10 K-pop idols who are now actors

Possessing skills in both singing and acting, these K-pop stars prove how multi-talented they are

Becoming a K-pop idol is widely known by now to be a gruelling journey. Idol hopefuls start their training process from a young age, taking many performance-based classes including singing and dancing. These idols certainly take their craft very seriously, practising and training hard even after their debut.

Already proficient in singing and dancing, many idols venture into acting to expand their portfolio. Some idols who have received praise from the public for their acting include IU, Kim Se-jeong, Park Hyun-sik and many more.

Curious to know who are the other idols who have pivoted to acting? Read our list below.

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1. IU

Debuting at the tender age of 15, IU has become a household name in South Korea. The Good Day singer is well known for her honey-like vocals, prompting her to be affectionately known throughout the country as Korea’s Little Sister. Throughout her music career, she has lent her voice to multiple K-drama soundtracks and has topped various music charts, becoming one of the top acts in the group-dominated K-pop industry.

Venturing into acting, IU has been spotted in supporting roles for dramas such as Dream High (2011) before taking on the leading role in The Producers (2015) and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), which received much fanfare from fans. Her role as Lee Ji-an in My Mister (2018) saw her very first Best Actress in Television nomination at the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards. IU can also be seen in Persona (2019), Hotel del Luna (2019), and Shades of the Heart (2019).

2. Cha Eun-woo

A member of the K-pop boy group Astro, Cha Eun-woo is hailed as K-pop’s ‘It’ male star as the face of multiple brands. His group Astro was named one of the best new K-pop acts of 2016 and won the Golden Disk Best Performance Award in 2020.

Making his acting debut in the web drama To Be Continued alongside other Astro members, he has continued his path on the silver screen. Starring as the protagonist's love interest in the romance comedy K-drama Gangnam Beauty (2018), his popularity as a rising actor earned him more roles in upcoming dramas. His role as Prince Yi Rim in Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019) won the Excellence Award for an Actor at the 2019 MBC Drama Awards. Other notable dramas the actor-idol can be seen in are True Beauty (2020-2021), Island (2022), and A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023).

3. Im Yoon-ah

The representative visual of one of South Korea’s most popular girl groups Girls Generation, Im Yoon-ah began her acting career as soon as she made her music debut. With Girls Generation, the single Into the New World was the most popular song on Melon (a South Korean online music store) of the 2000s. The group's prominence and numerous awards has earned them the nickname “The Nation’s Girl Group” in South Korea.

Spending five years training in singing, singing, and acting, the idol started her acting career with a minor role in Two Outs in the Ninth Inning (2007). In 2008, Im landed her first leading role in You Are My Destiny, winning two Best New Actress Awards at the KBS Drama Awards. With her role in Prime Minister & I (2013), she won the Excellence Award at the 2013 KBS Drama Awards. Dramas that the idol-actress has starred in include The K2 (2016), Big Mouth (2022), and King the Land (2023).

4. Bae Suzy

The face of many South Korean beauty and lifestyle brands, Bae Suzy was a member of JYP Entertainment girl group, Miss A. Her time with the group saw their debut song, Bad Girl Good Girl at the number one spot on the South Korean music chart. As a soloist, she collaborated with multiple singers, including Exo’s Baekhyun, releasing the chart topping single, Dream. Her single Pretend, released in 2017, reached the number one spot in all daily and weekly South Korean music charts.

Her impressive music career is also reflected in her acting venture, possessing many notable dramas under her belt. After making her acting debut in Dream High (2011), she won the Best New Actress award at the KBS Drama Awards. Her performance in the romance film Architecture 101 (2012) bagged the Best New Actress Award at the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards. Other works Suzy has starred in include Uncontrollably Fond (2016), Vagabond (2019), and Start-Up (2020).

5. Park Hyun-sik

An idol that was introduced to acting the same year he made his debut, Park Hyung-sik is as familiar with acting as he is with singing. A member of the South Korean boy group Ze:a, Park made his music debut in 2010 and has had cameo appearances in K-dramas Prosecutor Princess (2010) and Gloria (2010).

He began his acting career proper in 2012, starring in Dummy Mommy (2012) alongside veteran actress Kim Hyun-joo. The next year, he landed a supporting role in the well-loved K-drama The Heirs whose cast members included Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-eye, and Kim Woo-bin. He is most recognised in his role as Ann Min-hyuk in Strong Woman Do Bong-soon (2017), a chaebol heir and CEO of a gaming company who falls in love with the superhuman protagonist.

6. Kwon Yu-ri

The main dancer of South Korean girl group Girls Generation, Kwon Yu-ri has achieved numerous music show wins and accolades. She participated as a songwriter for her group’s third mini album, Hoot, back in 2017 and wrote the lyrics for the title track Mistake.

The multi-talented idol made her acting debut in 2012 in the drama series Fashion King, starring Yoo Ah-in and received several nomination at multiple drama awards. She was nominated again for an Excellence Award for her role in the drama Innocent Defendant in 2017. She can be spotted in other K-dramas, including Kill Me, Heal Me (2015), Racket Boys (2021), and Good Job (2022).

7. Kim Se-jeong

After finishing second in the popular girl group survival show Produce 101, the singer had a promising career as a member of the girl group I.O.I. Thereafter, she joined the girl group, Gugudan. During her time with the group, she released the single Flower Way which landed the number two spot on the South Korean music charts. Her song If Only, was included in the soundtrack of The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016-2017).

Perhaps a foreshadowing of her acting career, she starred in the teen drama School 2017 (2017) not long after the release of the OST. For her role in the drama, she won the Best New Actress award at the KBS Drama Awards. Since then, she has starred in dramas including The Uncanny Counter (2020-2023) and Netflix’s Business Proposal (2022).

8. Yook Sung-jae

Yook Sung-jae wears many hats: singer, songwriter, actor, host, and entertainer. Hailing from the popular boy group BtoB of Cube Entertainment, he has had substantial recognition as an idol. BtoB has won multiple awards, including the Seoul Music Awards Ballad Award in 2016 and the Golden Disc Award for Best Group in 2018.

He took the plunge into acting and made a cameo appearance in The Heirs (2013) and landing a supporting role in Reply 1994 (2014). Since then, his acting credentials have risen as he took on the leading role in Who Are You: School 2015 alongside Kim So-hyun and Nam Joo-hyuk. Other projects he partook include Orange Marmalade (2015), Goblin (2016-2017), and Mystic Pop-up Bar (2020).

9. Krystal Jung

A member of the SM Entertainment girl group f(x), Krystal Jung is the group’s lead vocalist. Their single Electric Shock from their second album went on to win nine music shows in 2013 and won Best Dance Performance at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.

The idol explored roles in acting in 2010, prompting Jung to star in The Heirs (2013) as an heiress alongside Cnblue’s King Min-hyuk. Jung landed her first leading role alongside Rain in My Lovely Girl (2014) and won the Most Popular Actress Award at the prestigious Baeksang Arts Awards. Other notable works under her belt include The Bride of Habaek (2017), Prison Playbook (2017), and Police University (2021)

10. Choi Soo-young

The lead dancer, rapper, and supporting vocalist of SM Entertainment girl group Girls Generation, Choi Soo-young had expressed prior interest in acting before making her debut as an idol. After her debut with the group, she ventured in writing lyrics, penning the lyrics for How Great is Your Love and What Do I Do.

With an established career in the music, her entry into the acting industry saw her first major acting role in The Third Hospital (2012). Her role as a terminally ill patient in My Spring Days (2014) won her the Best Actress in Miniseries at the MBC Drama Awards. Other acting accolades include Squad 38 (2016), Tell Me What You Saw (2020), and So I Married an Anti-fan (2021).

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Topics

K-pop idols Korean actors Korean celebrities