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As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. Singers stripping their musical acclaims and taking a venture into acting can be a risky move, but this list of talented idol actors welcomed the challenge and became successful at it. They defied stereotypes and gave us some of the most memorable characters in 2016.
IU
With over eight years in the music industry under her belt, IU has already established herself as one of the most accomplished and best-selling solo musicians in Korea. However, this multi-awarded artist took her career to the next level when she debuted as an actress in 2011 through the musical teen drama Dream High. Along with the drama’s success, IU received positive receptions for her heartfelt portrayal of the overweight character and gained two nominations that year. She soon landed more promising lead roles in her subsequent dramas You’re The Best Lee Soon Shin, Pretty Man, and The Producers. In 2016, IU wowed us once more in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, playing a 21st century girl who got sent back in time and became entangled with the lives of Goryeo princes. Although her acting skills were criticized at the onset of the drama, she had proven her prowess as the story climaxed. Her natural depictions earned her a well-deserved Idol Academy Award in the 2016 SBS Drama Awards.
Seo In Guk
Kickstarting his singer career after winning the talent reality show Superstar K in 2009, Seo In Guk went mainstream as he made a seamless transition into an actor through his breakout lead role in the ever-popular 2012 drama Reply 1997. From there, we have seen this versatile crooner doing everything from comedy to horror to action in the ten dramas, two web series, and two films that he appeared in in the past four years. Seo In Guk proved his lead acting chops in 2016 as professional swindler Yang Jeon Do in 38 Revenue Collection Unit, and as the chaebol Louis who lost his memory in Shopping King Louis, which received solid double-digit ratings. With an impressive range of roles and hefty number of awards and nominations under his belt, Seo In Guk is indeed a power player all around. But even while busy being an actor, he didn’t forget to return to his roots and ended 2016 with a musical comeback through his self-composed single BeBe.
Bang Min Ah
Bang Min Ah debuted as part of the popular girl group Girl’s Day in 2010 as the group’s lead vocalist and began a solo singing career in 2015. But it seems that this talented entertainer has more hidden capabilities than just killing it on the mic. Minah embarked on small sketches in various Korean dramas since 2011, but it wasn’t until last year that she finally scored her first drama lead role and graced the small screen as the spunky Gong Shim in the drama Beautiful Gong Shim. Her on-screen partner and veteran actor Nam Goong Min confessed that he was worried about Min Ah’s acting beforehand, but ultimately complimented her diligence saying that her performance exceeded his expectations. Well, everyone who watched the drama can attest to that. The industry also recognized her talents as she bagged the Excellence Award and New Star Award in the recently concluded 2016 SBS Drama Awards.
Seo Kang Joon
Seo Kang Joon is a part of the self-styled “first ever Korean actor idol group” 5urprise and was initially seen on a cameo role back in 2012 in the teen drama To The Beautiful You. Since then he popped up semi-regularly in different dramas, and even secured a major role in the 2014 romantic-comedy series Cunning Single Lady. But his meeting with his character in Cheese in the Trap last year went down as his best performance to date that totally set him apart as an actor. Although he polarized viewers because of his spotlight-stealing role in the drama, it can’t be denied that he pulled a surprisingly persuasive performance in displaying Baek In Ho’s angst and pianist skills. He continued 2016 with his first lead role as a rising superstar in the drama Entourage. Though the drama was not well-received commercially, Seo Kang Joon continues to shine amongst a star-studded cast.
Lee Hye Ri
Witnessing Lee Hye Ri’s monumental success as an actress in 2016, it’s hard to believe that she only obtained her first leading role that year. Hyeri was primarily known as the youngest member of girl group Girl’s Day. Two years after her debut as a singer, she first took a step into acting through the role of Jang Mi Hyun, the youngest daughter of a police detective-turned-restaurant owner in the 2012 drama, Tasty Life. Who would have thought that two supporting roles later, she’ll embrace the memorable character Sung Duk Seon in the highly-praised series Reply 1988? Hyeri’s empathic and strong performance in the drama gave her multiple award wins and nominations for the role. Following Reply 1988‘s success, Hyeri’s acting career reached new heights as she took on another lead role in the same-year drama Entertainer, wherein she played a bubbly and protective band manager. As expected, her excellent portrayal garnered considerable attention from viewers, and she received another distinction as an actress during the 2016 SBS drama awards.
Byun Baek Hyun
Baekhyun is best known as one of the lead vocalists of the famous Kpop boy group EXO, where his puissant vocals sealed his influence in the Kpop industry since his debut. However, Baekhyun’s repertoire as an entertainer surprised us as he began surfacing with cameo appearances in the 2012 drama To The Beautiful You and a main role in the web series EXO Next Door in 2015. And in 2016, he truly took off as an actor in his biggest drama role to date through his portrayal as the mischievous 10th Prince Wang Eun in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Baekhyun’s dramatic output has received mixed results at first but he was unarguably one of the most memorable parts of the drama, and all the more with his emotional deliveries as the drama reached its summit. Given the chance to partake in more serious roles in the future, it’s no doubt that Baekhyun will be able hang onto a respectable acting career.
Uee
I must give it to After School’s Uee as one of the most successful idol actors of this generation. From her gut-splitting side stints in dramas Queen Seondeok and You’re Beautiful in 2009, Uee has shown her determination to be a skilled, versatile actress. She began engaging in lead roles across, family, melodrama, rom-coms, and even sageuk dramas. In 2016, Uee gave a jaw-dropping performance in the critically acclaimed drama Marriage Contract wherein she played a terminally-ill single mother who engaged in a contract marriage to secure her child’s future. Her convincing acting received numerous praises from directors and fellow co-stars saying that her acting quickly matured through her overwhelming talent and passion for her craft. Uee’s ability to immerse herself into her characters lead to a fantastic opening to 2017, where she secured her 8th leading drama role in Night Light as a poor woman who grabs every opportunity in order to escape her forlorn situation.
Kang Min Hyuk
Singing is just one of the countless forms of entertainment Kang Min Hyuk has fringed in. This talented drummer-singer-songwriter from well-known rock band CNBLUE slowly parlayed his acting career into new heights on the small screen. He first got himself distinguished as an actor with his comical playboy depiction in My Husband Got A Family, followed by his notable role as model student and boyfriend in The Heirs. Kang Min Hyuk might have went on a three-year acting hiatus since then, but he didn’t leave his acting skills behind. As a matter of fact, he surprised us once again as he snatched his first leading role as teenage music prodigy Jo Ha Neul in Entertainer, where he received an Excellence Award for his performance in the drama. Truly, it only proves that Kang Min Hyuk does not only draw crowds through his stage performances, but also got the star power to make viewers invested in his characters as well.
As we move into 2017, who are some of the idol actors you wish to see more of this year? Share with us in the comments section below.
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