Some of Kim Soo-hyun’s notable dramas are (from left) “Moon Embracing the Sun,” “Dream High,” “Queen of Tears,” and “My Love from the Star.” Image: Samuel Yap/INQUIRER.net
Before Kim Soo-hyun’s admission of a past relationship with the late Kim Sae-ron broke out, he is one of the highest-paid actors in South Korea. He established himself as a prolific actor with a body of work showcasing his range in romance, comedy, thriller, and other related genres.
The actor is known for his onscreen presence. His ability to portray various emotions through the delivery of his lines and facial expressions earned him praise, with some critics noting that he’s not scared of “looking ugly” onscreen. At the same time, he is known for his knack for choosing good projects which, in turn, makes his star power shine brighter.
Soo-hyun made his acting debut in the 2007 sitcom “Kimchi Cheese Smile.” Since then, he starred in dramas and films that boosted his filmography not only as a top Hallyu star but also as a formidable actor.
But with this controversy with Sae-ron, Soo-hyun’s career seemed to have come to a standstill, and his image of a goody two-shoes potentially tarnished. Allegations of grooming a 15-year-old actress, and the outrage that followed, also seemed to hurt his image as a virtuous celebrity. This is why watching his roles in these films and series feels like we were all taken for a ride.
Song Sam Dong in ‘Dream High’ (2011)
After taking on small roles, “Dream High” is what cemented Kim Soo-hyun’s potential as a leading man. The youth drama tells the story of six students enrolled at the fictional Kirin High School with the dream of becoming K-pop idols.
Soo-hyun starred as Song Sam-dong, a country bumpkin with a golden voice, but his talent becomes marred with a rare disease that renders him with problems. With the help of his love interest Go Hye-mi (Bae Suzy), he conquers his condition and becomes the top idol K.
Zampano in ‘The Thieves’ (2012)
One of the highest-grossing films in South Korea, “The Thieves” centers on a heist set up by the Macau-based Macau Park (Kim Yoon-seok) which attracts the attention of a group of thieves desperate to flee the country.
In the crime film, Soo-hyun stars as Zampano, a bumbling thief who harbors feelings for the sexy Yenicall (Jun Ji-hyun).
King Lee Hwon in ‘Moon Embracing the Sun’ (2012)
“Moon Embracing the Sun” marks Soo-hyun’s first foray into historical drama as the fictional King Lee Hwon. Set in the Joseon Dynasty, it tells the story of the King struggling to move on from his childhood first love Lady Heo Yeon-woo (Han Ga-in).
Lee Hwon soon develops a fondness for the palace’s Shaman named Wol, who turns out to be the woman he’s looking for. He also finds himself in the middle of a political upheaval with the Prime Minister and Queen Dowager who want to take over the throne.
Bang Dong-gu / Won Ryu-hwan in ‘Secretly, Greatly’ (2013)
Soo-hyun displayed his ability to switch from one personality to another in “Secretly, Greatly,” where he took on the role of a bumbling fool who turned out to be a North Korean top agent in disguise. The majority of his scenes showed the actor fooling the village as the dumb Bang Dong-gu until he was eventually revealed to be Lieutenant Won Ryu-hwan.
Do Min-joon in ‘My Love from the Star’ (2013 to 2014)
Probably one of Soo-hyun’s defining projects, it tells the story of a mysterious alien named Do Min-joon. Having landed on Earth during the Joseon Dynasty, he took on multiple identities and adjusted to the evolving ways of life in hopes of hiding his true form. While preparing for his “last three months on Earth,” Do falls in love with the top Hallyu star Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun), a reincarnation of his first love Seo Yi-hwa.
“My Love from the Star,” which also marks his reunion with Jun, solidified Soo-hyun’s status as one of the country’s top superstars.
Baek Seung-chan in ‘The Producers’ (2015)
In “The Producers,” Baek Seung-chan (Kim Soo-hyun) gave up his dreams of being a prosecutor to work as a rookie producer-director at KBS in an attempt to win over the heart of Tak Ye-jin (Gong Hyo-jin). Spending hours at the network’s variety and entertainment division allowed him to get to know top celebrity Cindy (IU) and what lies beneath her superstar persona.
Jang Tae-young in ‘Real’ (2017)
“Real” is one of Soo-hyun’s most controversial projects especially since it was released during the height of his fame. The noir-thriller revolves around Jang Tae-young (Soo-hyun), a crime syndicate boss who comes face-to-face with a different personality lurking beneath himself.
The film sparked backlash in South Korea for its “amateurish” production and its explicit sexual content involving the late Sulli. An OSEN film critic said it was “one of the most disastrous films ever made” in the country.
Moon Gang-tae in ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ (2020)
Another drama that solidified Soo-hyun’s superstar status, “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” was created to promote mental health awareness. It tells the story of Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun), an orphaned caregiver who took the reins of taking care of his autistic brother Moon Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se). The brother duo meets Ko Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji), a popular children’s book author with a knack for fashion, who is rumored to be diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder.
Kim Hyun-soo in ‘One Ordinary Day’ (2021)
Based on the British TV series “Criminal Justice,” Soo-hyun portrays a college student whose life was changed for the worse after he was accused of being the prime suspect in a violent murder case. He meets the rookie lawyer Shin Joong-han (Cha Seung-won), the only one who took a chance in defending him in court.
Baek Hyun-woo in ‘Queen of Tears’ (2024)
Going beyond the typical romance drama, “Queen of Tears” tells the story of Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun) and Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), whose marriage is in peril. The passionate romance between them evolved into a union filled with resentment after failing to communicate about their respective inner demons and other marital concerns.