10 Unforgettable Shirtless Scenes from Our Favorite K-Dramas

Say it in your best Ko Moon-young voice: “Wow.”

MJ Jose

October 28, 2021, 09:11 PM

Sculpted shoulders. Rock-hard six-packs. Well-defined biceps. When our oppas dare to bare, the visuals are always picture-perfect.

Shirtless scenes in K-dramas require no discourse. Whether to up the tension or for comedic purposes, whether relevant (it happens) or gratuitous, a shirtless oppa is a shirtless oppa. And who are we to deny such blessings?

The only vice chairman on this earth we'd like to see in a shower scene, Vice President Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon) in 'What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?' | tvN

Let’s get straight to the point. In no particular order, we list down some of the most memorable shirtless scenes in Korean dramas. To say that this was no easy task is an understatement; the PD-nim gods have become more and more generous as of the late, and our library of shirtless scenes just keeps growing. We’re 200% sure we’ve missed a couple, but here are a few excellent ones to tide you over until the next hottie strips his shirt off onscreen.

To all the usual suspects/repeat “offenders," we’re grateful for your service.

10 Unforgettable Shirtless Scenes from Our Favorite K-Dramas

By Metro.StyleSeptember 18 2023, 10:34 PM

Kim Soo-hyun as Moon Gang-tae in 'It’s Okay to Not Be Okay'

Ko Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji) was all of us at this moment when she said, “Wow.”

Photo Credit: tvN, Netflix

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Kim Soo-hyun as Moon Gang-tae in 'It’s Okay to Not Be Okay'

The children’s book author follows Moon Gang-tae into the men’s locker, pinning him down with a fascinated gaze—an indication of things to come—as she reaches out to stroke his abdomen. He slaps her hand away, but she comes right back in for the kill.

Photo Credit: tvN, Netflix

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So Ji-sub as John Kim/Kim Young-ho in 'Oh My Venus'

This is a long one and a glorious one. After seeing John Kim execute some pretty impressive workout sequences sans shirt, we’re given an extra treat in the form of a shower scene.

Photo Credit: KBS

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So Ji-sub as John Kim/Kim Young-ho in 'Oh My Venus'

He strips off his shirt and climbs into the tub, looking as hot and disgruntled as heck while purposely letting a couple of incoming calls drop. Ignorance really is bliss, sometimes.

Photo Credit: KBS

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Ji Chang-wook as Kim Je-ha in 'The K2'

Highly controversial, this two-minute action scene is still one of the most memorable one actor Ji Chang-wook has ever filmed.

Photo Credit: tvN

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Ji Chang-wook as Kim Je-ha in 'The K2'

We see his impressive physique—no stunt doubles were used by our leading man in this series—being put to the test as he brawls with bodyguards at a bathhouse, all of them unclothed with pelvic areas strategically blurred out.

Photo Credit: tvN

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Park Seo-joon as Lee Young-joon in 'What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?'

Oh, to be Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young) at this moment!

Photo Credit: tvN

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Park Seo-joon as Lee Young-joon in 'What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?'

During an enviable love scene, Lee Young-joon carries her to bed and strips off his button-down shirt, rendering us all speechless as we rush to hit ‘pause’ in the hopes of replaying it immediately afterwards. No need to be embarrassed; the universal oppa of K-Drama Land is just that perfect.

Photo Credit: tvN

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Ok Taec-yeon as Jang Han-seok in 'Vincenzo'

Here, we have our villain holding his brother—a guy we actually like—in a death grip via a towel, but we’re distracted by his biceps. And abs. And pecs.

Photo Credit: tvN, Netflix

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Ok Taec-yeon as Jang Han-seok in 'Vincenzo'

Fresh from the shower, a topless Jang Han-seok gets into a heated altercation with Jang Han-seo (Kwak Dong-yeon), quickly reverting back to his eerily nonchalant self once the moment passes. Though he’s lost the bulk from his days in the military, actor Ok Taec-yeon is still very much worthy of the Captain Korea moniker.

Photo Credit: tvN, Netflix

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Ju Ji-hoon as Yun Hee-jae in 'Hyena'

Never going to get enough of Ju Ji-hoon, the OG who’s been making us swoon since Princess Hours.

Photo Credit: SBS

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Ju Ji-hoon as Yun Hee-jae in 'Hyena'

Never going to get enough of shower scenes—especially if those scenes have Ju Ji-hoon. This is quick. This is brief. But the camera angle is everything. And him saying he’s a citizen enraged by the flawed system while encased in steam makes it even sexier, for some reason. Long live conviction! (And six-pack abs!)

Photo Credit: SBS

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Lee Dong-wook as Lee Yeon in 'Tale of the Nine-Tailed'

Ah, the things we do for love. For killing a human, the gumiho Lee Yeon must face a painful punishment—sans shirt, of course.

Photo Credit: tvN

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Lee Dong-wook as Lee Yeon in 'Tale of the Nine-Tailed'

It’s a treacherous trek across the bridge of knives; one that could very well end his life. While our hearts sit in our throats as we hope for his survival with bated breath, we can’t help but ogle Wookie, who is still in perfect shape due to his dedication to fitness.

Photo Credit: tvN

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Ryu Jun-yeol as Kim Jung-hwan in 'Reply 1988'

In what is probably the best bus scene of all time, we see Sung Duk-seon (Lee Hyeri) suffering through what is probably the most uncomfortable ride of her life. She is tossed around by the erratic movements of the bus, toppling over every which way and crashing into strangers. In an attempt to brace her fall, she tugs at Ryu Jun-yeol’s uniform, causing it to flap open, giving her and everyone else onboard an eyeful of toned torso.

Photo Credit: tvN

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Ryu Jun-yeol as Kim Jung-hwan in 'Reply 1988'

Thank you, screenwriter Lee Woo-jung and director Shin Won-ho for this kind of storytelling.

Photo Credit: tvN

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Yoo Yeon-seok as Ahn Jeong-won in 'Hospital Playlist 2'

Is this a callback to Yoo Yeon-seok’s role as Chil-bong in Reply 1994? Is this Shin Won-ho PD-nim acquiescing to a bit of fan service? We don’t really know—but in the face of the Prince Charming of Yulje’s pediatrics department’s broad shoulders and abdominals, does it really matter?

Photo Credit: tvN

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Yoo Yeon-seok as Ahn Jeong-won in 'Hospital Playlist 2'

Kim Jun-wan (Jung Kyung-ho) is one lucky roomie. We’d take a roll of toilet paper to the face, too, if it was a dripping wet Jeong-won tossing it our way.

Photo Credit: tvN

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Lee Seung-gi as Cha Dal-gun in 'Vagabond'

As Cha Dal-gun steps out of the shower, he pauses to trace a symbol on the foggy surface of a mirror, and a flashback sequence ensues. In his haste to share his discovery with Go Hae-ri (Bae Suzy), he runs out of the bathroom completely unclothed, accidentally flashing the shocked girl.

Photo Credit: SBS

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Lee Seung-gi as Cha Dal-gun in 'Vagabond'

Hae-ri is quick to say she saw nothing… But do we really believe her? Either way, “It’s Jerome!” will forever live in our heads rent-free.

Photo Credit: SBS

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BONUS: Everyone Except Song Joong-ki in 'Descendants of the Sun'

This one is a delight, even though everyone is shirtless save for Song Joong-ki’s Yoo Si-jin!

Photo Credit: KBS

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BONUS: Everyone Except Song Joong-ki in 'Descendants of the Sun'

We’re definitely with Doctor Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) when she says, “If they do this at night, I’ll just live here,” as she continues to ignore Big Boss to watch the topless soldiers jog away.

Photo Credit: KBS

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