The Best New Actresses In The K-Drama Scene Today, According To The 57th Baeksang Arts Awards

Kim Hyun-Soo for “The Penthouse: War in Life”

“The Penthouse: War in Life” features Kim Hyun-soo as Bae Rona, the talented soprano singer and competitive daughter of main character Oh Yoon-hee (Eugene). It’s her dream to get into and graduate from the prestigious Cheong-ah High School. While “Penthouse” undeniably boosted her popularity, this 20-year-old has long been part of the Hallyu scene (she started acting at 11!), and already has a couple of awards under her belt. In the past, she played the young version of Hallyu queens Jun Ji-hyun in K-drama “My Love from the Star” (for which she won the Best Young Actress award at the 2014 APAN Star Awards) and Son Ye-jin in the film “Be With You.” Kim Hyun-soo also earned acting nominations for the film “Silenced” and K-dramas “Bridal Mask,” “Good Doctor,” “The King’s Dream,” and “Gunman in Joseon.”

Photo Credit: @hoduent

Photo Credit: @hoduent

Photo Credit: @hyeon0_0soo

Park Gyu-Young for “Sweet Home”

New K-drama fans may have only learned about 27-year-old Park Gyu-young through the hit 2020 series “It’s Okay to Not be Okay” (IOTNBO) wherein she was a part of the main cast. But she’s already had several notable projects prior to that, as she began her acting career in 2016. She had supporting roles in popular series like “Nokdu Flower,” “Romance is a Bonus Book,” “The Third Charm,” “Rain or Shine,” “Fight for My Way,” and “Solomon’s Perjury.” But 2020 was indeed a milestone year for her because she not only starred in IOTNBO, she also had a significant role in apocalyptic horror series “Sweet Home” as a bass guitarist who’s traumatized by her boyfriend’s suicide. Her Best New Actress (TV) nomination at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards is her first-ever acting recognition.

Photo Credit: Dazed Korea

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Photo Credit: Marie Claire Korea

Park Ju-Hyun for “Extracurricular”

It was in 2019 when Park Ju-hyun debuted as an actress via the film “The Dude in Me.” She would penetrate the K-drama scene the year after, starting her career with a supporting role in the underrated series “A Piece of Your Mind.” From that project, she immediately advanced to lead star status with the 10-episode series “Extracurricular,” wherein her role is a student from a wealthy family who joins her classmate (Kim Dong-hee) in his illegal business. Last year, she also starred in the comedy, fantasy series “Zombie Detective” as a former investigative journalist who is hired as a private detective’s (Choi Jin-hyuk) part-time assistant. Take note that all those three projects happened for her in 2020; and on top of that, she even won the Choice Award (Actor) from the 5th Asia Artist Awards. Park Ju-hyun currently stars in the crime thriller series “Mouse.”

Photo Credit: @charmgirl_1005

Photo Credit: @charmgirl_1005

Photo Credit: W Korea via @charmgirl_1005

Lee Joo-Young for “Times”

Lee Joo-young, who’s been an actress since 2011, is known for K-dramas like “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo,” “Something in the Rain,” “The Ghost Detective,” and “Itaewon Class.” Last year, she also starred in the sports drama film “Baseball Girl” (for which she won the Independent Star Award from the 45th Seoul Independent Film Festival). In the K-drama scene, the recently-concluded series “Times” marks the first time she took on a lead role in a series; her character of a reporter who meets a fellow reporter from five years ago and they collaborate to prevent a murder from taking place. Lee Joo-young’s other projects that earned her acting awards and nominations are films “A Hidden Story,” A Quiet Dream,” “Jane,” “Maggie,” as well as the KBS Drama Special “Home Sweet Home.” Last year, her “Itaewon Class” co-star Kim Da-mi won as the Best New Actress at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards—now, it may be her time to shine.

Photo Credit: @acefactory.official

Photo Credit: Marie Claire Korea

Photo Credit: @acefactory.official

Choi Sung-Eun for “Beyond Evil”

25-year-old Choi Sung-eun is the most newbie in this category, as she’s really only getting started with her career and has only done a handful of projects so far. Still, that doesn’t change the fact that she created a good first impression in the recently-concluded psychological thriller series “Beyond Evil.” There, she portrayed the role of a butcher shop and restaurant owner who’s looking for her mother. It was only in 2019 when she debuted as an actress, with a supporting role in the film “Start-Up.” Choi Sung-eun then starred in the TV film “SF8: Joan’s Galaxy,” followed by “Beyond Evil.” She and Lee Joo-young have the same agency, Ace Factory. She has an upcoming Netflix series, “The Sound of Magic,” with no less than actors Ji Chang-wook and Hwang In-yeop as her co-stars.

Photo Credit: @acefactory.official

Photo Credit: @acefactory.official

Photo Credit: @acefactory.official