This versatile Korean actor is set to join the cast of Captain Marvel sequel, The Marvels. While we wait for that, here are seven of Park Seo-joon’s top films and K-dramas to catch up on

Whether you discovered Park Seo-joon relatively late, via his massive 2020 K-drama hit Itaewon Class, or got on the PSJ train earlier with his rom-com dramas She Was Pretty, Fight For My Way or What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, or caught his cameo in Academy Award-winning film Parasite, one thing’s for sure—Park Seo-joon isn’t just a pretty-faced romantic lead. Because have you seen his ripped bod in Fight For My Way, or his darker and more serious turns in 2019 movie The Divine Fury and of course, Itaewon Class?

The man is a masterclass in charm on- and off-screen, as can be seen from the various characters he effortlessly plays, and his real-life shenanigans with his Wooga Squad—a tight-knit group of celeb bros which includes BTS’s V, Parasite actor Choi Woo-shik and Strong Girl Bong-soon actor Park Hyung-sik.

He’s already a household name in South Korea, but the world is now about to get acquainted with PSJ, as his fans call him, as he joins the cast of The Marvels, the highly-anticipated sequel to 2019 blockbuster hit Captain Marvel, which is set to hit screens in 2023. His role is as yet undisclosed, but it’s speculated that he may play Korean-American teenage hero Amadeus Cho, also known as Brawn.

See also: Park Seo-Joon Confirmed to Be Joining ‘The Marvels’ Cast

Till then, there’s Concrete Utopia to look forward to next year. The film stars Park as an earthquake survivor, whose wife is played by Park Bo-young. Lee Byung-hun is also part of the star-studded cast. He will also star opposite IU in Dream, a highly-anticipated upcoming sports comedy flick.

It seems PSJ is hitting the big time with films aplenty the next couple of years. To get to know this 32-year-old actor, binge on these seven shows.

1. Itaewon Class, 2020

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The role which stunned K-drama fans who were used to Park Seo-joon’s comedic roles in rom-coms. He eschewed his usual suave hair and spiffy wardrobe for a hairstyle that’s since been dubbed Chestnut Hair, and plays Park Sae-ro-yi, an ex-convict who goes up against food conglomerate Jangga Group, and makes it his life mission to exact revenge against them for causing his tragic life and his father’s death. Park is understatedly and stunningly good in this. A must-watch.

See also: 11 Korean Dramas With the Highest Ratings in 2021: Which Haven’t You Watched?

2. Fight For My Way, 2017

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A hilarious romp that many feel is Park’s best rom-com work. He plays an MMA fighter who realises he’s in love with his best friend, an aspiring announcer played by Kim Ji-won. Together with two other pals, they navigate the world and try to figure out what they want in life. A easy-breezy and fun watch with great chemistry and stellar performances.

3. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, 2018

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Another PSJ masterpiece that led to many shipping Park Seo-joon and female lead Park Min-young. The chemistry between Park’s narcissistic vice-chairman character and Park Min-young’s long-suffering secretary is so sizzling, fans speculated they must be seeing each other in real life. Another fun K-drama with super-telegenic leads and lots of laugh-out-loud moments.

4. She Was Pretty, 2015

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One of Park Seo-joon’s first K-drama lead roles. The plot centres on Kim Hye-jin, a girl who was beautiful when she was young, but became plagued with a bad complexion and unmanageable hair when she grew up. Kim is played by Hwang Jung-eum, who is, to be honest, a little too OTT in the role. Still an entertaining Korean series with plenty of funny hijinks, as Kim realises she’s in love with her magazine editor boss, played by PSJ, who has amazing hair in this show.

5. Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth, 2016

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On the flip side, hair-wise, is this drama set in the Silla era, full of really handsome actors with really unfortunate period hairstyles. Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik and BTS’s V are part of a band of elite group of young men called Hwarang, who fight baddies, bond with one another and fall in love (with Go Ara’s physician character). A comedic period romp which is fun to watch if you’re fans of PSJ, Park Hyung-sik and V (who form three out of five of the Wooga Squad).

6. Midnight Runners, 2017

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This action comedy flick has PSJ at his comedic butt-kicking best, as he throws punches and milks laughs as a police student who tries to catch baddies and take things into his own incapable hands, with fellow clueless police officer-wannabe played by Kang Han-neul. Not quite Marvel territory, but perhaps it’s a tiny hint of Seo-joon’s action hero greatness.  

7. The Divine Fury, 2019

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What can’t PSJ do? Rom-com? He’s a natural. Action? No problem. Serious drama? Sure, with a side of chestnut hair. How about horror? The answer is yes, as he takes on this action horror film with religious undertones. Park plays an MMA fighter (again!), who, despite his aversion to God and religion, acquires divine demon-quashing powers. Cue stigmata, exorcisms, demons and other scary and evil things. Seo-joon looks seriously battered in this one, but still handsome, very handsome.

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