Tall, handsome, and versatile, South Korean actor Jang Ki Yong is pure leading man material. Avid K-drama fans need no further convincing, but if you're not so familiar with the Hallyu heartthrob yet, it's not too late! For starters, we already wrote about the 10 things every new fan needs to know about him. Ahead, we're rounding up a list of K-dramas that demonstrate Ki Yong's undeniable acting chops.
1. It's Okay, That's Love (2014)
Jang Jae-yeol, a mystery writer and radio DJ, grapples with an obsession. Ji Hae-soo, in her first year of a psychiatry fellowship at a university hospital, chose her field to avoid performing surgeries. Jang Ki Yong makes his debut in the K-drama world in a guest appearance in this series, which co-stars Jo In Sung.
Also starring: Jo In Sung, Gong Hyo Jin, Sung Dong Il
2. The Idle Mermaid (2014)
In this enchanting fantasy drama, Ha-Ni, portrayed by Jo Bo Ah, is a mermaid who transforms into a human to pursue the man she loves. She moves into the Ingyeo House, a residence for young adults preparing for their first jobs. To remain human permanently, Ha-Ni must win her love’s heart within 100 days. Ki Yong appears as Kim Yeon-sun in a cameo.
Also starring: Jo Bo Ah, On Joo Wan, Song Jae Rim, Park Ji Soo
3. The Greatest Marriage (2014)
Cha Ki-young, a former news anchor, becomes a single mother, while Jo Eun-cha leaves his anchoring career for a failed political run. As they navigate unexpected turns in their lives, four other couples also grapple with the challenges of modern romance. In the drama, Ki Young portrays Bae Deu-ro.
Also starring: Bae Soo Bin, Park Shi Yeon, No Min Woo, Uhm Hyun Kyung
4. Schoolgirl Detectives (2014)
Alternatively titled Seonam Girls High School Investigators, this teen mystery series centers on a misfit group of five students who form a detective club in pursuit of solving issues within the institution, which include bullying, abortion, and suicide. At the center of it all is Ahn Chae-yul, a brilliant student sent by her parents to a less-competitive public school after failing her entrance exam for a top-rated academy. Ki Yong, plays Ahn Chae-joon in the show, Chae-yul's genius older brother.
Also starring: Jin Ji Hee, Kang Min Ah, Lee Hye Ri, Stephanie Lee, Lee Min Ji
5. This Is My Love (2015)
Eun-Ho, a top actor in South Korea, decides to pen an autobiography about his first love, Eun-dong, who vanished twice from his life. He hopes the book will help find her. Eun-dong, now an amnesiac writer under a different name, unknowingly becomes his ghostwriter.
Also starring: Joo Jin Mo, Kim Sa Rang
6. The Liar and His Lover (2017)
Kang Han-gyul is the composer and music producer of a famous rock band named Crude Play. After spiraling into depression, he changes his identity and crosses paths with Yoon so-rim, a high school student with a gifted singing voice. As they find themselves falling for each other, will Han-gyul’s past and his real identity put a dent to their blossoming relationship? A supporting actor in the series, Ki Yong plays Ji In-ho, Crude Play's drummer and rapper.
Also starring: Lee Hyun Woo, Joy, Lee Jung Jin
7. Confession Couple (2017)
Once happy and in love, 38-year-olds Choi Ban-do and Ma Jin-joo have now grown to resent each other after marrying at a young age. Where Ban-do constantly struggles at work, Jin-joo feels abandoned by him all the while. After reaching a breaking point in their relationship, the pairs wake up the next day only to find themselves back to their 20-year-old university selves when they first met. Uncertain of how much time they have, Ban-do and Jin-joo attempt to change their miserable future by making different choices while in their past.
Also starring: Jang Na Ra, Son Ho Jun, Heo Jung Min
8. My Mister (2018)
My Mister centers on three middle-aged brothers, particularly Park Dong-hoon, an engineer whose personal life falls apart after he learns of his wife’s infidelity. Stoic and distraught, he crosses paths with Lee Ji-an, a struggling young woman in her 20s who ends up drawn to his charms. Together, the two develop a close bond and help each other to be happier. Ki Yong portrays a loan shark in the series named Lee Kwang-il, who also happened to like Ji-an when they were young.
Also starring: IU, Lee Sun Gyun, Jang Ki Yong
9. Come and Hug Me (2018)
A romantic mystery drama spanning 12 years, Come and Hug Me starts with two childhood friends, Yoon Na-moo and Gil Nak-won, who meet and fall in love despite being polar opposites. However, their relationship is cut short when a violent tragedy strikes their families and their bond is severed forever. Each with a new identity years later, they eventually meet again and are finally forced to deal with the love they lost and the trauma that comes along with it.
Also starring: Jin Ki Joo, Heo Joon Ho
10. Kill It (2019)
When police detective Do Hyun-jin suspects veterinarian Kim Soo-hyun to be a serial killer, her investigation soon leads her to an unexpected discovery that changes both of their lives. Though reluctant to team up, the two work together to unearth the mysteries of their past that continue to bind them.
Also starring: Nana, Roh Jeong Eui, Lee Jae Won
11. Search: WWW (2019)
After being fired from Unicon for igniting a national controversy, the brazen Bae Ta-mi is offered a job by her previous company’s rival, Barro. There, she’s challenged to turn it into South Korea’s number one web portal, all while dealing with a co-worker set on antagonizing her, and a man eager to romance her every step of the way.
Also starring: Im Soo Jung, Lee Da Hee, Jeon Hye Jin
12. Born Again (2020)
The intertwined lives of a detective, an ill bookshop owner, and a serial killer end in tragedy in the 1980s. Years later, the trio is reincarnated into modern-day Seoul. As their paths inevitably cross once again, can they keep their disastrous history from repeating itself?
Also starring: Jin Se Yeon, Lee Soo Hyuk, Jung In Kyum
13. My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021)
This webtoon-based drama centers on Lee Dam, a 22-year-old college student who accidentally swallows the marble of a male gumiho (mystical fox) named Shim Woo, who had been close to making himself human. According to Soompi’s full synopsis, “If a human swallows the marble, they can only live for one year, and the marble will break, preventing the gumiho from becoming human. As a result, Shin Woo Yeo suggests that the two live together, beginning their unexpected romance.”
Also starring: Lee Hye Ri, Kang Han Na, Kim Do Wan, Bae In Hyuk
14. Now, We Are Breaking Up (2021)
Ha Young-eun, portrayed by Song Hye Kyo, leads a fashion company's design team. As a cold-hearted realist, she values stability above all. She’s smart, beautiful, and trend-sensitive. Yoon Jae-guk, played by Jang Ki Yong, is a charismatic freelance fashion photographer with intelligence, wealth, and good looks. Both meet in a story of romance and heartbreak, all set in the glittering fashion industry.
Also starring: Song Hye Kyo, Choi Hee Seo, Kim Joo Heon
15. The Atypical Family (2024)
Bok Gwi-Ju (Jang Ki Yong) and his family, born with supernatural powers, lose them due to mental afflictions. Gwi-Ju's power to revisit happy moments can't change the past, leading to his depression. Do Da-Hae (Chun Woo-Hee) enters their lives, sparking unexpected changes.
Also starring: Chun Woo Hee
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