Lee Jae-wook k-dramas, from ‘Alchemy of Souls’ to ‘Doctor on the Edge’

Set in the fictional nation of Daeho, this fantasy historical drama follows mages dealing with forbidden magic, political power and soul-shifting abilities. Lee Jae-wook stars as Jang Uk, a nobleman born with a sealed destiny who becomes entangled with an elite assassin trapped inside another woman’s body. As the story progresses, his character transforms from a rebellious outsider into a central figure within Daeho’s growing magical conflict. Jung So-min and Go Youn-jung lead the series alongside him, with the drama streaming globally on Netflix. Among modern fantasy-focused Lee Jae-wook k-dramas, this remains his most commercially recognised role.

This mystery melodrama centres on the sudden return of a wealthy family’s missing heir after years of disappearance. Lee Jae-wook plays Hongrang, whose reappearance creates suspicion within the household as relatives begin questioning whether he is truly the lost son or an impostor with another agenda. The series combines romance, family politics and psychological tension while exploring identity and inheritance. Netflix distributes the drama internationally as part of its Korean original slate.

Blending fantasy and teen drama, Extraordinary You follows high school students who realise they are characters inside a comic book and attempt to resist their predetermined storylines. Lee Jae-wook plays Baek Kyung, a wealthy and emotionally conflicted student trapped in a strained engagement. His performance became one of the drama’s most talked-about elements as the series gained popularity among younger viewers. Kim Hye-yoon and Rowoon headline the cast, while international audiences can stream the drama on Viki. The series remains one of the defining early Lee Jae-wook k-dramas.

This corporate thriller revolves around two ambitious young men attempting to seize control of one of South Korea’s most powerful conglomerates. Lee Jae-wook stars as Han Tae-oh, a strategic and highly intelligent figure who forms an alliance with an illegitimate chaebol heir in pursuit of influence and succession power. The drama focuses heavily on manipulation, class dynamics and corporate rivalry. Lee Jun-young and Hong Su-zu co-star in the Disney+ series, which marked another major streaming-backed lead role in the growing catalogue of Lee Jae-wook k-dramas.

Structured around repeated reincarnations after a failed suicide attempt, this fantasy thriller follows a man forced to experience multiple deaths through different lives. Lee Jae-wook appears as Jo Tae-sang, a martial arts trainee connected to one of the reincarnation cycles that shape the larger narrative. Although not the central lead, his appearance became memorable due to the drama’s rotating character structure. Seo In-guk and Park So-dam anchor the ensemble cast, with international streaming available through Amazon Prime Video.

Set within South Korea’s competitive tech portal industry, this workplace drama explores corporate rivalry, online influence and personal relationships. Lee Jae-wook plays Seol Ji-hwan, a rising actor whose romantic storyline with one of the female leads added a softer emotional thread to the series’ corporate setting. Starring alongside Im Soo-jung, Lee Da-hee and Jeon Hye-jin, he gained wider attention for balancing sincerity and comedic timing in the role. The drama is currently available on Viki.

This romantic comedy follows a pianist whose privileged life collapses overnight, forcing her to rebuild in a small town piano academy. Lee Jae-wook stars opposite Go Ara as Sunwoo Joon, a mysterious young man with a concealed personal history who gradually becomes central to the protagonist’s new life. The series combines romantic comedy with melodramatic elements while leaning heavily on community-centred storytelling. Kim Joo-hun also appears in a major supporting role, and the drama streams on Netflix.

In this emotional procedural drama about trauma cleaners preserving the final stories of the deceased, Lee Jae-wook makes a guest appearance as Kim Su-cheol. His character’s backstory becomes important to one of the cases handled by the main duo, contributing to the series’ broader exploration of grief and unresolved relationships. Led by Lee Je-hoon and Tang Jun-sang, the Netflix drama earned strong international attention for its episodic storytelling structure.

This romantic drama follows twin brothers Baek Do-ha and Baek Do-young, both played by Lee Jae-wook, who were separated after their parents’ divorce and raised in different countries. The story moves between past and present as childhood friendships, first love and unresolved tensions resurface during repeated summer reunions in Korea. Lee Jae-wook takes on dual roles for the first time in his career, portraying both the accomplished architect Baek Do-ha and his more reserved twin brother. Choi Sung-eun co-stars as Song Ha-gyeong, while Kim Gun-woo appears as lawyer Seo Soo-hyuk. The series aired on KBS2 and became available on Viki, with Netflix distribution in select regions.

Based on the novel of the same name, this healing melodrama centres on Mok Hae-won, a cellist who leaves Seoul and returns to her rural hometown after growing weary of city life. There, she reconnects with bookstore owner Im Eun-seob as old memories and family tensions gradually surface. Lee Jae-wook appears as Lee Jang-woo, part of the drama’s younger supporting cast. Park Min-young and Seo Kang-joon lead the series, which later developed a strong international following for its understated storytelling. The drama has been available on Viki in several regions.

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From body-swapping mages to corporate power games and quiet small-town romances, Lee Jae-wook’s screen choices sketch a career that rarely sits still for long (Photo: Eunjung Kim/Netflix © 2025)

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