Suzy, IU, Cha Eun-woo: 12 Korean idols who are talented actors

Kwon Na-ra, a former member of the K-pop girl group Hello Venus, is celebrated not only for her vocals but also for her impressive acting chops. She’s appeared in popular dramas like Doctor Prisoner and Your Honor, and now she’s back in her latest role in The Midnight Studio, where she plays Han Bom, as a freelance lawyer. Although Kwon Na-ra has been in the industry for years, her breakout moment came with the hit series Itaewon Class in 2020, which truly put her on the map.

From her early days as a K-pop sensation with Girls’ Generation to her burgeoning career as an actress, Tiffany Young has continuously reinvented herself. Aside from her ongoing appearance in the musical, Chicago, the singer-turned-actress was featured in the Disney+ series, Uncle Samsik.

This is the second acting project Tiffany Young has worked on since the debut of her acting career. Previously, the star made her acting debut in a supporting role, named Rachel as well, in JTBC’s Reborn Rich television series, alongside K-drama heartthrob Song Joong-ki.

Known for her honey-like vocals and often affectionately referred to as Korea's Little Sister, IU debuted as a singer at a young age and quickly became a household name in South Korea. Her music career is marked by chart-topping hits and contributions to K-drama soundtracks, solidifying her status as one of the top acts in the K-pop industry.

IU first made her acting debut in the iconic teen drama Dream High, as one of the main characters Kim Pil-sook, a shy and overweight school girl who dreams of becoming a professional singer. She has since taken on more leading roles, receiving fanfare for her performances in dramas like "The Producers" and "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo".

In 2018, IU's portrayal of a struggling office worker in "My Mister" garnered widespread critical acclaim, resulting in her first-ever Best Actress in Television nomination at the Baeksang Arts Awards, South Korea’s equivalent of the Oscars. The following year, she took on the lead role in the fantasy television series "Hotel del Luna," which earned her a second Best Actress nomination at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

IU was most recently in the film "Broker," which premiered at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, and was chosen to compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or. Director Hirokazu Kore-eda specifically selected IU for the role of So-young, a single mother initially considering leaving her newborn at a baby box but later deciding to reclaim her child, after witnessing her moving performance in My Mister. Her outstanding performance earned her a nomination for Best New Actress at the 27th Chunsa International Film Festival.

Widely regarded as one of the best ‘idol-actors’ of his generation, EXO’s main vocalist D.O. showcased his innate talent for acting right from his small screen debut in "It's Okay, That's Love." Since then, D.O., who goes by his real name Doh Kyung-soo when it comes to acting credits, has gone on to continuously impress audiences with his performances. His portfolio spans from a chilling psychopath in "Hello Monster" to an aspiring film director in "Be Positive," a judo athlete in "My Annoying Brother," and a straight-faced crown prince in "100 Days My Prince," revealing his comedic prowess. The singer-actor is known for his discerning role choices, and his ability to convey deep emotions through his characters is undeniably compelling.

His portrayal of a vulnerable and unadaptable soldier in "Along with the Gods" catapulted him to stardom in a 10-million viewer movie. He has earned accolades at the most prestigious film and TV award ceremonies in Korea, including the Baeksang Arts Awards, Buil Film Awards, and Blue Dragon Film Awards. With a string of successful movies and dramas, he continues to amass awards for his remarkable performances. In his latest acting ventures, Kyung-soo has taken on the roles of a justice-driven yet ill-mannered prosecutor in the 2022 series "Bad Prosecutor", and an astronaut named Sun-woo stranded in space in the 2023 film "The Moon."

Debuting in the boy group ZE:A, Im Siwan is known to be a versatile actor that consistently surprises audiences with his diverse project choices that avoids typecasting.

His first supporting role was in the popular historical-fantasy drama "Moon Embracing the Sun", but it was his portrayal of a young student activist in "The Attorney" that truly brought him into the spotlight as a notable actor. He then starred in the hit drama Misaeng: Incomplete Life as Jang Geu Rae, an aspiring Go (a traditional board game) player who employs game strategies to navigate life's challenges, demonstrating his depth as an actor. The series became a cultural phenomenon and recorded high viewership ratings for a cable network program in Korea; it also bagged Siwan the Best New Actor award at the 51st Baeksang Arts Awards.

Since then, he has continued to star in various roles that showcases his remarkable versatility, such as a cunning con man in "One Line", an undercover cop involved with a drug cartel in "The Merciless," an ambitious crown prince in "The King Loves," a principled sprinter turned trainer in "Run On," and a reclusive math genius in "Summer Strike."

He is set to star in the upcoming "Squid Game 2," the sequel to the smash Netflix hit series.

Park Hyungsik has made a mark in both the music and acting worlds, alongside fellow ZE:A member Im Siwan. After starting with supporting roles in hit Korean dramas like "The Heirs" and "What's With This Family," he embraced his first leading role in 2015, playing a chaebol who falls for a gourmet supermarket part-timer in "High Society." His outstanding performance in the series garnered favourable reviews, expanding his popularity, particularly in Japan.

Subsequently, he ventured into diverse roles, embodying a burdened crown prince in "Hwarang," an intelligent and honest violent crimes detective in the apocalyptic city thriller "Happiness," and the Korean counterpart of Mike Ross in the Korean adaptation of the American legal drama series "Suits."

Some of his most popular roles include Ahn Min-hyuk, the playful CEO in the smash-hit drama "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon," for which he garnered immense popularity following his on-screen chemistry with actress Park Bo-young, as well as his role in the legal film "Juror 8," which earned him the Best New Actor award at the 39th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards in November 2019. While he is known for his easygoing charm and a particular aptitude for romantic comedies, Hyungsik has stated that he would like to be casted in an action noir film, underscoring his commitment to continually challenge himself as a performer.

Suzy, hailed as the "Nation's First Love" and a member of the former girl group miss A, has consistently captivated fans with highly anticipated projects throughout her acting career. She made her acting debut in "Dream High" as well, portraying the lead role as aspiring singer Go Hye Mi.

Thereafter, she earned recognition with her role in the film "Architecture 101," where she won the Best New Actress award. Suzy's versatile acting abilities shone through as she took on diverse roles, from the action-packed "Gu Family Book" to the historical drama "The Sound of a Flower." She continued to explore various genres with the romance melodrama "Uncontrollably Fond," fantasy thriller "While You Were Sleeping," and spy-action drama "Vagabond.

Her most recent projects include the Coupang Play series "Anna," where she portrayed the title character, receiving acclaim for her remarkable acting skills and emotional portrayal. She also starred in the Netflix K-drama "Doona!" as the eponymous character, a retired idol engaged in a romantic relationship with a university student (portrayed by Yang Se-jong).

Suzy's remarkable musical success is paralleled by her acting journey, with accolades including Best New Actress awards at the KBS Drama Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards, reflecting her multifaceted talents.

Part of the immensely popular South Korean girl group Girls' Generation, Yoona embarked on her acting journey alongside her music career. In 2007, Yoona embarked on her acting journey with a minor role in the romantic comedy "Two Outs in the Ninth Inning." Just a year later, she seized her first leading role in the family drama "You Are My Destiny," portraying Jang Sae-byuk. The drama's impressive success marked a pivotal moment in Yoona's career, earning her widespread recognition.

Her presence on the small screen continued to shine in hit dramas like "Prime Minister & I," "The K2," and "Big Mouth." In 2017, Yoona ventured into the realm of cinema with her debut in the action film "Confidential Assignment." Subsequently, she graced the screen in the disaster action film "Exit," which emerged as the summer's blockbuster and one of South Korea's highest-grossing films, captivating over nine million viewers. This remarkable journey led to numerous accolades, including her first Blue Dragon and Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Actress nominations. Further enriching her filmography, she also appeared in "A Year-End Medley," a romantic comedy film directed by Kwak Jae-yong, securing her second Blue Dragon Best Actress nomination and her first Baeksang Best Actress nomination.

Her latest endeavour casts her as a hotelier in "King the Land" a romantic comedy where she stars alongside fellow idol-actor Lee Junho.

Another actor who starred in "Dream High", 2PM’s Taecyeon was known for his role as the rebellious yet talented Jin Guk in the popular show. Since then, his acting journey has encompassed diverse roles, from the hot-headed rookie cop in "Who Are You" to the unique exorcist in "Bring it on Ghost." He brought charm to his portrayal of a public service officer with dreams of opening a dumpling shop in "Secret Royal Inspector & Joy" and delved into an intense mystery crime thriller with "Blind."

Taecyeon garnered additional acclaim for his role as Jang Joon Woo in "Vincenzo," where he masterfully embodied the cold-blooded, corrupt conglomerate head while infusing the character with a hint of comedy, highlighting his versatile acting prowess. This marked his first significant antagonistic role since his debut in acting.

In his most recent project, "Heartbeat," he skillfully combines humour and romance as a vampire longing for human experiences.

Taecyeon is not the only 2PM member who has ventured into acting – fellow bandmate Lee Junho has also garnered critical acclaim for his acting prowess.

He made his acting debut in the 2013 action thriller film "Cold Eyes"; since then, he has starred in notable television series such as "Good Manager", where he was praised for his villainous acting in the drama as the arrogant director of finances, romantic melodrama series "Rain or Shine", where played a psychologically scarred survivor of a fatal incident, and showcased his culinary prowess as a cool chef in the romantic comedy "Wok of Love."

One of his most remarkable performances was in the role of the lovelorn and tragic Crown Prince, later Emperor Yi San, in "The Red Sleeve." The drama achieved great success, winning 8 awards at the 2021 MBC Drama Awards, including the Top Excellence Award for Lee Junho. In a groundbreaking achievement, he became the first idol-actor to receive the Best Actor award at the 2022 Korea PD Awards, also securing the titles of Most Popular Actor and Best Actor – Television at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards, marking the first time an idol won the latter category.

His latest project, the Netflix drama "King the Land," features him as the suave chaebol Gu Won, renowned for his aversion to smiles. Co-starring alongside SNSD’s Yoona, he effortlessly showcased his comedic talent and captivated audiences as a genuine romantic lead.

Following her impressive runner-up finish on the popular girl group survival show Produce 101, Kim Sejeong embarked on a promising career as a member of the project girl group I.O.I, before joining Gugudan. Transitioning to acting, she made her debut in the teen drama "School 2017," where her portrayal of the cheerful aspiring webtoon artist garnered her the "Best New Actress" award at the 31st KBS Drama Awards. Her acting journey continued with a leading role in the mystery romantic-comedy "I Wanna Hear Your Song," playing a timpanist recovering from traumatic memory loss.

Since then, she has continued to impress audiences through several projects such as"Today’s Webtoon," where she portrayed Ma Eum, a character in search of her true career passion, and in the acclaimed series "The Uncanny Counter" as the formidable Do Ha-na. In February 2022, her popularity soared with the breezy romantic comedy "A Business Proposal," where she starred alongside actor Ahn Hyo-seop as the food researcher Ha Ri. The drama achieved remarkable viewership ratings and became the first Korean-made TV series to simultaneously top local TV channel and Netflix charts. Sejeong’s performance in the series received widespread acclaim from both viewers and critics alike.

Cha Eun-woo, who is a member of the K-pop boy band Astro, debuted as an actor in 2014 with a minor role in the heartwarming film My Brilliant Life. He then participated in the web-drama To Be Continued, along with the other members of Astro.

The idol continued to further his acting career, and was cast as the romantic lead in the rom-com K-drama "Gangnam Beauty" in 2018. The role elevated his status as an emerging actor, opening doors to a multitude of captivating roles in upcoming dramas. Notably, his role as high school student Lee Su-ho in the coming-of-age romance drama "True Beauty," based on the webtoon of the same name and co-starring with Moon Ga-young, garnered him immense popularity. Since then, he portrayed a Navy officer in Hwang In-ho's urban terror action film "Decibel", and starred in the drama Island, where he played the character of an exorcist priest.

He is currently starring in the romance drama "A Good Day to Be a Dog," which is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name. In this series, he portrays a high school math teacher haunted by a childhood trauma that has left him with a fear of dogs. His co-star in the show is actress Park Gyu-young, who plays a high school Korean language teacher with a unique twist – she transforms into a dog when she kisses someone.