Cover After military service, Kim Soo-hyun confirmed that he was still Korea's favourite leading man with ‘It's Okay to Not Be Okay’ (Photo: tvN via IMDB)
After military service, Kim Soo-hyun confirmed that he was still Korea's favourite leading man with ‘It's Okay to Not Be Okay’ (Photo: tvN via IMDB)
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For ultra-talented K-drama actors, military service isn’t the end. It’s just a two-year character arc in their real-life careers
Knowledgeable K-drama fans understand that South Korea’s military service is the two-year hiatus that separates K-drama boys from the leading men. While some actors return with little fanfare, others roar back onto the scene like they’ve been secretly practising their craft between training drills. From jaw-dropping performances to career-redefining roles, these actors didn’t just make a comeback—they made a powerful statement. Here are the most unforgettable K-drama military comebacks that proved absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder.
Also read: 10 sweetest meet-cutes in K-drama history
1. Kim Soo-hyun
Post-military K-drama: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
Kim Soo-hyun, South Korea’s highest-paid actor, left for his military service in 2017 at the peak of his career (My Love from the Star, The Producers, Moon Embracing the Sun). For two years, fans counted down the days like they were awaiting a long-lost lover’s return.
His return in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay was more than just a comeback—it was a statement. Playing a stoic caregiver with emotional scars, Kim Soo-hyun reminded everyone why he’s a powerhouse, seamlessly balancing humour, heartbreak and sizzling chemistry with Seo Ye-ji. His record-breaking paycheck (reportedly KRW 200 million per episode) not only cemented his status as a top actor but also crowned him K-drama royalty, as well.
Don't miss: 9 best Kim Soo-hyun shows to watch: ‘Queen of Tears’, ‘It’s Okay To Not Be Okay’, and more
2. Lee Jong-suk
Post-military K-drama: Big Mouth (2022)
Lee Jong-suk spent his pre-military years perfecting the art of the brooding, intelligent hero (W, While You Were Sleeping, Pinocchio), so when he enlisted for military service, fans were left with a Jong-suk-sized void in their hearts. But in 2022, he returned with Big Mouth, a dark, gritty thriller where he transformed from a struggling lawyer into a ruthless genius crime boss (or so we think).
The show was an instant hit, and his performance was nothing short of spectacular. Gone was the boy-next-door charm, replaced by a hardened, dangerously unpredictable energy that proved he had levelled up. And with a high-profile romance with IU making headlines soon after, Lee Jong-suk won 2022.
3. Ji Chang-wook
Post-military K-drama: The Sound of Magic (2022), If You Wish Upon Me (2022)
Ji Chang-wook didn’t just serve in the military—he was promoted to sergeant. But while fans hoped he’d return with another round of high-octane, parkour-filled dramas (Healer, The K2 ), his post-military projects took a softer, more experimental turn.
The Sound of Magic (2022) saw him as a mysterious magician with emotional depth, while If You Wish Upon Me (2022) showcased a more introspective performance. Sure, fans are still waiting for peak action hero Ji Chang-wook to return, but his choices post-military only enhanced his versatility. He’s in this industry for the long haul, not just the fight scenes.
4. Song Joong-ki
Post-military K-drama: Descendants of the Sun (2016)
If you’re playing a special forces captain right after completing military service, the universe is practically handing you the best comeback possible. And that’s exactly what happened with Song Joong-ki.
Fresh out of military service, he returned with Descendants of the Sun (2016), a K-drama that propelled him beyond household-name status, turning him into a global sensation. The flirty, confident and downright swoon-worthy Captain Yoo Si-jin stole hearts, and the drama’s international success cemented Song Joong-ki as a megastar. It was the perfect role at the perfect time. The rugged captain was just what he needed to scruff up that boyish charm.
Also read: Song Joong-ki shows to watch in 2022: Reborn Rich, Vincenzo, Descendants of the Sun and more
5. Park Hyung-sik
Post-military K-drama: Happiness (2021), Our Blooming Youth (2023)
Park Hyung-sik returned from military service with one goal: to remind everyone why he was K-drama’s most lovable leading man. But instead of diving straight back into rom-coms, he chose Happiness, a gritty, dystopian thriller about a viral outbreak. Of course, he nailed it. His tough yet tender portrayal of a police officer protecting his loved ones showed a new level of maturity.
But he didn’t rest on his laurels. In Our Blooming Youth, he traded in his SWAT gear for a royal hanbok and intense political intrigue. Post-military, the actor is more refined, more confident and more leading-man material than ever.
See more: 14 Korean celebrities who were born rich
6. Im Si-wan
Post-military K-drama: Tracer (2022)
Remember when Im Si-wan was just “that idol from ZE:A”? Those days are long gone. His post-military performance in Tracer proved that he’s no longer just a K-pop star dabbling in acting. He’s a full-fledged A-lister. Playing a relentless tax investigator in this sharp, fast-paced drama, Si-wan shed any lingering doubt about his range. He’s played everything from a naive underdog (Misaeng) to an unsettling villain (Emergency Declaration), and Tracer only reinforced his ability to command the screen.
Also read: 25 K-pop idols turned K-drama stars, including BTS’ V, Blackpink’s Jisoo, Cha Eun-woo and more
7. Yoo Seung-ho
Post-military K-drama: Memorist (2020)
Yoo Seung-ho grew up in front of K-drama audiences, which means his hiatus for military service felt especially long for fans who had watched him since childhood. But when he returned in Memorist, he made it clear that he wasn’t here to coast on nostalgia. As a detective with supernatural abilities, he delivered a performance that was equal parts gripping and emotionally charged. If his pre-military work leaned into his youthful charm, Memorist marked his definitive shift into elite territory.
8. Ok Taecyeon
Post-military K-drama: Vincenzo (2021)
Before Vincenzo, Ok Taecyeon was the resident nice guy of 2PM. He was goofy, charming and known for his lovable on-screen roles. Then he took a hard left turn, and suddenly, he was playing one of the most terrifying K-drama villains in recent memory. As Jang Jun-woo, the psychopathic CEO hiding behind a dorky intern façade, Taecyeon delivered a performance so chilling it made audiences forget he was ever a heartthrob in the first place. We love how he used his post-military comeback to launch a full-blown reinvention.
Don't miss: 8 best K-drama performances by K-pop idols
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