Cover These TV shows with Hwang In-Youp demonstrate how his screen presence has shifted over time, from early web dramas to more prominent parts across major series (Photo: hi_high_hiy/Instagram)
These TV shows with Hwang In-Youp demonstrate how his screen presence has shifted over time, from early web dramas to more prominent parts across major series (Photo: hi_high_hiy/Instagram)
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A guide to TV shows with Hwang In-Youp, tracing his rise from web dramas to leading roles ahead of new releases
Hwang In-Youp’s trajectory has been relatively precise. He moved from web dramas into supporting television roles, then into high-visibility ensemble work, and eventually into leading parts across mainstream networks and streaming platforms. The range is not especially broad in genre terms, but the progression is clear in how his characters shift from peripheral figures to narrative anchors. With two upcoming projects, Human X Gumiho and Dream to You, there is renewed attention on his earlier work.
This list of TV shows with Hwang In-Youp traces that arc in a structured way, from short-form digital series to larger productions. It also reflects how his screen persona has been used across romance, legal drama, fantasy and melodrama. For viewers coming in ahead of his next releases, these titles map out where his career has been and how it has been positioned within the broader Korean television landscape.
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‘Dear X’ (2025)
Above A controlled, unsettling drama where Hwang In-Youp slots into a story driven by ambition, image and the cost of reinvention
One of the more recent TV shows with Hwang In-Youp, Dear X places him in a supporting but pivotal role within a psychological thriller built around a morally ambiguous lead. The series follows Baek Ah-jin, an actress who rises from an abusive background to industry dominance through manipulation and calculated relationships.
Hwang appears as Heo In-gang, an actor whose relationship with Ah-jin becomes central to the story’s middle act. His character represents a rare point of emotional sincerity within a narrative driven by ambition and control, which makes his arc consequential rather than decorative. The show itself leans into a fragmented structure, moving across different phases of Ah-jin’s life while examining power, trauma and public image.
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‘Family by Choice’ (2024)
Above A quiet, character-led series about chosen family, with Hwang In-Youp playing a restrained presence within a long-term emotional arc
A more traditional entry among TV shows with Hwang In-Youp, Family by Choice operates as a coming-of-age drama built around a found family dynamic. The story follows three teenagers raised together despite having no biological connection, navigating adolescence, separation and eventual reunion.
Hwang plays Kim San-ha, a reserved but emotionally attentive figure within the trio. The role leans on restraint rather than overt dramatic expression, particularly in how the character processes loss and responsibility. The series is adapted from the Chinese drama Go Ahead, and retains its emphasis on emotional continuity across time, moving from high school to adulthood.
‘Why Her’ (2022)
Above A legal drama built on power and consequence, where his role connects the central case to a more personal history
Why Her marks a shift towards more conventional primetime storytelling within the slate of TV shows with Hwang In-Youp. The legal drama centres on Oh Soo-jae, a high-performing lawyer whose career falters after a major incident, leading her to teach at a law school.
Hwang plays Gong Chan, a law student with a concealed past tied to the show’s central case. His character is positioned as both romantic interest and narrative link to the drama’s broader conspiracy. The series blends legal procedural elements with personal history, using its academic setting to stage both investigation and character development.
‘The Sound of Magic’ (2022)
Above A stylised coming-of-age story that contrasts realism with fantasy, anchored by his portrayal of pressure and expectation
Among the more stylised TV shows with Hwang In-Youp, this Netflix production blends fantasy with coming-of-age drama. The story follows a struggling student who encounters a mysterious magician, prompting a reconsideration of reality and ambition.
Hwang plays Na Il-deung, a high-achieving student whose identity is tied to academic success and social expectations. The character functions as a counterpoint to the show’s more surreal elements, grounding the narrative in familiar pressures around competition and status. His arc is tied to disillusionment, particularly as the story questions the cost of ambition.
‘True Beauty’ (2020–2021)
Above A high-visibility breakout, placing him in a central love triangle within a story about image, identity and adolescence
True Beauty remains one of the most recognisable TV shows with Hwang In-Youp, largely due to its mainstream reach and adaptation from a popular webtoon. The series follows a student who transforms her social standing through makeup while concealing her natural appearance.
Hwang’s Han Seo-jun is positioned within a central love triangle, framed as a rebellious but emotionally direct counterpart to the more reserved male lead. The role relies on a balance between surface-level archetype and underlying vulnerability, which contributed to the actor’s wider visibility at the time.
‘18 Again’ (2020)
Above A supporting role in a body-swap drama that uses a high school setting to revisit regret and second chances
In 18 Again, a body-swap drama built around second chances, Hwang appears in a supporting role as Goo Ja-sung, a high school athlete with a confrontational streak. The series follows a middle-aged man who finds himself back in his teenage body, allowing him to re-enter his children’s lives from a different position.
While not a central character, Hwang’s role contributes to the high school setting that anchors the narrative’s emotional recalibration. The show itself blends family drama with light fantasy, focusing on regret, perspective and generational disconnect.
‘The Tale of Nokdu’ (2019)
Above An early appearance in a historical drama that blends political intrigue with romantic comedy elements
One of the earliest entries among TV shows with Hwang In-Youp, this historical drama places him in a supporting role within a larger period narrative. The series follows a man who disguises himself as a woman to infiltrate a widows’ village and uncover a conspiracy.
Hwang’s appearance is brief but notable as part of his transition from modelling into acting. The show itself combines political intrigue with romantic comedy elements, typical of hybrid sageuk productions.
‘Freshman’ (2019)
Above A campus-set web drama focused on first-year university life, relationships and everyday conflicts
Freshman sits within the web drama space that shaped early TV shows with Hwang In-Youp. The series focuses on university life, relationships and identity among first-year students.
Hwang plays Seo Kyo-won, a character embedded in the everyday dynamics of campus life. The format is shorter and more episodic, with a focus on interpersonal conflict rather than large-scale narrative stakes. It reflects a stage of his career where exposure and consistency were prioritised over scale.
‘W.H.Y.: What Happened to Your Relationship’ (2018)
Above A short-form series centred on breakups and emotional fallout, marking one of his first on-screen roles
The earliest project on this list of TV shows with Hwang In-Youp, this web series centres on young adults navigating breakups and unresolved feelings. He plays Gi Jae-young, a figure within a group dealing with romantic fallout.
The show is structured around short episodes and direct emotional beats, typical of digital-first Korean dramas at the time. It serves as an entry point into his screen work, before the transition into television and larger productions.
Where to start
Across these TV shows with Hwang In-Youp, the throughline is less about genre variation and more about role positioning. Earlier projects place him within ensemble dynamics, often as a secondary presence. For viewers preparing for Human X Gumiho and Dream to You, the most relevant starting points are True Beauty for mainstream recognition, Why Her for lead performance context, and Dear X for how he operates within darker material.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
