South Korean culture has hit a new mainstream high over the past couple of years, especially when it comes to K-Pop and K-dramas. It's common for fans of some of South Korea's biggest hit K-Pop to see their favorite artists on the small screen, and it may be surprising for those outside South Korea to learn that many of Korea's top actors first got their start as K-Pop idols.
Some K-Pop idols still dominate the music industry while taking on new TV show projects. For example, the coveted Choi Siwon captured fans' hearts in the group Super Junior and transitioned to acting with hit shows like She Was Pretty and My Fellow Citizen. Being a part of the entertainment industry as idols, it's no surprise that they were also bit by the acting bug.
Rowoon From SF9 In "Extraordinary You" & "She Would Never Know"
Rowoon is a new face in K-dramas and has fans binge-watching his work. He debuted in the K-Pop group, SF9 in October of 2016 as a lead vocalist. Rowoon's talent went beyond his musical abilities. He got his start in acting with a supporting role in School 2017.
He got his big break with the fantasy-romantic comedy, Extraordinary You, based on a hit webtoon. Rowoon played the main love interest and lead role as Ha-Ru. If you're intrigued to watch, the drama is available on the popular Asian streaming platform, Viki. The idol and actor is once again set to dazzle fans in the main role in the 2021 K-drama, She Would Never Know, yet to debut on streaming platforms.
Joy From Red Velvet In "The Liar And His Lover" & "Tempted"
Park Soo-young, better known by her fans as Joy, is a member of one of Korea's top girl groups, Red Velvet. On July 29, 2014, Joy was officially announced as the fourth member of Red Velvet and shortly after the group's debut in 2015, Joy started her solo television career in a variety show.
She gained recognition in the lead role of Yoon So-rim in the drama, The Liar and His Lover. The following year, Joy would become well-known for the major K-drama, Tempted. Starring alongside Woo Do-hwan, Joy played the role of a young girl who falls for a bad boy, unaware that their relationship is actually a bet. It's too late, though, as both sides have already fallen in love. The hit drama is available on Viki, while The Liar and His Lover is streaming on Netflix.
Choi Min-Ho From Shinee In "Pianist," "To The Beautiful You" & "Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth"
Still dominating the K-Pop charts is veteran group, Shinee. The group debuted in 2008 with Min-ho as its rapper and Shinee would become one of Korea's best-selling artists. Min-ho didn't make his acting debut until 2010 in the drama, Pianist. But his career as an actor kept growing as he got a lead role in the 2012 drama, To the Beautiful You, available to stream on Viki.
If there's one K-drama Min-ho has become well-known for it's the historical drama from 2016, Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth. Min-ho would star alongside actor Park Seo-Joon and it tells the story of a group of young warriors who learn about love, friendship, and turmoil amidst political unrest. The drama is available to stream on Viki as well.
Lee Hye-Ri From Girl's Day In "Tasty Life," "Reply 1988" & "Miss Lee"
Lee Hye-Ri rose to stardom debuting as the youngest member of Girl's Day in 2010. The group became one of the most successful K-Pop groups of their era. Lee Hye-Ri would also take on acting with her first role in Tasty Life in 2012, but she really gained mass popularity as an actor when she played the role of Sung Duk-Seon in the hit drama, Reply 1988.
The drama became an instant favorite amongst audiences for its comedy, friendship, and difficult love story and it's available to stream on major platforms like Netflix and Viki. Shortly after the show's success, Lee Hye-Ri took on another lead role in the workplace drama, Miss Lee.
Yook Sung-Jae From BtoB In "Monstar", "Reply 1994," "Goblin" & "Mystic Pop-Up Bar"
Yook Sung-Jae is better known worldwide as Sungjae. The South Korean singer, songwriter, and entertainer debuted in the hit K-Pop group BtoB in 2012. Sungjae is the third-generation leader of the group, as well as its sub-group, BtoB Blue. Shortly after his debut, he would take up acting in a supporting role in Monstar.
Sungjae quickly made a name for himself on the small screen when he played Sung Joon in Reply 1994, available on Netflix and Viki. K-drama fans will mostly recognize him for his supporting role in Goblin as the only heir to the Yoo family. In 2020, he got his break in a lead role in Netflix's Mystic Pop-up Bar as Kang-bae.
Krystal Jung From f(x) In "The Heirs/Inheritors," "The Bride of Habaek" & "Prison Playbook"
The K-Pop idol, Krystal made her debut in 2009 as a member of the girl group f(x) as the lead vocalist. Besides gaining fame in the music industry, in 2013 Krystal appeared in a supporting role as Bo-Na in The Heirs, one of the most popular love triangle K-dramas. The drama is called Inheritors on Netflix.
In 2017, Krystal would take on the main role of Moo-ra in The Bride of Habaek - a fantasy romance drama about a water god sent to earth to claim his throne but happens to fall in love, also available on Netflix. That same year, she would also appear in the riveting Netflix show, Prison Playbook, as Kim Ji-ho.
Taecyeon From 2PM In "Dream High," "Bring It On, Ghost" & "Vincenzo"
Taecyeon is one of South Korea's beloved actors who first debuted in the music industry as part of the group, 2PM in 2008. The Korean-born singer/actor became a fan favorite for his intermittent use of English in his shows. Taecyeon got his first leading role in the 2011 drama, Dream High as Jin Gook, alongside other K-Pop idols. The drama is still available on Viki.
Taecyeon won fans over with his lead role in Bring It On, Ghost as Bong-pal, who joins forces with a female ghost to eradicate stuck souls. In 2021, Taecyeon once again has fans binge-watching the Netflix drama, Vincenzo, in the role of Jun-woo.
Cha Eun-Woo From Astro In "My ID Is Gangnam Beauty," "Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung" & "True Beauty"
Cha Eun-Woo is an idol and actor that audiences of all ages can't help but swoon over. He is well known for his role as a vocalist in the K-Pop group, Astro, which debuted in 2016. While fans love listening to his voice, they also can't help but watch him on the small screen.
He gained recognition in 2018 for playing the lead love interest, Kyung-Seok in the teen romance drama, My ID is Gangnam Beauty, available on Viki. The following year, he starred in the historical drama, Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung, an easy binge-watch on Netflix. But so far, fans can't stop talking about the 2020 drama, True Beauty, where Eun-Woo stars as Lee Su-ho, a must-watch and also available on Viki.
Lee Ji-Eun/IU In "Dream High," "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo" & "Hotel Del Luna"
Lee Ji-Eun is notoriously known under the professional name, IU. She started as a trainee in 2007 and made her debut at the age of 15 and she has since skyrocketed to stardom in South Korea. Not only does she have fans of her music, but she has gained popularity for her acting on screen. After her supporting role in Dream High, she went on to star in some of the most well-known dramas.
She's notorious for her role as Hae-Soo in the drama, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. The drama, available on Viki, became well known amongst fans for its heartwrenching moments and storyline about love. IU also stars as the badass female lead in Hotel Del Luna on Netflix.
Bae Suzy From Miss A In "Dream High," Uncontrollably Fond" "Vagabond" & "Start-Up"
Whether you're a fan of K-dramas or K-pop, it's unlikely that the name Bae Suzy hasn't popped up. The Korean singer made her debut in the girl group, Miss A under JYP Entertainment in 2010. Apart from group activities, Base Suzy took on acting and starred in Dream High, alongside other idols.
Since then, she played mostly minor roles until she landed the lead as Noh-Eul in Uncontrollably Fond in 2016. The drama was popular and is available on Viki for select regions. For the next three years, Bae Suzy would become popular on streaming platforms for her lead roles in the action drama, Vagabond, and the drama-romance, Start-Up on Netflix.