In Photos: 40+ Korean Actors With Confirmed/Rumored 2021 K-Dramas

Lee Do-Hyun in “Youth of May”

There's no doubt that Lee Do-hyun, 25, is one of the fast-rising Korean actors today. After his memorable special appearance in 2019 K-drama "Hotel del Luna," he got his first lead role via fantasy/drama series "18 Again" last year, shortly followed by the popular creature genre series "Sweet Home." He's reportedly returning to the small screen this year with his "Sweet Home" co-star Go Min-si via the retro romance drama "Youth of May." His role is a senior medical student. Interestingly, his role in "Sweet Home" is also a medical student, but this upcoming drama hopefully would explore the character on a deeper level and showcase Lee Do-hyun's potential in breathing life into a medical K-drama lead one day.

Photo Credit: @ldh_sky

Im Si-Wan in “Island”

32-year-old Im Si-wan currently stars in the K-drama “Run On." The show is still airing and yet he’s already in talks to star in a fantasy exorcism drama, tentatively titled “Island,” alongside “It’s Okay to Not be Okay” female lead Seo Ye-ji. Should he decide to accept this offer, he would breathe life into the character of “a man who needs a woman to end his cursed immortal life.” It sounds as exciting as the psychological thriller he previously starred in, 2019’s “Hell Is Other People,” making it something worth looking forward to.

Ji Jin-Hee in “Undercover”

Veteran actor Ji Jin-hee was sorely missed last year, as his last K-drama was 2019’s “Designated Survivor: 60 Days.” We’re glad to know that we’ll be seeing this 49-year-old Hallyu star in a series again via “Undercover,” which reunites him with his “I Have a Lover” co-star Kim Hyun-joo. In this upcoming drama, he is taking on the role of an agent of the National Security Planning Agency with a mysterious identity. With his impressive track record on the small screen, we’re sure this is a series that won’t disappoint. Aside from that, he’s also reportedly making a special appearance in the Netflix original drama “Move to Heaven.”

Photo Credit: Ikkle Entertainment

Jang Ki-Yong in “Frightening Cohabitation”

28-year-old Jang Ki-yong first got his lead role in 2018 series “Come and Hug Me,” and has since starred in three more series after: “Kill It,” “Search: WWW,” and “Born Again.” These past shows were in romance, melodrama, and thriller genres, so his upcoming series “Frightening Cohabitation” (or “My Roommate is a Gumiho”) is something new for him as it falls under the fantasy genre. In the said series, his character is a male gumiho whose magical marble is accidentally swallowed by a female college student (played by Hyeri).

Photo Credit: Marie Claire

Kim Do-Wan in “Frightening Cohabitation”

Kim Do-wan is finally getting the attention he deserves, thanks to recent hit K-drama “Start-Up” which undeniably introduced him to a wider audience. In the past, he had supporting roles in K-dramas like “Tempted,” “12 Nights,” “At Eighteen,” “How to Buy a Friend,” and “She Knows Everything.” While we wait for his first-ever lead role in a series, both new and old fans of the the 25-year-old actor will be thrilled to watch him again in the upcoming drama “Frightening Cohabitation” (“My Roommate is a Gumiho”) especially because he and his “Start-Up” co-star Kang Han-na are cast in it as a loveteam. We did get to see a bit of their chemistry in a scene in “Start-Up,” and we can immediately tell they’d make a good on-screen couple.

Photo Credit: @kimdwan_

Kim Dong-Wook in “You Are My Spring”

From 2020’s mystery/drama series “Find Me in Your Memory,” 37-year-old Kim Dong-wook is returning to the small screen with “You Are My Spring.” In the series, he’s paired with “The Beauty Inside” actress Seo Hyun-jin. His role in the upcoming drama is a psychiatrist, while she’s a hotel concierge; they live in the same apartment building, where a murder takes place. While this seems far from being rich in romantic scenes, we’re still looking forward to the chemistry between the two lead stars. After all, Kim Dong-wook and his “Find Me in Your Memory” co-star Moon Ga-young won the Best Couple award at the MBC Drama Awards last year, proof of his ability to make viewers' hearts flutter.

Photo Credit: @keyeastofficial

Namkoong Min in “Black Sun”

42-year-old Namkoong Min is one in-demand actor. His 2020 series “Awaken” is still airing as of publishing time, while his “Hot Stove League” K-drama was very well-received. A versatile actor who can do both protagonist and antagonist roles and star in anything from rom-com to action, Namkoong Min is making K-drama fans excited again with his upcoming series “Black Sun.” He’ll breathe life into the character of an NIS agent who disappears and returns to find the traitor within their agency.

Photo Credit: @min_namkoong

Seo In-Guk in “One Day Destruction Came Through My Door”

It’s been two years since Seo In-guk, 33, starred in a series via “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes.” After starring in K-dramas like “Hello Monster,” “Squad 38,” and “Shopaholic Louis,” it’s been established time and time again how good he is as an actor. Those smoldering looks are matched with commendable performances. This is why his new K-drama is much-awaited, especially since his role sounds exciting: a mediator between gods and humans. He’ll be paired up with Park Bo-young.

Photo Credit: SBS TV

Lee Soo-Hyuk in “One Day Destruction Came Through My Door”

"Born Again" star Lee Soo-hyuk is returning to the small screen with "One Day Destruction Came Through My Door," starring alongside Seo In-guk and Park Bo-young. As one of the Korean actors we think is underrated, we feel this 32-year-old will do a good job in this upcoming fantasy drama, where his character works at a web novel publishing company and is known as a romantic "master" of the first kiss.

Photo Credit: The Knit Company

Jang Dong-Yoon in “Joseon’s Exorcist”

Jang Dong-yoon, 28, is becoming more and more of a favorite lead star. His last K-drama, “Search,” just ended last November, and now he’ll soon be back in a new show. “The Tale of Nokdu” actor is starring in yet another historical drama, this time with a zombie horror twist, titled “Joseon’s Exorcist.” He’ll play the role of a prince who’ll find himself fighting the undead.

Photo Credit: @dongyicompany.official

Jo In-Sung in “Moving”

39-year-old Jo In-sung might just make his small screen comeback this year. He’s been on a K-drama break for six years, save for a special appearance in 2016’s “Dear My Friends.” The last K-drama he starred in was 2014’s “It’s Okay That’s Love.” He’s reportedly been tapped for the webtoon-based series “Moving,” which may pair him up with actress Han Hyo-joo who hasn’t had a K-drama in about four years since “W.” Should this project push through with them as lead stars, it’ll surely be a hit as they’ve been truly missed by K-drama fans locally and internationally. Jo In-sung is also known for K-dramas like “That Winter, The Wind Blows,” “Spring Day,” and “Something Happened in Bali.”

Photo Credit: Soompi

Cha Tae-Hyun in “Moving”

The 44-year-old actor, who is famous for iconic movie "My Sassy Girl" and K-drama "The Producers," was in talks to star in an upcoming drama that's tentatively titled "Moving." There's no confirmation yet if he accepted the project but the fact that he and Jo In-sung (who's also been tapped for this series) are good friends may just convince him to take on this.

Photo Credit: Blossom Entertainment

Song Seung-Heon in “Voice 4”

This remains a possibility, as the 44-year-old actor is yet to be confirmed for the project, but we’re hoping he accepts it. “Voice” is a procedural/thriller series, and if you’ve seen him in K-dramas “When a Man Falls in Love” and “Black,” you’ll know that he can pull off a tough, crime-fighting character. In the series’ previous seasons, the lead role was played by Jang Hyuk and Lee Jin-wook. This project is a far cry from his 2020 series, “Dinner Mate,” where he took on the role of a food psychiatrist.

Photo Credit: @kkbyss

Jung Il-Woo in “Bossam-Stealing Fate”

The “Sweet Munchies” actor has an upcoming drama, and it’s a historical series set in the Joseon era. His character is a lowlife who’s involved in different illegal activities, such as performing bossam (the practice of abducting a widow and setting her up for remarriage). This is a promising role that is sure to showcase his range and versatility as an actor, and further prove how well he does in sageuk. The 33-year-old previously starred and appeared in period dramas “Haechi,” “Diary of a Night Watchman,” “Moon Embracing the Sun,” and “The Return of Iljimae.”

Photo Credit: Soompi

Ji Sung in “Devil Judge”

We missed Ji Sung last year, as he left us with 2019’s “Doctor John” and no new drama to gush about last year. So now we’re thrilled he’s returning with what seems to be a really compelling law/mystery drama titled “Devil Judge.” In the series, his character is “a head judge that turns the court into a reality show and punishes evil mercilessly.” Back in 2017, he also starred in a legal drama, “Innocent Defendant,” wherein he’s a prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office who ends up in prison.

Photo Credit: @namooactors

Jinyoung in “Devil Judge”

26-year-old Jinyoung, who's also a member of K-pop boy group GOT7, previously starred in dramas "He is Psychometric" and "When My Love Blooms." Should he accept this project, it'll surely be a new experience for this very promising young lead, as "Devil Judge" is a legal drama with an exciting plot centered on punishing evil-doers.

Photo Credit: W Korea

Song Kang in “Navillera” and “Love Alarm 2”

26-year-old Song Kang is on a roll. His 2020 series “Sweet Home” was just released last December 18, Now, he’s all ready to grace the small screen again in a project that’ll absolutely show what he's capable of as an actor. In the upcoming K-drama “Navillera” (“Like a Butterfly”), his role is a ballerino who follows in his late ballerina mother’s footsteps but circumstances may just lead him to give up on this dream. Aside from that, there’s also “Love Alarm,” the K-drama that gave him his first lead role; it’s confirmed to return for a second season and was actually supposed to be released last year, but production was delayed due to the pandemic.

Photo Credit: Netflix

Jo Jung-Suk in “Hospital Playlist 2”

Fans of “Hospital Playlist” must be eagerly waiting for the release of the series’ season 2, and we totally understand the excitement because season 1 left viewers hanging in terms of the development of the love story between Chae Song-hwa (Jeon Mi-do) and Lee Ik-jun (Jo Jung-suk). The medical drama and rom-com features this 40-year-old actor as an assistant professor of general surgery. If you loved the first season, we’re pretty sure the second one will be just as good, if not better.

Photo Credit: @jament_official

Kim Kyung-Nam in “Red Cuff of the Sleeve”

From supporting roles in K-dramas like “The King: Eternal Monarch” and “Special Labor Inspector,” 31-year-old Kim Kyung-nam was finally offered a lead role in “Red Cuff of the Sleeve,” where the character that awaits him is the one that’s next in line to the throne as the eldest son of the deceased Crown Prince Sado. There’s no confirmation yet if he accepted the role, but if he would, this seems like a great breakthrough role for him.

Photo Credit: JR Entertainment

Lee Sang-Yoon in “One the Woman”

Since Lee Sang-yoon first appeared in a K-drama in 2007, there was not a year that went by without him working on a small screen project. Last year, he starred in "VIP" and kicked off 2021 with a cameo in ongoing series "Lovestruck in the City." But he won't break his track record, because he's been confirmed to star in the K-drama "One the Woman" which revolves on a female prosecutor who suffers with amnesia and finds herself switching lives with a chaebol daughter-in-law she resembles. Lee Sang-yoon's role is a chaebol who is still longing for his first love and is out to uncover the truth behind his father's death.

Photo Credit: J-Wide Company

Lee Joon-Hyuk in “Dark Hole”

For the past three years, Lee Joon-hyuk has been working on a couple of dramas annually, convincing us that he’s one of the most underrated Korean actors. Last year, he starred in “365: Repeat the Year” and was in “Stranger 2” as well as a recurring character. Now, he’s marking 2021 with a new sci/fi, mystery series, “Dark Hole,” where his character is a detective-turned-wrecker driver in a place where a mysterious dark smoke turns people into monsters. “In 365: Repeat the Year,” he also played the role of a detective.

Photo Credit: @acefactory.official

Lee Je-Hoon in “Taxi Driver”

Here’s another underrated Korean actor: 36-year-old Lee Je-hoon. He starred in K-dramas like “Secret Door,” “Signal,” “Tomorrow, With You,” and “Where Stars Land.” Last year, he had a cameo in critically-acclaimed series “Hot Stove League,” and this year, he’s back to a lead role via “Taxi Driver.” If you've watched him before and saw his versatility as an actor, it’s exciting to see him take on the role of a mysterious driver for “a taxi service that takes revenge on behalf of victims who are unable to get justice from the law.” Will this be a bida-kontrabida (protagonist-antagonist) type of role? We can’t wait to see it!

Photo Credit: Saram Entertainment

Jung Yong-Hwa in “Great Real Estate”

Here’s another comebacking actor K-drama fans surely missed. It was back in 2017 when he last starred in a K-drama with “The Package.” Not only was he busy with commitments as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band of CNBLUE, he also enlisted in the military and was only discharged in November 2019. Jung Yong-hwa fans, the long wait is over, as he’s returning to the small screen with occult drama “Great Real Estate,” which features the 31-year-old actor as a con artist who doesn’t believe in ghosts and spirits.

Photo Credit: @jyheffect0622

Cho Seung-Woo in “Sisyphus: The Myth”

Last year, Cho Seung-woo, 40, starred in the season 2 of K-drama “Stranger,” where his role is a prosecutor with hypersensitivity to sound frequencies; there, he jumps from solving one case after another. Similarly, in his upcoming drama/fantasy/mystery series, “Sisyphus: The Myth,” he’s eyeing on a case (the death of his brother) and hopes to reveal the truth behind it; his character is a genius engineer. “Sisyphus: The Myth” will only be the sixth series he’s ever done, as he’s more active in theater.

Photo Credit: @choswglobal

Kim Bum in “Law School”

After making a small screen comeback from a four-year hiatus last year, 31-year-old Kim Bum seems to be on a roll now. His last K-drama, “Tale of the Nine-Tailed,” just recently concluded, and now he’s back to work. His upcoming series, “Law School,” features him as a first year law school student who’s at the top of his class; he seems perfect but he’s actually keeping a secret. In “Tale of the Nine-Tailed,” we saw him fight zombies and other supernatural creatures—this time, it seems, the name of the game will be battle of the brains.

Photo Credit: @k.kbeom for Elle Korea

Gong Yoo in “The Sea of Tranquility”

This series is definitely among the list of the much-awaited dramas this year. For one, K-drama fans truly miss seeing the handsome Gong Yoo in a series. This 41-year-old actor’s last K-drama, after all, is the famous “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” (or “Goblin”) in 2016. Secondly, the genre of his upcoming Netflix series, “The Sea of Tranquility” (or “The Silent Sea”) is mystery, science fiction, and thriller rolled into one. If the thought of that doesn’t excite you, we don’t know what else will.

Photo Credit: @management_soop

Ahn Hyo-Seop in “Red Sky”

2020 was a great year for Ahn Hyo-seop, 25, as he received three acting awards for his role as a second-year general surgery fellow in “Dr. Romantic 2.” Now that we’ve seen what he can offer as an actor, it’s exciting to witness how he’ll give justice to a role in a historical/fantasy drama; it’s something he hasn’t done yet, save for the modern-day rom-com “Abyss” that has a fantasy element to it. In “Red Sky” (or “Hong Cheon Gi”), he plays a character who’s well-versed in constellations.

Photo Credit: @imhyoseop

Kim Rae-Won in “L.U.C.A.: The Beginning”

It’s been awhile since we last saw Kim Rae-won, 39, in a series, the last one being 2017’s “Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me.” The fact that he’s an award-winning actor—who’s known for K-dramas like “The Doctors,” “Punch,” and “A Thousand Days’ Promise—makes us look forward to his upcoming series, “L.U.C.A.: The Beginning,” even more. Judging from its trailer, this crime/suspense K-drama is one action-packed offering that’s a must-see.

Photo Credit: Soompi

Kim Young-Kwang in “Hello? It’s Me!”

Kim Young-kwang’s list of K-dramas is pretty varied, ranging from disaster genre, medical drama, action thriller, family-oriented, and rom-com. This year, “The Secret Life of My Secretary” star is back in another rom-com with a fantasy element: “Hello? It’s Me.” In “The Secret Life of My Secretary,” the 33-year-old is a demanding boss at a mobile media company—now, in the upcoming series, he comes from a chaebol family.

Photo Credit: @aksakfn12

Kim Ji-Suk in “Monthly House”

39-year-old Kim Ji-suk has starred in several shows, but newer K-drama fans may recognize him as the second male lead in 2019’s “When the Camellia Blooms,” a title that was shortly followed by another project of his, the 2020 family-oriented drama “My Unfamiliar Family.” This year, he’s back to a lead role via “Monthly House,” wherein his character is a real estate company CEO who will fall in love with a magazine editor (played by Jung So-min).

Photo Credit: AsianWiki

Ji Soo in “The Moon Rising River”

Ji Soo has been cementing his leading man status—from 2019’s “My First First Love” (his first lead role) to 2020’s “When I Was the Prettiest.” With the 20-year-old’s talent and onscreen charm, it’s no surprise he’s top of mind among the young actors today. This year, he’s starring in period drama “The Moon Rising River,” an adaptation of a folk tale in Goguryeo, where his character is a commoner who gets assigned to become a general. In the past, he took on the role of a prince in the historical/romance/fantasy series “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.”

Photo Credit: @actor_jisoo

Ahn Bo-Hyun in “Undercover”

Perhaps you hated him in “Itaewon Class” last year with his role as a villain, but it’s likely you’ll love him soon as he takes on the lead role in Netflix’s upcoming action noir series that’s tentatively titled “Undercover.” The 32-year-old actor/vlogger is paired up with Han So-hee who also made waves last year with her K-drama “The World of the Married.” In the series, Ahn Bo-hyun is a member of the police force’s narcotics unit, who’s described as “competent, gutsy and scrupulous.” His other 2020 series “Kairos” just wrapped up last December.

Photo Credit: @bohyunahn

Lee Min-Ki in “Oh! Master”

Lee Min-ki, 35, took a break from the small screen last year, but he’ll be back this year with what looks like a fun rom-com “Oh! Master” which casts him as a sought-after thriller drama series screenwriter in South Korea. His character is not into romantic relationships but that will change when he meets a famous actress (who’s also not good at dating), and they somehow end up living together. Now, that “housemate” setting reminds us of his 2017 series “Because This is My First Life”—that was fun, so we hope this one will be too!

Photo Credit: @xgo_odx

Rowoon in “She Would Never Know”

Now, here’s another young, up-and-coming actor that must be on K-drama fans’ radar today. A member of K-pop boy group SF9, 24-year-old Rowoon joins the roster of K-pop idols who crossed over to the world of acting. Thanks to his breakthrough role in 2019’s “Extraordinary You,” he proved he truly is leading man material. In the series “She Would Never Know” (or “Sunbae, Don’t Put on That Lipstick”), Rowoon is a junior member of a cosmetics brand’s marketing team. We’ve seen the trailer, and we think viewers will not only love his character but Rowoon as an actor as well.

Photo Credit: @sf9official

Yeo Jin-Goo in “Monster”

Child star-turned-in-demand male lead Yeo Jin-goo is expected to make the viewers swoon again. Although his upcoming series is a procedural drama and psychological thriller and not really romance, what’s bound to make viewers fall in love with him is his believable portrayal and perhaps that tough boy charm. In “Monster” (or “Beyond Evil”), his role is an elite detective out to catch a serial killer even if it means he has to break the law. Last year, this 23-year-old had a cameo in “Start-Up,” and prior to that, he starred in the well-loved “Hotel del Luna.”

Photo Credit: Janus Entertainment

Lee Byung-Hun in “Here”

This 50-year-old award-winning actor hasn't had a K-drama since 2018's "Mr. Sunshine." He was busy working on films "Ashfall" and "The Man Standing Next." But this year, he'll be delighting K-drama fans again with a new series titled "Here." Lee Byung-hun has more films than TV series, so the fact that he accepted this project means it is worth doing.

Photo Credit: @byunghun0712

Nam Joo-Hyuk in “Here”

Nam Joo-hyuk just came from headlining a successful K-drama, "Start-Up," and even had his hands full in 2020 with series "The School Nurse Files" and movie "Josée." But there's no stopping this handsome and talented actor (who previously starred in K-dramas "The Light in Your Eyes," "The Bride of Habaek," and "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo") from continuously shining this 2021. He's confirmed to star in the K-drama "Here" alongside other stellar Korean actors like Lee Byung-hun, Han Ji-min, and Shin Min-ah.

Photo Credit: @management_soop

Lee Seung-Gi in “Mouse”

Many K-drama fans are still praying for season 2 for Lee Seung-gi’s well-loved K-drama “Vagabond,” but they’ll surely be happy just the same to see this multi-talented artist grace the small screen again with “Mouse.” The 34-year-old actor/TV host/singer just released his seventh album, “The Project,” last December, and while he’s busy promoting that, he has also started working on his upcoming drama and recently attended the show’s first script reading. He’s playing the role of a righteous police officer who’ll encounter a serial killer—now that sounds exciting, especially because we’ve already seen in “Vagabond” his flair for action-packed scenes.

Photo Credit: Hook Entertainment

Ju Ji-Hoon in “Jiri Mountain”

In one of the most anticipated K-dramas of the year, “Jiri Mountain” (or “Cliffhanger”), 38-year-old Ju Ji-hoon is a rookie ranger at Jiri Mountain National Park who graduated from the military academy and was once an army captain. With his versatility as an actor, there’s no doubt he’ll deliver an impressive performance here. Last year, we enjoyed his portrayals of a top lawyer in “Hyena” and as a crown prince in “Kingdom 2.” There are also talks about a third season for the “Kingdom” series.

Photo Credit: Keyeast

Kim Seon-Ho in “Link”

Actor/thespian/host Kim Seon-ho, whose popularity soared last year thanks to K-drama “Start-Up,” was tapped for the new fantasy/mystery series “Link.” His role is a restaurant owner who puts up his business in the same place his sister went missing 20 years ago; he goes on an emotional rollercoaster as the emotions of a woman mysteriously takes over him. The 34-year-old, who previously starred in K-dramas “Catch the Ghost” and “Welcome to Waikiki 2,” is also in talks to lead in a drama remake of a rom-com film titled “Mr. Hong,” a project wherein the male lead character is considered a neighborhood hero.

Photo Credit: @salt_ent

Jung Hae-In in “Snowdrop”

One of the most talked-about and anticipated dramas of the year is “Snowdrop,” a series that pairs 32-year-old actor Jung Hae-in with 26-year-old K-pop idol/budding actress Kim Ji-soo from girl group Blackpink. He’s played an AI programmer in 202’s “A Piece of Your Mind,” a pharmacist in “One Spring Night,” and a character designer at a computer video game company in “Something in the Rain,” and now the baby-faced actor is breathing life into the character of a student at a prestigious university who finds himself in a female dormitory covered in blood. As to why he appears that way and how his relationship with Ji-soo’s character will develop, that’s what we can’t wait to find out.

Photo Credit: @mindbridge_kr

Kim Soo-Hyun in “That Night”

What a treat this is! This year, we'll be seeing 32-year-old Kim Soo-hyun again in a drama after he wowed us with his performance in "It's Okay to Not be Okay" last year. Earlier this month, he's been confirmed to star in "That Night," the remake of BBC's "Criminal Justice," alongside Cha Seung-won. Kim Soo-hyun is taking on the role of an ordinary college student whose life turns extraordinary when he becomes the key suspect in a murder case. There's a reason why he's the highest-paid Korean actor—we're sure he'll meet or even exceed expectations with this new project.

Photo Credit: @soohyun_k216

Song Joong-Ki in “Vincenzo”

While we wait for the season 2 of "Arthdal Chronicles," fans of the drop-dead gorgeous Song Joong-ki can look forward to his new black comedy series "Vincenzo" for the meantime. The 35-year-old "Descendants of the Sun" actor is taking on the role of a lawyer and a mafia consigliere, who travels from Italy to South Korea to resolve an intra-organizational conflict. It's a K-drama that sounds packed with action scenes as it's described to be about "the dark heroes who punish the ‘evil’ by using the ways of the villains." Considering the past roles he's done, we're sure he will impress with this one yet again.

Photo Credit: @historydnc