Silent powerhouses: 9 underrated K-drama actresses you should be watching

Most famous for: Her breakout role as the teenage Sunja in the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series Pachinko

Kim Min-ha became a global sensation for her performance in Pachinko, where she portrayed the teenage and young adult version of the protagonist, Sunja. Before this, she had a history in independent films and smaller TV roles, cementing her as one of the industry’s most talented but underrated K-drama actresses. Her portrayal in Pachinko was a masterclass in nuance: restrained, yet heartbreaking, as she carried the emotional weight of an entire family’s legacy across decades. Despite the show’s widespread acclaim, she still feels like a star on the cusp, and how she isn’t the go-to for every prestige drama is a mystery. Her performance earned her the Rising Star Award at the 2022 Asia Contents Awards.

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Most famous for: Her versatile roles as the bass-playing rocker in Sweet Home and the online celebrity in Celebrity

With standout performances in Sweet Home (2020), Celebrity (2023) and the rom-com Dali and Cocky Prince (2021), Park Gyu-young is quickly building a resume of wildly diverse characters. She brings a quirky, offbeat energy that always feels grounded. She initially signed with JYP Entertainment as a trainee but transitioned to acting, landing her first lead role in Dali and Cocky Prince, for which she won the Best New Actress award at the KBS Drama Awards. She also appeared in the second and third seasons of Squid Game, which propelled her to new heights of fame.

Most famous for: Her powerful and emotional performance in the historical melodrama Youth of May

Go Min-si has an uncanny ability to make even genre roles feel intimate and lived-in. Audiences first took note of her in the horror series Sweet Home (2020) and the film The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion (2018). However, it was her emotionally devastating role as a determined nurse in Youth of May (2021), a drama set during the Gwangju Uprising, that truly solidified her as a powerhouse star, albeit one of the more underrated K-drama actresses of her generation. She can seamlessly shift from a stubborn tomboy in Love Alarm (2019) to a young woman navigating post-apocalyptic madness, proving her range and emotional depth.

Most famous for: Her regal, enigmatic portrayal of Prime Minister Goo Seo-ryeong in The King: Eternal Monarch

Jung Eun-chae has the chic hauteur of a 1960s French muse, and her acting is just as enigmatic. While she gained significant public attention for her role in The King: Eternal Monarch (2020), where she turned a seemingly unlikable character into one of the most compelling arcs, her career began with a focus on independent and arthouse films. She has a history of collaborating with acclaimed director Hong Sang-soo, including in films like Hill of Freedom (2014) and Nobody’s Daughter Haewon (2013). Her acting is often a slow-burn: cool and elegant on the surface, but seething with ambition and emotion underneath. She also had a notable role in the Apple TV+ series Pachinko, appearing as the younger version of Kyunghee, Sunja’s sister-in-law.

Most famous for: Her stunning and unforgettable performance as the eldest sister in the slice-of-life drama My Liberation Notes

If you see Lee El in the cast, trust that you’re in for a ride. She’s an actress of immense talent who has consistently elevated the material she’s given. She first captured a wider audience’s attention as a powerful, mysterious deity-like figure in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016). Her career is a testament to her versatility, spanning from deadpan comedy and gut-wrenching grief to femme fatale mystery. Her portrayal of the eldest, perpetually frustrated sister in My Liberation Notes (2022) was a masterclass in raw, honest acting, earning her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Baeksang Arts Awards. Her ability to transform in every role is simply towering.

Most famous for: Her charming and vulnerable lead roles in slice-of-life dramas like Because This Is My First Life and fantasy series like Alchemy of Souls

One of the most underrated K-drama actresses, Jung So-min has been acting for over a decade, but still doesn't get the leading-lady clout she deserves. She first gained attention with her role in the hit drama Playful Kiss (2010) and has since built a reputation for bringing a raw, relatable vulnerability to her roles. Whether it’s the aspiring writer in Because This Is My First Life (2017) or the powerful sorceress in Alchemy of Souls (2022), she makes her characters feel grounded and authentic, making them impossible to forget. She’s pretty much the indie fave of K-dramas—understated, but magnetic. Her most recent work in the romantic comedy film Love Reset (2023) earned her the Best Actress award at the Golden Cinematography Awards.

Most famous for: Her scene-stealing role as a transgender chef and delivery biker in Itaewon Class

You might have first seen Lee Joo-young as the sharp, no-nonsense delivery biker Ma Hyun-yi in Itaewon Class (2020), a role that garnered significant praise for its sensitive and compelling portrayal. However, Lee Joo-young has long been a fixture of indie cinema, showcasing her versatility in films like Baseball Girl (2019), where she played a high school baseball player fighting gender stereotypes, and Maggie (2018), an experimental indie darling that landed her a Best New Actress award. She has a talent for giving introverted characters a rich inner life that bubbles just beneath the surface, making her performances deeply compelling.

Most famous for: Her technically brilliant and hilarious lead role in the historical comedy Mr Queen

Yes, Shin Hye-sun has had numerous leading roles, but for some reason, her incredible versatility somehow still feels underrated. She’s an actress of extraordinary talent and range, capable of both deep emotional drama and pitch-perfect comedy. Before becoming a leading lady, she was known for her standout supporting roles in dramas, such as She Was Pretty (2015) and Legend of the Blue Sea (2016). In Mr Queen (2020-2021), she delivered one of the most technically demanding comedic performances in recent K-drama history, playing a modern man trapped in a queen's body, all while holding a surprising amount of emotional weight in scenes that could have easily turned silly. Her career trajectory is a testament to her talent, and she is truly the kind of actress other not-so-underrated K-drama actresses should be afraid of.

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