By Jae-Ha Kim
KOCOWA
December 15, 2021

After my post last month about ajeossi /아저씨 actors, we received quite a few requests to expand on our list of middle-aged actors we love to watch over and over and over again. Honestly? I could write one of these articles every month and still not cover all the talented and seasoned actors whose work we enjoy watching. So without further ado, here’s the latest in our homage to slightly older actors, who prove that good roles don’t end in your 20s.

KIM JAE WOOK: The Smoking Hot Ajeossi

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Kim Jae Wook (김재욱) will next be seen starring opposite Krystal (“Police University“) in the upcoming K-drama, “Crazy Love.” But you probably remember him from “Coffee Prince,” where he played No Sun-Ki — a ridiculously good looking street cart waffle maker who’s recruited to work at a cafe run by Gong Yoo’s character, Han-Kyul. You can also see the 38-year-old actor in “Bad Boy,” “Love Temperature and “Her Private Life.” SPOILER ALERT!! And just in case you think  Jae Wook’s forté is playing hot rich guys, be sure to check him out in “Voice,” where he plays a really, really evil character. But, yes, he’s still ridiculously handsome even in that role.

LEE JOON GI: The Action Ajeossi

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Singer, dancer, model and actor — Lee Joon Gi (이준기) can do it all. He’s one of the few popular Korean actors who has been cast in a Hollywood extravagenza. He played Commander Chu in “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” and shared scenes with his friend, Milla Jovovich. Because of his youthful looks and his amazing stuntwork (watch “Lawless Lawyer,” please!), many people are surprised that he’ll be turning 40 in just four more months. To tide you over until next year, when his new K-drama “Again My Life” debuts, you can catch up with some of his previous work, like “Gunman in Joseon,” “Flower of Evil,” “Tale of Arang,” “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo,”  “Two Weeks,” “The Scholar Who Walks the Night,” and “My Girl” (which also stars fellow ajeossi Lee Dong Wook).

JO IN SUNG: The Model Ajeossi

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Hot off his latest film, “Escape from Mogadishu,” actor Jo In Sung (aka 조인성 /Zo In Sung)  has come a long way since his 2002 film debut in a movie called … “Public Toilet.” (For real!) The smoking hot 40-year-old former model is currently hard at work on the feature film, “Smuggler.” He’s got quite the  résumé of K-dramas, including “Something Happened in Bali,” which also features So Ji Sub. But one of his all-time best roles is in the superb series “It’s Okay, That’s Love.” He plays a celebrity author suffering from mental health issues. As his backstory unfolds, I dare any of you to not shed a tear or two.

 

JI SUNG: The All-Around Ajeossi

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Married to top actress Lee Bo Young, Ji Sung (지성) is one of Korea’s most well-rounded actors. In “Kill Me, Heal Me,” he plays a wealthy man suffering from dissociative identity disorder. He has six other personalities (including a teenage girl who has a huge crush on Park Seo Joon’s character). It’s great to see that at 44, he is is selecting a slew of interesting projects (“Doctor John,” “Secret Love,” “All In,” “Defendant“.) Also, a big shout out to Bo Young, 42, whose work in “I Hear Your Voice,” “Mine,” “Whisper,” “Mother,” and “God’s Gift” shows off her incredible versatility.

JO JUNG-SUK: The Angelic Ajeossi

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Jo Jung Suk (조정석), 40, is a singer, dancer, and a bonafide heartthrob. On “Hospital Playlist,” he plays a well-liked doctor, who is also a single dad. On the show, he’s besties with a close group of his med school friends, who also happen to all work at the same hospital. Hmmmm. You may also recognize him from “The Nokdu Flower,” “Two Cops,” “You are the Best” (opposite IU), and “The King 2 Hearts.” His upcoming feature film, “Nation of Happiness,” will premiere in theaters in 2022. On the homefront, he’s married to the singer, Gummy. The couple are parents to a baby girl.

Sung Dong Il: The Super Talented (& Very Loud) Ajeossi

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Honestly, I haven’t seen a recent K-drama featuring Sung Dong Il (성동일) where he wasn’t playing someone who was very LOUD. And he is perfectly hilarious at it. He showed off his acting and comedic chops in the “Reply” trilogy, portrayed a passionate judge in “Miss Hammurabi,” and was the advisor to the young king in “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth.” Dong Il showed off his ability to play sweeter characters in the feature film “Miss Granny” —  a beautiful movie. Go watch it if you can! Now 57, he has a few new projects coming out in 2022: the feature films “Wolf Hunting” and “The Pirates: Goblin Flag” (where he’ll make a cameo appearance), as well as the K-dramas “Ghost Doctor” and “If You Say Your Wish.” Meanwhile, you can watch him in “It’s Okay, That’s Love,” which is one of my all-time favorite K-dramas.

OK, no one yell at me if I’ve left out your favorites. I’m not done yet with my ajeossi series. Who would you like to see featured in the next article?