Looking for your next Kim Jae-won K-drama? These roles prove why he’s Hallyu’s newest breakout actor

It’s only been a few months into 2026, yet fans have already been treated to two Kim Jae-won K-dramas. Playing two very different characters back-to-back—the green flag Shin Soon-rok in Yumi’s Cells 3 and the pitiable Kang Ji-hwon in The Art of Sarah—the up-and-coming actor proves his range.

The Art of Sarah is a Netflix Original series that stars the magnetic Shin Hye-sun as the enigmatic Sarah Kim and Lee Jun-hyuk as Park Mu-gyeong, the detective intent on unravelling the mystery surrounding her. Kim Jae-won’s Kang Ji-hwon is Sarah’s lapdog—manipulated into doing her bidding by the promise of love. 

Much has been said about his noona romance and electric chemistry with Shin Hye-sun, but his performance goes far beyond that. Widely praised as transformative, his Ji-hwon feels lived-in. From subtle micro-expressions to intense moments, he gives the character depth and dimension. The Art of Sarah marks another significant turning point in Kim Jae-won’s rapidly evolving K-drama career, showcasing his readiness to explore roles that go beyond charming romantic interests. 

See more: ‘The Art of Sarah’: Shin Hye-sun’s 7 best performances to watch right now

Kim Jae-won made a brief but memorable appearance in the Netflix Original medical K-drama The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call. He plays army surgeon Seo Dong-ju, who encounters the trauma team led by Baek Kang-hyuk (Ju Ji-hoon) and Yang Jae-won (Choo Young-woo) while they were on a mission in South Sudan, in episodes seven and eight.

Despite limited screen time, the rising actor leaves a strong impression as the dependable and highly skilled military doctor. By the finale, Seo Dong-ju is recruited into the trauma unit as Baek Kang-hyuk’s newest protégé—hinting at a larger role should the series return for a second season.

The drama enjoyed high viewership numbers and earned numerous awards—Baeksang Best Actor for Ju Ji-hoon, as well as Blue Dragon Best Drama, Best Actor and Best New Actor for Choo Young-woo—however Netflix has yet to confirm if and when the show will return. But if it does, chances are fans will be seeing more of Kim Jae-won’s Seo Dong-ju.

See more: From ‘The Devil Judge’ to ‘Trauma Code: Heroes on Call’: meet 6 K-drama mentors and their protégés

Kim Jae-won tries sageuk K-drama on for size in JTBC’s The Tale of Lady Ok, where he joins a cast that includes Lim Ji-yeon (The Glory, My Royal Nemesis) as Ok Tae-young/Gudeok and his The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call co-star Choo Young-woo as Song Seo-in/Cheon Seung-hwi and Sung Yoon-gyeom.

In the Joseon legal drama directed by Legend of the Blue Sea’s Jin Hyuk, he plays Seong Do-gyeom, the young brother-in-law left under Ok Tae-young’s care when her father-in-law dies and her husband goes missing. Do-gyeom is their village’s beloved scholar, noble and loyal to Tae-young.

In this Kim Jae-won K-drama supporting role, he once again proves that he is a worthy addition to any cast, giving a performance that adds depth to the story, enhances chemistry and still leaves enough room to stand out.

The Kim Jae-won K-drama that served as his definitive breakout role is the Netflix Original teen makjang Hierarchy. The plot revolves around a group of rich kids in an elite school catering to South Korea’s top 0.01 per cent. Think Gossip Girl or Elite, but make it K-drama.

Kim Jae-won plays Kim Ri-an, a troubled chaebol heir and the reigning king of Jooshin High School.  He shares main lead credits with Lee Chae-min, a fellow rising star and recent Baeksang Awards Best New Actor winner, and Roh Jeong-eui, who was last seen in the buzzy tvN drama Our Universe.

It is a layered role that required Kim Jae-won to balance the domineering campus alpha with the vulnerability of a lovesick ex still carrying a torch for Roh Jeong-eui's Jung Jae-i. The rookie actor rose to the challenge, reportedly tapping into his modeling experience to portray Ri-an’s stoic and cold charisma.

One of Kim Jae-won’s most notable K-drama appearances was in the JTBC rom-com King the Land, starring Lim Yoona as Cheon Sa-rang and Lee Jun-ho as Gu Won. The series, which is available on Netflix, would become one of the streamer’s biggest K-drama hits—giving Kim Jae-won early global exposure.

Playing Lee Ro-woon, a young flight attendant who falls for his co-worker Oh Pyeong-hwa (Go Won-hee)—Sa-rang's close friend—Kim Jae-won stood out for his visuals and swoon-worthy charm. Despite his supporting role and limited screentime, his noona romance subplot quickly became a fan favourite. It also marked the beginning of a recurring noona romance thread that would go on to define some of the most memorable early highlights of Kim Jae-won’s rising K-drama career.

From heart-fluttering noona romance storylines in King the Land and Yumi’s Cells 3 to darker and more emotionally layered performances in Hierarchy and The Art of Sarah, Kim Jae-won’s K-drama roles showcase an actor steadily expanding his range.

With his striking visuals, natural screen presence and ability to hold his own alongside some of Korea’s biggest stars, the rising talent is quickly becoming one of the most exciting young names in Hallyu.

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