[ KOREA ] My Favorite Actors

Okay so hello, where have you been hiding?! I lucked into watching his performance in Link: Eat, Love, Kill and was completely entranced. This drama was built on extremely complex characters who all pretend they aren’t as broken as they actually are. Jin Goo was able to portray a character so incredibly broken from decades of self-hatred and guilt that any hint of emotions, good or bad, was absolutely terrifying because if he felt one thing, he felt it all. And the crazy thing is that 95% of this analysis was from just his eyes. INSANE.

Many actors excel in either big emotional acting or subtle micro-acting, rarely both. Jin Goo is the exception. I could feel every bit of overwhelming anger or deep deep anguish during his high emotion scenes and every bit of fear-coated desperation in his subtle scenes. Not to mention the amount of times he had to cry, each one a different type of cry. I honestly didn’t realize anyone could portray that much versatility in crying before. Absolutely incredible performance that I don’t think is talked about nearly enough.

Favorite Charater(s) =
Eun Gye Hun [ Link: Eat, Love, Kill ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
Eun Gye Hun [ Link: Eat, Love, Kill ]

Absolutely ADORED her acting performance in Link: Eat, Love, Kill and have now begun searching for other projects with her in it.

Most of the time with these dramas, comedy feels cringey and high emotions feel uncomfortable. With Mun Ka Young, I didn’t have that problem at all. What really struck me was her ability to show incredibly realistic emotions. It didn’t feel overacted or lacking in substance, but every emotion had me reminded of a time I felt similar things. I found myself rewinding often to notice different aspects of her performance like a subtle micro-expression, or shakiness in her voice. Aside from the emotional scenes, her ability to convey not just fear, but true, at-your-core terror? OOF - my heart was racing a mile a minute.

Genuinely, a mesmerizing performance all round.

Favorite Charater(s) =
No Da Hyeon [ Link: Eat, Love, Kill ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
No Da Hyeon [ Link: Eat, Love, Kill ]

Honestly, one of the best actors I’ve ever seen. I just watched my first project with him “Healer” and I’m blown away. He somehow can switch between insane aura with incredible and life-shattering emotional vulnerability like a light switch. His performance is so incredibly genuine and raw, I can feel every emotion. His emotional scenes are breathtakingly honest, and his ability to portray every emotion in his face has me glued to the screen. And it's worth mentioning that where most actors will overact, he is one of the few that can believably portray the layers of anguish that come with overwhelming anger and frustration. Not to mention his physicality and mannerisms is anything but stiff. I honestly don’t know how to move on from this show because of him haha.

Favorite Character(s) =
Seo Jeong Hu “Healer” [ Healer ]
Noh Ji Wook [ Suspicious Partner ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
Seo Jeong Hu “Healer” [ Healer ]

This actor caught me by surprise with this series - makes me want to watch more projects with him, for sure. His acting is INSANE - everything feels so natural and earnest and layered. His ability to show every emotion and thought through his eyes really sold me on his character.

Favorite Character(s) =
Lee Ahn [ I Am Psychometric ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
Lee Ahn [ I Am Psychometric ]

Okay so where did this guy come from?? I just finished Suspicious Partner and holy hell, this guys was insanely good. Like I’m honestly having a hard time putting into words how much of an impact his acting had on me. AND opposite of Ji Chang Wook?! AMAZING performances. Just watch Suspicious Partner, and you’ll understand haha. Honestly, he’s one of the best actor I’ve seen in a drama so far.

Favorite Character(s) =
Jung Hyun Soo [ Suspicious Partner ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
Jung Hyun Soo [ Suspicious Partner ]

I don't know how else to describe his acting except utterly earnest? He shows each emotion in such a sincere and transparent way that it made every bit of dialogue feel intimate and personal. I definitely need to see more of his work because I feel like he is really great at conveying emotional vulnerability, and I'd love to see how he portrays a closed-off character.

Favorite Character(s) =
Kang Seo Joon [ To My Star + To My Star 2 ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
Kang Seo Joon [ To My Star 2 ]

I decided to watch Happiness due to the high praise it had received and found myself absolutely in love with Park Hyung Sik's acting. Turns out, after looking him up, he's in SO MANY of the k-dramas I have saved in 'Plan to Watch' - I'm definitely looking forward to bingeing his dramas after I finish this one.

Favorite Character(s) =
Jung I Hyeon [ Happiness ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
Jung I Hyeon [ Happiness ]

Watched her in Happiness and was thoroughly obsessed. Sae Bom is such a straight-forward yet layered character with equal parts calm/collected, badass, and empathetic guardian. I'm curious to see what nuance she'll bring to other roles and will definitely be checking out her other stuff.

Favorite Character(s) =
Yun Sae Bom [ Happiness ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
Yun Sae Bom [ Happiness ]

I've only seen him in Twinkling Watermelon so far, but my god, he is incredible. Honestly, he may be one of the best actors I've seen in a long time. His ability to portray every single emotion so accurately and raw has my eyes glued to the screen. Can't wait to see more of his stuff.

Favorite Character(s) =
Ha Eun Gyeol [ Twinkling Watermelon ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
Ha Eun Gyeol [ Twinkling Watermelon ]

I was super impressed by his performance in Idol I and his ability to convey Do Ra Ik's deep pain and loss of self really had me sold. The amount of anguish he conveyed in his eyes alone really got me feeling so many layered emotions along with him.

From the one series I've seen, he is incredibly natural with his acting, even in the emotional scenes. Sometimes when a character has multiple emotion-filled or crying scenes each episode, it can feel repetitive or the performance can feel one dimensional after awhile. However, with Jae Yeong every crying or teary-eyed scene felt like different emotions (fear, pain, sadness, happiness, anguish, etc.). Honestly, I am super impressed by him and will definitely be checking out more of his works.

Favorite Character(s) =
Do Ra Ik / Laik [ Idol I ]

Favorite Acting Performance(s) =
Do Ra Ik / Laik [ Idol I ]