Dangermousie's Top 10 Upcoming Korean Drama Actors and Actresses List
This post is dedicated to who I think should (and hopefully will) be upcoming Korean drama stars. Because, hey, I adore the current crop quite a lot, but army beckons the men (do you think the producers will weep hardest for Kim Rae Won, Lee Junki, or Joo Ji Hoon?) and you can always have more awesome kdrama heroines.
So, here is Dangermousie's List of Upcoming Kdrama Stars, in order, from most likely/wanted, down. Also, only newbies are on the list - no more than a couple of dramas, tops, and no more than one lead (thus people like Park Hye Jin and Lee Ji Ah are out).
1. Kim Bum (19 years old)
Shock of shocks, right? That Lee Min Ho is not occupying the number 1 spot? How come? Well, I enjoy Kim Bum in Boys Over Flowers, but there is no question that BOF is a Lee Min Ho show, all the way. Kim Bum's number 1 spot is due not to me being a squealing teen swept into BOF mania - I am not a teen and when I first noticed him, BOF wasn't even cast yet. No, the reason Kim Bum is occupying the Number 1 spot is due to his role as the younger version of the protagonist in the behemoth East of Eden (hmmm, he is part of the two biggest dramas of the year. Good for him!). Out of the enormous cast, it was actually this totally unknown to me kid, who swept me away. Actually, I think he was my favorite actor of the bunch in the entire drama, quite a feat. But it's his rage, helplessness, fear, and love of the family, that really made me love Dong Chul so. In fact, much as I adore Song Seung Heon, when it was time for the character to be grown-up, I was actually disappointed - emotionally the person who hooked me was Kim Bum. It almost feels like a waste to have him in the cotton candy that is BOF - I am quite looking forward to him getting older and starring in some awesome and dark dramas, a la Mawang.
2. Lee Min Ho (21 years old)
Is anyone surprised that the lead of Boys Over Flowers is on this list? Sometimes kdramas cast unknowns as leads and sometimes that pays off in a huge way and a star is born. Just look at Goong, which made stars out of both Yoon Eun Hye and Joo Ji Hoon. And BOF, happily, proved to be another such a story - it's a dream drama really: internet mania, huge ratings, and a star in the making. Lee Min Ho has it all - he is tall and good-looking (of course, what kdrama star is not) but he is also an amazingly charismatic actor, who can be funny and emotional by turns, OTT and subtle when the role demands. Did I also mention sexy? I think half the drama-watching world is in love with him now, which is YAY!
3. Jung Il Woo (21 years old)
In all the internet furor over BOF, online people are rather overlooking another success story of the season: the somber, elegiac Iljimae - despite its excellent writing, subtle acting, and (thankfully) good ratings. A period story of revenge, justice, and loss, Iljimae stars the 21-year-old Jung Il Woo, who has the deadly combination of almost feminine elegance of look, not feminine at all fighting prowess as the lead, and quite wonderful emoting ability. Sort of like Asian Legolas, only emo. Shockingly, this version is about 20 times better than the earlier one, starring the very famous Lee Junki. Jung Il Woo's excellence in this is quite impressive. I cannot wait to see more of him!
4. Lee Yeon Hee (21 years old)
Yup, definitely a rising star. In fact, some might consider her already almost made, what with her being one of the female leads in East of Eden. Her character is one of my favorites - fun and angsty by turns, someone who has to grow up and grow up she does. She is still an uneven actress but she is improving by leaps and bounds, and she has oodles of charisma and chemistry with Song Seung Heon (who she is rumored to be dating in real life) which helps. Oh, and she is gorgeous. I see a bright future for her.
5. Philip Lee (27 years old)
Philip Lee first appeared in The Legend, Bae Yong Joon's wildly successful and incredibly awesome period fantasy drama of the end of 2007. Playing a mysterious, magically cursed warlord, he stole away many a heart, mine among them. If there was an American fandom, the slashfics for his and Bae Yong Joon's character would be through the roof. And now he finally has another drama, out in 2009. I have no idea what it's about but I will watch it very carefully!
6. Go Ah Ra (19 years old)
Go Ah Ra has it all: beauty, talent, and the starring role in the delightful, offbeat Who Are You opposite a Dangermousie favorite, Yoon Kye Sang. She really impressed me in WAY, holding her own against the much more experienced cast, and playing a character who could have been shrill or maudlin, but instead came across as warm, adorable, and strong. I think of all the younger actresses, she has the potential to become my favorite.
7. Kim Jae Wook (25 years old)
He first came to prominence as the delicious Waffle Sunki, one of the "Coffee Princes" working at the coffee shop of the wildly popular drama Coffee Prince. He was a secondary character, but quite a yummy one! Since then he's branched out and not only starred as a gay baker of "demonic charm" with a crush on his icy boss in the fluffy movie romp Antique Bakery, but also has had a supporting role as a bandit-turned-loyal-follower in the wonderful sageuk The Kingdom of the Winds. Gorgeous, and with that delicious gender/sexual ambiguity, I would love to watch him in even more things!
8. Seo Shin Ae (10 years old)
By far the youngest person on this list, Shin Ae's portrayal in Thank You of a strong, funny, eccentric small girl living on a rural island, who also happens to have HIV, blew me away. She is the best drama child actor I've seen, and seeing that Korean child actors are usually good, that's saying a lot. Oh, and she almost managed to steal the show from Jang Hyuk and Gong Hyo Jin, two wonderful actors and Dangermousie favorites. Shin Ae is currently starring in a daily drama and getting even more experience and improving her already awesome (if tiny :P) acting chops.
9. Kim Hyun Joong (22 years old)
I admit, despite his almost freakily picture-perfect looks, it took a while for Hyun Joong to grow on me - as Ji Hoo in Boys Over Flowers, it took a couple of episodes for him to relax and abandon the stiffness of manner. But since then he's been such a delight - his portrayal of an eccentric, overintellectual, quiet and quirky best friend of the main couple (and someone who nurses a very self-contained liking for the heroine) is one of my favorite things about BOF. He might not need drama stardom though - he is the leader of the popular Korean band SS501.
10. Kim Joon (24 years old)
The least experienced and least known member of the four hot main guys of BOF, Kim Joon is pretty darn hot and pretty darn adorable, even with his limited screentime. I would LOVE to see him in more things after BOF is over. It would be a pity to waste all that charm...
So, here is Dangermousie's List of Upcoming Kdrama Stars, in order, from most likely/wanted, down. Also, only newbies are on the list - no more than a couple of dramas, tops, and no more than one lead (thus people like Park Hye Jin and Lee Ji Ah are out).
1. Kim Bum (19 years old)
Shock of shocks, right? That Lee Min Ho is not occupying the number 1 spot? How come? Well, I enjoy Kim Bum in Boys Over Flowers, but there is no question that BOF is a Lee Min Ho show, all the way. Kim Bum's number 1 spot is due not to me being a squealing teen swept into BOF mania - I am not a teen and when I first noticed him, BOF wasn't even cast yet. No, the reason Kim Bum is occupying the Number 1 spot is due to his role as the younger version of the protagonist in the behemoth East of Eden (hmmm, he is part of the two biggest dramas of the year. Good for him!). Out of the enormous cast, it was actually this totally unknown to me kid, who swept me away. Actually, I think he was my favorite actor of the bunch in the entire drama, quite a feat. But it's his rage, helplessness, fear, and love of the family, that really made me love Dong Chul so. In fact, much as I adore Song Seung Heon, when it was time for the character to be grown-up, I was actually disappointed - emotionally the person who hooked me was Kim Bum. It almost feels like a waste to have him in the cotton candy that is BOF - I am quite looking forward to him getting older and starring in some awesome and dark dramas, a la Mawang.
2. Lee Min Ho (21 years old)
Is anyone surprised that the lead of Boys Over Flowers is on this list? Sometimes kdramas cast unknowns as leads and sometimes that pays off in a huge way and a star is born. Just look at Goong, which made stars out of both Yoon Eun Hye and Joo Ji Hoon. And BOF, happily, proved to be another such a story - it's a dream drama really: internet mania, huge ratings, and a star in the making. Lee Min Ho has it all - he is tall and good-looking (of course, what kdrama star is not) but he is also an amazingly charismatic actor, who can be funny and emotional by turns, OTT and subtle when the role demands. Did I also mention sexy? I think half the drama-watching world is in love with him now, which is YAY!
3. Jung Il Woo (21 years old)
In all the internet furor over BOF, online people are rather overlooking another success story of the season: the somber, elegiac Iljimae - despite its excellent writing, subtle acting, and (thankfully) good ratings. A period story of revenge, justice, and loss, Iljimae stars the 21-year-old Jung Il Woo, who has the deadly combination of almost feminine elegance of look, not feminine at all fighting prowess as the lead, and quite wonderful emoting ability. Sort of like Asian Legolas, only emo. Shockingly, this version is about 20 times better than the earlier one, starring the very famous Lee Junki. Jung Il Woo's excellence in this is quite impressive. I cannot wait to see more of him!
4. Lee Yeon Hee (21 years old)
Yup, definitely a rising star. In fact, some might consider her already almost made, what with her being one of the female leads in East of Eden. Her character is one of my favorites - fun and angsty by turns, someone who has to grow up and grow up she does. She is still an uneven actress but she is improving by leaps and bounds, and she has oodles of charisma and chemistry with Song Seung Heon (who she is rumored to be dating in real life) which helps. Oh, and she is gorgeous. I see a bright future for her.
5. Philip Lee (27 years old)
Philip Lee first appeared in The Legend, Bae Yong Joon's wildly successful and incredibly awesome period fantasy drama of the end of 2007. Playing a mysterious, magically cursed warlord, he stole away many a heart, mine among them. If there was an American fandom, the slashfics for his and Bae Yong Joon's character would be through the roof. And now he finally has another drama, out in 2009. I have no idea what it's about but I will watch it very carefully!
6. Go Ah Ra (19 years old)
Go Ah Ra has it all: beauty, talent, and the starring role in the delightful, offbeat Who Are You opposite a Dangermousie favorite, Yoon Kye Sang. She really impressed me in WAY, holding her own against the much more experienced cast, and playing a character who could have been shrill or maudlin, but instead came across as warm, adorable, and strong. I think of all the younger actresses, she has the potential to become my favorite.
7. Kim Jae Wook (25 years old)
He first came to prominence as the delicious Waffle Sunki, one of the "Coffee Princes" working at the coffee shop of the wildly popular drama Coffee Prince. He was a secondary character, but quite a yummy one! Since then he's branched out and not only starred as a gay baker of "demonic charm" with a crush on his icy boss in the fluffy movie romp Antique Bakery, but also has had a supporting role as a bandit-turned-loyal-follower in the wonderful sageuk The Kingdom of the Winds. Gorgeous, and with that delicious gender/sexual ambiguity, I would love to watch him in even more things!
8. Seo Shin Ae (10 years old)
By far the youngest person on this list, Shin Ae's portrayal in Thank You of a strong, funny, eccentric small girl living on a rural island, who also happens to have HIV, blew me away. She is the best drama child actor I've seen, and seeing that Korean child actors are usually good, that's saying a lot. Oh, and she almost managed to steal the show from Jang Hyuk and Gong Hyo Jin, two wonderful actors and Dangermousie favorites. Shin Ae is currently starring in a daily drama and getting even more experience and improving her already awesome (if tiny :P) acting chops.
9. Kim Hyun Joong (22 years old)
I admit, despite his almost freakily picture-perfect looks, it took a while for Hyun Joong to grow on me - as Ji Hoo in Boys Over Flowers, it took a couple of episodes for him to relax and abandon the stiffness of manner. But since then he's been such a delight - his portrayal of an eccentric, overintellectual, quiet and quirky best friend of the main couple (and someone who nurses a very self-contained liking for the heroine) is one of my favorite things about BOF. He might not need drama stardom though - he is the leader of the popular Korean band SS501.
10. Kim Joon (24 years old)
The least experienced and least known member of the four hot main guys of BOF, Kim Joon is pretty darn hot and pretty darn adorable, even with his limited screentime. I would LOVE to see him in more things after BOF is over. It would be a pity to waste all that charm...