The Many Faces of Hyun Bin: The Evolution of a Superstar
We look at the South Korean heartthrob’s transformation from his earlier to the present!
Any self-respecting K-Drama fan in 2020, old or new, would know who Kim Tae-pyung is. More popularly known as Hyun Bin, he’s been many memorable characters to all of us throughout his storied career.
Whether you’ve known him since his breakthrough hit 'My Name is Kim Sam-soon' or you’ve just discovered his charm in global phenomenon 'Crash Landing on You', the Korean superstar’s work in television and film has taken us through many stories and many hours of drama, action, romance, and comedy.
There’s no denying that Hyun Bin possesses great talent, having top-billed many notable titles in his filmography. He boasts a lean but mean body of work, with many lauded performances through 18 years in the industry.
Quite elusive to the public at this point in his career, there is little of Hyun Bin seen outside of his work on the big and small screens as well as official engagements and promotional events—and we all know that the mystery adds to the charm!
Admit it, you can’t get enough of his coveted V-shape face, that signature dimple, and his shy smile. We can go on and on about his facial features, so we’re here to take a peek at the evolution of Hyun Bin since he debuted in 2003. (Just as we did with his Crash Landing on You co-star and other half of the widely shipped #BinJin couple Son Ye-jin!)
As we await his appearance and possible Best Actor win at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards airing on June 5, see Hyun Bin’s transformation from 2003 to present!
Hyun Bin Evolution
Hyun Bin Evolution
Pre-Debut
(1/4) Before he was making women fall in love with his roles on TV and in film, the young Kim Tae-pyung’s head-turning good looks was already breaking hearts in school. His childhood friends even revealed in an interview he already had a fan club as early as then!
Photo Credit: Koreaboo
Pre-Debut
(2/4) His school photos show a younger Hyun Bin with the eyes, nose, lips, and jawline we all know and love him for! (He’s not smiling, but we know the dimple’s there somewhere!) He also favored the brushed-up spiked hair that was trendy during those years.
Photo Credit: Koreaboo
Pre-Debut
(3/4) In a sea of students, his slicked back hair made him a standout—it’s no wonder he was so popular with the girls in the whole district!
Photo Credit: Koreaboo
Pre-Debut
(4/4) His friends also recalled how he went on to study theater and film at Chung-ang University on regular admission, revealing that Hyun Bin isn’t just a handsome face. He’s a smart cookie, too!
Photo Credit: Koreaboo
Bodyguard (2003)
After his first film Shower (2002) unfortunately ran into production issues, he finally debuted in the series Bodyguard as the stalker to a supporting character in the show played by Lee Se-eun. Though it was a short appearance, Hyun Bin’s poolside aesthetic was definitely a look worthy of the early ’00s.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Nonstop 4 (2003)
(1/2) He then appeared in the sitcom Nonstop 4 as himself, the spiky hair of his childhood making its way onto the small screen.
Photo Credit: Soompi Forums
Nonstop 4 (2003)
Photo Credit: Moveek
Spin Kick (2004)
(1/2) Hyun Bin’s first commercially released film Spin Kick cast him in the role of Min-gyu, the only member of his school’s martial arts team. He grew his hair longer, leaving behind the spikes of his younger years behind.
Photo Credit: VK
Spin Kick (2004)
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Ireland (September 2004)
After Spin Kick, Hyun Bin returned to television as the second lead in Ireland. For Kang Gook, he added a bit of layer to his hair to give it more body. You can already see the makings of a future male lead in a drama!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Daddy Long-Legs (2005)
He also briefly appeared in flashbacks in the Ha Ji-won-starrer Daddy Long-Legs—yes, the first time they “shared” a screen together!—where he sported wispy bangs for the small role.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
My Name is Kim Sam-soon (2005)
(1/3) We don’t need to say anything more to introduce Kim Sam-soon, of course. The romantic comedy that shot Hyun Bin to superstardom, he played g Hyun Jin-hyeon to Kim Sun-a’s Sam-soon, the show is one of the highest-rating Korean dramas of ALL time.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
My Name is Kim Sam-soon (2005)
(2/3) As restaurateur and (future) hotelier Jin-heon, he went back to his signature spiky ’do that reminded us so much of his debut years.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
My Name is Kim Sam-soon (2005)
(3/3) The series also starred Daniel Henney, who Hyun Bin developed a close friendship with while filming. In this candid photo, we can see how his hair is spikier (possibly without professional styling).
Photo Credit: Reddit
MBC Drama Awards (2005)
My Name is Kim Sam-soon paved the way for Hyun Bin’s talents to be recognized, as he sweeped the MBC Drama Awards that year. He won three awards and accepted them with his now-long hair brushed back for a more awards show-appropriate look.
Photo Credit: Soompi Forums
A Millionaire’s First Love (2006)
(1/2) His next film saw him take on the role of Kang Jae-kyung, an arrogant rich kid who has to transfer to a school in the province as his grandfather’s will before he can inherit their family’s vast fortune. Hyun Bin channeled his inner bad boy for the part, growing his hair the longest it’s so far been.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
A Millionaire’s First Love (2006)
(2/2) As he slowly found an appreciation for the quiet life, he also found love in Choi Eun-hwan that completely changed his perspectives. He even let her tie his long hair up in pigtails! (Awww!)
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The Snow Queen (2006-2007)
(1/2) Though not his best drama, The Snow Queen introduced a mature Hyun Bin who played Han Tae-woong—a boxer grappling with trauma from his past. Here, the actor continued to shed his “younger” image with a long mop top and facial hair!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The Snow Queen (Nov 2006-Jan 2007)
(2/2) The cut framed his face so well, his cheekbones looking even sharper as ever. We also see a tinge of a lighter hair color.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
KBS Drama Awards (December 2006)
Snow Queen was considered “underperforming,” but showcased Hyun Bin as an actor with serious skills. He went on to sweep the KBS Drama Awards in 2006, winning an Excellence Award, Popularity Award, and Best Couple Award (with Sung Yu-ri). He attended the show sporting long, dark, layered hair and a beard.
Photo Credit: KBS
Summer Days (2008)
He also starred in a mini-drama produced to promote LG’s X-Note Laptops where he worked with Shin Min-a and Ryu Seong-beom. He cleaned up a little bit for the short stint, ditching the facial hair and trimming his locks.
Photo Credit: My Drama List
I Am Happy (2008)
Hyun Bin went on to take on different roles, including an institutionalized character in I Am Happy—a film that screened at the 13th Busan International Film Festival in 2008, but wasn’t released commercially until November 2009. As Man-soo, who suffers from mental illness, the actor didn’t really have a “hairstyle” to speak of, but kept his long hair from previous years.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Worlds Within (2008)
(1/3) His next drama, starring alongside his ex Song Hye-kyo as Joo Joon-young, earned Hyun Bin praises for his talent. He also further cemented his status as a heartthrob with his portrayal of Jung Ji-oh—a man who struggles in his relationship with Joon-young due to their differences in values and social status.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Worlds Within (2008)
(2/3) He ditched the mop top for the show, while still keeping the general length he’s worn since My Name is Kim Sam-soon.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Worlds Within (2008)
(3/3) He mostly kept his hair down and swept to the side, but Worlds Within also treated us to a sleeker quiff-like hairstyle for Hyun Bin!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Friend, Our Legend (2009)
(1/2) Hyun Bin then worked on the TV adaptation of a 2001 Korean film where he played Hang Dong-soo, a young man who grows hardened by time on the tough streets of Busan entangled in its in underground gangs.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Friend, Our Legend (2009)
(2/2) To prepare for his role as the lead in the drama, he was reported to have watched the film more than 20 times and, well, shaved his long hair into a buzz cut. Friend, Our Legend is widely known as one of his most critically acclaimed works.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Secret Garden (2010)
(1/2) Another title that needs no introduction in Hyun Bin’s filmography, Secret Garden launched “Hyun Bin Syndrome” as coined by his co-star Ha Ji-won. As chaebol Kim Joo-won, we see an earlier incarnation of the famous bowl cut we see in his future role as Captain Ri in Crash Landing on You.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Secret Garden (2010)
(2/2) He also wore it with a side part to reveal side-swept bangs!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Secret Garden Press Conference (2010)
He also brought Joo-won to the Secret Garden Press Conference as he attended with leading lady Ha Ji-won wearing his signature look from the show.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
SBS Drama Awards (2010)
(1/2) His performance in Secret Garden was recognized at the SBS Drama Awards when he sweeped all the categories he was nominated in. Hyun Bin received his awards looking sleek and dapper with a textured pompadour—one of his best looks yet!
Photo Credit: The Drama Scenes
SBS Drama Awards (2010)
(2/2) He also looked more chiseled than ever, his high cheekbones and deep dimple reminding us just why Hyun Bin became the heartthrob he is since debuting.
Photo Credit: The Drama Scenes
Late Autumn (2011)
(1/2) Hyun Bin went on to star in back to back films, the first of which is a remake of a 1960s film. In Late Autumn, he plays the role of Hoon who meets Tang Wei’s Anna on a bus ride to Seattle.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Late Autumn (2011)
(2/2) He is revealed to be a gigolo, characterized by his pompadour and a slight beard.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Come Rain, Come Shine (2011)
(1/2) His other film Come Rain, Come Shine tells the story of a married couple in the midst of a breakup and what ensues during their last day together. Compared to his previous role, his character keeps his long-ish hair loose to show off its natural curls.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Come Rain, Come Shine (2011)
(2/2) Hyun Bin also keeps his facial hair for this role, as he did with his character in Late Autumn.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Military Enlistment (2011)
After eight successful years in the industry, Hyun Bin took a hiatus to fulfill his mandatory military enlistment. He signed up with the Marine Corps. Of course, he had to shave off his hair to a buzz cut, but we already know he still looks awesome from his previous role in Friend, Our Legend.
Photo Credit: Korea Times
Military Service (2012)
Despite serving in the South Korean military’s toughest branch, Hyun Bin managed to keep his skin relatively clear throughout his service. We wonder what his skincare was because we’re seriously amazed!
Photo Credit: A Koala's Playground
Military Service (2012)
Towards the end of his enlistment, Hyun Bin hosted a PR event for the Marines where he awed everyone with his striking good looks dressed in full military regalia.
Photo Credit: A Koala's Playground
Military Discharge (2012)
Hyun Bin was discharged in December 2012 where he shed tears upon receiving the support of his many fans. He promised to come back to acting for them!
Photo Credit: Hello K-Pop
The Fatal Encounter (2014)
After spending most of 2013 shooting advertisements and holding fan meets, Hyun Bin’s comeback was The Fatal Encounter where he portrayed King Jeongjo of the Joseon era. In his first period film, he donned traditional royal garb and grew his beard to transform into the 22nd ruler of the dynasty.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The Fatal Encounter (2014)
What impressed us further in the film, however, was Hyun Bin’s physique as the “King of Misfortune”!
Photo Credit: @withhyunbin
Hyde, Jekyll, Me (2015)
(1/3) In his comeback to TV, Hyde, Jekyll, Me, he played another chaebol; this time, a man with dissociative identity disorder. He was both cold-hearted Goo Seo-jin and sweet-natured Robin at the same time.
Photo Credit: A Koala's Playground
Hyde, Jekyll, Me (January 2015)
(2/3) Hyun Bin seemed to have lost a bit of the muscle he built from his military training as well as The Fatal Attraction, but looked super good nonetheless. He wore a faded hairstyle, which signaled the change between his characters. As Seo-jin, he wears his bangs to the side...
Photo Credit: A Koala's Playground
Hyde, Jekyll, Me (January 2015)
(3/3) ...and as Robin he styles his bangs in a bowl cut.
Photo Credit: A Koala's Playground
Confidential Assignment (2017)
Hyun Bin put up his own agency in 2016 and worked on Confidential Assignment, which premiered in January 2017. This film was his first project portraying a character from North Korea, a detective named Il Cheol-ryung who is sent to the South to cooperate with their authorities in catching criminals.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Confidential Assignment (2017)
For the role, his short hair is brushed-up and his facial hair is back!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Confidential Assignment Press Conference (2017)
By the time the press conference for Confidential Assignment rolled around, Hyun Bin’s hair had grown considerably and styled it with a middle part and some curls—definitely something new for him!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The Negotiation Script Reading (2017)
By June 2017, his work on The Negotiation with Son Ye-jin began with a script reading where he was seen sporting a sleeker mid-length cut and a bit of facial hair.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The Negotiation
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Rampant Script Reading (2017)
He was also sporting the same hairstyle as he did a table read for Rampant in August 2017, his V-line framed perfectly by the cut!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The Swindlers (2017)
(1/2) Hyun Bin’s next film, The Swindlers, then came out in November where he played con-man Hwang Ji-sung alongside an all-star cast. To transform into the handsome swindler, he changes his look between clean-cut...
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The Swindlers Press Conference (2017)
(1/2) He does the same while promoting the film, wearing his hair naturally loose for one press conference...
Photo Credit: Hancinema
The Swindlers Press Conference (November 2017)
(2/2) ...To going for a combed version of his mid-length, middle-parted hair for another.
Photo Credit: A Koala's Playground
The Negotiation (2018)
The Negotiation then premiered in June, his first onscreen work opposite Son Ye-jin, where he played the scruffy kidnapper Min Tae-gu who is the villain to negotiator Ha Chae-yoon.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Rampant (2018)
His film Rampant was released commercially in October where he portrayed Prince Lee Chung. He dons traditional Korean dress once again, but with less facial hair than his previous role in a period film.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Memories of the Alhambra (2018)
(1/2) By December, his work on Memories of the Alhambra premiered on TV. As Yoo Jin-woo, he was a dapper CEO of an investment company who encounters a glitch in an Augmented Reality game he’s trying to acquire. As his story starts out in Alhambra, Spain, Hyun Bin is a vision with wispy bangs and shorter hair.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Memories of the Alhambra (2018)
(2/2) Honestly, one of his best looks in a drama yet!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
55th Baeksang Arts Awards (2019)
For his work in Memories, he was nominated for a Best Actor award at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards where he wowed in an all-black ensemble and perfectly coiffed hair.
Photo Credit: Soompi
Crash Landing on You (2019-2020)
(1/5) Of course, there’s no introduction needed to Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok. When Crash Landing on You premiered in December and picked up momentum through January, Hyun Bin had already wowed his audience with his acting range as the seemingly cold-shouldered yet soft-hearted Captain Ri. Who can forget his helmet hair, too?
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Crash Landing on You (2019-2020)
(2/5) We know he’s supposed to be a North Korean military man, but can we talk about his perfect cheekbones? That jawline? There’s no denying Hyun Bin can pull off any uniform!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Crash Landing on You (2019-2020)
(3/5) We know he’s supposed to be a North Korean military man, but can we talk about his perfect cheekbones? That jawline? There’s no denying Hyun Bin can pull off any uniform!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Crash Landing on You (2019-2020)
(4/5) We also see a different side of the stern Captain Ri in flashbacks while he’s studying in Switzerland. Here, he ditches the helmet hair and sweeps his bangs to the side for that school boy charm. Who else can pull this off at 36 years old? We’re not sure many others can.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Crash Landing on You (2019-2020)
(5/5) His transformation from a North Korean soldier to a South Korean “bodyguard” is also worth noting, his Ivy League side part serving up a more dapper vibe.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
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BEAUTYMar 14, 2023