Kim Hye-jun K-dramas to watch before streaming ‘A Shop for Killers’ season 2

Few K-dramas have reinvented the zombie genre as successfully as Kingdom, Netflix’s acclaimed historical thriller set during the Joseon dynasty. In her breakout role, Kim Hye-jun stars as the scheming and ruthless Queen Consort Cho, who will stop at nothing to secure her family’s grip on the throne. Her transformation from a reluctant pawn in the political manoeuvring of a power-hungry father in the first season to an increasingly unhinged queen consumed by paranoia and desperation in the second season is one of the most fascinating villain arcs in modern K-dramas.

Even while sharing the screen with veteran actors such as Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Lee Chang and Ryu Seung-ryong as chief state councillor Cho Hak-ju, Kim Hye-jun’s magnetic screen presence makes her impossible to ignore. She turns in a chilling and commanding performance, shifting from steely determination and royal composure one moment to crazed obsession and sheer terror the next.

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In Inspector Koo, Kim Hye-jun stars as Song Yi-kyung, a seemingly cheerful young woman who secretly leads a double life as a meticulous serial killer, committing elaborate murders disguised as accidents while staying one step ahead of the authorities. Meanwhile, the K-drama marks Hallyu star Lee Young-ae’s big comeback to television as Koo Kyung-yi, a former police detective hot on Yi-kyung’s tail.

Kim Hye-jun plays Yi-kyung as equal parts charming and unsettling, squaring off against Lee Young-ae’s world-weary investigator in an electrifying battle of wits that propels the story forward. The unpredictability she brings to the young sociopath makes the character deeply compelling. It is a fearless, career-defining performance that earned Kim Hye-jun critical acclaim and the award for Best New Actress for television at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards.

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After making her name in dark thrillers and psychological dramas, Kim Hye-jun switches things up in Cashero, Netflix’s superhero K-drama based on the popular webtoon. In the action-comedy series, she plays Kim Min-suk, the practical and highly efficient girlfriend of Lee Jun-ho’s Kang Sang-ung, a superhuman whose superpowers are tied to how much cash he has on him. Together with a quirky team of superheroes, they find themselves battling powerful villains while navigating the often absurd realities of everyday life.

While Cashero leans into humor and high-concept action, Kim Hye-jun gives the series an emotional anchor with her understated performance. Her natural chemistry with Lee Jun-ho and sharp comedic timing bring warmth to the story, proving she can shine just as brightly in a genre that swaps psychological suspense for fast-paced adventure and heartfelt laughs.

In Connect, Disney+’s sci-fi horror thriller directed by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike, Kim Hye-jun plays Choi I-rang, a mysterious ally to Jung Hae-in’s Ha Dong-soo, a man who discovers he belongs to a new species of immortal humans known as “Connect”. After surviving a brutal encounter with organ traffickers, Dong-soo races to stop Go Kyung-pyo’s Oh Jin-seob, a sadistic serial killer who has stolen one of his eyes. Along the way, I-rang becomes an indispensable guide, helping him understand the extraordinary abilities—and dangerous consequences—that come with his newfound identity.

Kim Hye-jun’s arresting performance had reviewers singling her out as the standout of every scene she appeared in, crediting her charisma and tenacity for elevating a role that could have easily felt secondary. Leaning into I-rang’s cryptic, no-nonsense edge, she gave the show’s outlandish sci-fi premise a steadying, credible anchor.

Switching gears yet again, Kim Hye-jun next appears in the tvN romantic comedy My Bias, My Boss, streaming on HBO Max starting August 3, 2026. Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, she stars as Nam Da-reum, an enthusiastic fan who lands a coveted job at fashion platform Apello in hopes of getting closer to her bias, Cha Woo-min’s Lee Chan, an idol-turned-executive director at the company.

While working near her idol leaves her giddy, what Da-reum doesn’t expect are the feelings that start creeping in for Apello’s CEO, Kang Hoon’s Kang Ha-gi. Soon, she finds herself caught in the middle of a love triangle that leaves her wondering where her affection truly lies.

From historical epics and psychological thrillers to superhero adventures and romantic comedies, these Kim Hye-jun K-dramas capture the range that has made her one of the industry’s most exciting actresses. Whether you are catching up before A Shop for Killers season two or discovering her work for the first time, each title offers a different side of her evolving career.

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