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Tatler Asia
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
From Bit to Big Time: The K-drama roles that launched Korea's biggest stars
2. Lee Jong-suk in 'I Can Hear Your Voice' (2013) Above Lee Jong-suk (Photo: IMDB) Lee Jong-suk had already turned heads in School 2013 , but it was I Can Hear Your Voice that made sure those heads stayed turnt. As Park Soo-ha, a high school student who can literally hear people's thoughts (thanks, traumatic childhood!), he brought both supernatural intrigue and emotional sincerity. His chemistry with Lee Bo-young was electric in that noona-romance way K-dramas do so well. The role required sensitivity, steel and a touch of melancholy—all of which Lee delivered with eerie grace. The nation fell in love, and the scripts kept pouring in. Now he's one of Korea's biggest stars. 3. Song Joong-ki in 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal' (2010) Above Song Joong-ki (Photo: IMDB) Before he was a stoic soldier in Descendants of the Sun or a vengeful antihero in Vincenzo , Song Joong-ki charmed his way into hearts as the swoon-worthy, fan-wielding Gu Yong-ha in Sungkyunkwan Scandal . A Joseon playboy with a brain and a smirk, Yong-ha wasn't just comic relief, he was the scene-stealer that made everyone ask, 'Who is that guy?' This role turned him from flower-boy side character to rising lead material overnight. See more: The rise of the antihero: 10 K-drama characters who played by their own rules 4. Lee Min-ho in 'Boys Over Flowers' (2009) Above Lee Min-ho (Photo: IMDB) It's hard to imagine a time of Lee Min-ho wasn't one of Korea's biggest stars, but it wasn't so long ago. Curly-haired, punch-throwing, chaebol prince Goo Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers wasn't just Lee Min-ho's breakout role. He made arrogance loveable, perms trendy and set the gold standard for K-drama chaebols for years to come. The show may have had its wild moments, but Lee Min-ho's charisma made it a phenomenon that defined a generation of K-drama fans. Don't miss: Red Flags? If he's anything like these K-drama leads, better swipe left 5. Gong Yoo in 'Coffee Prince' (2007) Above Gong Yoo (Photo: IMDB) Before becoming the stoic 'Oppa' in Goblin , Gong Yoo brewed up something special as Choi Han-kyul, the emotionally constipated coffee shop heir who falls for a barista he believes is a boy. Coffee Prince wasn't just a rom-com; it was an early exploration of gender identity and love that felt progressive for its time. Gong Yoo's layered performance—funny, awkward, vulnerable—sealed his place in K-drama royalty. 6. Hyun Bin in 'My Name is Kim Sam Soon' (2005) Above Hyun Bin (Photo: IMDB) This is the role that launched a thousand Hyun Bin fantasies. As Hyun Jin-heon, the brooding restaurant heir opposite the refreshingly real Kim Sam Soon (Kim Sun-a), Hyun Bin helped redefine what a leading man could be: sharp-tongued, emotionally guarded and a bit of a he's not. The drama was a ratings behemoth and gave K-dramas their Bridget Jones moment, but it was Hyun Bin who emerged as the ultimate Mr Darcy in designer suits. This was long before Secret Garden or Crash Landing on You , but the blueprint was already there. Don't miss: 8 unforgettable body swap K-dramas 7. Son Ye-jin in 'Summer Scent' (2003) Above Son Ye-jin (Photo: IMDB) Son Ye-jin had already been dubbed the 'Nation's First Love' after her turn in Lover's Concerto , but it was Summer Scent that marked her arrival in Hallyu drama royalty. As Shim Hye-won, a woman who receives a heart transplant and unexpectedly falls for the man whose girlfriend was the donor, Son showcased her signature ability to mix quiet emotional pain with romantic intensity. This role cemented her status as a melodrama queen long before Crash Landing on You reignited her not just as one of Korea's biggest stars but the world's. 8. Shin Min-a in 'My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho' (2010) Above Shin Min-a (Photo: IMDB) Though Shin Min-a was already a model-actress hybrid with screen credits in A Love to Kill , it was her charmingly offbeat performance as a nine-tailed fox in My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho that made her a household name. Playing Mi-ho, a mythical creature who falls for a hapless student (Lee Seung-gi), she balanced comedy, innocence and pathos in a way only Shin Min-a can. Her take on the Gumiho myth breathed new life into a well-worn K-drama trope. 9. Jun Ji-hyun in 'My Love from the Star' (2013-2014) Above Jun Ji-hyun (Photo: IMDB) Already a bona fide movie star thanks to My Sassy Girl , Jun Ji-hyun's transition to television was a seismic event. As Cheon Song-yi, the hilarious, self-absorbed A-list actress who falls for an alien professor (Kim Soo-hyun), she flexed both her comedic chops and star power. Not everyone can turn high-maintenance into high art and make ramyun and soju in couture look iconic. 10. IU in 'My Mister' (2018) Above IU (Photo: IMDB) Known first as a K-pop superstar, IU, also known as Lee Ji-eun, had already acted in several dramas, but it was her role as the jaded, emotionally scarred Lee Ji-an in My Mister that shattered any lingering doubts about her acting prowess. The rawness and quiet tension she brought to her scenes with Lee Sun-kyun turned a slow-burn drama into a deeply affecting character study. It marked her graduation from idol-actress to serious leading lady. 11. Song Hye-kyo in 'Autumn in My Heart' (2000) Above Song Hye-kyo (Photo: IMDB) It's hard to overstate the impact of Autumn in My Heart . This show practically launched the Korean Wave, and, of course, its lead actress as one of Korea's biggest stars. Song Hye-kyo, playing the tragically switched-at-birth Yoon Eun-suh, brought tears to an entire generation of viewers. Her chemistry with Song Seung-heon and Won Bin was legendary, and her expressive, unshowy acting style set the tone for many melodramatic heroines to come. It was the start of a long reign as a K-drama icon. 12. Park Shin-hye in 'You're Beautiful' (2009) Above Park Shin-hye (Photo: IMDB) Park Shin-hye had been working steadily since childhood, but You're Beautiful catapulted her to the ranks of one of Korea's biggest stars. As Go Mi-nam/Go Mi-nyeo, a girl who disguises herself as her twin brother to join a K-pop boy band (yes, really), she charmed viewers with her earnestness, slapstick timing, and sweet chemistry with Jang Keun-suk. It was peak gender-bending, idol-studded chaos—and Park Shin-hye made it all work. 13. Kim Tae-hee in 'Stairway to Heaven' (2003) Above You can find the legendary Kim Tae-hee at the 8:24 mark. Before she was a beauty standard, Kim Tae-hee was everyone's favorite villain. As Han Yoo-ri in Stairway to Heaven , she was all calculating stares and cold ambition, a performance so compelling it threatened to outshine the heroine. Later, she'd headline softer roles, but it was this deliciously hateable breakout that showed she had more than just a pretty face. 14. Bae Suzy in 'Dream High' (2011) Above Bae Suzy (Photo: IMDB) Suzy went from 'the visual' of girl group Miss A to breakout actress in one fell swoop thanks to Dream High . Playing Go Hye-mi, a haughty classical singer forced to survive the world of K-pop, Suzy embodied the teen drama heroine with ambition, vulnerability and charisma. The role kicked off her acting career and a long reign as CF queen, setting her up for future hits like While You Were Sleeping and Start-Up .
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Director Kim Won-Suk Talks Love And ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines'
Kim Won-suk has directed some of Korea's most critically acclaimed and compelling TV dramas. He's the creative force behind the 2018 hit series My Mister, starring IU and Lee Sun-kyun; the 2016 drama Signal with Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo and Cho Jin-woong; and the 2014 drama Misaeng, which stars Im Si-wan and Kang Ha-neul. One of his earlier projects, the 2010 drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal, propelled the careers of actors Park Min-young, Song Joong-ki and Yoo Ah-in. So, expectations were high when Kim signed on to direct When Life Gives You Tangerines. The drama became another hit for the director earning multiple nominations at the 2025 Baeksang Arts Awards, including Best Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Kim's recipe for k-drama success is simple. He chooses projects he finds interesting and wants to share with the people around him. 'Both story and characters are important, but I place slightly more emphasis on the characters,' said Kim. "I'm drawn to works where the characters feel alive, the storyline remains compelling until the very end, and humor is woven in seamlessly. If all those elements are present, I'll take on the project regardless of genre.' When Life Gives You Tangerines focuses on two characters, the strong-willed smart Ae-sun played by IU, and later on by Moon So-ri, and the devoted Gwan-sik, played by Park Bo-gum and later on by Park Hae-joon, The characters in this screenplay definitely appealed to Kim, but there was more. 'The lovable, multidimensional characters, the witty and humorous dialogue characteristic to writer Lim, and the deeply moving storyline—it's hard to pinpoint just one aspect that captivated me because I was drawn to all of them. I've been a longtime fan of writer Lim Sang-choon.' Lim is also the screenwriter behind the dramas Fight My Way and When The Camellias Bloom. When Life Gives You Tangerines is the first collaboration between the director and screenwriter. It is the second time Kim has worked with singer-actress IU. In My Mister she plays a desperately poor abused young woman who becomes involved in a blackmail attempt. Her character in When Life Gives You Tangerines is stronger and more resilient, but the lives of both characters are transformed by acts of kindness. "Having worked with IU on My Mister, I knew firsthand how diligent and meticulous she is as an actress,' said Kim. 'The role of Ae-sun spans multiple stages of life—high school girl Ae-sun, young mother Ae-sun, college student Geum-myeong, and young mother Geum-myeong. It was only natural that IU came to mind first, as she's capable of capturing all these nuanced and varied aspects of the characters.' IU plays Ae-sun and also her daughter, Geum-myeong, as an adult. 'Geum-myeong is a character who closely resembles her mother Ae-sun in appearance but differs subtly in personality,' said Kim. 'On top of that, there's a roughly 20-year gap between their eras, which makes their experiences even more different. I thought having IU play both roles would highlight the similarities and differences between Ae-sun's life and Geum-myeong's more dramatically. It was a choice made possible because IU is such a talented actress.' The storyline slips back and forth in time. Juxtaposing scenes from different eras illustrates the way children are often unaware of their parents' earlier struggles or the dreams their parents treasured when they were young. 'I chose this approach to more effectively and entertainingly highlight the differences between the lives of the parent generation and their children,' said Kim. 'And to show that our parents, who may seem ordinary now, also had their own radiant, youthful moments.' There's a scene where Geum-myeong, feeling worn out from living in Seoul and navigating her love life, tells middle-aged Ae-sun that she doesn't want to live like her mother. Ae-sun replies that she was happy in her own way and that her life, too, was vibrant and fulfilling. 'At that moment, the scene cuts to a flashback of young Ae-sun, cheerfully waving goodbye to Gwan-sik from a cramped kitchen," said Kim. "Despite having to give up many of her dreams to work in the kitchen, she finds joy in watching young Geum-myeong freely riding her bicycle and her husband heading off to work. This moment of happiness amidst struggle wouldn't resonate as strongly without the present-day scene of Geum-myeong's frustration.' By weaving the parents' past struggles with glimpses of their more peaceful present, Kim also sought to spare viewers from feeling overwhelmed by their hardships. 'For instance, during the emotionally charged scene where Ae-sun bids farewell to Gwan-sik at Jeju Port, the present-day conversation between middle-aged Ae-sun and Geum-myeong is inserted in between," said Kim. 'This not only raises curiosity—did the young couple really part ways? What happened to Gwan-sik, who is now absent from Ae-sun's life? But it also shows that despite such a painful separation, Ae-sun isn't living a completely unhappy life now. This storytelling approach helps prevent viewers from experiencing excessive emotional fatigue.' Since the drama's structure involves intersecting timelines, ensuring smooth and natural transitions was crucial. 'It wasn't difficult, but rather enjoyable, thanks to the script's meticulous planning,' said Kim. 'Similar expressions or postures from one character, parallel actions from another, and various methods of depicting the passage of time were all precisely described in the script, which made the process both clear and engaging.' One surprise for viewers was the late arrival of Kim Seon-ho, who plays Park Cheong-seop. The star of Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Start Up and The Tyrant is so popular that advance notice of his appearance might have generated even more buzz, but Kim Won-suk chose to surprise viewers with the extent of the actor's appearance. 'Kim Seon-ho plays Chung-seop, who becomes Geum-myeong's lover and later her husband,' said Kim. 'Although his role is significant mainly in the latter part of the series, he isn't a central figure driving the entire narrative.' When Life Gives You Tangerines primarily follows Ae-sun and Gwan-sik's lives with the story expanding through the people around them. 'If Kim Seon-ho's appearance had been announced from the start, it might have shifted attention away from the core story the drama intends to convey," said Kim. "He is credited as a special appearance and in Korea, when a guest star is intended to be a surprise later in the series, it's common not to reveal their participation beforehand.' In many of Kim Won Suk's dramas, there's an inspiring character—one whose acts of kindness, compassion, bravery and loyalty motivates viewers to do the right thing in their own lives. In a recent interview Park Bo-gum said playing Gwan-sik inspires him to be a better person. 'There's no grand reason behind it—I just enjoy creating dramas that leave people feeling warm inside,' said Kim. "This particular drama was made with the thought, 'I wish people could hate each other a little less.'' In When Life Gives You Tangerines, there's a lot to admire about Ae-sun's determination and Gwan-sik's loyal devotion. 'We are living in an age of hatred," said Kim. "In Korea, there are countless walls—between generations, genders, regions—as well and those divisions are only becoming more solid. The dramas I create are essentially about living together. The world, whether in the past or now, has always been a difficult place to live in, and it becomes even harder if we don't find ways to stand together. To coexist, I believe we need to recognize that others are just as valuable as we are. Ultimately, it's a story about love. Love between partners, between friends, between family—these emotions are what make this world a place worth living in, together." When Life Gives You Tangerines airs on Netflix.
