Push Admin

K-Drama’s Queen Of Cute: 16 Years Of Park Min-Young’s On-Screen Beauty

Take a look back at the popular South Korean actress’ evolution on TV and film!

Article (news)

Elaine Carag-Calderon

<p>There’s just something about <strong>Park Min-young</strong> and everybody knows it. The now-35-year-old actress debuted in a commercial film (CF) for a telecommunications company in 2004, and has gone on to star in a string of successful television dramas, a film, and even more CFs since.</p><div><br/></div><p>Also known by her English name Rachel, the flawless beauty is a constant presence in South Korea’s ‘Most Beautiful’ lists. Who isn’t familiar with Park Min-young’s goddess-like visuals? It’s even more impressive how the actress has had no qualms admitting to getting plastic surgery in the past, and continues to prove that she’s not just about her looks. She may be the envy of many who covet her perfect features, radiant skin, and stunning body, but it’s her continuously growing body of work that has made Park Min-young one of the most popular actresses in South Korea.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/18abae9f-dd04-4509-b5da-40cbc8b97104_258278128_473704214078194_6466733761061476922_n.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><p>She quickly rose to fame after appearing in High Kick in 2006, landing her breakthrough role in coming-of-age series Sungkyunkwan Scandal in 2010, and becoming a romantic drama powerhouse. Today, she topbills the ongoing series Forecasting Love and Weather opposite actor Song Kang.</p><div><br/></div><p>Swipe through the gallery below to see all of Park Min-Young’s transformations on-screen!</p><div><br/></div><div class="article-content" itemProp="articleBody"><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/869c9d0a-e4f3-4a86-9628-5f0495c722fd_galleryparkminyoung.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/bff082fc-51bc-4d4a-ae9f-ff1fc85db4bd_2006_high kick.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0c5f9e47-34d7-4423-8bd6-bf19f85105a9_2007_i am sam2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/04bfb945-f83e-498c-abbe-800eee647ba9_2008_hometown legends.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/a2333ab9-cbdb-4021-a336-7b58657b3ebd_2009_ja myung go.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0cf04b12-b264-4bf9-acef-c8518d041a2e_2010_running goo.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/2d9aea41-0cf1-4de3-806a-b141220df2da_2010 sungkyunwan scandal.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/e96f683e-57ac-4474-a1f2-a13360420e79_2011_city hunter.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/1a9d6930-cba9-4341-8458-18d6fe3b659e_2011_the cat.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/c87c590d-270a-4e0d-90de-5fd5a06aa00a_2011_glory jane.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/261ea854-e249-4c7c-bb2e-6967b16b446d_2011_glory jane2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/efd8b036-18db-4735-b04a-4111e64f8636_2012_dr jin1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/9f27bcc0-c37d-4821-9fb8-dc8f7ebb3080_2012_dr jin2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/78c0a581-99f8-4399-9aec-ed39bfb7418e_2014_a new leaf.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/ff33cba9-9ed9-4d0e-aab0-dab688d8228a_2014_healer.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/fa8ee4dd-211f-4974-98ce-fca4d1b0a8c2_2015_remember war of the son.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/8de3b314-9a33-4056-90f0-caaf24987b21_2017_queen for seven days.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d92da227-d446-4a6a-a601-c30e2ce20169_2018_what_s wrong with secretary kim.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d806b67a-16e8-48ae-a336-a06cae5a16e7_2018_what_s wrong with secretary kim2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/4ebabce1-b5f7-4306-9451-351076cd3a20_2019_her private life2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/7d375caa-e90c-4943-9f49-b930e56beb37_2019_her private life.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/291f2275-c810-4006-ac9a-e5c79bb554a8_2020_when the weather is fine.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/1ed54f2a-bd6b-4eca-802a-2a05623261e4_2022_forecasting love and weather.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/23368c08-6eae-4be1-8d9d-3f6b59193f7b_2022_forecasting love and weather2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>High Kick (2006) - Meet Kang Yoo-mi, 20-year-old Park Min-young’s debut supporting role in MBC sitcom ‘High Kick.’ She played girlfriend to one of the show’s main characters, embodying a fresh-faced impressionable student with her side-parted hair, glowing skin, and glossy lips.<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>I Am Sam (2007) - The next year, she landed her first main role in a K-Drama in ‘I Am Sam’ as Yoo Eun-byul—a high school student and daughter of a dangerous gangster. Although already 21 at the time, Park Min-young still looked every bit like a haksaeng!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Hometown Legends (2008) - After playing students in her first two roles, Park Min-young did a 360 and starred as a mythical nine-tailed fox in one of the episodes of ‘Hometown Legends’—a supernatural historical drama about classic Korean ghost stories. How do you feel about her silver-haired, long-clawed transformation into a gumiho?<cite>MyDramaList</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Ja Myung Go (2009) - In 2009, Park Min-young starred in period drama ‘Ja Myung Go’ as villainous Princess Ra-hee of the Nakrang Kingdom. Growing past student roles, the actress grows ever more beautiful drama after drama!<cite>Viu</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Running Gu (2010) - Next up, the 24-year-old actress began her string of leading roles with Moon Haeng-joo in the drama special ‘Running, Gu.” She portrayed the friend and love interest to the two male leads. We can’t blame them, though! Even dressed down with her hair in a loose ponytail, she still looks gorgeous!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Sungkyungkwan Scandal (2010) - Park Min-young’s breakthrough role in ‘Sungkyunkwan Scandal’ became a turning point in her career. As Kim Yoon-hee, she disguised herself as her brother Kim Yoon-shik to study in a men’s only university in order to support her family. What do you think of her as a man from the Joseon period?<cite>KAFPhotoblog</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>City Hunter (2011) - She then followed up her successful showing in ‘Sungkyunkwan Scandal’ with another hit, ‘City Hunter,’ where she portrayed a Blue House bodyguard named Kim Na-na. Tough yet beautiful? Oh, yes!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The Cat (2011) - The same year, the actress ventured into what would be her first and last film in her entire career thus far. In the horror tale, she played So-yeon—a young woman who works in a pet shop having strange dreams of a child with cat-like eyes. A pale-faced Park Min-young may have been new to the fans, but it didn’t make her any less beautiful!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Glory Jane (2011) - (1/2) To end a busy 2011, Park Min-young starred in ‘Glory Jane’ as Yoon Jae-in who is an aspiring nurse with no recollection of her past. It’s the first time we see her with a chic bob, proving a face like hers can pull off any hairstyle!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Glory Jane (2011) - (2/2) Already 25 at this point, she can still pass off as a young student with those braided pigtails in one of the scenes from ‘Glory Jane.’<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Dr. Jin (2012) - (1/2) After her big year, Park Min-young then took on the lead female roles in historical TV drama ‘Dr. Jin.’ One of her characters were present-day Yoo Mi-na, a doctor and girlfriend to lead Jin Hyuk. We know she’s a doctor, but we won’t hesitate asking for hair care tips with locks so beautiful!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Dr. Jin (2012) - (2/2) Her other character, Hong Young-rae, is a young noblewoman from the Joseon period who looks exactly like Mi-na—except with the traditional garb and hairstyle. At this point, it’s no surprise Park Min-young can pull off the a pretty hanbok and hair accessories perfectly.  <cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A New Leaf (2014) - In her comeback drama, Park Min-young played law intern Lee Ji-yoon in ‘A New Leaf.’ Even after taking a break for two years, the actress looked as radiant as ever. She looked even more beautiful than we remembered her last! <cite>MyDramaList</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Healer (2014) - She then followed-up with hit drama ‘Healer,’ where she played news reporter Chae Young-shin. We’re big fans of this edgier look! It was a refreshing change to see Park Min-young with this hairstyle, don’t you think?<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Remember: War of the Son (2015) - The next year, ‘Remember: War of the Son’ saw Park Min-young become Lee In-ah. With her ageless good looks, we can’t tell she’s already almost 30 years old at this point. It’s really her glowing complexion that gets us every time.<cite>MyDramaList</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Queen for Seven Days (2017) - As the titular Queen Dan-gyeong in ‘Queen for Seven Days,’ Park Min-young looked every bit regal in the historical romantic comedy drama. The slight dark tint on her lips really stands out against her alabaster skin!  <cite>MyDramaList</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>What&#x27;s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018) - (1/2) One of Park Min-young’s more memorable roles in recent memory, the titular Secretary Kim always looked beautiful and polished with her pristine ponytail and flawless makeup. No wonder she wins everyone’s hearts in the show!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>What&#x27;s Wrong with Secretary Kim? (2018) - (2/2) Even out of her usual corporate outfits, she stuns with subtly lined eyes and perfectly tinted lips.<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Her Private Life (2019) - As a proud museum curator, Sung Deok-mi was very pristine and put-together in her style.<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Her Private Life (2019) - But as a secret fangirl, she was even more lovable—the character further cementing Park Min-young as the Queen of Cute in K-Dramas. Ever flawless in her beauty, you won’t be able to stop staring at that gorgeous face! <cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>When the Weather is Fine (2020) - In 2020, Park Min-young played Mok Hae-won—a beautiful cellist who moves to the quiet countryside and meets a man who changes the way she sees life. At this point, we’re already convinced the actress doesn’t age at all as she still looks the same even after years taking on one character after another!<cite>MyDramaList</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Forecasting Love and Weather (2022) - (1/2) Nowadays, we can’t get enough of Park Min-young as Jin Ha-kyung in JTBC’s ‘Forecasting Love and Weather.’ Although playing roles her age, she looks as if she’s stopped aging in her early 20s. Those glasses look pretty cute, too!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Forecasting Love and Weather (2022) - (2/2) A total boss, Jin Ha-kyung is the general forecaster of the Korea Meteorogical Administration. Although very corporate in her look, the was of pink on her lids, cheeks, and lips are TDF!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div></div></div></div><div><em><br/></em></div><div><em>Lead photos via <strong>Hancinema</strong> and <strong>MyDramaList</strong></em></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/beauty/skincare/young-korean-celebrities-skincare-makeup-secrets/30819" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">#SkinGoals: Skin Care and Makeup Tips from The Freshest Faces of K-Drama</a></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/beauty/skincare/beautiful-korean-actresses-in-their-30s-40s-50s/30722" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">14 Ageless Korean Actresses In K-Dramaland</a></div>