Favourite Idol/Model-Turned-Actors/Actresses
I am sure there would be many more - but these are some of my absolute favorites. They sometimes make me (and others) forget that they actually first started out and/or are still idols/models. And I am not including one-hit wonders, or based on visuals/popularity. These are talented artists who have proven again and again through their diverse characters that they are consistently delivering on acting.
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Yim Si Wan
South Korean
Every of work this guy is a masterpiece!
Recommended: Strangers in Hell, Boyhood, Misaeng, Summer Strike -
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Lee Jun Young
South Korean
Another guy - who's known for his talent and diversity - acting, singing & dancing ?
Recommended: Pump up the Heathy Love, Love & Leashes, When Life gives you Tangerines, Weak Hero Class 2, Brave Citizen -
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Kim Young Kwang
South Korean
Recommended: The Secret Life of My Secretary, Soul-Mate, On Your Wedding Day, Room No 9, D-Day, Guardians, Trigger, Evilive, Hot Young Blood
Love this guy and I feel even though he literally drops 1-2 movie/dramas per year, that are amazing, he's still highly underrated compared to the force of talent he is. Another one who is like Siwan and Jun Young, who's played a lot of diverse characters - from swoon worthy mail lead to vicious villains. He deserves to be noticed more.
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Seo In Guk
South Korean
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Park Jin Young
South Korean
Recommended: Yumi's Cells S2, The Devil Judge, Our Unwritten Seoul
Honestly, he would have not been part of this list, unless I had seen him as Yoo Babi in Yumi's Cells S2 in Dec 2025. And that was a gamechanger. Like I know and love him as an idol - he's part of GOT7, one of the OG bands that got me into K-Pop. But the first 2 series that I saw of his did tell me that he's a decent actor, but it was the portrayal of Yoo Babi, that ranked him up and made me add to this list.
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Choi Soo Young
South Korean
Recommended: Idol I, Move to Heaven, So I Married an Anti-Fan, If you wish upon me
Honestly, I have seen very few of her works, but even in that limited screentime, she left an impression. She can act, and she does it well - her roles that I have seen have been simple, nothing over the top and which is why maybe it was great for me as a viewer. -
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Park Hyung Sik
South Korean
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Lee Soo Hyuk
South Korean
Recommended: Tomorrow, Sweet Stranger & Me, White Christmas, Born Again
Had to add KYK's friend here too. His voice alone should get a separate award. Like Japan has Kenjiro Tsuda, SKorea has Lee Soo Hyuk in terms of voice only. To me he's not a conventional actor, and it kind of shows in his filmography. He's seductive with his voice and acting! Again someone who needs more projects for his work to be more well known.
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Nana
South Korean
Recommended: Kill It, Mask Girl, Omniscient Reader,
I have seen only 2 of her work - and both, she was great. Again no frills, pure acting. And she's good in action/fight scenes too, at least it is what I know given the works I have seen of hers.
