The bestK-dramaseries can charm audiences with compelling conflicts and plot lines, butitall depends on how well the cast fits the characters.The K-dramas, like passionate romances and emotional storylines, risk falling flat when the actors aren’t the right fit for the show.Incredible K-drama actorscan elevate the show with their portrayals of their characters. From heartbreaking tragedies to action-filled thrillers, masterclass acting in K-dramas is essential to making the series believable and engaging.
K-drama actors and their performances are a major factor in whether a series is a hit or a flop.Not even immaculately planned and executedmasterpiece K-dramascan be salvaged if the main cast’s acting ability isn’t compelling or doesn’t quite match what the story needs. Ranging from lighthearted romantic comedies to thrilling crime dramas, shows with skilled actors and remarkable and authentic acting have skyrocketed the popularity of K-dramas.
10Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)
Kim Tae-ri And Nam Joo-hyuk
The beautiful and heartwarming K-dramaTwenty-Five Twenty-Oneis one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable history. Thebeloved romantic comedy K-dramatells the grounded and compelling tale of a young couple who separate after struggling to balance their personal life and romance while building their career.
Twenty-Five Twenty-Oneis a deeply human and relatable show that centers young love against the backdrop and struggles of financial difficulties.Twenty-Five Twenty-Oneis elevated by Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk’s portrayal of their characters, which perfectly highlights the complexities of first love and becoming an adult in times of financial distress.
Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Cast
Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a South Korean television series directed by Jung Ji-hyun. Set amidst the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the series follows the lives of a fencer and a reporter as they navigate love and ambition. Starring Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk, the show delves into themes of resilience and growth as the characters strive to achieve their dreams in a time of uncertainty.
Kim plays the role of Na Hee-do, the hardworking and dedicated fencer and Nam plays the role of Baek Yi-jin, a young man whose life is turned upside down after his family goes bankrupt.Kim and Nam’s onscreen chemistrymade the passionate and sweet romance between the leads believable, along with the turmoil they faced while struggling with their career and maintaining their relationship.
9Itaewon Class (2020)
Park Seo-joon And Yoo Jae-myung
Itaewon Classis athrilling revenge K-dramafollowingPark Sae-ro-yi, played by Park Seo-joon, after he is released from prisonfor assaulting the man responsible for his father’s death, Jang Geun-won (Ahn Bo-hyun). After being released from prison, Sae-ro-yi opens a bar-restaurant in Itaewon that becomes a strong rival to the food company Jangga Group, founded and run by Geun-won’s father Jang Dae-hee (Yoo Jae-myung).
10 K-Dramas That Made Perfect Casting Choices
From dark thrillers to romantic comedies, K-dramas are elevated by the cast’s portrayal of their characters and the chemistry between them.
Sae-ro-yi embarks on a mission to take down the powerful company and get revenge on the father and son who ruined his life.Park Seo-joon’s depiction of his beloved character, Sae-ro-yi’s anger and determination following his father’s death, and his struggle to maintain his humanity and integrity in the face of his vendetta and rage makesItaewon Classa gripping character-driven K-drama.
Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class is a South Korean television series that premiered in 2020. The show revolves around Park Sae-ro-yi, a young entrepreneur who seeks revenge against the corrupt businessman who wronged him and his family. Alongside a group of misfits, Sae-ro-yi establishes a bar in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, and together they navigate love, friendship, and ambition.
In addition, Yoo Jae-myung’s portrayal of the authoritative and powerful businessman and antagonist made his inevitable downfall a joy to witness. In the tense K-drama,Park and Yoo elevated the conflict with their masterful actingand brought life to their rivalry.
8Mouse (2021)
Lee Hee-joon And Lee Seung-ji
The mystery and crime thriller K-dramaMousefollowsa detective and his rookie partner as they try to catch a brutal serial killer. Thedetective K-dramastars Lee Hee-joon as detective Ko Moo-chi, whose traumatic past haunts him to this day and motivates him to hunt down the serial killer.
Mouseis filled with twists and turns that require skilled and talented actors to bring the suspense and characters' complexities and flaws to life.
Moo-chi is joined by his rookie partner Jeong Ba-reum, played by Lee Seung-ji, an officer whose encounter with a serial killer drastically changes the trajectory of his life.Mouseis filled with twists and turns that require skilled and talented actors to bring the suspense and characters' complexities and flaws to life.
Mouse
A rookie police officer and a veteran detective confront a terrifying psychopath whose serial killings have plunged the nation into fear and chaos. As they pursue justice, the encounter with the killer profoundly alters their lives, challenging their beliefs and revealing shocking truths.
Hee-joon embodies the role of a dark detective struggling to put his past behind him as his job forces him to deal with humanity’s worst, and Seung-ji effortlessly plays the multi-dimensional and twisted character as Ba-reum continues to shock and awe throughout thethriller K-drama.Mouseheavily relied on Ba-reum’s characterand Seung-ji’s impeccable performance carried the K-drama forward.
7Kingdom (2019-2021)
Ju Ji-hoon As The Crown Prince
Kingdomis ahistorical K-dramaset in the 17th centuryand follows Crown Prince Lee Chang as he’s thrust into responsibility after his father, King Yi Yeom (Kim Kang-hoon) falls ill and is presumed to be dead by the Kingdom. While investigating the King’s sudden illness, Lee Chang finds himself entrenched in conspiracies to overthrow him as heir, plots against the Royal family, anda mysterious and deadly zombie plague.
Kingdom
Based on the webtoonThe Kingdom of the Gods,Kingdom is a 2019 South Korean historical drama-horror series created for Netflix. Lee Chang, the crown prince of a fictional interpretation of 16th-century Korea, is forced to stand in for his ailing father as a plague begins to ravage their homeland, all while fighting off would-be-usurpers to the throne.
In a perfect blend of political drama andaction-filled zombie horror,Kingdomisa thrilling and complicated period drama filled with zombies and political plots.Theunique take on zombie dramas thrives in character building and growth along with entertaining and well-developed dynamics. Ju Ji-hoon’s phenomenal performance as the Crown Prince during a hectic and tension-filled time of plagues and betrayal makes him a compelling and intriguing hero, adding complexity to the zombie K-drama and elevating it to gem.
6Extracurricular (2020)
Kim Dong-hee And Park Ju-hyun
The clever high-school dramaExtracurricularis more than meets the eye and is a dark exploration of taboo subjects. Unlike most high-school K-dramas,Extracurricularis an intense psychological drama and crime thrillerwith deeply flawed leads. Thenon-romance K-dramais filled with heart-pounding thrills instead of the sweet relationships that usually dominate the screen in high-school dramas.
Stellar acting is essential inExtracurricular, as the leads are morally gray and aren’t necessarily likable or relatable. Kim and Oh flawlessly depict Ji-soo and Gyu-ri’s everchanging motives and make the unique characters feel realistic and intriguing.
Extracurricular
Extracurricular is a South Korean television series that follows the story of a group of high school students who become embroiled in a world of crime and corruption as they attempt to navigate their way through the pressures of adolescence and the harsh realities of the adult world.
Extracurricularfollows thetwo morally gray and multi-facetedleadsas they go to new lengths to protect themselves and each other. Kim Dong-hee plays the role of Oh Ji-soo a loner straight-A student with a dark side who resorted to crime to pay for his education. Ji-soo is forcibly joined by Bae Gyu-ri, played by Park Ju-hyun after she threatens and blackmails Ji-soo to join the business and get her own share of profits, despite coming from a wealthy family.
5Little Women (2022)
Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun And Park Ji-hu
The mystery K-drama seriesLittle Womenfollows the three Oh sisters after their lives are thrown into chaosafter the eldest sister Oh In-joo’s (Kim Go-eun) friend is found dead and leaves her millions of dollars. With Korea’s richest family gunning for them, they are forced into an unwanted conflict as the powerful and well-connected family is convinced that the destitute family stole their money.Little Womenexamines wealth, economic struggles, and sisterhood through the mysterious and engaging plot line.
Little Women
Three sisters, struggling with financial hardships, become embroiled in a complex conspiracy involving influential elites. As they navigate this treacherous world, they confront moral dilemmas and the bonds of family loyalty, challenging their unity and resilience against the backdrop of greed and power dynamics.
Little Womenstars Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, and Park Ji-hu as the Oh sisters and their easy chemistry and bond showcases are central to the show. Theclose bond between the three sistersis the heart ofLittle Womenand Kim, Nam, and Park’s skilled acting makes each sibling dynamic feel distinctive, realistic, and endearing.
4Flower Of Evil (2020)
Lee Joon-gi And Moon Chae-won
Flower of Evilis a psychological thriller andaction-packed romance K-dramathat follows a detective who comes to the horrifying realization thatthe man she married and has children with may be hiding a dark and murderous secret. Lee Joon-gi effortlessly switches between Baek Hee-sung, the perfect husband and a loving father to a dangerous man who struggles to feel and understand emotions and practices smiling in the mirror.
Flower of Evil
Flower of Evil is a South Korean thriller series that follows the story of Baek Hee-sung, a man who hides his dark past and pretends to be a perfect husband and father. However, his life is disrupted when Detective Cha Ji-won, a determined and intelligent detective, begins to suspect him of being involved in a series of mysterious events.
Lee’s spine-chilling demeanor and portrayal of Hee-sing’s dubious morality keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Moon Chae-won’s portrayal of Cha Ji-won, a tough and smart detective whose life and moral compass face turbulence after the unsettling realization that her husband may not be the person she thought he was.
Moon displays Ji-won’s struggle as her life and perfect marriage fall apart as she realizes she might go to great lengths to maintain the illusion of the perfect family. Moon and Lee’s chemistry and relationship dynamic makeFlower of Evila must-watch romance thriller.
3It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020)
Oh Jung-se, Kim Soo-hyun And Seo Yea-ji
The heartwarming and thought-provoking K-dramaIt’s Okay to Not Be Okayis a groundbreakingromantic comedy seriesthat delves into mental health and healing from trauma.The K-drama’s main trio form a bond and learn to heal together from their traumatic pasts.
Oh Jung-se cemented himself as a talented K-drama actor with his portrayal of Moon Sang-tae, an autistic aspiring illustrator dealing with the trauma of witnessing his mother’s murder at a young age. Sang-tae’s loving relationship with his young brother Moon Gang-tae, played by Kim Soo-hyun, is a highlight of the show as Gang-tae dedicates his life to ensuring his brother is happy and protected.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is a South Korean drama series following Moon Gang-tae, a caretaker in a psychiatric hospital, and Ko Moon-young, a children’s book author with antisocial personality disorder. As their lives intertwine, they embark on a journey of emotional healing while grappling with their traumatic pasts. The show explores themes of mental health, relationships, and personal growth.
When the brothers meet the popular children’s book author Ko Moon-young, played by Seo Yea-ji, the three form a unique bond as the three open up to each other and heal. The trio’s relationship dynamic is the central focus ofIt’s Okay to Not Be Okay,andOh, Kim and Seo’s acting skills and chemistry make the emotional scenes feel authenticand elevate theromantic K-drama.
2Prison Playbook (2017)
Park Hae-soo As The Convicted Prisoner Kim Je-hyeok
Prison Playbookisa fresh and hearteningslice-of-life K-dramaset in a prison.The K-drama quickly became a hit and was one of the highest-rated series in Korean cable television history. The groundbreaking K-drama revolves around the lives of convicts and the staff working in a prison.
Despite the dark setting and premise, Park brings life to the thought-provoking K-drama with his lovable and endearing portrayal of the fallen hero.
Prison Playbookfollows Kim Je-hyeok, played by Park Hae-soo, a former baseball star who suffered a fall from grace after being arrested for assault after he protects his sister from assault. Sentenced to a year of jail time, Hae-soo is forced to adjust to life in prison. Park shines in his role as a convict struggling with the loss of his promising career and his new life in a bleak prison.
Prison Playbook
Baseball star Kim Je-hyeok is about to make his Major League Baseball debut. However, due to some misfortune, he ends up in prison and must learn to survive in this new world full of life and death challenges.
Despite the dark setting and premise, Park brings life to thethought-provoking K-dramawith his lovable and endearing portrayal of the fallen hero. The supporting characters add humor and charm to the narrative, send an important message regarding the prison complex, and explore the impact of incarceration.
1Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Kim Tae-ri And Lee Byung-hun
Mr. Sunshineis a historical romance K-drama set in the early 20th century thatrevolves around the activists' fight for Korea’s independence. The K-drama’s main romance is set against the backdrop of a tense political standoff between the U.S. Embassy and Japan in the heart of Korea.Mr. Sunshineis a character-driven K-drama that is enhanced by the actors' emotional and strong performances.
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There has been no shortage of incredible K-dramas in 2024, but some have defied expectations to become the year’s best shows in the genre.
It focuses on the budding relationship between Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), a former Joseon slave who fled to the United States and became a captain of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), an orphaned noblewoman and freedom fighter. Lee’s remarkable performance as a conflicted Korean-born U.S. Marine in a tension-filled backdrop makes his internal dilemma compelling and intriguing.
Mr. Sunshine
Mr. Sunshine is a historical drama television series that takes place in the late 19th century during the late Joseon Dynasty in Korea. The story follows Eugene Choi, a young boy who travels to the United States and returns to Korea as an American soldier, and Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-sin, an aristocrat’s daughter who dreams of modernizing Korea.
However, Kim’s portrayal of the determined and patriotic freedom fighter Ae-shin steals the show. The talented sharpshooter’s journey from living a privileged life as a noblewoman to becoming a warrior fighting for independence after tragedy strikes her family makes her a compellingK-dramafemale lead.
