There are several incredible K-drama actors, and many of them have never acted in projects together. This is despite the fact that some acting duos seem to be perfect choices for any K-drama, fitting into all sorts of different genres, covering everything from comedy to crime drama. Many of them have been the subject of perfect K-drama casting before, and with these co-stars they could be so again.
Choosing co-stars for any show requires striking a delicate balance, figuring out what works in an actor’s performance and amplifying that quality. It’s this kind of chemistry and hard work that has resulted in some of the best K-dramas of all time. More great K-dramas could be made with these acting duos, and we hope viewers have the opportunity to see them share the screen in the future.
10
Seo In-guk and I Si-wan
Both actors have the ability to completely switch between roles
Many actors end up being cast throughout their careers, playing similar roles from project to project. However, Seo In-guk and Im Si-wan have a unique talent for completely changing their performances between roles, sometimes in the same project. The two also have a shared background, both entering the industry with experience as K-pop stars.
Seo In-guk is almost unrecognizable between his performances in The smile left your eyes and Doom at your service, with fans of his noting how expressive his acting can be. Im Si-wan is perhaps equally expressive, with his performance in Strangers from Hell seeing him start off as the cautiously optimistic office intern Yoon Jong-woo, who slowly descends into violent madness. The changes the two make alone are drastic, and together they could star in a K-drama that constantly subverts audience expectations with its performances.
9
Lee Sung-kyung and son Ye-jin
Both are powerful dramatic actresses
Lee Sung-kyung has been the star of many romances over the years, including the Disney+ series Call it love, but she also has experience in action with Miss and Mrs. Police Officer. Son Ye-jin has a much broader filmography with an emphasis on drama, her most famous K-drama being Crash landing on you, where she stars alongside her husband, Hyun Bin. She has been in many different projects over the years and has even won awards for her performances.
With their combined experience in drama, Lee Sung-kyung and Son Ye-jin could star in an emotional series that focuses on, for example, their lives or friendship. It could even focus on a romantic rivalry, as the two have a lot of experience in the genre. Regardless, their chemistry and emotional chemistry can be palpable, as Son Ye-jin especially seems to bring it out in everyone she co-stars with.
8
Gong Yoo and Kim Ji-won
Emotion is an important part of their acting styles
Gong Yoo is one of South Korea’s best-known actors, with his worldwide fame attributed to incredible performances in projects such as Train to Busan and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. Kim Ji-won is just starting to reach high levels of popularity, something that was only really set in stone by her incredible performance as Hong Hae-in in Queen of Tears. Both actors are incredibly dynamic in their performances, bringing emotion to the surface in each scene.
A collaboration between the two would be perfect for any cringe and would certainly leave viewers emotional afterwards.
Most of Gong Yoo’s best performances have been dramas with powerful emotional centers, and part of the reason they are so memorable is Gong Yoo’s powerful ability to awaken emotions in the viewer. This is a skill that Kim Ji-won shares, having won awards for his performances in projects such as Descendants of the Sun and Queen of Tears. A collaboration between the two would be perfect for any cringe and would certainly leave viewers emotional afterwards.
7
Park Hyung-sik and Wi Ha-joon
They’d be perfect for a buddy comedy
Park Hyung-sik is perhaps best known for his role as Ahn Min-hyuk in Strong girl Bong-Soon, a performance notable for how entertaining it actually is. Wi Ha-joon, on the other hand, is best known for his chilling performances in shows like squid game and The worst of evil. In fact, most of Wi Ha-Joon’s best films and shows have been these types of harrowing dramas.
On the outside, these two might not seem like the best option for a K-drama duo, but one show proves that’s not the case. Wi Ha-joon recently starred alongside industry legend Lee Dong-wook in a comedy thriller Bad and crazy, which often plays as both a buddy comedy and a gripping mystery. Park Hyung-sik would be perfect for this type of dynamic, playing into the comedy that could happen between the two actors’ characters.
6
Kim Tae-ri and Lee Do-hyun
The stoic performances these actors are known for would complement each other
Best known for her powerful roles in shows like Twenty-five twenty-one and Returned, Kim Tae-ri was cast in roles that require strength of character and heavy acting. Lee Do-hyun is in a similar situation, known for his roles in Prison Manual, Hotel del Luna, and Sweet home. Their roles share one thing in common, as they both gave stoic character performances that seem to last.
Both have experience in the romance genre, being examples of this Twenty-five twenty-one and Do-hyun 18 Again. If the two were to star in a romantic drama together, they could bring with them their experiences from other shows and turn them into stoic performances that have the same passion as their previous appearances. Two characters like this could generate similarity problems, bringing conflict to this hypothetical romantic drama.
5
Jung Ho-yeon and Kim Go-eun
This could be another big step in Ho-yeon’s career
After his incredible debut performance as Kang Sae-byeok in the Netflix film Squid Game, Jung Ho-yeon’s career is just beginning. She started out as a model in South Korea and has only just started transitioning into acting, something that has been incredibly successful so far. Kim Go-eun’s career has been much longer and incredibly varied, showing that she is capable of portraying incredible innocence with performances such as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, as well as pain and anger in the thriller Monster.
Although Jung Ho-yeon is relatively new as an actress, she has already proven that she can act among the best of the best. A collaboration between her and Kim Go-eun would be able to carry the weight of an emotional performance regardless of the genre in which it is set. The project could be anything from drama to comedy and these two would be able to excel in their roles.
4
Song Kang and Moon Ga-young
The two would be perfect for a grounded romantic comedy
Moon Ga-young has been a mainstay of romance for many years, starring in romantic comedies and dramas such as True Beauty and Find me in your memory. Song Kang also has romantic experience, having participated in the Netflix series Love alarm. However, he is much better known for his role as the protagonist in the horror adaptation of the Webtoon. Sweet home.
Despite the fact that True Beauty is a romance at heart, it can often be as moving as a show like Sweet home. Death is the main theme shared in both shows, as is the search for meaning in life. A romantic comedy collaboration between Moon Ga-young and Song Kang could have this kind of emotional depth, relying on good writing and actors’ performances rather than falling into superficial tropes.
3
Lee Dong-wook and Shin Ha-kyun
They could add to each other’s unbalanced performance
Lee Dong-wook is a legend in the acting industry, but he is best known for charming, if not a little strange, characters in series such as Tale of the Nine Tails and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. However, Dong-wook’s performance as dentist-turned-serial killer Seo Moon-jo turned everything viewers knew about his performance upside downshowing how terrifying he can be in a villainous role. This pairs well with Shin Ha-kyun’s performance as Detective Lee Dong-sik, which portrays the character’s dark past and even darker personality all too well.
Because of these two performances, if the two worked together on a project, it would be interesting if they played this type of character again. Not only would the two be able to elevate each other’s performance with their energy, but it would also give viewers the opportunity to see Dong-wook and Ha-kyun in these types of roles again. This would make for a great show or movie, whether it’s another detective story or outright horror.
2
Hyunbin and Gong Yoo
A drama starring these actors would be an award winner
Hyun Bin has been starring in major projects for decades, starting with his role in the 2005 romantic comedy. My name is Kim Sam-coming soon. Since then, he has gained notoriety for his roles in The Fatal Encounter and more recently Crash landing on you, cementing his place as one of South Korea’s biggest actors. Gong Yoo is equally popular, and Gong Yoo is now returning to K-drama after a three-year hiatus.
The two are incredible figures in the South Korean film industry, having acted in countless projects across different genres. It would be interesting to see the two return to the fantasy genre, recalling Hyun Bin’s work. Secret Garden and Gong Yoo Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. No matter what genre they are cast in, these two would make a dynamic duo.
1
Lee Jung-jae and Lee Dong-wook
These two industry powerhouses have yet to collaborate
Although Lee Jung-jae was already a star when he was cast in the lead role in the Netflix film Squid Game, the show took his popularity to international heights. He has already appeared in Star Wars playing the role of Mestre Sol in The Acolyte, a role that Lee Jung-jae learned English to play. He’s an incredibly dedicated actor, and it’s a wonder he and Lee Dong-wook haven’t collaborated on a film or show yet.
If the two starred together, the result would be an explosive example of solid acting and realistic performance. Lee Dong-wook is incredibly emotional, just like Lee Jung-jae, and therefore capable of provoking a reaction in the viewer. Your performance, no matter the genre, is sure to be thrilling, making it a K-drama we hope this happens in the future.