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Villains play an important role in Korean dramas. They give our favorite characters challenge, motivation, and growth, in addition to facilitating the plot line. Villains can be just as charismatic, empathetic, surprising, and impactful as the leads. They should be recognized for it. So, let’s take a look at some of the most memorable villains of 2016.
Lee Gun Myung (Heo Joon Ho) / Hyun Suk Joo (Yoon Hyun Min)
The true villain of Beautiful Mind can’t be pinpointed easily. On one hand, we have the classic corrupt bad guys at the hospital creating risky medical experiments. Yet the far more interesting villains are our hero’s father, whose pretentious way of parenting left his son living miserably in a lie his entire life, and the second male lead, whose wrong means to a right end resulted in tragic consequences. The gray-zone ambiguity humanized their characters and made them feel real.
Ryan Argus (David Lee McInnis)
The main force of evil in Descendants of the Sun is rather unique for a couple of reasons. First, this once-ally-turned-villain is a haunting memory of our hero’s past. Second, he’s a living threat to our hero’s loved ones in the present, going as far as kidnapping our heroine. Last but not least, his mercilessness and arrogance are entirely in a class of his own. But of course, none of these stop him from being charismatic in his own way, especially given his international appeals.
Wang Wook (Kang Ha Neul)
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
There are a hoard of antagonists in this drama ranging from blatant ones like the Third Prince to more opaque ones like the Ninth Prince, but the most distinguishing one is the Eighth Prince who schemed and manipulated others around him to perform acts of evil without even lifting a finger. He’s a complicated character, a good natured and smart man turned down the wrong path fueled by jealousy and insecurity. Nonetheless, the ruthlessness he showed when plotting the death of several brothers while hiding behind a calm and benevolent facade is chilling.
Nam Gyu Man (Namgoong Min)
The evildoer of Remember – War of the Son is as straightforward as it comes — a selfish and devilish chaebol who does whatever it takes to cover up his own crime. He has zero consideration for other people’s lives and purposely steps (metaphorically and literally) on those weaker than him. His emotional outbursts, vicious facial expressions, and evil acts that fiercely defy humanity are what made him one of the most anger-inducing villains of the year.
Oh Sung Moo (Kim Eui Sung)
What makes the antihero in W so special is that he’s entirely scripted as the story developed. As a result, we feared his sheer existence for the sake of our hero without even knowing his identity or his face. He’s a dangerous character shrouded in mystery, whose only goal is to destroy our hero, without an ounce of remorse. The entire plot surrounding the identity and purpose of the villain’s character in W was a worthy conflict, full of twists and turns to keep us on the edge of our seats.
Joo Hye Sung (Kwon Yul)
The wicked forces within a horror story are always particularly eerie and frightening. Professor Joo of Let’s Fight Ghost is such an existence of moral darkness. His sinister intentions, creepy eye twitches, and unsettling smiles, elevate the horror behind his actions. The jarring juxtaposition between his nice and kind facade and the intensity of his acts of violence are truly difficult to wipe away from one’s mind.
Choi Yoo Jin (Song Yoon Ah)
Though the presidential candidate’s wife seemed to be the victim at first, she’s actually the antagonist. Yoo Jin’s power-hungry, domineering personality, as well as her seething smiles, and sometimes manic disposition are unnerving to watch. Her piercing words and complex intentions heighten our fascination with this intricate character that we’ve come to both sympathize with and despise. Watching Yoo Jin psychologically wreck and manipulate her opponents in the most charming way possible is as stimulating and memorable as ever.
Hong Joo (Yum Jung Ah)
The devil came in the form of a dark wizardry shaman in Mirror of the Witch, quite fitting for the spooky and haunting tone of the drama. While I didn’t consider Hong Joo particularly empathetic as a villain, her bewitching charisma and sorcerous air make her unique enough to stand out. She’s ruthless, manipulative, and stopped at nothing to achieve her goals. She ability to weasel her way out of trouble also made for an enchanting fight against our heroes.
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