Rising K-drama star Oh Ye-ju is everywhere: here’s where you’ve seen her

In the MBC and Disney+ healing melodrama In Your Radiant Season, starring Lee Sung-kyung as Song Ha-ran and Chae Jong-hyeop as Sunwoo Chan, Oh Ye-ju takes on a supporting role as Song Ha-dam, the youngest of the Song sisters.

As the overachieving Ha-dam, she charmed audiences with her adorable chemistry with on-screen sisters Song Ha-ran and Song Ha-young (Han Ji-hyun), her tender bond with grandmother Kim Na-na (Lee Mi-sook) and her sweet romance with Cha You-gyum (played by newcomer Kim Tae-young).

Oh Ye-ju delivers a scene-stealing performance as the teenage Yoon Ji-won in Love Your Enemy, the tvN and Disney+ rom-com starring Ju Ji-hoon as Seok Ji-won and Jung Yu-mi as the present-day Yoon Ji-won. Her visuals, natural charm and chemistry with Hong Min-gi, who plays the young Seok Ji-won, turned the 2006 flashback arc into a fan-favourite and left fans wishing they had more screen time.

Oh Ye-ju and Min-gi not only bring the characters vividly to life, but also deepen the story, colouring the present relationship with rich history and giving Seok Ji-won and Yoon Ji-won’s current dynamics context.

See more: Joo Ji-hoon is everywhere and we’re not complaining

The title of the Disney+ original series, a gritty noir thriller, is a reference to the dark side of Seoul’s glitziest and most affluent neighbourhood. It stars Jo Woo-jin as detective Kang Dong-woo, Ji Chang-wook as the mysterious criminal broker Yoon Gil-ho and Ha Yun-kyung as ambitious prosecutor Min So-jin.

In the K-drama, Oh Ye-ju plays the detective’s daughter, Kang Ye-seo, who provides the emotional stakes of the series. When her close friend Kim Jae-hee (played by singer and rapper Bibi) goes missing, Ye-seo is thrust into the criminal underworld, and she turns to her father for help.

Having already played the teenage version of Shin Min-a in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, it’s no surprise that Oh Ye-ju was cast as the young Son Hae-young, the character Shin Min-a plays in the tvN and Amazon Prime rom-com K-drama No Gain No Love.

Although Oh Ye-ju appears in only a handful of flashbacks, her portrayal is pivotal in revealing Hae-young’s childhood, which was spent sharing her mother’s attention with foster kids in her family’s care, and the role it played in shaping the person she becomes.

The sageuk rom-com stars Rowoon as Sim Jung-woo, the royal princess’ widower, and Choi Yi-hyun as Jung Soon-deok, a nobleman’s widow. Together, they moonlight as matchmakers, working to marry off eligible young women across Hanyang.

Oh Ye-ju plays Soon-deok’s sister-in-law, Jo Ye-jin, who, thanks to her beauty, personality and many talents—not to mention family connections—is considered top bride material. She finds her match in Yoon Bu-gyeom (Choi Kyung-hoon), a nobleman whose family has fallen on hard times and who also happens to be her first love.

Netflix’s global hit Under the Queen’s Umbrella marks Oh Ye-ju’s big breakout role, making her K-drama fans’ newest “girl crush”. She stars alongside Hallyu A-lister Kim Hye-soo, who plays Queen Im Hwa-Ryeong, the formidable mother to five headstrong princes, played by Bae In-hyuk, Moon Sang-min, Yoon Sang-hyeon, Yoo Seon-ho and Park Ha-joon.

In the beloved sageuk K-drama, Oh Ye-ju plays Yoon Cheong-ha, a noble lady who falls for Crown Prince Seong-nam (Moon Sang-min). Bright, kind and outspoken, she grows from a spirited young lady into a poised Crown Princess—proving herself not only a devoted partner, but also a beloved daughter-in-law. Oh Ye-ju’s charming performance, coupled with her effortless chemistry with Moon Sang-min, made Cheong-ha’s arc a clear fan favourite.

Before gaining considerable recognition in Under the Queen’s Umbrella, Oh Ye-ju starred in the supernatural fantasy K-drama From Now On, Showtime!, which stars Park Hae-jin as Cha Cha-woong, a TV “magician” who sees ghosts, and Jin Ki-joo as Go Seul-hae, the police officer who ropes him into using his special skills to help her solve cases.

Playing the teenage Go Seul-hae in the MBC series, which streamed on Viu and Viki, Oh Ye-ju appears in flashbacks, providing the backstory and motivations of the drama’s tenacious detective.

Oh Ye-ju made her official acting debut in 2021 with the global tvN and Netflix K-drama hit Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, starring Shin Min-a as Yoon Hye-jin and Kim Seon-ho as Hong Du-sik. In a brief but pivotal flashback scene in episode six of the healing rom-com, she had a small cameo playing the teenage version of Yoon Hye-jin.

Though her screen time was short, Oh Ye-ju made a lasting impression thanks to her visuals, screen presence and natural acting. Her scenes alongside Moon Seong-hyun (who played the young Hong Du-sik) were a charming addition that grounded the leads’ fated connection.

See more: From ‘Start-Up’ to ‘Can This Love Be Translated?’: 15 K-dramas and movies that made Kim Seon-ho a star

With a growing list of standout roles across genres—from sageuk and rom-coms to thrillers and supernatural dramas—Oh Ye-ju is proving herself to be one of K-drama’s most promising young talents. Whether in brief flashbacks or scene-stealing supporting roles, she has a knack for leaving a lasting impression, making her a name worth watching as her career continues to rise.

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