The Best of Kang Tae-Oh: From ‘Prince of Vietnam’ to Lee Jun-Ho
Scroll through if ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ brought you here!
If you’ve so much as casually browsed through Netflix in the past month, you’ve probably seen Extraordinary Attorney Woo sitting consistently on the list of Top 10 TV Shows in the Philippines Today. Aside from Park Eun-bin’s impressive turn as South Korea’s first lawyer with autism, you can’t possibly miss the Internet’s most searched Korean actor online, too!
Kang Tae-oh, born Kim Yoon-hwan, plays Lee Jun-ho in Extraordinary Attorney Woo. He’s a member of the litigation team at Hanbada Law Firm who’s won everyone’s hearts as the other half of the series’ beloved “Whale Couple.” The role may be the 28-year-old’s biggest breakthrough to date, but he’s no lightweight either. A quick look at his filmography reveals almost 10 years’ worth of television dramas, web series, and films—and many have begun to dig through his past work while patiently waiting for the next episodes of Attorney Woo to drop.
Unfortunately for all of us, he’ll be taking a break from his acting career to enlist in the military either by the end of August or in September. So if you’re just as heartbroken to see him go, you have a lot to look back on as we go through his on-screen evolution below. As usual, minor spoilers ahead for some of the shows if you haven’t seen them!
Kang Tae-oh Evolution
Kang Tae-oh Evolution
5urprise (2013-2020)
(1/2) We’ve all heard of idols debuting as actors, but Kang Tae-oh was actually a member of South Korea’s first actor group 5urprise. He debuted in 2013 after two years of training under his management Fantagio, sporting the hairstyle du jour of that era: a shaggy two-block cut styled in long spikes for the ultimate actor-idol look!
Photo Credit: Alchetron
5urprise (2013-2020)
(2/2) Favoring a cleaner style this time, he also pulled off the disheveled quiff quite well.
Photo Credit: Alchetron
After School: Lucky or Not (2013-2014)
In his first project with 5urprise, he starred in the school drama as Kang Tae-poong where we see him take a stab at the familiar pineapple hairstyle (complete with the headband!) we’ve all loved since ‘Meteor Garden.’
Photo Credit: MyDramaList
Miss Korea (2013-2014)
He then appeared in the romantic drama ‘Miss Korea,’ playing the son of Ma Ae-ri—one of the series’ lead characters. The layered cut and bangs were so 2013!
Photo Credit: welove5urprise
Flower of the Queen (2015)
Giving in to a sleeker, straighter neat fringe, Kang Tae-oh charms as Heo Dong-gu in this melodrama.
Photo Credit: MBCdrama
The Dearest Lady (2015)
As Choi Young-kwang, one of the supporting roles in this family-oriented mini-series, the budding actor sported a clean side part befitting of his fashion-savvy character.
Photo Credit: MBCdrama
To Be Continued (2015)
He then made a brief appearance in the web series ‘To Be Continued,’ where he played a young thug with a penchant for messy, slicked-back hair.
Photo Credit: Kang Tae Oh
Forever Young (2014-2015)
Kang Tae-oh earned his nickname “Prince of Vietnam” through his work as Lee Jun-su in this two-part series produced between Vietnam and South Korea. He plays a character who’s a trainee in one of the country’s top entertainment companies, so it makes sense he looks TV-worthy with that side-swept fringe!
Photo Credit: Newsnpr
You're Too Much (2017)
Next, he took on the challenge of portraying a blind cafe owner in the family drama ‘You’re Too Much’ where you can also see him flex his vocal pipes as the son of a pop singer. This role even earned him the Rising Star Award in the 2017 Asia Artist Awards. Are we feeling this textured, colored shag? Yes, we are!
Photo Credit: IMDb
Law of the Jungle (2017)
Kang Tae-oh also became a cast member in ‘Law of the Jungle’ for a few episodes—and we know his hairstyle isn’t anything new, but him packing those abs makes us go “Whoa, whoa.”
Photo Credit: @allkpop
Short (2018)
He then moved on to play Kang Ho-yeong, a short-track speed skater from the countryside, in the four-episode series ‘Short.’ If you think he effortlessly pulled off this favorite two-block haircut with a slight part, he absolutely did!
Photo Credit: Naver
Evergreen (2018)
How cute is Kang Tae-oh as Kim Jin-woo in this fantasy rom-com? The textured bowl cut definitely suits him!
Photo Credit: DramaPanda
Busted! (2018)
The same year, he also made a special appearance with the rest of the 5urprise members in an episode of Netflix’s ‘Busted!’ Taking on the role of a high school student, Kang Tae-oh looked every bit the part with those curtain bangs.
Photo Credit: @jensejeong
My First First Love (2019)
Kang Tae-oh then took on the role of aspiring theater actor Choi Hoon for two seasons of this popular Netflix web series. No wonder he wore that textured bowl cut with so much confidence!
Photo Credit: Kpopmap
Tale of Nokdu (2019)
(1/3) As Cha Yool-moo in ‘Tale of Nokdu,’ Kang Tae-oh was a charming Joseon-era royal who wore the sangtu (a top knot worn with a headband) like it’s nobody’s business.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Tale of Nokdu (2019)
(2/3) Worn by noblemen and scholars, he carried the traditional hairstyle so well. He mentioned in an interview that it was his mother’s dream to see him play a king…
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Tale of Nokdu (2019)
(3/3) …And in the series, he stages a successful coup and eventually becomes the next ruler of Joseon. Just like Park Eun-bin in all of her sageuk dramas, Kang Tae-oh definitely served looks as a royal. He also won Best New Actor at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards for this role!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Love With Flaws (2019)
Just before his string of upcoming hit dramas, he also made a brief cameo in the romantic comedy ‘Love with Flaws’ as the dapper Oh Jung-tae—the lead star’s ex-boyfriend. How can you not stare back when he’s got the perfect hair, the sparkly smile, and those bright eyes?
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Run On (2020-2021)
(1/3) As the second lead in the romantic sports drama ‘Run On,’ Kang Tae-oh was charming and cheeky as a college student named Lee Yeong-hwa. At 26, he’s still playing a haksaeng in uni and still looks the part!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Run On (2020-2021)
(2/3) This textured two-block cut is becoming a bit of a signature at this point, and those glasses just add that extra oomph to the look.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Run On (2020-2021)
(3/3) At one point in the drama, you would also spot him sporting this slicked-back hairstyle!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Doom At Your Service (2021)
(1/3) Last year, Kang Tae-oh brought to life cafe owner Lee Hyun-kyu in ‘Doom at Your Service’ looking all crush-worthy with the curtain bangs to top off his textured two-block cut.
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Doom At Your Service (2021)
(2/3) The perfect visuals, you say? Kang Tae-oh’s got you covered. You’d recognize that smile from a mile away!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
Doom At Your Service (2021)
(3/3) Lee Hyun-kyu also let it be known that Kang Tae-oh can pull off a mean wet look when he wants to!
Photo Credit: Hancinema
KBS Drama Special (2021)
He then went back to a classic bowl cut for his role as Cha Min-jae in an episode of KBS Drama Special titled ‘The Effect of a Finger Flick on a Breakup.’
Photo Credit: @kbsdramaspecial
Thirty-Nine (2022)
Before officially becoming Lee Jun-ho, he also made a special appearance on ‘Thirty Nine’ looking casual and cool as a part-timer at a restaurant.
Photo Credit: @kdramatreats
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
(1/3) At present, Kang Tae-oh is about to wrap up his stint as Lee Jun-ho in this ongoing critically acclaimed drama. As the charming love interest of the show’s titular Woo Young-woo, you can tell the male lead glow-up is real!
Photo Credit: ZAPZEE
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
(2/3) Kang Tae-oh perfectly portrays the kind, compassionate Lee Jun-ho who made us fall in love with those expressive eyes.
Photo Credit: ZAPZEE
Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
(3/3) He falls in love with Young-woo and enjoys going out on ‘extraordinary’ dates with her, including protesting with her to free dolphins from the aquarium—which gives us a few minutes of Kang Tae-oh bringing the cute as he confidently dons a stuffed whale headband.
Photo Credit: Koran Memo
Singles (2022)
Kang Tae-oh is no stranger to photo shoots either, having graced ‘Singles’ several times throughout his career. We’re really digging the tousled hair in his latest one, though!
Photo Credit: @kto940620
KBO League 2022
Undoubtedly a new “Golden Boy” in K-Drama, Kang Tae-oh also brought out the smize when he suited up to throw the first pitch to open the baseball league in early August. Visuals? Check. Personality? Check. Talent? Check, check, check!
Photo Credit: @kto940620
Banner photos via @kto940620, Alchetron, Newsnpr, Hancinema, and ZAPZEE
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