In The Spotlight: Get To Know The Supporting Cast Members Of "It's Okay To Not Be Okay"
Aside from lead stars Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, and Oh Jung-se, these supporting cast members deserve attention (and credit!), too! We'll miss the cast of this series for sure!
Die hard K-Drama fans know the feeling all too well. Every time a particularly good series comes to an end and a cast takes their final bow, it almost feels like having to part ways with good friends. Getting attached to fictional characters is a real thing for K-Drama audiences, and that definitely holds true for having to bid farewell to the stars of It's Okay to Not Be Okay!
The hit K-Drama that wholesomely tackles mental illness and the difficulties experienced by those diagnosed with psychological disorders concluded on August 9 to the rousing applause of a worldwide audience. A show that examines the human condition as closely as it does couldn't have been possible without the stellar work of the actors and actresses who breathed life into the show's characters, making it extra hard to say goodbye to this ensemble.
IOTNBO Supporting Cast
IOTNBO Supporting Cast
Park Kyu-young, who plays Nam Ju-ri
Park Kyu-Young pretty much meets the requirements of being a multi-faceted artist; she's not confined to acting, as she she dances (ballet, to be specific), dabbles in photography, models, and formally studied fashion design, too! She officially became an actress only in 2016 at 23 years old, but she's steadily gained attention among K-Drama fans. She has a new project to watch out for coming out this year titled "Sweet Home."
Photo Credit: @lavieenbluu
Photo Credit: @lavieenbluu
Photo Credit: @lavieenbluu
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Kim Joo-hun, who plays Lee Sang-in
The theater was Kim Joo-hun's foray into acting. In fact, he still takes to the stage from time to time as he continues to work on mainstream shows and films, making him a versatile star whose talent shines through in any setting. Catch him in "Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol," another K-Drama scheduled for a 2020 release.
Photo Credit: @zu_hun_kim
Photo Credit: @zu_hun_kim
Photo Credit: @zu_hun_kim
Park Jin-joo, who plays Yoo Seung-jae
2020 marks Park Jin-joo's 9th year in the industry! Starring in her first series and films at age 19, she's had a continuous stream of onscreen projects (she's never had a work-free year, and there are have been several years when she's had more than two simultaneous projects happening). Despite having a hefty resume, Park Jin-joo is interestingly famous for being a supporting actress rather than a leading lady; her comedic timing simply works best when she plays the role of sidekick and if that's where she shines the brightest, we're all for it! She's a pretty good singer, too!
Photo Credit: @jinjoo1224
Photo Credit: @jinjoo1224
Photo Credit: @jinjoo1224
Kim Mi-kyung, who plays Kang Soon-deok
Like many actors of her generation, Kim Mi-kyung is a member of a theater company and received most of her formal acting training onstage. As for her work in TV and film that started in the mid 80s, there's no doubt that she works best in dramas (despite the fact that in real life, she's a pretty fun-loving person!). On set, the actress has a rather lovely reputation; she's motherly and kind, easily making friends with cast mates despite of age differences. Looking at her Instagram, Kim Mi-kyung definitely gives off the vibes of being the fun "Tita" we all need in our lives.
Photo Credit: @kim_mee_kyung
Photo Credit: @kim_mee_kyung
Photo Credit: @kim_mee_kyung
Kang Ki-doong, who plays Jo Jae-soo
Based on his performance in "It's Okay to Not Be Okay," would you have known that Kang Ki-doong can sing, too? He has roots in musical theater, which essentially makes him a triple threat: he can act, carry a tune, and dance! He's a low-key actor for the most part, preferring to keep his social media presence limited to promotional photos for ongoing projects and posting cast appreciation photos of productions he's been a part of. Aside from enjoying success in "It's Okay to Not Be Okay," Kang Ki-doong also wrapped up "The King: The Eternal Monarch" this year. He'll be reunited onscreen with Kim Joo-hun in "Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol!"
Photo Credit: @kkddoong
Photo Credit: @kkddoong
Photo Credit: @kkddoong
Kwak Dong-yeon, who plays Kwon Ki-do
Kwak Dong-yeon was 100 percent sure that he wanted to be in the performing arts. After all, how many 13-year-olds willingly move out of their family home to live alone to be able to focus on learning music, and eventually acting, to establish their careers in entertainment as early as possible? His efforts would soon be rewarded because just two years after when he was 15, he made his acting debut and has consistently been cast in series ever since. Check him out in K-Drama "Gangnam Beauty."
Photo Credit: @kwakdongyeon0
Photo Credit: @kwakdongyeon0
Photo Credit: @kwakdongyeon0
Choi Woo-sung, who plays Oh Cha-yong
Rising star Choi Woo-sung may still be finding his hold in the industry, but he's definitely shown promise. His rookie status hasn't been a hindrance to being cast alongside Korea's biggest stars including Kim Go-eun and Lee Min-ho (in "The King: Eternal Monarch, where he had a small part), something which would surely encourage up-and-coming talents to keep up their hard work. The 23-year-old began acting just last year, with teen-focused series "Triple Fling" season 2 being his first shot at playing a lead role. He also had appearances in K-Drama "Welcome 2 Life." He's under AM Entertainment, actress Shin Min-ah's agency.
Photo Credit: @ament_official
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Photo Credit: @c.woo_sung
Photo Credit: @ament_official
Jang Gyu-ri, who plays Sun Byeol
Now this is a crossover we need more of! Anyone well-versed with Korean pop culture will know that Jang Gyu-ri isn't originally an actress, but actually got her start in the industry as a K-Pop star. She's one of the nine members of girl group Fromis 9 whose official debut was just in 2018. "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" marks her first-ever acting project.
Photo Credit: @officialfromis_9
Photo Credit: @officialfromis_9
Photo Credit: @officialfromis_9
The roundup can't possibly be completed without Kim Chang-wan, who plays Oh Ji-wang (the director of OK Psychiatric Hospital), who's actually more bad*ss than he reveals onscreen. He and his two brothers had grown up aspiring to become rock stars, and that's exactly what they did! They called their band Sanulrim where Kim Chang-wan filled the roles of guitarist and lead vocalist, and they remain to be one of South Korea's most influential rock acts of the 20th century. Kim Chang-wan has proven to be incredibly versatile throughout his career, not only making music (he still plays, and he actually had a scene in IOTNBO where he sang and played the guitar too!), but also doing theater work and continuously appearing in TV and film since 1980. He and IOTNBO co-star Kim Soo-hyun worked with each other in the K-Drama My Love from the Star back in 2013 as well.
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Photo courtesy of Netflix
There's also Jang Young-nam who played Park Haeng-ja (the head nurse in OK Psychiatric Hospital), a theater actress who eventually transitioned to TV and film. Her last onstage appearance was in 2011, and has since made a name for herself with both lead and supporting roles. She's been nominated for her performances at least 25 times by multiple award-giving bodies since 2000, showing just how skilled she is in any medium.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
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Photo courtesy of Netflix
Photos from @zu_hun_kim @lavieenbluu @kkddoong @jinjoo1224 @kwakdongyeon0
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