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Year after year, we witness refreshingly diverse wave of talents ascending from relative obscurity to being on the cusp of stardom for their notable Korean drama performances. 2016 is no exception, so in honor of these up-and-comers, let’s have a look at these 12 breakthrough stars who captured our hearts last year, and whom we anticipate to score more significant roles that’ll bring out their acting potentials this year.
Kim Ji Won
Kim Ji Won first enticed us back in 2012 with her role as a star gymnast and Sulli’s love rival in teen drama To The Beautiful You. Her efforts to hone her gymnast skills in preparation for the drama was such a spectacle that it left everyone wonderstruck on whether she was indeed engaged in the sport. Then we saw her again as the bratty chaebol undermining Park Shin Hye in The Heirs. I never imagined that this brash gal would breakthrough four years later as a love-sick and brave army doctor in Descendants of the Sun, and gave us one of the best love stories of the year with Jin Goo. Her skills and competitiveness in portraying the character garnered 5 awards and 4 nominations in 2016 alone. And thanks to the popularity of the drama, Kim Ji Won instantly became a known identity in all of Asia.
Kang Min Hyuk
In line of the criticisms borne by idols-turned-actors, Kang Min Hyuk’s acting charms keep bringing this prejudice to naught. He first gained praises for his impressive depiction of the comical playboy in My Husband Got A Family. Since then, he earned quite a bit of appreciation from Kdrama fans for his remarkable portrayals of the baby-faced lead drummer in Heartstrings, the model-student and warm boyfriend in The Heirs, and the aspiring musician battling false accusations in Entertainer. Entertainer might have received divided opinions from viewers, but Kang Min Hyuk’s realistic and emotional delivery were no disappointments despite his three-years acting hiatus, earning him a deserving Excellence Award in the 2016 SBS Drama Awards.
Go Kyung Pyo
Go Kyung Pyo received wider recognition for his role in the drama Tomorrow Cantabile, but it wasn’t until his noteworthy performance as the responsible son of a single mother in the critically acclaimed drama Reply 1988 that he had a major breakthrough in his acting career. This talented actor and comedian then continued to blossom in Jealousy Incarnate, swooning Gong Hyo Jin and a huge number of female viewers in partaking as the sweet chaebol heir. He utterly infected and left everyone broken with second lead syndrome in the drama, and fans are dearly hoping that by this year, he’d finally secure a main male lead role and make 2017 another prime year for him as an actor.
Lee Sung Kyung
Lee Sung Kyung primary gained reputation as a model way back in 2008. However, after making a mark through her acting debut in 2014 in It’s Okay, That’s Love, it was clear that there’s no way we can stop this promising actress in achieving new heights. And 2016 was her year to shine. She first entertained heaps of Kdrama buffs through her amusing histrionics as Baek In Ha in Cheese in the Trap, where she even reaped a nomination as Most Popular Actress in the prestigious Baeksang Awards. Then, her seamless portrayal as an inferior neurosurgeon hiding behind a haughty façade brought life to her role in Doctors. And now, she’s exceeding my expectations again with her first lead role in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, going as far as gaining significant weight to make her character as realistic as possible.
Yoon Kyun Sang
Debuted as an actor in 2012, Yoon Kyun Sang had his share in the limelight as Lee Jong Suk’s intense revenge-filled older brother in Pinocchio thenceforth proving that he’d certainly go places in the acting field. He continued to leave prominent impressions through his performances as a selfish pianist and ex-boyfriend of Ha Ji Won’s in The Time We Were Not in Love and a Joseon swordsman in Six Flying Dragons, where he garnered two awards for the role. Last year, I was drawn into his character as the strict yet adorable neurosurgeon in Doctors, crossing my fingers to see more from this endearing model-actor in the future. Lucky for me, Yoon Kyun Sang secured his first lead role in historical drama Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People set to air in 2017.
Kang Ha Neul
I initially recognized Kang Ha Neul as Choi Minho’s high jump rival in To The Beautiful You. Since then, I mirthfully followed this eye-candy’s character transitions year over year – from the over-achieving student body president in The Heirs to a geeky intern in the office drama Misaeng. He wasn’t much of a scene stealer in those, but he soon procured his first award for playing the young version of the male lead in Angel Eyes. And in 2016, he blew our minds as the charming yet pitiful and scheming 8th Prince in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, where he showed persuasive acting amidst a star-studded cast. At any rate, Kang Ha Neul’s future is as bright as ever and we anxiously await his next small screen comeback, hopefully in 2017.
Bang Min Ah
Bang Min Ah’s talent as a singer-dancer is beyond question, but none of us had a faintest acknowledgement towards her as an actress. Surprise and criticism came when she got casted directly into a lead role next to veteran Namgoong Min in Beautiful Gong Shim, and shock soon followed as she completely blew me away with her side-splitting antics and adorable image as Gong Shim. Minah slammed the critiques away with excellent interpretation of her role, and even bagged two distinctions (Excellence Award as an Actress in a Romantic Comedy Drama and New Star Award) in the recently concluded 2016 SBS Drama Awards. Looks like Minah’ breakthrough is going to give bandmate Hyeri a run for her money.
Kwon Yul
Kwon Yul confessed his love for acting since a young age after watching his actress aunt on TV, and began to mount his career as a theatre actor in 2001. He ultimately occupied a leading role in the 2007 high school sitcom Mackerel Run and officially launched his acting career. From there, he alternately accommodated leading and supporting offers in various dramas such as Lie To Me, Angel’s Revenge, and Let’s Eat 2. However, I admit that I have no significant remembrance of him until his two most recent 2016 dramas, One More Happy Ending and Let’s Fight Ghost. He played polarizing characters — a sweet and romantic doctor in the former, and a creepy force of evil in the latter — leaving me thoroughly convinced of his acting capabilities and versatility.
Nam Joo Hyuk
I might have barely noticed him as ‘the guy’ in Akdong Musician’s music videos 200% and Give Love, but Nam Joo Hyuk quickly paved a way to my heart through his unforgettable drama appearances as the loyal friend in Cheese in the Trap and lovable 13th Prince in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo last year. Entrancing as a model in 2013, he made a fantastic breakthrough into the acting world with his lead role in the 2015 series Who Are You: School 2015, receiving 2 awards and 3 nominations as an actor. But his versatility truly shined in 2016, taking on a variety of different characters in the modern and ancient worlds alike. Right now, he stars in the coming of age romantic-comedy Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, where his playful character coupled with his cute on-screen chemistry with costar Lee Sung Kyung are drawing much love from fans.
Chae Soo Bin
Chae Soo Bin’s breakthrough in the drama domain was rather quick. She made her first drama debut in the youthful teen drama Sassy Go Go only in 2015, where she depicted a grade obsessed top student, going down the wrong paths to achieve her goals. She then appeared in weekend drama House of Bluebird in the same year and made a name for herself by pocketing Best New Actress award at KBS. Her real lucky break came in the form of a second female lead role in mega-hit Love in the Moonlight in 2016. Her righteous, lovable, and strong character is a total 180 from her Sassy Go Go days and earned herself an Excellence Award nomination. We can expect more from Chae Soo Bin this year, as she takes on her first prime-time drama lead role in the upcoming sageuk Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People.
Seo Kang Joon
Though Seo Kang Joon appeared in variety program Roommate and held a number of supporting roles such as in Single Cunning Lady in 2014 and Splendid Politics in 2015, it wasn’t until he made Baek In Ho from Cheese In the Trap famous that skyrocketed his popularity in 2016. With key roles in two highly anticipated dramas of the year (Cheese in the Trap and Entourage), Seo Kang Joon certainly had a productive and notable year. Though both dramas were controversial for different reasons, Seo Kang Joon’s acting was not. In fact, his complex portrayal of the externally carefree yet internally broken Baek In Ho drew so much traction and created so much chemistry that many fans wanted to ship him and the female lead instead. The media even accused him of “stealing” the show, which is just further proof of his acting talents.
Ji Soo
I first took heed of Ji Soo’s acting in teen dramas Angry Mom and Sassy Go Go. Unexpectedly, he outlived my expectations last year after watching him master breakthrough roles in the mini-drama Page Turner as a passionate youth and in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo as the 14th Prince. He even became a head-turner in Doctors; sadly his cameo only lasted five episodes. The news about his hospitalization due to acute osteomyelitis may have shocked his growing number of fans, however, it never imposed a threat to his rising career. As a matter-of-fact, he wrapped-up filming Fantastic with flying colors and already secured a key role in the upcoming 2017 drama Strong Woman Do Bong Soon with another exceptional actress, Park Bo Young.
Which of these breakthrough actors are you most excited to watch in 2017? Let us know in the comments section below!
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