantly surprised when I heard him sing on “Running Man.” Later, I heard him sing on the Chinese reality series “Perhaps Love.” I expected it to be kind of a joke, but he has a gorgeous voice. Even 2PM’s Chansung was impressed when Lee hit all the high notes in “Bogoshipda” (which means “I miss you”) and when the two men dueted on the 2PM song “Heartbeat.”