10 Top K-Drama Actors You Didn't Know Started As Models
The perfect man does exist! See how Nam joo-hyuk, Byeon Woo-seok, Lee Jong-suk and more transformed their careers from being models to becoming award-winning actors.
In an age dominated by multi-hyphenates, it isn’t uncommon to find out that your favorite K-drama actor was also a former model, singer, or even as a professional athlete! Juggling multiple careers isn’t unusual and so is jumping from one career to another. Over the years, we’ve seen the likes of Kim Woo-bin, So Ji-sub, Lee Jong-suk, Nam Joo-hyuk, Byeon Woo-seok and more, take over our screens with their good looks, impressive acting skills, and jaw-dropping ensembles in their respective dramas! But you would be surprised to find out that these actors actually started out as towering and high fashion models for brands like JW Anderson, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, and Seoul Fashion Week frequents Juun.J, Vanhart di Albazar, Beyond Closet, and more.
After sifting through their previous work and lining them up with their most recent projects, we’re so impressed to see that these actors have defied all odds and found success in their chosen paths as actors. Since most of them are still incredibly active in the K-drama industry, we think its safe to say that you will be seeing more of their high fashion looks from their many luxury brand partnerships and glossy magazine features. Take a good look at the gallery down below and see their inspiring transformations from models to actors!
Models Turned K-Drama Actors
Models Turned K-Drama Actors
Ahn Jae-hyun
Jae-hyun’s career as a model started in 2009. During his stint in the fashion industry, Jae-hyun has walked for MCM and South Korean brands Munsoo Kwon, Leigh, Steve J & Yoni P, and Dominic’s Way up until 2017. Considered as the best model face to ever cross over into acting, best believe you’ll be falling in love with his good looks and sense of style on top of his already impressive acting skills.
Photo Credit: Photo from Seoul Fashion Week
Ever since he left his career as a model, Jae-hyun has starred in dramas ‘The Beauty Inside’, ‘Love With Flaws’, and more.
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (Love With Flaws)
Byeon Woo-seok
We weren’t exactly surprised to find out that Woo-seok used to be a runway model. After digging into his former work as a model, we came to find out that during his one year in the fashion industry he has already walked for Seoul Fashion Week frequents such as Vanhart di Albazar, Ordinary People, Cres E Dim, and Caruso.
Photo Credit: Photo from Seoul Fashion Week
Shortly after his modeling career, Woo-seok began taking acting projects. He debuted as an actor in 2016 for a minor role in the series ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’. After just a few years, he managed to gain our focus with his swoon-worthy role in 'Record Of Youth’. Woo-seok is definitely the man we should look out for!
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (Record Of Youth)
Jang Ki-yong
From Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Song Zio, Beyond Closet, to Studio K, this runway model turned actor has got the upper hand right from the start. Ki-yong debuted as a model in 2012. After two busy years as a model, Ki-yong took a great shift towards the K-drama industry.
Photo Credit: Photo from Seoul Fashion Week
After a couple of cameos and supporting roles, Ki-yong bagged lead roles in ‘Come And Hug Me’, ‘Search: WWW’, and ‘Born Again’. This year, we’re bound to see him in ‘My Roommate Is A Gumiho’!
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (My Roomate Is A Gumiho)
Kim Woo-bin
There’s no need for an introduction for Woo-bin. This K-drama industry great has been a household name in our hearts! Did you know that he debuted as a runway model in 2008? During his modeling career, Woo-bin has walked for D.Bnak, Vanhart di Albazar, Kimseoryong Homme, and more! After landing on a number of prêt-à-porter and Seoul Fashion Week shows, Woo-bin eventually decided to try out acting.
Photo Credit: Photo from Vanhart di Albazar
In 2011, Woo-bin debuted in ‘White Christmas’. With only just a few years, he gave us must-watch K-dramas such as ’A Gentleman’s Dignity’, ‘The Heirs’, and ‘Uncontrollably Fond’. Although he has been taking his break because of his health, we can’t wait to see Woo-bin again in our screens!
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (Uncontrollably Fond)
Kim Young-kwang
Young-kwang is an underrated hallyu star. We think its only fitting for him to get more praise and attention for being the first Asian model to walk for Dior Homme! Apart from that, Young-kwang has walked for Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Etro, and South Korean brands Solid Home and MaxxiJ.
Photo Credit: Photo from MaxxiJ
After his success in the fashion industry, Young-kwang decided to take on a different road. In 2008, he debuted in ‘Worlds Within’. With a decade of acting under his belt, we can’t help but commend Young-kwang for staying under our style radar thanks to his dramas ‘The Guardians’, ‘The Secret Life Of My Secretary’, ‘and ‘Hello, Me!’.
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (Hello Me!)
Lee Jong-suk
It’s quite obvious that Jong-suk was a real rockstar on the runway. In 2005, Jong-suk was the youngest male model to have ever debuted and participated in Seoul fashion Week. Right after this, big South Korean brands such as Beyond Closet and Vanhart di Albazar couldn’t resist but to constantly have him in their runway shows.
Photo Credit: Photo from Seoul Fashion Week
After his stint in the fashion industry, Jong-suk debuted as a film actor in ‘Sympathy’. It wasn’t until 2010, when he became fully active in the film and drama industry. His first role in ‘Prosecutor Princess’ sparked Jong-suk’s career in the K-drama industry. Although we have yet to receive news about his comeback, we’ll be rewatching ‘Romance Is A Bonus Book’ again and again!
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (Romance Is A Bonus Book)
Lee Soo-hyuk
Feast your eyes on the most successful runway model we have in this line-up! Soo-hyuk has not only walked for coveted South Korean brands Juun.J and Wooyoungmi, he has also walked for JW Anderson and Balenciaga. After having debuted in 2006, Soo-hyuk has constantly took over London and Paris Fashion Week with his killer looks.
Photo Credit: Photo from JW Anderson
For quite some time, Soo-hyuk juggled walking for runway shows and starring in a number of dramas between 2011 and 2013. Now after years since he last stepped on a runway, Soo-hyuk has successfully made a mark with ‘Born Again’, ‘Handmade Love’, and ‘Hello, Me!’.
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (Born Again)
Nam Joo-hyuk
It’s no surprised that a hallyu prince as charismatic and influential as Joo-hyuk has graced the runway a couple of times before he debuted in the small screens. Joo-hyuk started his modeling career in 2014. During his big break, he has walked for staple Korean brands such as Beyond Closet, Push Button, and Song Zio. Now a brand ambassador for Dior, we can’t help but feel so proud of how far he has come.
Photo Credit: Photo from Seoul Fashion Week
It wasn’t long until Joo-hyuk sounded off our radar with ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo’ and ‘Start-Up’. This year, he is bound to make back to back noteworthy fashion and drama moments in ‘Here’.
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (Start-up)
So Ji-sub
Ji-sub made his runway debut in 1995 after winning a model contest sponsored by STORM jeans. He along with Song Seung-heon were the first ones to launch a career as model-turned-actors since the hallyu wave began in year 2000. Ji-sub juggled his modeling and acting career and it clearly paid off!
Photo Credit: Photo from Hugo Boss
After two decades in the industry, we’re still pretty amped up to see more of him in the small and big screens. His last appearance in ‘Confession’ and ‘My Secret Terrius’ (Terius Behind Me) continue to inspire us up to this day.
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (My Secret Terrius)
Yoon Kyun-sang
Kyun-sang worked as a model for a short period of time but he has been in the covers of Elle, Singles, and Harper’s Bazaar. His impressive partnerships with Fendi and Kenneth Cole are just a few of his noteworthy projects through the years.
Photo Credit: Photo from Kenneth Cole
It was not until in 2012, when he fully committed to acting. His dramas ‘While You Were Sleeping’ and ‘Class Of Lies’ are definitely worthy of your time if you want to see how good Kyun-sang works onscreen.
Photo Credit: Photo from Hancinema (Class of Lies)
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