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Top 10 idol-actors in dramaland

javabeans: I’m a little scared to write this list.

girlfriday: Because this is the list that will have people crying, “BUT YOU FORGOT MY OPPA!”?

javabeans: Mostly because anything involving idol fandoms erupts into war, even when it’s a post about why they’re good. *braces for impact*

girlfriday: Yup, landmines all.

javabeans: But hey, like we’ve ever turned down a challenge! Let’s list some idols!

girlfriday: And make war! Really though, there shouldn’t be war, because we picked the good ones.

javabeans: I actually think the stigma against idol-actors is lessening these days—not gone, but there’s definitely less vitriol about idols in dramas than there used to be in ye olden days.

girlfriday: Part of that is because it’s so common now that you can’t avoid it in dramas anymore.

javabeans: The stigma was rightly earned back in the day, because I do recall a lot of truly awful acting performances in leading or prominent roles, and it seemed a lot more unfair then to waste roles on them. But it has to help that the idols are technically better actors now.

girlfriday: Yes, I think the biggest reason the stigma has lessened is because there have been enough successful cases of idols doing well and rising above expectation.

javabeans: When initially discussing candidates, we also had to figure out what “idol-turned-actor” even meant in terms of this list, because there were a lot of actors who started out in the music industry, but never got famous as singers and then found success as actors. We didn’t count those people, because we needed to draw lines somewhere. (Examples include Kim Kang-woo, Seo Hyun-jin, and Jo Hyun-jae.)

girlfriday: We also didn’t count solo singers like Seo In-gook and Lee Seung-gi, because they’re more like multi-entertainers, not idols in the traditional sense.

javabeans: Somehow I don’t count ballad singers as idols in my mind, either. The term “idols” has a certain manufactured/visual/style component to it (say, boy bands or girl groups with a carefully crafted image), and ballad singers are more about pure vocal talent. Oh, and we didn’t count super-old-school idols, I’m not sure why, maybe because we have nostalgia for them and our list would just be ‘90s singers like Eugene and Eric?

girlfriday: And then we would be the only people who even remembered them as idols, and felt old.

javabeans: Although really, I think the more accurate rationale was that “idol-actors” as a concept (and yes, sometimes with that faint pejorative tinge attached) seems to indicate something discrete and distinct in today’s industry, and being a young idol now is a different thing entirely from how old-school K-pop used to be. The internationalization of Hallyu in the early and mid-2000s definitely created a new beast.

girlfriday: And that beast is only growing, so we might as well embrace it.

javabeans: With that, here’s our list! *hides*

 

1. Im Shi-wan

javabeans: Im Shi-wan’s place on this list is mostly thanks to the massive success that was Misaeng, and his place as the heart of that show. He did put in decent showings in his previous roles (child parts in The Moon That Embraces the Sun and Equator Man, as well as supporting roles in Standby and Triangle), but those projects aren’t why he’s at the top of this list.

There were multiple factors that contributed to Misaeng’s overall excellence—directing, writing, casting—but as the central character, it fell to Im Shi-wan to become our entry point into the cutthroat corporate world that seemed like it would eat him alive. As an inexperienced, sensitive young rookie navigating that minefield for the first time, feeling constantly inadequate and bearing the brunt of everybody’s frustrations, his Jang Geu-rae pierced my heart on a daily basis and turned watching Misaeng into a harrowing experience for me; it was just so harsh and real. I could never parse Im Shi-wan’s performance into individual elements to praise or pick out, but perhaps that’s exactly why it worked: It didn’t feel like he was working to inhabit a role, or that he was figuring out a performance. He became Jang Geu-rae, and we all saw ourselves in him. Im Shi-wan’s portrayal was so pure and naive that Jang Geu-rae wasn’t just a character I cared about—he became Korea’s everyman and a perhaps-unexpected avatar of hope for every ordinary, beleaguered office drone who felt like the system had drowned out his voice. I am Jang Geu-rae, and Jang Geu-rae is me.

We recommend: Misaeng, Equator Man

 

2. Jung Eun-ji

girlfriday: You could probably argue that Jung Eun-ji just hit the jackpot in her debut role as the leading character of Answer Me 1997, the drama that spawned a whole syndrome and its own franchise of nostalgic youth dramas. Nobody expected anything of the show or its unproven actors, but Jung Eun-ji made that central character someone who wore her heart on her sleeve at all times, even when she wasn’t saying a word, making me feel so emotionally connected to that teenage girl. She embodied everything from the manic highs of an idol fangirl who would burst into tears at a concert, to the confusion of first love, to the raw emotion of familial angst, making me sit up and take notice from the very start. She followed up her debut project with less noteworthy dramas—That Winter, The Wind Blows and Trot Lovers (though I did really enjoy her musical performances in Trot Lovers)—but then she carried the upbeat youth drama Sassy Go Go and made me care about a group of underdog cheerleaders, and I was reminded of the reason I loved her so much to begin with. She’s just no frills, no affectation, but pure positive energy and earnestness, which is why her youthful characters hit me straight in the heart.

We recommend: Answer Me 1997, Sassy Go Go

 

3. Yoon Eun-hye

javabeans: Yoon Eun-hye is the quintessential example of an idol making the acting transition successfully despite early doubts: As a super-popular K-pop starlet before getting her big acting break in Goong (Princess Hours), she weathered her share of criticism for daring to make the crossover, but quieted critics with a solid performance in her debut and then drew widespread praise for her breakthrough performance in Coffee Prince.

One of Yoon Eun-hye’s greatest assets as an actor is her willingness to settle into a role and fully inhabit a character, and she did that so wholly with Coffee Prince that you can hardly distinguish where actor ends and character begins. She traded a sense of vanity for emotional vulnerability and sincerity, which drew us in and enabled us to feel what she felt. If she has a flaw, it’s not that she has lost that willingness to dive into a character but that she has followed up her early-career successes with questionable choices; all the commitment in the world can’t overcome subpar dramas (My Fair Lady, Lie to Me, I Miss You, Mi-rae’s Choice)—although to give her credit, she never gave up on any of those shows, even when they were tanking. I suppose there’s a silver lining in that, in that all it takes is one solid project to give her a chance to show her stuff and move our hearts again. You know, just that. Easy-peasy.

We recommend: Goong, Coffee Prince

 

4. Yoon Doo-joon

girlfriday: Yoon Doo-joon started out in sitcoms, but I didn’t see him acting until spy drama IRIS 2, where I didn’t think twice about him—he was fine in the role, but not at all memorable. But then he took on the quirky foodie character of the Let’s Eat franchise and my opinion of him changed drastically, because it turned out that his strength wasn’t in cool action thrillers—it was in comedy. He’s naturally gifted as a comic actor, with spot-on timing and funny expressive faces, and I found him hysterical as the smooth-talking cheesy insurance salesman who’s obsessed with food and always falling in love with his next-door neighbor. And then 2-episode drama short Splish Splash Love came along and added swoony romance and fusion sageuk to the list of things Yoon Doo-joon could do. He shined in the role because the drama suited his comedic acting perfectly, but I was just as surprised to see that he could play a Joseon king (albeit a cheeky one) so well and carry the thoughtful, romantic sides of the character too. He really made me believe that he’d fallen in love with Kim Seul-gi’s crossdressing eunuch, fantastical circumstances and all; it was the best I’ve ever seen him be, and it made me anxious to see his next project. If he knows what’s good for him, it’ll be a romantic comedy with an emphasis on the comedy.

We recommend: Let’s Eat, Let’s Eat 2, Splish Splash Love

 

5. Lee Joon

javabeans: There’s a small class of idols who I think are even better as actors than they were in their original careers—maybe they weren’t all that memorable in their idol guise, or maybe it’s that acting brought out a heretofore hidden appeal. Lee Joon falls into that category for me, which is why it seemed completely fitting when he officially retired from MBLAQ to pursue his acting career.

Lee Joon’s turning point came in the 2013 film Rough Cut, a dark and gritty piece that netted him praise for his charged performance, and he upped the ante the next year by going sociopathic and murderous in crime drama Gap-dong. I was impressed with that performance not because he was wild and crazy, but because he showed a certain restraint playing a cold, frequently dead-eyed character who occasionally showed flashes of frightening violence. Heard It Through the Grapevine further solidified his status as a rising dramatic actor, although yes, he has also taken on lighter, more approachable characters in dramas like Woman With a Suitcase. He’s more memorable going dark than going cute, but considering that a lot of his colleagues aren’t able to cover both extremes, I’d say he’s well-poised to spread his wings and continue widening his range.

We recommend: Gap-dong, Heard It Through the Grapevine

 

6. UEE

girlfriday: UEE is a case where you could follow her career trajectory and see right before your eyes how she steadily honed her acting skills one small step at a time, until she shed the idol label and became a dependable leading actress. She started out as young Mishil in Queen Seon-deok and the bratty second lead in You’re Beautiful, and then headlined Birdie Buddy (aka the drama that no one saw), but it wasn’t until hit weekend drama Ojakkyo Brothers that I connected with her on an emotional level. She was still green in that role, but she showed a natural warmth that I wasn’t expecting, and her chemistry with co-star Joo-won made me really invested in their emotional romance. By the time she got to Ho-gu’s Love and High Society, she began to show more depth and emotional range, and then in Marriage Contract she surprised everyone with the performance of her career. I never would’ve expected a young idol actress to make a single mother dying of cancer believable, but she tore my heart out in this role, seeming suddenly so mature and vulnerable in all the right ways. It was a breakthrough that she earned with every tear; considering how many tears she had to shed, it’s not a surprise how much well-deserved praise she got in return.

We recommend: Ojakkyo Brothers, High Society, Marriage Contract

 

7. Sooyoung

HeadsNo2: SNSD’s Sooyoung has proven herself to be a versatile actress capable of taking a multitude of different roles, whether as the object of a complicated love square in the little-watched Third Ward (and even as the second lead, her performance was surprisingly more grounded than most of her costars), a romanticist working as a professional cupid in Dating Agency Cyrano, a recipient of a heart transplant with a second chance at life in My Spring Days (arguably her best role to date), or a determined tax collector in Police Unit 38.

The improvement she showed between each project was what really put her on my radar, and it was commendable that she was never just “the pretty girl” in her later dramas—you can see where her projects have been strategically picked to add variety to her repertoire. There’s a kind of warmth and approachability she brings to her characters, which was never more on display than in My Spring Days, where she stole the show when her feelings began to inexplicably change due to the new heart she’d been given. While her character may have had no idea why she felt the need to cry when she saw the children of the mother’s heart beating inside her, that moment of raw emotion instantly sold the melodramatic premise and made it feel genuine. Not only could she sell the youthful vibe of her character, she was also able to display the emotional maturity of someone who knew that time was precious—though it doesn’t hurt that she can be spot-on in her comedic timing as well. If that’s not well-rounded, I’m not sure what is.

We recommend: My Spring Days, Dating Agency Cyrano, Police Unit 38

 

8. Choi Siwon

javabeans: He’s probably got the longest credits list of the idols named here, and I’ve followed Siwon through quite a number of dramas (even the bad ones—man, were there some bad ones) and found him likable and charming enough to consider him a decent example of our idol-to-actor transitions. But while I saw a knack for comic timing in Story of Hyang Dan (a cheeky fusion sageuk romp), Oh My Lady (where he played a foot-actor trying to learn to act), and the satirical King of Dramas (where he essentially played a spoof of himself), I had always considered him a serviceable actor who was strongly buoyed by his personal charisma… Until, that is, ten years into his acting career, when She Was Pretty rolled around and he took things to a whole new plane. The drama was light and fluffy and he was playing “only” a second lead, but Siwon tapped into an emotional groundedness that I thought surpassed the leads, and proceeded to steal every scene with his energy and commitment. The character’s sense of humor was broad and wacky, but because he played him with such a constant undercurrent of real feeling, it never felt forced or awkward, and I found that mix to be electric. He didn’t play a prank just to play a prank; there was always a deeper reason behind his character’s seemingly random behaviors, many times motivated by caring and concern. I still get teary-eyed thinking of all the times he acted so breezy and yet felt so intense, and how every time his cheerful facade slipped, my heart pinched. I don’t know what changed for him with this drama, but seeing how far he can go with that kind of heartfelt commitment makes me excited for what comes next.

We recommend: She Was Pretty, King of Dramas, Story of Hyang Dan

 

9. Park Hyung-shik

HeadsNo2: Maybe it says something that I didn’t know Park Hyung-shik was an idol until he showed up on this list—I’d pegged him for another rising young actor, working his way up from child (Nine), supporting (What’s With This Family), and now adult roles (High Society, Hwarang). High Society was where I took note of him, as he took to his privileged yet oh-so-tortured chaebol character like a duck to water. He took what could have been a cookie-cutter rich boy and turned him into someone constantly struggling with his inferiority complex, his chaebol family’s expectations, and his conflicted feelings toward his best friend and the girl he loved. He was able to portray both the warm and sweet side of the character, as well as the cold and calculating monster he could be, which isn’t too different from the conflicted character he’s portraying in the currently airing Hwarang. Perhaps it’s because he can play that fine line between two extremes so well that he’s in another role that requires him to hide his true nature, though when it shows, it shows. Watching him switch from looking pitifully in love to commanding the room with his presence certainly had me sitting up to listen, and wanting to see him in more sageuk—though maybe as the leading man next time.

We recommend: Nine, What’s With This Family, High Society, Hwarang

 

10. Yook Sung-jae

girlfriday: Yook Sung-jae is one of the greenest actors on this list, but for such a short and recent filmography, he’s managed to make an impression as an idol actor with a lot of potential. His characters are colorful and bounding with energy, and he seems to have a knack for comedy, as well as an earnest emotional delivery that comes through. He didn’t have much to do in his tiny role in Answer Me 1994, but in Plus Nine Boys, he carried a really cute secondary romance that was the perfect amount of naive and sweet. His breakout came in Who Are You—School 2015, and for good reason—he got to play the brooding high school rebel from a broken home, who masked his vulnerability and pain by lashing out at others. But he also brought a sunny puppy-dog quality to the character that only came out when he was around the heroine, turning him into a really compelling second lead. He takes supporting roles and does a lot with them—in The Lonely Shining Goblin he made an immature chaebol heir seem like a lovable scamp, and for such a minor character, I was pretty invested in his loveline with his credit card and his (baby) steps toward maturity.

We recommend: Who Are You—School 2015, The Lonely Shining Goblin

 
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If I want to add my list, Might be Kim Jae Jong Take the cake. He is really be come to his own with his performances in both Triangle and Spy. I actually shock. He is a perfect case someone who an idol turn actor that have little talent, but as long as you are working hard and try to understand acting,you will get there, at least can put a good performances. His character is not something an easy one to act either.

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What about Seo Inguk then? Does he considered as an idol actor or singer actor? He definitely has the acting chops as well as many other talents. :)

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girlfriday: We also didn’t count solo singers like Seo In-gook and Lee Seung-gi, because they’re more like multi-entertainers, not idols in the traditional sense

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Oh I guess I've missed that. Thank you for the enlightenment, :)

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I feel like Hwang Jung Eum would count? On the other hand, I don't think Sugar ever hit it that big, and they were active some time ago now (early 00s). I don't know if she really had to contend with the idol-actor label. While her style is not my favorite, her acting chops have definitely gotten recognition.

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HAHA javabeans and girlfriday.. brave souls you are for making this list.
Nice to be reminded that some who made the lists are from idol background, they have really made it as an accomplished actor/actress. Yay to all 10 and here's for more to come! Hurrah!

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ahhh i would have totally loved this list cause I super agree on all of them... but then, it left out Yoon Kyesang and Eric Moon.. which really.. why? WHHYYYYY???

I know they are more known as actors than idols, now... but a long long time ago, they are primarily idols, all those years ago.. and they have become very great actors...

and lastly, isnt Lee SeungGi considered an idol? i know he is a solo singer. but he is still considered an idol right?

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Lee seung gi is considered as a ballad singer in korea as far as I know. He is more like sung si kyung or baek ji young. But I am not sure about Rain and Se7en

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Most successful idol actor all the time should be Eric and Yoon Eun Hye since they were highest paid idol-actor and volunteer for successful actors in dramaland through Phoenix/Super Rookie and Goong/Coffee Prince and still on the right track until now. And their visual as well as talents can compete with real actors. For 2000 era, I think we found many talented idol actors but still none of them can compete with real actors.

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"for such a minor character, I was pretty invested in his loveline with his credit card" ??? me too!

I personally would have had IU in this list though. Hae-soo in Moon Lovers were simply badly written and the directing didn't help. I wouldn't write her off because of one single bad project which is not entirely her fault.

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IU is considered a solo singer, like SIG, Rain etc., not an idol (member of a boy/girl group)

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I'm pretty sure IU is considered as an idol. Her image is pretty much crafted by her agency ever since she debut, only recently when she gets big enough that she's able to have strong influence on what's on her plate and the direction of her career. I don't think all solo singers are considered non-idols, e.g. Ailee is also an idol. And every time when IU is cast, some people always bring up the fact that she's an idol and shouldn't be greedy for lead roles.

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I love this list.
My top picks from this will be Choi Si Won and Park Hyung Sik, for their versatility to own any type of roles.

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Yoon Doojoon!! So happy to see him in this list. Oh how I wish he had more dramas to watch. He is really great at being funny.

I first saw Park Hyung Sik in Nine, but he wasn’t memorable. He is definitely impressing me now with his role in Hwarang. Excited for his new drama with Park Bo Young. ^^

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What about D.O of EXO. He has been excellent in every project he has undertaken

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DB, can you make a list that has Park Bo-gum in it??

Maybe like..

1. Top 10 Actors that Excel in Microexpression Department
2. Top 10 Best Characters Played by Park Bo-gum
3. Top 10 Actors that Look Best as Crown Prince
4. Top 10 Actors Whose Drama Didn't Have Subway

Really.. anything will be fine. As long as I can find Bogummie's name in it.

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This cracked me up. But I was also thinking about microexpressions as well, and which of the idol actors and actors in general are able to generate them. For me, that's one big indicator of a person being a good actor, those flashes of expression showing what's happening beneath the surface. Some got it, some don't. :-)

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Top 10 friends of Song JoongKi

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You should get mary to mentor you. :)

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I want to see the top 10 PBG roles.

Cause he hasn't had that many right? So we'd get repeats and descriptions from jb, gf & heads for all of them. Sounds good!

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Ooh, I love this article. Even if I expect D.O will be in the list. But it's okay since he was mostly in movies than dramas.

Congratulations ZE:A for having two members in this list ?? I am a proud fan.

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I think the list is okay, the choices were good. But even as I know no list can ever be perfect and it all depends on criteria and opinion, I think that leaving out Eugene and Eric for being 90's singers and then putting Yoon Eun Hye in the list is a bit weird. Her acting is fine, but she debuted in the 90's too and hasn't been active as an idol for a long time much like Eugene and it's harder to remember her being an idol than Eric who's still active and all. And putting Yoon Eun Hye in the list also opens up the question "what about Yoon Kye Sang?". So I think YEH shouldn't have been on the list, not because of her acting but for numerical reasons.

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I think by adding YEH into the list is quite debatable because she's firstly a 90s idol star and there are a lot of 90s idols turned actors who are amazing e.g. Hwang Jung Eum, Eric, Yoon Kye Sang, Jung Ryeo Won, Seo Hyun Jin, Sung Yuri etc.

And the whole controversy over idol actors is that they are able to get lead roles despite with minimal acting skills or training as compared to actors who debuted just to act. Idol's primary job is to sing and dance instead of acting. However, their presence in dramas snatch the chance of actors to appear in dramas. Hence, there's a controversy of idols acting because people feel unjustified for the actors who lose out to idols who can't act in the first place. The definition of idols in South Korea is usually stars who belong in a group, who are trained before debut and usually they debuted with a dance song (except a few such as TVXQ and BtoB). However, it may be slightly confusing to some that why CN Blue and FT Island are considered as idols when they are not dance groups but 'rock' bands instead. I think these two are idols because they are marketed like idols? Like they live together in a dorm like idols instead of living separately.

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I know most people don't care about it, but Uee should really to do something with her speech. She slurs words a lot. It's hard to understand her sometimes without subs.

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I've noticed it too, and this is a more recent development - I can't remember her speech being so slurred in Ojakkyo Bros or You're Beautiful.

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Where's Eric? Eugene? This lost has me shaking my head especially coming from JB and GF. Wow... Uee?! Should she even be on any top anything list?

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Read the list before reading the convo before it. But not including those 90s idols means you can't use YEH either. Honestly the stigma should still stand because there are so many still getting cast because of them being idols and they have no acting skill whatsoever. Too many still ruining a drama for me.

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I think although bbvox debuted in 90's YEH only joined the group in 1999 and only started a name for herself in 2000. So I think that's why she's in the list

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Hmm I'm not sure if Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk count as "idol-actor", but I've really enjoyed their acting! Especially for LSK - she received so much criticism for being "over the top" in CITT, but I felt that was more because of the character itself/ director's instructions?

And happy Chinese New Year! :)

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they probably suitable if the list is TOP 10 MODEL TURNS ACTORS. like Lee Jongsuk, Kim Woobin and Ahn Jaehyun.

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We absolutely need a Top 10 models turned actors list.

Kang Dong Won
So Ji Sub
Cha Seung Won
Jo In Sung
Lee Kwang Soo
Song Jae Rim (paging mary)
Lee Jong Suk
cast of White Christmas except Hong Jong Hyun

Jeon Ji Hyun
Gong Hyo Jin
Shin Mina
Song Hye Gyo
Go Joon Hee
Lee Sung Kyung

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you forgot Kim Woo-bin ^,^

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I'm also surprised Do Kyung-soo's not on the list. I think he deserves a place in the Top 5.

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top 10 second lead please T^T

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I don't know about the others, but putting UEE on the list really makes me happy.

I am not a big fan of Kpop singers, boy bands or girl ones. But having watched Ojakgyo Brothers, I must say that I love UEE in that series. The chemistry between the two leads just exploded.

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Other than Eric, none of 90s idol are active so Eric should be put on the list. And I think Yoona and Yong Hwa should be added too since they had more popular and successful as actors than the list above. Waiting for Eric and Yoon Eun Hye be paired in drama as well as Park Hyung Sik and Jung Eun Ji.

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Just because Yoona and Jung Yong Hwa are more popular and successful does not make them better actors than the list above.

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Some are watchable, nothing outstanding. I guess it's hard to be good in both.

Thank Goodness for real actors and Chungmuro :p.

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Im Shi-wan and Lee Joon were really good in The Attorney and Rough Cut, so if they want to make it in Chungmuro I would not be opposed.

I'd say 1, 4 and 5 are the best actors of the lot, with 2 winning on watchability/natural affinity for certain roles.

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I'm so unfair and critical sometimes because I go back and forth between dramas and films. The gap in talents between actors in Chungmuro and dramaland is huge.
I get all grumpy when I try to compare.

I can watch Im Shi-wan, Eunji and Lee Joon. I just don't click with them yet. Maybe I need to watch more of their work.

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I don't really get what is there so great about Chungmuro? Most Korean movies are not even that popular except for the few mainstream ones like Train To Busan. They never even reached the level of Hong Kong movies during its golden era nor the actors ever reached the level of Gong Li, Maggie Cheung or Tony Leung.

I get that real talent does not really equate to popularity but it's Korean dramas and the drama actors that actually put Korea on the map, getting people interested in their culture, history, bringing in the revenue and so on.

These drama actors' talent is nothing to sniff at and what good is an industry or real actors when nobody really care to watch their works, or perhaps only minority of international audiences care to watch. Think about it, even those in Chungmuro also now considering heading back to dramaland because they know, that is the platform that define their works and where people actually interested in.

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I don't watch Korean movies because the actors are popular or the film is popular. There is amazing talents there from the filmmakers, writers, producers, music directors, art directors, down to the crew and cast.

I think that those in Korea's film industry has done a dang good job at representing their country.

I wouldn't have bothered to check out art director Ryu Seong-hie's work and appreciate so many of it (Memories of Murder, Mother, The Host, The Attorney, OldBoy, Thirst etc) until he took home the Vulcan award for The Handmaiden at Cannes last year.
Jeon Do-yeon put Korea on the map as the first Korean actor ever to win the best actress award there. Lee Chang-dong who penned and directed Secret Sunshine and Poetry has been winning international awards for his script, from Venice to Cannes etc. The veteran director Im Kwon-taek was the first Korean to win any awards in Cannes. He made so many movies I don't think I'll ever get to watch half of it.
Moon Byoung-gon and his short film Safe proved that Koreans short films can compete with the best in the world.

There are so many of them that have received recognitions for their work outside of Korea and they are still around doing what they are good at and I'm going to keep watching because they are worth it.

Last year Korea had 3 films competing at the Cannes festival with the best in the world. Not every country gets to bring that many films to Cannes in one show.

Maybe you don't read reviews from international critics or international film festivals but film makers like Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, Lee Chang-dong, Kim Ki-duk etc put Korea on the map with their incredible talents. Some of them even directed films in Hollywood.
Film actors like Jeon Do-yeon, Song Kang-ho, Ha Jung-woo, Choi Min-sik etc are not just respected in Korea but outside of Korea.
Sorry but I'd take Do-yeon 100 times over Gong Li and Meggie Cheung.

I have a lot to say about Korean films but I'm a terrible writer lol.
Maybe everything comes down to preference and what each of us appreciate.

Maybe K-cinemas is not your thing but I appreciate it more than dramas. I'm still trying to catch up with movies from the last 10 yrs

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Wow I'm not even Korean. I can't believe I wrote that.

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So happy to meet a fan of Korean movies here! Do you have a blog lol?
We've got the same taste! I just won't compare Chinese actresses/actors and Korean actresses/actors, I love them all haha.
I agree with you regarding the K-dramas industry vs the K-movie industry. And K-movies' directors definitely put Korea on the International map before the whole international hallyu wave. Korean cinema built itself slowly but surely a good reputation around the world in world famous festivals.

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Same here :).

English is my 3rd language so I can't write a coherent article to save my life :(. I used to hangout at Box office Mojo with the movie geeks but they got rid of the forums a few years ago :(.

Anyways, check out Battleship's new trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re7ZC-VNEOA
I'm not a fan of war movies but I'm excited for this cast. Song Joong-ki <3.

The King is showing at my local theatre so I'm going to check it out. Hopefully, I'll get to see Battleship there soon.

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Oh man id agree w everything you said except for the Maggie Cheung bit. Perhaps maybe I'm Chinese? I'm more drawn to her than I'll ever be with Doyeon.

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Long before I had heard of kdramas (only two years ago now), I had heard and seen Oldboy and A Tale of Two Sisters. The former was so grim I was in shock. The latter was one of the scariest movies (and I like horror) I'd ever seen. What a difference from kdramas!

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+1000

Chungmuro doesn’t come close to Hong Kong film industry or Indian film industry (I don’t mean those cheap contentless slapstick movies, I’m talking about the likes of Devdas, Satyajit Ray films, even the recent ones like NH10). They have been well recognized and appreciated internationally long before hallyu. It would be a miracle if someone outside k-drama/k-movie fandom even knew the word ’Chungmuro’, no offense. Additionally, it’s harder to even find Korean films that are actually good (critically acclaimed, acting on point, great cinematography commercial success, quality content) compared to HK or Indian or Japanese films. There might be a historic reason to it though because the recent development is positive with Korean films getting more and more recognition.
It is the dramas that put Korea on the map, that I agree with @Jenny T. Recently, the films that are featured in prestigious film festivals, and directors like Park Chan Wook are rarities. I haven’t actually seen a bigger interest towards any other drama industry aside from american dramas. Yeah, K-drama industry may be flawed, but the popularity of k-dramas and actors is no joke and shouldn’t be looked down upon. It is the very popularity that actually may contribute to the versatility of the latest content of dramas and make more and more people otside South-Korea consume both dramas and films. Oh, and I might add that some of the good actors (the ones from Chungmuro) have started with dramas or act in dramas as well, such as Gong Yoo, Lee Byung Hun, Jeon Do Yeon etc. So I wouldn’t consider drama acting as something that would cheapen actors/actresses image, not at least in Korea. The same couldn’t be said about Indian dramas or c-dramas.

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--the versatility of the latest content of dramas and make--

correction: --the versatility of the content in the latest dramas and--- :D

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Every country have their best and worst. I wouldn't consider Gong Yoo and Lee Byung Hun as Korea's best film actors although Lee is way ahead of Gong Yoo since he had been doing films longer.

I follow good filmmakers to find good films. I still consider myself new to Korean films although I've watched a lot already.

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So... real actors only exist in Chungmuro? what a joke, I don't like these elitism mentality even in holywood, these mentality are really annoying tbh.

I've seen many VERY good actors in drama, just because there are bad actors and the industry is easy to idol actors stealing roles here and there doesn't mean that there are not real actors existing here, I'm keeping my eye on Chungmuro too (and enjoying it of course), and so far the koreans seems like they're bored watching the same people again and again in every big budget movie project, for example Hwang Jung Min being everywhere, they know he's a good actor, but it's just boring, for link example here - http://inkigeul.blogspot.co.id/2017/01/viewers-tired-of-seeing-same-actors-on.html

At least from dramas experience, chungmuro can pick their talented rookie actors, ex: Siwan, Lee Joon etc, and vice versa, a rookie in chungmuro too can make their names out there from dramas, ex: Kim Go Eun, Ryu Joon Yeol, etc, nothing is better than the other (because I've seen some shitty K-movie), please stop the elitism mentality, gosh.

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I never said real actors are all in Chungmuro or all Korean movies are great. Every country have their best and worse.

Dramaland is not lacking in talents (young or old) but good writers, directors etc. Popularity factors more than talents is the problem.

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Like a couple of the comments above, as a foreign viewer of Korean drama I generally only know people if I've seen them elsewhere in films/TV (don't listen to Kpop I'm afraid). I'm also at a disadvantage as I've read comments about young actors having difficulty talking 'properly' in sageuks etc, which I wouldn't notice (I'm just about where I recognise banmal!). I probably miss most of these as I don't tend to watch the very idol-y dramas like the school things.

I've been impressed with 1/2/5 though, even if I've not been impressed by what they're in at times.

Main disagreements? Sorry, but Yoon Eunhye can keep doing her dreadful rabbit in the headlights schtick at the camera - I've avoided dramas with actors I like to avoid her. Ditto Choi Siwon.

A lot of young actors I've been impressed by not on here but I'd guess not 'idols' - my own ignorance at play here again.

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"Sorry, but Yoon Eunhye can keep doing her dreadful rabbit in the headlights schtick at the camera – I’ve avoided dramas with actors I like to avoid her. "

I'm not particularly fond of Yoon Eun Hye but your comment here doesn't quite sit well with me...are you looking down on her because of her buck teeth? (ignore it if I misunderstood you) FYI, not everyone has perfect aligned teeth, she certainly could have afforded braces to correct them if she wanted to...she doesn't seem to care and props to her for that. It makes her unique and stand out from the crowd. What a shallow society we're living it! /sad

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I'm sorry it took so long to respond (I didn't realise there was a comment against mine).

I'd agree with you if I was making a snide comment about physical appearance - and it would be entirely right to call it out - but I checked a pic of her and I still don't see buck teeth?So please be assured, the comment was entirely do to with how I personally view her acting 'style' :)

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A lot of young actors I’ve been impressed by not on here but I’d guess not ‘idols’ – my own ignorance at play here again

Do you mind telling me who they are ? ^^

I personally love actors like Byung Yo Han.

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It'd probably be in the too many to mention - I watch Korean films a lot (I shop extensively on R3 sites to keep up to date and the KFA youtube channel is a joy).

On the plus side I rarely have preconceptions about someone taking up a role because they're a singer (which you often would if they were US/UK, and you'd normally be right!, although I appreciate that doesn't apply as much in Korea as they seem to be closer to the old studio system with training across various areas).

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It hurts to know Yoochun can't make to the list for whatsoever reason it maybe. Regardless, I still appreciate him as talented idol-actor. He deserves recognition for his past works. And I watch his dramas for his stellar performances. Not because I am interested in his personal life.

As for the list, I hope Eunji can do more work in future. She is really charming. Everything feels natural.

And dont let me start with Park Hyungsik. I find out he belongs to idol world only recently. I always think he is full time actor. King Jinheung manseee!!

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Park Yoochun was actually THE idol-actor that made me think some idols can act. Prior to watching I Miss You, I had always steered clear of any drama that starred an idol. I starting watching IMY not knowing he was one because I liked the rest of the cast.

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Its really sad that he got involved in that scandal. He did so well as an actor.

Hyunsik's group was not very active when he started acting and they did not renewed their contract with the agency so Z:EA's disbanded (one of the many in 2016). I guess he'll be a full time actor now

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I think disregarding the scandal and focusing on the talent, yoochun deserves to be on the list.

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Agreed. I'm really looking forward to his return after the military. Not a die-hard fan but always admired his talent. I hope everyone can give him a second chance.

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I wish for Top 10 Dramas' OSTs. with idols in most of dramas nowadays, there are a lot of good songs produce for the dramas. I would like to know what OSTs from what dramas that the DB team enjoyed the most.

as for me, I am enjoying most of My Girl OST and You're Beautiful OST. and recently Ailee's song from Goblin too.

sorry for making random post here, this is just my mere wish. ??

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Music is very subjective to every person and the drama it was attached to, and for sure will spawn another great debate. Like the drama maybe more popular than the OST or vice versa. Maybe the list should be something more specific like based on sales and popularity.

Well I guess that's the challenge for Javabeans and Girlfriday. Define what is the TOP 10 Kdrama OST, whatever that would mean.

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There are so many shitty actor-actors that I can't bring myself to be picky about idol-actors

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I don't think the list in any particular order. While I think Jung Eun Ji is fine but there's no way she could be above Yoon Eun Hye. I believe the list is in random order.

My favourite is Park Hyung Sik. Based on his choice of roles, he seems to be very versatile and his ability to eclipse his fellow co-actors especially those with higher billings than him totally proven that he is stellar, an actor to keep our eyes on.

Some of my fave not mentioned here noteably Lee Hong Ki, Sung Yuri and Jung Ryeo Won. I am quite surprised that Seo Hyun Jin not in the list. Not that she is my fave but she's been praised a lot in this blog.

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They're not counting Seo Hyun Jin, if you look at their comments above the top 10 list, they wrote reasons on some actors/actresses not being counted.

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Park Hyung Shik RAWKS.

Next... How about Top 10 Child Actors?

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Seconded, but Top 4 are obvious.

Yeo Jin Gu
Kim So Hyun
Kim Yoo Jung
Kim Sae Ron

Child actors grow up so fast.

http://kkul-jaem.blogspot.com/2016/12/whereabouts-of-child-actresses-who-are.html

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To be honest, Hyungsik fits the rich boy role ever (you forgot to credit "The Heirs", tho), but I'm not against roles that are anything lower than chaebol-rank.

...not after discovering that he was (is?) a rich kid in real life...talk about his fat bank account even before he debuted in ZE:A.

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Go Sooyoung!

Honestly, I think PU38 owes it to her and SIG's acting that I got invested in their romantic relationship given the very little screentime they got together.

I don't really follow KPOP aside from few idols from 07-10 so I didn't know Hyungsik and Sung Jae were idols

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Great list, jb/gf <3333, though I see a few fangirls have jumped into 'not that great/hdy forget my oppa' mode already lol, never mind. And especially your choices for #1-5 are perfect, Im Shi-wan deserves his place at the top of the heap because no one, and I mean no one, could have nailed Jang Geu-rae as perfectly as he did.

Jung Eunji is an absolute gem, and like someone pointed out, Shi-won of AM1997 is actually quite different from Sassy Go Go's Yeon-doo (someone reunite her with Lee Won-geun or Ji-soo, please!). I know everyone talks about the teenage fangirl part of the role most but watching 1997 again, I was quite taken with the little shifts in body language and manner she employed to play 20something Shi-won - it's subtle, but makes it clear that this is the same character, just older and a bit more mature. Which is pretty astonishing considering this was her first acting job and she was still a teenager (compared to which, Hyeri in 1988 came across very much as a kid playing dress-up once they shifted to the adult part of her role).

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How about a top ten list of the best ALL-AROUND performers? Those idols/singers/actors/dancers who can do it all? I am always blown away by the people who are multi-talented in ALL of these categories. My list separate from the top ten idol actors, for starters, would include:

Lee Jun-ki
Minho
DO
Rain
Seo In-guk
Eric Mun

Who else would you Beanies put on this list?

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Was expecting everyone you listed, except Yoon Eun Hye (because I forgot she was an idol) & Sooyoung.

Waiting for Hyo-seong (Introverted Boss) to be in more dramas so we can fully see if she's of the few idols who are good in acting (and I actually liked her Cheo Yong 1 & 2).

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Jun Hyo Sung is adorable in Introverted Boss. Netizens seemed to think she was good at acting, too, but sadly, the drama's not doing well in ratings.

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Y'all, I was ready to THROW HANDS of Choi Siwon didn't make this list. Like I was gonna come find someone and fight them. It's that serious. I saw Oh My Lady and didn't see any of his work again until She Was Pretty and he blew me away. So much so that just yesterday I was thinking about how much I loved his character and wishing I could re-write it so he gets the girl. Also he's beautiful, it don't hurt.

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First, I salute your courage because when I saw the title of the list my first thought was 'omg they're going THERE?'

Second, I salute you for including Sooyoung rather than the obvious choice of her popular and frequently-cast band mate Yoona. Sooyoung is such a lovely actress with great depth of talent and I wish we saw a lot more of her.

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I found it a bit glaring that Choi Soo Young was the only idol-actor with her surname omitted.

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I watched Park Hyung Shik in the drama special "Sirius" and since then I am totally looking forward to the career he's gonna have.

By the way I'd love for you to write a review if you've got the time :)

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I approve this list *thumbs up*...though I would have ranked Hyungsik way higher.

I'm not into K-Pop, my first encounter with all those idols was through dramas.

1/Im Si Wan - he's the best idol turned actor imo and definitely deserved the first spot.

2/Jung Eun Ji - ??? No comment, I have not watched enough of her works.

3/Yoon Eun Hye - she was good/okayish in Goong and Coffee Prince...her other dramas are forgettable. Failing at picking good projects lately.

4/Yoon Doo Joon - don't laugh, I had to google his name because I haven't watched any of his works... so won't comment on this one.

5/Lee Joon - he's amazing, leaving MBLAQ was definitely a wise decision. Will look forward to his future projects.

6/UEE - she is a hit or a miss for me...she was good/okayish in Ojakkyo Brothers and Marriage Contract but terrible in High Society.

7/Sooyoung - Acting wise, she's far superior than her SNSD band mate : Yoona.

8/ Choi Siwon - his comedic timing is gold.

9/ Park Hyung Sik - if I start, you won't be able to stop me. He's the one for me. In love since High Society. He has it all : charisma and screen presence, handsomeness, versatility, show/scene stealer.........there's still room to improve of course but he's on the right tracks, he keeps improving with each projects. Definitely an actor to keep an eye on. So looking forward to "Strong Woman Do Bong Soon" with Park Bo Young.

10/Yook Sung Jae - another favorite. He's awesome.

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*room for improvement

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I was already excited seeing Eunji photo and even happier when she came after Shiwan, who's another of my fav idol actors ^^ Though i think the list isn't really in any order(?) Anyway, like most people i knew Eunji through Reply 1997 before knowing her being in Apink. My impression was that how natural she is on screen. If anyone watched her Yeondoo in SGG, you'd notice even more the details/manner she put into her character. Some people might say she's just playing the same roles. It may be true those characters have strong resemblance to her rl personality, but still she clearly has potential, I can see it in her more emotional scenes in Trot Lovers or SGG(with Jisoo!), she makes her characters relatable that makes you easily feel for her. Like GF mentioned, she brings out so much positive energy and earnestness that you can't help but support her. Can't not mention her ability to create chemistry with her co-stars. I'm still waiting patiently(not!!) for her next acting project. Hopefully it will be sth different this time, but i have feeling it's gonna be a rom-com since she seems to like that genre ^^

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ERICCCC MUN? Where is my idol-ahjussi-actor?

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i wouldn't know how to rank all these idol actors but i'd definitely put im shiwan up there as well. i've never been more blown away by an idol actor after watching him in 'the attorney'. with actors like song kangho, lee sungmin, and kwak dowon he still managed to hold his own. i can see a bright future in him!

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I like this list ! As for me, I haven't really seen Park Hyung Shik or Lee Joon in anything so here's mine:

1. Yoon Eun Hye - I was absolutely surprised when she was put after Eunji and Im Shi Wan as her Eun-chan role in Coffee Prince will always remain a classic for me. I absolutely LOVE Eunji (acting and apink wise) but putting her above Yoon Eun Hye in acting department is something I just can't do.

2. Jung Eunji - the fact that R1997 was her debut role still blows my mind

3. Yoon Doo Joon - putting him above Im Shi Wan as maybe i've seen him in more dramas in different roles and not just nailing one perfectly. He's versatile.

4. Im Shi Wan - I can not imagine anyone else playing Jang Geu-Rae. He owns that character.

5. D.O - a shame he wasn't on this list as his short role in It's Okay that's Love was just amazing. And even better he sent chill down my spine in I Remember You that I was so devastated when they switched to their older counterparts.

6. IU - I loved her to bits in Dream High and Producers. I know she's a great actress despite people's doubts on her

7. Choi Siwon - please always do comedy.
8. Yoon Sung Jae - still kills me that he didn't get KSH
(I'm tired of typing so I'll leave it at 8 lol)

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And ugh, I miss Yoon Eun Hye in good dramas.

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Yoon Eun-hye was an idol? gna have to google her... am I the only one who didn't know that??

I feel like this is similar to this new years when everyone gave me crap for not having seen Forrest Gump...I didn't think it was that big of a deal but out of my 12 friends I was the only one who hadn't seen it... heh.

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UEE is probably my favourite from the list. I've seen her dramas (except Birdie Buddy of course lol) and saw how much she improved one drama after another. Joowon-UEE ship will still be in the high ranks of my ship list to this day. Her character in Marriage Contract was just amazing.

If I were to add one more to the list though, it would be Jinyoung. I still remember him screaming "Eundong-ah!" and me crying my heart out over it.

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2015 was Park Seo Joon year. 2016 was Park Bo Gum year. I have a feeling 2017 will be Park Hyung Sik year, he has been waiting long to break out.

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I think so too. He's on the right track with his strong performance in Hwarang. May Strong Woman DBS be successful!

As an afterthought, they're all Parks! Haha.

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Forget my last comment (we seriously need an edit button here)...I totally misunderstood you indeed...just realized that 'rabbit/deer in the headlights' is an idiom (English being not my first language, I'm bound to make some mistakes). I deeply apologize *so ashamed*

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@ nami2

I think that's very ok. Mine is not English to and I, too, am bound to make lots of mistakes. Guess @Cleo Soron wouldn't mind it since she might be able to guess this from the beginning. I, too, actually didn't know what 'rabbit caught in the headlights' means until you pointed this out so my thanks for that :)

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You're very welcome :) (sorry for the late reply, missed your comment)

After reading your message, I'm a bit relieved and I feel less alone, thanks :) If there's something I learnt from this is to think more carefully before I write/say something lol

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This comment is for @Cleo Soron

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I ended the list without replacements, even though I haven't seen some of these roles.

Don't get YEH being on this list because so many beanies didn't even know looking at the comments. And seems to me she fits in with Eugene & Eric even if she was after them.

That said, idk who I would replace her with. So perfect!

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Yoon Eun Hye is perfect and multitalented girl. I'd love to see her once in a drama with Eric. Imagine this two are kissing masters together in one frame *pervy mind alert.

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I don't agree with the list as a whole but it's not a bad list. It also features a lot of the more popular idol turned actors. Min Ah from Girl's Day has a lot of potential but I can understand why she wouldn't be on the list. I can also understand why Ryu Hwa Young is not on the list but I find her acting to be quite realistic even if her sexy image are emphasized quite a lot. Kim Jae Joong has already been mentioned but he definitely deserved a spot on this list.

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Great list, ladies!

Happy to see Hyung-sik, Sung-jae and Eun-ji in there. They're my favorites.

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