A whole new world of extraordinary dramas awaits us in 2021 filled with the hottest idol stars, who continue to light up our screens again and again. They are incomparable artists with a passion for acting, and it’s time to honor 40 rookies and veterans with an extensive list.
40. Solar (29)
The Mamamoo member made her debut as a voice actor for Imaginary Cat, and she was also a fan favorite on variety programs like We Got Married and “Boss in the Mirror”.
Photo Credit: @solarkeem on Instagram
39. Jaehyun (23)
After several years with the popular boyband NCT, he finally added acting to his resume with the drama “Dear. M”.
38. Yoo Il (31)
This former 5urprise member made a name for himself in the acting world by taking roles in dramas like “Wonderful Mama” and “Monster”.
37. Kim Se Jeong (24)
“School 2017” and “I Wanna Hear Your Song” are two of the former Gugudan’s members’ most notable productions.
36. Joy (24)
The Red Velvet member starred in “Tempted” after only acting in a few dramas prior, but she was definitely a fan favorite on “We Got Married”.
35. Hongbin (27)
“Moorim School” and “What’s Up with These Kids?” are two of the early dramas that helped the former VIXX member rise to fame.
34. Park Geon Il (33)
This Supernova member played in a host of shows before his leading role in “One Fine Week”, namely “Jang Bo Ri is Here”, “Possessed” and “Sang Doo, Let’s Go To School”.
33. Ailee (31)
The “Dream High 2” actress is a variety show veteran with past appearances on “Hyena on the Keyboard”, “One Fine Day” and “Laws of the City”.
32. Chani (21)
The SF9 member started his career in the entertainment industry as a child actor, and he continues his journey with dramas like “Love as You Taste” and “Imitation”.
31. Bomi (27)
The Apink member shows off her acting skills in dramas like “Farming Academy 2” and “Please Don’t Date Him”, while her fun personality is on full display in the variety program “Witches”.
30. JB (27)
“Dream High 2” and “When a Man Falls in Love” are two of the dramas this GOT7 member debuted in, while he served as a producer for episodes 6-8 for the variety program “Hyena on the Keyboard”.
29. Jiyeon (27)
After she joined the popular girl group T-ara, her acting career took off with well-known productions “Master of Study”, “Dream High 2”, “Triangle” and “I Wanna Hear Your Song”.
(Photo Credit: “I Wanna Hear Your Song” Still)
28. Mina (27)
After debuting with her former girl group AOA, she quickly embarked on an acting career that included the dramas “Loss Time Life”, “Dear Fair Lady Kong Shim” and “Hospital Ship”.
(Photo Credit: @kvwowv on Instagram)
27. Nara (29)
Almost a decade ago, she joined her former girl group Hello Venus and continued her career in entertainment through acting in dramas like “Suspicious Partner”, “Your Honor” and “Doctor Prisoner”.
26. Nana (29)
The former member of After School, A.S Red and Orange Caramel added acting to her resume and starred in a host of movies and dramas like “Justice” and “Into The Ring”.
(Photo Credit: “Into The Ring” Still)
25. Kang Tae Oh (26)
The former 5urprise member is poised to be Korea’s new group of leading men with dramas like “You Are Too Much” and “The Tale of Nokdu”.
24. Gong Myung (26)
Roles in “Entertainer”, “Feel Good To Die”, the upcoming drama “Hong Cheon Ki” and many more proves that this former 5urprise member is a fan favorite.
23. Seo Kang Jun (27)
He seems to be the most popular member of 5urprise because of his successful acting career which includes dramas “Are You Human?” and “Cunning Single Lady”.
(Photo Credit: Are You Human? Still)
22. Seo Ji Soo (26)
The Lovelyz member made her acting debut in “One Fine Week” after joining a host of variety programs in the past like “Weekly Idol”, “Real Men” and “Idol Drama Operation Team”.
21. Uee aka Uie (32)
The former After School member started out in the entertainment industry over a decade ago and became a respected actress with dramas like “High Society”, “Marriage Contract” and “My Only One”.
20. Shin Jun Seop (22)
Fans were introduced to him through the boyband MYTEEN, and he has branched out into the acting world through the web dramas One Fine Week and One Fine Week 2.
(Photo Credit @junseop_zzang123 on Instagram)
19. Onew (31)
The SHINee member and past “Law of the Jungle” castmate made a big splash on television with his first series “Descendants of the Sun”.
(Photo Credit: “Descendants of the Sun” Still)
18. Suzy (27)
After debuting with Miss A over a decade ago, this popular star has made quite a name for herself in the acting world with dramas like “Dream High”, “Big”, “Kangchi, the Beginning” and “While You Were Sleeping”.
17. DuJun (31)
This famed star of “Splash Splash Love” and “Radio Romance” started his career in the boyband BEAST and even reunited with his members under the group name Highlight.
16. Seolhyun (26)
The AOA member is best known for her string of famous productions like “Ugly Alert” and “Orange Marmalade”.
(Photo Credit: “Orange Marmalade” Still)
15. Kim Hyun Joong (34)
The former SS501 member rose to fame through “Boys Over Flowers” and starred in other interesting dramas like “Mischievous Kiss” and “When Time Stopped”.
(Photo Credit: @hyunjoong860606 on Instagram)
14. Kai (27)
He is a powerful solo artist while being a member of hit boy bands SuperM and EXO, and his string of dramas like “Choco Bank”, “Andante” and “The Miracle We Met” quickly became fan favorites.
(Photo Credit: “The Miracle We Met” Still)
13. Sooyoung (30)
The Girls Generation member is a beloved veteran of music and dramas, and her host of dramas includes “My Blooming Life” and “Man Who Sets The Table”.
12. Eunjung (32)
“Lovely Horribly”, “Dream High”, “All Kinds of Daughters-in-Law” and “Love On A Rooftop” are some of the dramas the T-ara member is best known for.
11. Eunji (27)
After joining APink a decade ago, she embarked on a flourishing acting career a year later which included the dramas “That Winter, the Wind Blows”, “Trot Lovers” and “Cheer Up!”
10. Rowoon (24)
“Extraordinary You”, “Where Stars Land” and “School 2017” are bomb productions that made this SF9 member famous.
9. Minho (29)
“Hwarang”, “Medical Top Team”, “To The Beautiful You” and “Salamander Guru and The Shadow Operation Team” are just some of the places you’ve seen the veteran SHINee member.
8. YoonA (30)
The Girls Generation member is an icon in the music and acting world and some of her most notable dramas are “Cinderellaman”, “Prime Minister and I” and “The King in Love”.
7. D.O. (28)
We met him through the popular boyband EXO, but his acting skills were discovered through dramas “It’s Okay, That’s Love” and “I Remember You”.
6. Cha Eun Woo (23)
After joining the boyband ASTRO several years ago, he has seamlessly managed a successful acting career in numerous productions including “My Romantic Some Recipe”, “Best Punch” and “Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung”.
5. Key (29)
Whether it be variety classics like “Master Key”, “My Little Television” and “We Got Married Global Edition” or dramas “The Guardian” and “Salamander Guru and The Shadow Operation Team”, this SHINee veteran is your go-to guy.
4. Jinyoung (26)
Two years before his debut with GOT7, he starred in “Dream High 2” and his famous acting career continues in a host of dramas including “When a Man Falls in Love” and “Legend of the Blue Sea”.
(Photo Credit: @jinyoung_0922jy on Instagram)
3. Taecyeon (32)
This legendary 2PM member is best known for his acting career that started over a decade ago and includes fan favorites like “Dream High”, “Assembly” and “The Game: Towards Zero”.
2. IU (27)
She is a queen when it comes to maintaining a successful acting and singing career, and her dramas “You Are The Best”, “Bel Ami” and “The Producers” are living proof.
1. Rain (38)
This singing and acting veteran is definitely king with a string of beloved dramas like “Sang Du, Let’s Go to School”, “Full House”, “A Love To Kill”, “Welcome To Life” and many more.
True K-Pop fans know that this list is always growing! Are there any more incredible idol actors you would add to this list?
Written by Kristy Moody
5 Comments
Kim Hyun Joong
You really left out some the idols’ biggest dramas just because they weren’t available on Kocowa, huh?
Ikr
Kim Hyun Joong
My mom had said that Solar looked like an actress when i showed her a picture of of her. Then she was re-watching a drama and she was there it was Imaginary Cat