There’s no doubt that high-earner Kim Soo Hyun is a sought-after leading man in the K-drama scene. But within his swoon-worthy romantic filmography, Soo Hyun's onscreen partners are equally fawned over, boasting acting prestige, stylish ensembles, and “queenly” auras themselves.
From Bae Suzy in Dream High to Kim Ji Won in Queen of Tears, ahead, take a look back at Kim Soo Hyun’s unforgettable leading ladies.
LIST: Kim Soo Hyun’s Leading Ladies in K-Dramas
1. Bae Suzy as Go Hye-mi in Dream High (2011)
In Bae Suzy’s big break on the K-drama silver screen, the idol-turned-actress plays the resident popular gal of Kirin High School of Art, Go Hye-mi. And while all may seem well for her, the character actually harbors an unfortunate past, leading to the crumble of her once-wealthy family. Soo Hyun’s Song Sam-dong, a musical prodigy from the countryside, sets his sights on Hye-mi, following her to the school–but expect a love triangle with Taecyeon’s Jin-gook in the mix!
2. Han Ga In as Heo Yeon-Woo/Wol in The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012)
The historical drama tells the story of Han Ga In ’s Wol, a female shaman in the Joseon dynasty. But hidden beneath her forgotten memories is a royal past as Crown Princess Heo Yeon Woo, with the public believing that she was murdered. Upon her return to the palace, her previous memories come crashing down on her, including her betrothal to Crown Prince Lee Hwon (played by Soo Hyun).
3. Jun Ji Hyun as Cheon Song-hyi in My Love From the Star (2013)
Soo Hyun fills the shoes of an intergalactic being stuck on Earth for 400 years in My Love From the Star. The reclusive alien, who poses as a professor, has grown a cynical view of humanity with his centuries-long stay, but a romance with actress-turned-student Cheon Song-yi (played by Jun Ji Hyun) may soon change that.
4. Gong Hyo Jin as Tak Ye-jin and IU as Cindy in The Producers (2015)
The actor finds himself with two potential love interests in The Producers, where he portrays Baek Seung-chan, a prosecutor who joins the ranks of a national broadcasting company. Among the leads include Gong Hyo Jin as Tak Ye-jin, a seasoned producer-director with a mean streak, and IU as Cindy, a famous singer and celebrity with an “ice princess” reputation. This marked IU’s second co-starring role with Soo Hyun, following 2011’s Dream High.
5. Seo Ye Ji as Ko Moon-young in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
As a caretaker in a psychiatric ward, Soo Hyun’s Moon Gang-tae is tasked to keep watch of the patients, guided by his own empathy for his autistic brother Sang-tae. While working for the hospital, Gang-tae crosses paths with children’s book author Ko Moon-young (played by Seo Ye Ji ), a woman rumored to have antisocial personality disorder who forms a romantic obsession with him.
6. Kim Ji Won as Hong Hae-in in Queen of Tears (2024)
Despite their contrasting social backgrounds, Soo Hyun’s Baek Hyun-woo finds love with Kim Ji Won’s Hong Hae-in, the chaebol owner of the company he works for. However, not all is the stuff of happy endings, as the couple faces a rough patch after three years of marriage.
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