15+ Handsome & Sexy K-Drama Actors As Lawyers And Prosecutors
They're guilty of stealing our hearts!
Hyena, which was nominated as Best Drama at the last year's 56th Baeksang Arts Awards, made us realize how many legal and crime K-Dramas there are. They're two of the most popular genres especially in Korean television shows.
Aside from the intense, infuriating legal battles and the gripping plot twists that come with them, what often make these K-Dramas addictive and binge-worthy are the handsome and sexy actors portraying lawyers and prosecutors. Their impressive acting makes the shows more entertaining; they're so effective they make you root for them, and you feel defeated whenever they lose a case. As for the villains, well, their acting can be so annoying they'll make you cry out of frustration.
With their ensembles of tailored suits and briefcases, the actors exude smartness and confidence as they breathe life into their characters. And the moment they start talking like a pro, make sound arguments, and deliver a well thought out line of questioning, they're guilty of stealing our hearts in just a matter of seconds! Really, don't you just love a righteous and charismatic man? And as they say, too, smart is sexy!
After Hyena, this year, audiences were introduced to Vincenzo Cassano, an Italian lawyer and Mafia consigliere portrayed by Song Joong-ki in the black comedy series Vincenzo. From South Korea, the character was brought to Italy, as he was adopted by the head of a mafia family. Many years later, Vincenzo finds himself back in Korea for a mission to recover some treasure hidden in the basement of a building that's been illegally acquired by corrupt company Babel Group. In the process of protecting this building, he meets lawyer Hong Cha-young (played by Jeon Yeo-been) who becomes his partner in crime.
Another series that's currently on our radar is the upcoming legal drama Law School which is set to premiere this April 14. It stars Kim Myung-nim (as a prosecutor-turned-professor who teaches criminal law), Kim Bum (as a first-year student who's always at the top of his class), Ryu Hye-young (as a first-year student who entered law school through special admission), and Lee Jung-eun (as a judge-turned-professor who teaches civil law).
Check out our picks for the most handsome and sexiest lawyers and prosecutors in K-Dramaland:
K-Drama Actors As Lawyers & Prosecutors
K-Drama Actors As Lawyers & Prosecutors
Ju Ji-Hoon in "Hyena" (2020)
In this legal drama, Ju Ji-hoon is Yoon Hee-jae, a ruthless, ace lawyer working at Korea's top and most powerful law firm Song & Kim.
Photo Credit: SBS
Ju Ji-Hoon in "Hyena" (2020)
Making "Hyena" binge-worthy is the fierce competition between Yoon Hee-jae and his fellow lawyer Jung Geum-ja (Kim Hye-soo) who stops at nothing until she achieves her desired outcomes.
Photo Credit: SBS
Ju Ji-Hoon in "Hyena" (2020)
Of the series, Ju Ji-hoon said, "'Hyena' appears to be a legal drama, but it is not a drama that is tied to the courts alone. It’s a serious but humorous drama, and it’s also sincere but not heavy, so I think viewers will enjoy it."
Photo Credit: SBS
Ji Chang-Wook in "Suspicious Partner" (2017)
Ji Chang-wook, who starred in the K-Dramas "Backstreet Rookie" as a convenience store owner and "Lovestruck in the City" as an architect last year, played the role of prosecutor-turned-private attorney Noh Ji-wook in "Suspicious Partner," opposite aspiring lawyer Nam Ji-hyun as Eun Bong-hee.
Photo Credit: Glorious Entertainment
Ji Chang-Wook in "Suspicious Partner" (2017)
The series is his first venture into rom-com after becoming famous for his action-packed K-Dramas "Healer" and "The K2."
Photo Credit: Glorious Entertainment
Ji Chang-Wook in "Suspicious Partner" (2017)
In an interview, he says that he has similarities with his character here: "You can see the man Ji Chang Wook through Ji Wook’s manner of speech, actions, and way of expressing things."
Photo Credit: Glorious Entertainment
Lee Jong-Suk in "While You Were Sleeping" (2017)
Legal and fantasy genres meet in this series. Lee Jong-suk stars as Jung Jae-chan, a clumsy, rookie prosecutor who falls in love with field reporter Nam Hong-joo (Bae Suzy).
Photo Credit: tv.rakuten.co.jp
Lee Jong-Suk in "While You Were Sleeping" (2017)
Bae Suzy's character has the power to see the future through her dreams, while Lee Jong-suk's tries his best to prevent the unfortunate events in those dreams from happening in real life.
Photo Credit: SBS
Lee Jong-Suk in "While You Were Sleeping" (2017)
When Lee Jong-suk was tapped for this project, he said, "While a lot of people have told me that I did well in choosing my previous scripts and projects, it was honestly luck. But I think that luck will continue to be valid for ‘While You Were Sleeping.'” The series was well received, so it seems he really has a knack for choosing the right projects.
Photo Credit: IBTimes India
Lee Dong-Wook in "Touch Your Heart" (2019)
In this rom-com, legal drama, Lee Dong-wook is Kwon Jung-rok, a workaholic elite lawyer who's popular for his impressive success rate. A top female Hallyu star (Yoo In-na as Oh Jin-shim) ends up as his secretary, while she's trying to recover from a scandal she figures in.
Photo Credit: tvN
Lee Dong-Wook in "Touch Your Heart" (2019)
Working as colleagues brought the two characters closer, and they end up falling in love with each other while trying to clear her name. "Touch Your Heart" reunites Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na, who were also paired up in the K-Drama "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God."
Photo Credit: tvN
Lee Dong-Wook in "Touch Your Heart" (2019)
Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na get along with each other, so her being his leading lady was one of the factors that convinced him to take on this project. He said in an interview, "One of the reasons why I chose this drama is because of my comfort and trust in working with Yoo In Na.”
Photo Credit: Malaysian Kpop Fans
Park Hyung-Sik in "Suits" (2018)
Based on the American series of the same title, "Suits" is about legendary lawyer Choi Kang-seok (Jang Dong-gun) who recruits a genius rookie lawyer who has a photographic memory (Park Hyung-sik as Go Yeon-woo).
Photo Credit: KBS2
Park Hyung-Sik in "Suits" (2018)
On portraying this character, Park Hyung-sik was quoted in a Soompi article, saying, "I put a lot of emphasis on the tone and manner in the drama, and my character. I talked with the director and writer about Yeon Woo and repeated that process. Since Yeon Woo has a photographic memory, I also thought about and worked hard to portray that part.”
Photo Credit: KBS2
Park Hyung-Sik in "Suits" (2018)
Park Hyung-sik, who's not just an actor but also a K-Pop idol as a member of the boy group ZE:A, got discharged from the military just last January. He began his mandatory military service in June of last year, and his fans are now waiting for his small screen comeback.
Photo Credit: Soompi
Lee Joon-Gi in "Lawless Lawyer" (2018)
The legal thriller series features actors Lee Joon-gi as Bong Sang-pil and Seo Ye-ji as Ha Jae-yi. Sang-pil is a gangster-turned-lawyer, while she's a righteous lawyer who is demoted after she attacked a judge.
Photo Credit: tvN
Lee Joon-Gi in "Lawless Lawyer" (2018)
As the title suggests, Lee Joon-gi's character is "lawless" in the sense that he doesn't mind taking advantage of the connections he's made in his trouble-filled past, and will do anything—even get into fights—just to win his cases.
Photo Credit: Soompi
Lee Joon-Gi in "Lawless Lawyer" (2018)
Kim Jin-min, the director of "Lawless Lawyer," complimented Lee Joon-gi for how much he has grown and improved as an actor. They first worked together via the 2007 drama series “Time Between Dog and Wolf.” Kim Jin-min said, "Lee Joon Gi was already a star back then, and now he’s a world star... A great actor like him just exists, and I just happen to be living in the same era as him."
Photo Credit: tvN
Jin Goo in "Legal High" (2019)
Jin Goo, who's more known for his role in the K-Drama "Descendants of the Sun," stars in this series as Go Tae-rim, an arrogant and weird lawyer with a 100 percent success rate. He's paired with actress So Eun-soo (as Seo Jae-in), a passionate rookie lawyer.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Jin Goo in "Legal High" (2019)
His character Go Tae-rim is very focused on winning (greedy, to a certain extent). But this go-getting attitude makes him an in-demand lawyer despite his insanely high attorney's fee.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Jin Goo in "Legal High" (2019)
Not the typical heavy legal drama, "Legal High" shines the spotlight on a male lead with such comedic charm.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Yoon Park in "Legal High" (2019)
The villain in the series is Yoon Park as Kang Ki-seok. Like Jun Goo's Go Tae-rim, Kang Ki-seok is also an ace lawyer. The two are rivals. But unlike Go Tae-rim who has a bold personality, Kang Ki-seok is very cool, calm, and collected.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Yoon Park in "Legal High" (2019)
One of the people behind "Legal High" said, "Kang Ki Suk is a character who has the complete opposite weapons as Go Tae Rim. Please look forward to what kind of person Kang Ki Suk is, what his story is, and how he’ll create change in Go Tae Rim’s law office and B&G law firm."
Photo Credit: JTBC
Yoon Park in "Legal High" (2019)
Yoon Park had two K-Dramas last year: "Search" and "Birthcare Center." He's also a part of the cast of the upcoming series "You Are My Spring."
Photo Credit: JTBC
Choi Jin-Hyuk in "Pride and Prejudice" (2014)
Choi Jin-hyuk's character is Goo Dong-chi, who becomes a prosecutor at the young age of 21. He passed the bar exam right after high school! He's intelligent and his experience over the years has allowed him to develop the skill of easily deciphering what other people are thinking, something that is very useful to his job.
Photo Credit: MBC
Choi Jin-Hyuk in "Pride and Prejudice" (2014)
Choi Jin-hyuk's Goo Dong-chi character meets Baek Jin-hee's Han Yeol-moo, a prosecutor in training who's assigned under his team. They've dated briefly before, and upon seeing her again, he realizes he still has feelings for her. Together, Goo Dong-chi and Han Yeol-moo work together to fight injustice.
Photo Credit: MBC
Choi Jin-Hyuk in "Pride and Prejudice" (2014)
After working on this project, Choi Jin-hyuk began his mandatory military service. His other K-Dramas are "Emergency Couple," "Tunnel," "The Last Empress," "Rugal," and "Zombie Detective."
Photo Credit: MBC
Ji Jin-Hee in "Misty" (2018)
Who would've thought that a murder case could bring a married couple on the brink of divorce close again? This K-Drama features characters Kang Tae-wook (Ji Jing-hee), a prosecutor-turned-public defendant, and Go Hye-ran (Kim Nam-joo), a famous anchorwoman for a primetime news show.
Photo Credit: JTBC
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Ji Jin-Hee in "Misty" (2018)
Go Hye-ran is suspected for a murder case, and Kang Tae-wook becomes her legal counsel. This experience reignites the fire in their marriage.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Ji Jin-Hee in "Misty" (2018)
Ji Jin-hee's other must check out K-Dramas are "Blood," "Second to Last Love," and "Designated Survivor: 60 Days." He has an upcoming drama titled "Undercover."
Photo Credit: JTBC
Yoon Hyun-Min in "Witch at Court" (2017)
Yoon Hyun-min takes on the role of Yeo Jin-wook, a pediatric psychiatrist who becomes a newbie prosecutor. His previous job comes handy in his new job when it comes to assessing possible clues in people's testimonies.
Photo Credit: KBS
Yoon Hyun-Min in "Witch at Court" (2017)
The "witch" at court being referred to in the series is Jung Ryeo-won as Ma Yi-deum, an ace prosecutor. She's ill-tempered and doesn't mind taking illegal routes to achieve her goals. She gets assigned to the task force for child sex crimes, an area that Yoo Hyun-min's Yeo Jin-wook can be especially useful in.
Photo Credit: KBS
Yoon Hyun-Min in "Witch at Court" (2017)
Yoon Hyun-min is also recognizable for K-Dramas like "Men Are Men," "My Holo Love," "Tale of Fairy," and "Tunnel."
Photo Credit: KBS
Kim Young-Kwang in "Lookout" (2017)
Also known as "The Guardians," this series is all about a group of five people who lost their loved ones to criminals. The formation of their team is driven by revenge. They're made up of a detective, two prosecutors, a hacker, and an insomniac, each with an important role in their ultimate goal.
Photo Credit: MBC
Kim Young-Kwang in "Lookout" (2017)
Kim Young-kwang as Jang Do-han is part of this team as a prosecutor who's not only passionate about his job but also eager to catch the criminals behind the wrongful death of his and his teammates' loved ones.
Photo Credit: MBC
Kim Young-Kwang in "Lookout" (2017)
Kim Young-kwang's most recent K-Drama was "The Secret Life of My Secretary." He also appeared in "Pinocchio" and "Sweet Stranger and Me." He currently stars in the series "Hello, Me."
Photo Credit: MBC
Yoo Seung-Ho in "Remember: War of Son" (2015)
Undoubtedly one of the must-see legal K-Dramas, "Remember: War of Son" is a deeply emotional series that's sure to make you cry. It stars Yoo Seung-ho as Seo Jin-woo, who becomes a lawyer to defend his father who was wrongfully convicted of murder.
Photo Credit: SBS
Yoo Seung-Ho in "Remember: War of Son" (2015)
The lead male character has a special condition called hyperthymesia which allows one to remember even the smallest details vividly. For a lawyer, that is an advantage, but then Seo Jin-woo later begins to lose his memory because of Alzheimer's.
Photo Credit: SBS
Yoo Seung-Ho in "Remember: War of Son" (2015)
In a Today (todayonline.com) interview, Yoo Seung-ho was asked about how exhausting it must have been to take on a project that had a lot of crying scenes. He said, "I have been crying since I was little! And, yes, it has been an emotional journey for both my character and I. I have always been a very emotional person and I think acting has played a big part in that. It has put me more in touch with my softer, emotional side. As the years pass, I find myself more and more sensitive to people’s feelings, which I think is great."
Photo Credit: SBS
Cho Seung-Woo in "Stranger" (2017)
The crime thriller series also known as "Secret Forest" stars Cho Seung-woo as Hwang Si-mok and Bae Doona as Han Yeo-jin. He's a prosecutor at Western Seoul District Public Prosecutor's Office, while she's a lieutenant detective at the Yongsan Police Station.
Photo Credit: tvN
Cho Seung-Woo in "Stranger" (2017)
His character suffers from hypersensitivity to certain frequencies of sound, and after undergoing a corrective surgery for it, he loses his sense of empathy and has zero social skills. The K-Drama was renewed for a second season, which ran from August to October last year. Cho Seung-woo currently stars in the K-Drama "Sisyphus: The Myth."
Photo Credit: tvN
Cho Seung-Woo in "Stranger" (2017)
In a Soompi article, Cho Seung-woo commented on how he portrayed his characters in his K-Dramas "Stranger" and "Life," saying, "I try to stay logical. I try my hardest not to stand out. I’m like that on set too. Maybe it’s just the way I am, but I don’t like being in the limelight and doing things. I decided to go with a silent image so I don’t lose the weight of pressure.”
Photo Credit: tvN
Lee Joon-Hyuk in "Stranger" (2017)
Lee Joon-hyuk as Seo Dong-jae serves as one of the villains in "Stranger." He's a prosecutor who later lands a job at the Blue House then assumes the role of a Division Chief Prosecutor at the Public Prosecutors' Office.
Photo Credit: tvN
Lee Joon-Hyuk in "Stranger" (2017)
Lee Joon-hyuk's character here is complex; it's difficult to figure out what or how much role he plays in the murders, conspiracies, and corruptions tackled in the story.
Photo Credit: tvN
Lee Joon-Hyuk in "Stranger" (2017)
Lee Joon-hyuk plays a similar character in K-Drama "Designated Survivor: 60 Days." He's also part of the cast of dramas like "Are You Human Too?," "365: Repeat the Year," and "A Poem a Day."
Photo Credit: tvN
Below, check out our articles on the Korean actors who portrayed military men in K-Dramas and films, as well as those who played doctors in medical dramas:
Lead photos from JTBC, Glorious Entertainment, tvN, SBS, Netflix, and Sharon McCutheon on Unsplash
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