K-drama actors we want to see in a rom-com again, from Park Seo-joon to Gong Yoo

Before he played an elite mercenary in Disney+’s A Shop for Killers or the lovable Grim Reaper in the global phenomenon Goblin, Lee Dong-wook stole hearts in the classic rom-com My Girl. The 2005 drama became a cultural sensation, catapulting its leads to superstardom, posting strong viewership ratings and propelling the Hallyu Wave forward. He later returned to the genre in Wild Romance before reuniting with his Goblin co-star Yoo In-na for the fan-favourite legal rom-com Touch Your Heart.

While many of his biggest K-dramas—including Goblin and Tale of the Nine Tailed—feature compelling love stories, Lee has largely gravitated toward fantasy, action and thriller projects in recent years. Even his latest romantic comedy, The Divorce Insurance, leaned more heavily into workplace comedy than the sweeping, butterflies-in-your-stomach romance that defined his earlier hits. With his romantic leading man charm, a clear knack for comedy and a magnetic screen presence, fans would love to see Lee Dong-wook return to a full-fledged rom-com that puts romance front and centre once again.

See more: ‘A Shop for Killers’ season 2 cast: returning stars and new assassins

Although Park Hyung-sik first turned heads with his striking visuals in the youth historical drama Hwarang, it was his star-making turn in the beloved fantasy rom-com Strong Girl Bong-soon that established him as one of K-drama’s most sought-after romantic leads. His boyish charisma, talent for physical comedy and flirty chemistry with co-star Park Bo-young helped turn the series into a fan favourite that remains one of the genre’s most beloved titles. If there were ever a K-drama equivalent of the Internet slang “kicking your feet and giggling”, it would be his character Ahn Min-hyuk’s lovestruck reaction to Bong-soon’s messages.

Stretching his range, he then starred in the Korean remake of Suits, the zombie thriller Happiness and the intimate Disney+ romance Soundtrack #1, before returning to the rom-com genre in Doctor Slump, opposite Park Shin-hye. He later embraced a darker image in the corporate revenge thriller Buried Hearts, then took on a villainous role in the fantasy action series Twelve. Fans will be glad to hear, though, that Park Hyung-sik will soon be trading thrillers and fantasy for romance—he is set to headline Netflix’s Fall In! Love, which is scheduled to debut in 2027.

Speaking of boyish charm, few actors embodied it quite like Nam Joo-hyuk in the beloved rom-com Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo. As Jung Joon-hyung, a collegiate swimming champion who falls head over heels for weightlifter Kim Bok-joo, Nam won audiences over with his infectious charm, sharp comedic timing and natural chemistry with co-star Lee Sung-kyung. A few years later, he returned to the genre in the hit rom-com Start-Up, where the love triangle between his aspiring entrepreneur Nam Do-san, Suzy’s Seo Dal-mi and Kim Seon-ho’s Han Ji-pyeong sparked one of the fiercest “second lead syndrome” debates in K-drama history.

Beyond those popular rom-coms, Nam has embraced a wide range of genres, from the fantasy drama The Bride of Habaek, the poignant melodrama The Light in Your Eyes and the hit coming-of-age romance Twenty Five Twenty One to the paranormal comedy The School Nurse Files, Disney+’s action thriller Vigilante and most recently, Netflix’s supernatural sageuk The East Palace. Up next, he is set to star in the mystery thriller Code, playing a lawyer drawn into a mysterious wish-granting app. It’s another exciting departure—though fans wouldn’t mind if he carved out room for another rom-com somewhere down the line.

Ji Chang-wook first rose to fame through action-packed dramas, including Healer, a crowd-pleaser that also hinted at his flair for romantic comedy—something he would later lean into in K-dramas such as Suspicious Partner, Backstreet Rookie and Welcome to Samdal-ri. Handsome, disarming and funny, he has become one of the few leading men equally convincing in high-octane action sequences and heart-fluttering romantic moments.

In recent years, Ji has continued to broaden his filmography with projects such as the fantasy musical The Sound of Magic, Disney+’s noir crime thriller The Worst of Evil and the gritty crime drama Gangnam B-Side. He is set to star opposite Son Ye-jin in the period romance The Scandal later this year. While it’s been a while since Ji Chang-wook has starred in a breezy, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, viewers will be thrilled to know that he has two lined up—Merry Berry Love, a Korea-Japan co-production, and Human X Gumiho, which also stars rom-com queen Jun Ji-hyun.

Long before he was battling zombies or recruiting players into deadly survival games, Gong Yoo helped redefine the K-drama rom-com with Coffee Prince. Starring opposite Yoon Eun-hye, the groundbreaking gender-bending series became a cultural phenomenon, turning both actors into household names across Asia and helping propel the Hallyu Wave to new heights. Nearly a decade later, he once again cast his spell over audiences in Goblin, where the fantasy rom-com’s irresistible blend of humour, heartbreak and the actor’s swoon-worthy chemistry with co-star Kim Go-eun turned the series into a global sensation.

Lately, though, Gong Yoo has gravitated toward darker, more psychologically complex stories, delivering acclaimed performances in the zombie blockbuster Train to Busan, Netflix’s dystopian thriller Squid Game as the enigmatic Recruiter, the sci-fi mystery The Silent Sea and the mystery romance The Trunk. While his recent filmography reflects a clear preference for layered, introspective characters, there’s little doubt that audiences would eagerly welcome another romantic comedy from the actor should he decide to revisit the genre one day.

Another key figure in the early Hallyu Wave is Hyun Bin, whose rom-com K-dramas include My Name Is Kim Sam-soon (also known as My Lovely Sam-soon) and the body-swap drama Secret Garden. The former became a cultural phenomenon, peaking at more than 50 per cent nationwide viewership, while the latter earned Hyun Bin the Daesang (Grand Prize) at the 47th Baeksang Arts Awards and sparked the so-called "Hyun Bin syndrome"—a testament to the drama’s immense popularity and his widespread appeal.

He then shifted his focus to making action-packed films such as Confidential Assignment, The Swindlers and The Negotiation, building a reputation as a bankable action star. It wasn’t until 2019 that he returned to romantic comedy in the massive global hit Crash Landing on You—the K-drama that fuelled a brand-new Hallyu Wave, one powered by the rise of streaming sites. The series reunited him with his The Negotiation co-star Son Ye-jin, with their on-screen romance famously blossoming into a real-life love story off-screen.

Since then, Hyun Bin has traded romance for intrigue, last seen in Disney+’s crime thriller Made in Korea, which returns for its second and final season later this year. If and when he’s ready to swing back to making rom-coms again, though, there’s no doubt that his fans will be there, ready and waiting.

Whether they’re battling supernatural creatures, chasing criminals or leading blockbuster thrillers, these actors have proven they can excel in any genre. Still, there’s something uniquely special about watching them fall in love on screen. With several already preparing to return to romance—and others long overdue for another light-hearted love story—there’s every reason to hope the next great K-drama rom-com is just around the corner.

NOW READ

From Go Youn-jung to Roh Yoon-seo: K-drama actresses whose artistic talents extend beyond acting

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

Loved ‘Agent Kim Reactivated’? Add these 9 K-dramas and films about unconventional guardians to your watchlist