









22.8K Shares

Quite a number of Kdrama actors made a significant impression on us with their breakthrough roles last year, many of who made a leap from secondary characters to leading roles all within the same year. Let’s take a look at the hottest rising stars that we’d love to see more of in 2016 — hopefully in a diverse range of characters that continue to challenge and round out their acting careers.

Ji Chang Wook

Ji Chang Wook took us by storm at the beginning of the year as the leading man of the hit drama Healer. He portrayed a lone wolf super spy, who had to create an alternative identity to disguise himself while collecting intel. It was such a treat to see him smoothly transition effortlessly back and forth between the two totally opposite personalities. It’s hard for me to imagine that the little side character that I once saw and barely remembered from the 2009 drama Hero is now an international megastar in the making six years later.

Ahn Jae Hyun

Jeon Sung Yi’s little brother in My Love From the Star has graduated to his own lead role last year, as the seemingly cold but kind-hearted vampire doctor in Blood. Thanks to its refreshing concept, Blood was one of the most anticipated dramas last year that helped to boost Ahn Jae Hyun’s popularity to a new level, long before the drama even aired. Though Blood’s overall execution fell short of expectations in the end, it didn’t stop Ahn Jae Hyun from capturing the hearts of his growing fans.

Lee Yu Bi

It’s not an overstatement to say that 2015 was a life-changing year for actress Lee Yu Bi. As a familiar face from previous supporting roles in The Innocent Man and Gu Family Book, as well as the MC of Inkigayo, she’s already been steadily building up her reputation. Her breakthrough character is the mischievous and adorable rookie reporter in the popular drama Pinocchio, which earned her a lead actress role in Scholar Who Walks The Night later in the same year. I for one would love to see her expand beyond playing cute characters and deliver something completely different this year.

Park Seo Joon

Building upon his 2014 success in Witch’s Romance, Park Seo Joon’s acting career lit on fire in 2015 where he starred in two Kdrama mega-hits, Kill Me Heal Me and She Was Pretty. Whether it be the goofy but sharp mystery novelist, or the arrogant but loyal fashion magazine editor, Park Seo Joon does a great job of portraying characters who put on a different facade from who they really are. It’s great to see the industry recognizing his acting skills by giving him numerous awards at the MBC Drama Awards.

Choi Si Won

Although Super Junior member Choi Si Won was active as a Kdrama actor back in 2010, with appearances in the action dramas Athena: Goddess of War and Poseidon, and the rom-com Oh My Lady, the public didn’t seem to take his acting too seriously. Then, Choi Si Won seemed to have vanished from the drama scene for a few years, only to make a groundbreaking comeback last year as the free-spirited jokester in She Was Pretty, inducing massive second lead syndrome all around. If Choi Si Won continues at the current trajectory, I have no doubt that he’ll become the go-to idol actor for many more dramas to come. Unfortunately, he’s currently in military service, so we won’t be seeing much of him in 2016.

Kim Seul Gi

Even though I remember seeing her as early as Flower Boy Next Door in 2013, gag lady Kim Seul Gi first made her name known to the Kdrama world as the funny and crazy friend in Discovery of Romance in 2014 — a role that won her Best New Actress that year. Her naturally comedic acting style earned her a main role as the virgin ghost that possesses a kitchen assistant in the hit drama Oh My Ghost last year. Also later last year, she starred as the time traveling female lead who falls in love with a Joseon king in a short mini-drama called Splash Splash Love.

Jo Jung Suk

Jo Jung Suk first got himself noticed in 2012, as the loyal royal guard who’s secretly in love with the princess in The King 2 Hearts. He then secured his first male lead role in You’re The Best, Lee Soon Shin in 2013 and received awards for his acting chops. However, Jo Jung Suk’s popularity didn’t explode until last year’s charming super hit Oh My Ghost, where he played a stuck up celebrity chef who falls in love with his ghost-possessed kitchen assistant. Jo Jung Suk’s couple chemistry with Park Bo Young is one of the best I’ve seen in a long time and makes you easily fall in love with him.

Kim So Hyun

My earliest memories of Kim So Hyun were from 2012, where she left a deep impression with her masterful portrayal of young evil characters in both Rooftop Prince and Moon Embracing the Sun during the same year. Fast forward a few years later, and our “mean” little girl grew up to be a talented actress, portraying two drastically different twin sisters in Who Are You: School 2015 with ease. Even though it’s her first time being the leading actress, Kim So Hyun’s long time experience as a child actress made her seem like a pro in every way. I have a feeling that she’ll be an unstoppable force in the near future.

Kim Yoo Jung

Another one of the famous child actresses from Moon Embracing the Sun is our lovely Kim Yoo Jung. But the first time I met her was in Iljimae along with Yeo Jin Goo in 2008, where the two played child versions of the main characters. Kim Yoo Jung has since grown up to be a beautiful and skilled actress, handling with grace her shared lead role in Angry Mom, as the teenage daughter who has to put up with her quick-tempered, foul-mouthed mother pretending to be her classmate. I totally look forward to seeing a drama with Kim Yoo Jung as the sole lead heroine this year.

Yeo Jin Goo

As mentioned above, Yeo Jin Goo is also a standout child actor from both Iljimae and Moon Embracing the Sun. The adorable little boy grew up to be a mature actor with some serious emotional range, as he demonstrated with his first lead role in Orange Marmalade last year. And ever since Park Bo Young started crushing on him openly in the media, Yeo Jin Goo’s popularity has skyrocketed to a new height. Interestingly, Yeo Jin Goo comes off as very sophisticated for his age, which opens doors for more complex roles. His future potentials are simply limitless.

Lee Hye Ri

Lee Hye Ri from idol group Girl’s Day followed the footsteps of fellow idol actress Jung Eun Ji from Apink on her road to fame in TVN’s Reply series. Almost like a repeat of history, Hye Ri’s casting as the lead actress of Reply 1988 was vehemently opposed by netizens, much like Eun Ji’s situation for Reply 1997 three years ago. But just like Eun Ji, Hye Ri proved herself with natural and genuine acting that made her character seem down-to-earth and relatable. Now, she’s not only a top CF queen among idols, but also a buzz name in the media.

Park Bo Gum

Pretty boy Park Bo Gum has to be the fastest rising actor last year, going from a being a relatively unknown actor to being plastered all over the news overnight. He first showed his diverse acting range with a supporting role as a sharp and chilling lawyer in I Remember You, and then as a quiet and socially awkward genius go player in Reply 1988. His acting talents made both characters equally memorable and convincing. As one of the lead characters in the famous Reply series, it’s hard for him not to get noticed, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in 2016.

Which of these 12 breakthrough Kdrama actors are your favorites? Who are you most excited to watch in 2016? Share you thoughts in the comments section below.











22.8K Shares

22.8K Shares











Enjoy our posts? Find out when there's more: The latest reviews

More fun reads Get Updates