Cover From ‘Moving’ to ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’, these Zo In-sung K-dramas are worth revisiting now (Photo: The Great Battle/IMDb)
From ‘Moving’ to ‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’, these Zo In-sung K-dramas are worth revisiting now (Photo: The Great Battle/IMDb)
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With ‘Humint’ now streaming and Cannes entry ‘Hope’ drawing international attention, Zo In-sung’s television work is worth a second look
Following the release of espionage thriller Humint, Zo In-sung is once again at the centre of conversation around Korean film and television. Directed by Kim Jee-woon, the film paired him with Jung Woo-sung, Hyun Bin and Shin Min-a in a story built around intelligence operations and political tension. At the same time, the actor is also part of Na Hong-jin’s Cannes Competition entry Hope, alongside Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Ho-yeon, further expanding his international profile.
While Zo In-sung is often associated with major film roles, his television career remains one of the strongest parts of his body of work. Over the years, he has moved between romance, psychological drama, action fantasy and classic melodrama without dramatically changing his screen presence. Many of his best-known dramas focus less on spectacle and more on emotionally restrained characters dealing with grief, trauma, family conflict or complicated relationships.
That range is visible across titles such as Something Happened in Bali, one of the defining Korean melodramas of the early 2000s, and It’s Okay, That’s Love, which blended romance with conversations around mental health. More recently, Zo In-sung introduced himself to a younger generation of viewers through Disney+ series Moving, which has already confirmed a second season currently in production.
For viewers looking to explore more of Zo In-sung’s television work, these five dramas remain essential viewing.
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‘Moving’ (2023)
Above A covert history of superpowered agents and their children unfolds as past missions collide with present danger
Based on Kang Full’s webtoon, Moving follows a group of teenagers hiding supernatural abilities inherited from their parents, many of whom were once involved in covert government operations. The story moves between present-day high school life and flashbacks revealing the violent history behind the adults’ powers.
Zo In-sung plays Kim Doo-sik, a former black-ops agent with the ability to fly. Much of the emotional core of the series comes from his relationship with Lee Mi-hyun, played by Han Hyo-joo. The cast also includes Ryu Seung-ryong, Go Youn-jung, Lee Jung-ha and Cha Tae-hyun.
The series balances superhero action with family drama, espionage and romance, particularly as the parents attempt to shield their children from the same institutions that once controlled them. Disney officially confirmed season two in 2024, with production now underway.
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‘It’s Okay, That’s Love’ (2014)
Above A novelist and psychiatrist end up sharing a house, forcing buried trauma and guarded emotions into the open
In It’s Okay, That’s Love, Zo In-sung stars as bestselling mystery novelist and radio DJ Jang Jae-yeol, whose public confidence hides deep psychological struggles. After crossing paths with psychiatrist Ji Hae-soo, played by Gong Hyo-jin, the two reluctantly end up living under the same roof alongside several other housemates.
The drama gradually shifts from romantic comedy into a more layered examination of trauma, mental illness and personal isolation. While the relationship between Jae-yeol and Hae-soo anchors the series, the supporting cast also plays a major role, including Sung Dong-il, Lee Kwang-soo and D.O. of Exo.
Rather than relying on dramatic twists alone, the series focuses heavily on conversations, emotional vulnerability and the impact of unresolved trauma on relationships. It remains one of Zo In-sung’s most discussed television roles. Steam it on Viki and Kocowa.
‘That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013)
Above A conman poses as an heir's long-lost brother, only for deception to blur into emotional dependence
This melodrama centres on Oh Soo, a gambler and con artist played by Zo In-sung, who approaches visually impaired heiress Oh Young after pretending to be her long-lost brother. Song Hye-kyo co-stars as Oh Young, an isolated woman surrounded by people she struggles to trust.
As the deception continues, the relationship between the two becomes increasingly complicated. The series leans heavily into emotional tension, family conflict and questions around loneliness and dependency. Supporting cast members include Kim Bum and Jung Eun-ji.
Visually, the drama became known for its polished cinematography and winter settings, but much of the story revolves around emotional manipulation, grief and identity. For many viewers, it marked Zo In-sung’s major television comeback after military service. Stream the series on Viki.
‘Something Happened in Bali’ (2004)
Above A love triangle in Bali spirals into obsession, class conflict and escalating emotional volatility
Often referred to internationally as What Happened in Bali, this 2004 drama helped establish Zo In-sung as one of the major male leads of his generation.
The story begins in Bali, where four characters become entangled in a volatile emotional triangle shaped by money, class and ambition. Zo In-sung plays Jung Jae-min, the immature son of a wealthy family who becomes obsessed with Lee Soo-jung, played by Ha Ji-won. So Ji-sub and Park Ye-jin round out the central cast.
Unlike lighter romance dramas from the same period, “Something Happened in Bali” leans into jealousy, emotional instability and shifting power dynamics between its leads. The drama became particularly known for its intense final episodes and remains one of the defining melodramas of the early 2000s Korean television wave.
‘Spring Days’ (2005)
Above Two brothers fall for the same woman, exposing old wounds and fractures within a tightly bound family
Spring Days follows two brothers whose relationship becomes strained after both develop feelings for the same woman. Zo In-sung stars as Go Eun-ho, a warm-hearted medical student whose life changes after meeting Seo Jung-eun, played by Go Hyun-jung.
The drama also stars Ji Jin-hee as Eun-ho’s older brother. Family history, memory loss and unresolved trauma all play major roles in the story as the characters navigate shifting loyalties and emotional conflict.
Compared to some of Zo In-sung’s later dramas, Spring Days sits firmly within the melodrama style popular in mid-2000s Korean television, with extended emotional arcs and relationship-driven storytelling. It also marked one of Go Hyun-jung’s major television returns following a long hiatus from acting.
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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.
