Cover Gwan-sik is the ultimate family man. (Photo: Netflix)
Gwan-sik is the ultimate family man. (Photo: Netflix)
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These K-drama actors have earned forgiveness by playing heroes audiences can’t help but love
There’s no denying that one of the things that makes K-dramas so addictive is the masterfully crafted antagonists. Just as audiences love rooting for the heroes, they enjoy hating the villains. The best characters leave such a lasting impression that fans can’t forget them—until the same actors take on beloved hero roles in their next projects.
Whether it’s Park Hae-joon, who transforms from the most hated husband in The World of the Married to the most adored in When Life Gives You Tangerines, or Yoo In-soo going from the terrifying Gwi-nam in All of Us Are Dead to the lovable Na Jeok-bong in The Uncanny Counter 2, these actors have earned forgiveness by playing heroes audiences can’t help but love.
Also read: 8 slice-of-life K-dramas with no villains—just love, growth and healing
From Lee Tae-oh in ‘The World of the Married’ to Yang Gwan-sik in ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’
Above Philandering husband in ‘The World of the Married’ (Photo: JTBC)
Above Husband of The Year in ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ (Photo: Netflix)
Philandering husband in ‘The World of the Married’ (Photo: JTBC)
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It’s hard not to forgive him after his transformation from a philandering husband in The World of the Married to the most devoted husband in When Life Gives You Tangerines. As Gwan-sik, Park Hae-joon warmed hearts and made audiences cry. His quiet devotion to Ae-sun and his “one-sided love” for his daughter Geum-myeong painted a tender portrait of the ultimate family man.
See also: 5 life lessons from ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’
From Jeon Jae-jun in ‘The Glory’ to Cho Hyun-ju in ‘Squid Game’ season 2
Above ‘Queen of Tears’ main antagonist (Photo: tvN)
Above ‘Squid Game’ fan favourite (Photo: IMDb)
‘Queen of Tears’ main antagonist (Photo: tvN)
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After playing back-to-back villains in The Glory and Queen of Tears, actor Park Sung-hoon received so much hate that he had to gently remind viewers that he wasn’t the characters he was playing. Luckily, his next role, the smart, capable and compassionate Cho Hyun-ju in Squid Game season 2, emerged as a fan favourite.
From Yeo Da-kyung in ‘The World of the Married’ to Yoo Na-bi in ‘Nevertheless,’
Above The mistress we all love to hate (Photo: JTBC)
Above The softest princess (Photo: JTBC)
The mistress we all love to hate (Photo: JTBC)
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There’s more than one antagonist in The World of the Married. After all, it takes two to tango. It’s bad enough that Da-kyung is mistress to Ji Sun-woo’s husband, but it’s even more annoying that she loves to rub it in Sun-woo’s face. In her next role, though, Han So-hee goes from impertinent mistress to softest princess. In Nevertheless, she triggers people’s protective instincts as the vulnerable, naive and hopeless-romantic Nabi.
From Lee Na-yeon in ‘All of Us Are Dead’ to Jo Jae-mi in ‘Mr Plankton’
Above An annoying antagonist in ‘All of Us Are Dead’ (Photo: IMDb)
Above Cute heroine of ‘Mr. Plankton’ (Photo: IMDb)
An annoying antagonist in ‘All of Us Are Dead’ (Photo: IMDb)
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Lee You-mi’s appearance in All of Us Are Dead may have been brief, but she made a lasting negative impression as the selfish Lee Na-yeon. Thankfully, she quickly switches from annoying to adorable with her performances as the plucky heroine in Strong Girl Nam-soon and the passionate Jae-mi in Mr. Plankton.
From Gye Bun-ok in ‘Snowdrop’ to Im Sol in ‘Lovely Runner’
Above Gye Bun-ok is prone to petty aggression (Photo: JTBC)
Above Lovely Im Sol (Photo: tvN)
Gye Bun-ok is prone to petty aggression (Photo: JTBC)
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Calling Snowdrop’s Gye Bun-ok a villain may be a bit of a stretch, but no one can deny she’s not the most likable character. Bun-ok is insecure, manipulative and prone to petty aggression. She’s worlds apart from Im Sol, the selfless and lovable character Kim Hye-yoon plays in Lovely Runner, whose devotion to Ryu Sun-jae made audiences fall in love with her.
Don’t miss: 3 things to know about ‘Lovely Runner’
From Yoon Gwi-nam in ‘All of Us Are Dead’ to Na Jeok-bong in ‘The Uncanny Counter 2’
Above Super zombie (Photo: IMDb)
Above The newest counter (Photo: tvN)
Super zombie (Photo: IMDb)
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Gwi-nam isn’t just the ultimate school bully—he’s a zombie school bully. And not just any zombie school bully—he’s a super zombie school bully. Having given such a memorable turn as Gwi-nam in All of Us Are Dead, viewers were pleasantly surprised and won over by Yoo In-soo’s portrayal of loyal, lovesick Park Dang-gu in Alchemy of Souls and funny, clueless Na Jeok-bong in The Uncanny Counter 2.
From Park Gul-mi in ‘Love Alarm’ to Kim Myung-Hee in ‘Youth of May’
Above Scheming antagonist (Photo: IMDb)
Above Gentle heroine (Photo: IMDb)
Scheming antagonist (Photo: IMDb)
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Like Snowdrop’s Bun-ok, Park Gul-mi is not so much a villain as a character viewers loved to hate. She is scheming and jealous, and is not above manipulating people and situations to get her way. So it was refreshing to see Go Min-si switch gears to play the kindhearted and gentle Myung-hee in Youth of May.
From Park Yeon-Jin in ‘The Glory’ to Gudeok/Ok Tae-Young in ‘The Tale of Lady Ok’
Above (Photo: IMDb)
Above (Photo: JTBC)
(Photo: IMDb)
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Cruel and vindictive, The Glory's Park Yeon-jin has no redeeming qualities. Viewers agree that she is one of the more diabolical villains in K-drama. In contrast, Gudeok/Ok Tae-Young, the character Lim Ji-yeon plays in The Tale of Lady Ok, is compassionate and empathetic. As Gudeok, Lim Ji-yeon captivated viewers, offering a tender and deeply human character that felt like a breath of fresh air.
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