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12 Greatest Kdrama Actor Comebacks of 2016

By Monisha on January 18, 2017 in Drama
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During 2016, we were fortunate enough to see so many of our favorite A-list Kdrama actors return to the small screen with some of the most interesting works of the year. Whether they were on break, in military, or were busy working on movies, many of them have been away from drama world for quite awhile. So, let’s count and celebrate the best actor comebacks that we saw in 2016.

Gong Yoo

best kdrama actor comebacks 2016 gong yoo

Top actor Gong Yoo likes to take extended breaks in between his drama roles. His most recent work dates back to 2012, where he played a teenage boy who got transferred into an older man’s body in Big. Gong Yoo’s childish banters are polarizing from his current mature character in fantasy drama Goblin, where he’s skilled acting is slaying ratings and pushing Goblin into new heights.

Song Hye Kyo

actor spotlight song hye kyo

Song Hye Kyo made her comeback from melodrama, That Winter The Wind Blows. Although she was active on the big screen in between, her last drama role was in 2013 where she played a haughty yet vulnerable blind heiress. She role in Descendants of the Sun was equally prickly, but far more confident and independent, proving that she’s a great actress at delivering character nuances.

Song Joong Ki

actor spotlight song joong ki

Song Joong Ki’s last role was in 2012, as a revengeful young man in Innocent Man. He was enlisted in the army shortly after and fans have been anxiously waiting for four years. He was one of the most anticipated comebacks of 2016, in one of the most successful Kdramas ever — Descendants of the Sun. Playing a soldier seemed natural right after military service, yet the jokester personality was a stark contrast from his previous role and made everyone immediately fall in love with him.

Shin Min Ah

best kdrama actor comebacks 2016 shin min ah

Shin Min Ah’s characters are usually a pretty and elegant lady, or pixieish and coy like a fairy. Since her charming ghostly role in Arang and the Magistrate in 2012, she’s been on hiatus from dramaland until Oh My Venus that wrapped up earlier in 2016. She unexpectedly played an overweight yet spunky lawyer trying to turn her dead-end life back around. She showed immense charisma and adorableness despite the fat suit and didn’t need to rely on her usual flattering figures to draw eyeballs.

Yoon Shi Yoon

best kdrama actor comebacks 2016 yoon shi yoon

Yoon Shi Yoon’s comeback after completing his military service is Mirror of the Witch. His character as a son of a slave in this dark magic filled sageuk drama is a big change from the proper Chief of Staff role in Prime Minister and I in 2014. However, Yoon Shi Yoon pulled it off effortlessly, showing his versatility as an actor.

Jang Geun Suk

best kdrama actor comebacks 2016 jang geun suk

Jang Geun Suk, who’s been actively producing eye-catching rom-coms year after year between 2009-2013 suddenly went quiet for a while due to an unfortunate tax evasion controversy. Nonetheless, fans longed for his return. He chose to come back with Jackpot, where he played a swindler with a twisted fate. It’s been eight solid years since his last sageuk role in Hong Gil Dong, so get ready to see him shed his usual playboy facade and get down and dirty.

Jun Ji Hyun

best kdrama actor comebacks 2016 jun ji hyun

Jun Ji Hyun’s last drama was mega-hit My Love From The Stars in 2013 that dominated the screens that year. She went from a self-absorbed comedic superstar to a ditzy mermaid in The Legend of the Blue Sea that began airing winter of 2016. Her pick in fantasy dramas as her two extended comebacks have both shown great results, reminding everyone why she’s one of Korea’s top hit-makers.

Lee Min Ho

actor spotlight lee min ho

Lee Min Ho’s last role was also in 2013, as a teenage chaebol in popular series The Heirs. The drama was a bit juvenile for my liking, which made me slightly wary of his next project. Thankfully, in 2016, he came back with The Legend of the Blue Sea, playing a con artist starring opposite of Jun Ji Hyun. The role suited him surprisingly well, which made it worth the wait.

Han Hyo Joo

best kdrama actor comebacks 2016 han hyo joo

It’s been six years since we last saw Han Hyo Joo grace the small screen as she’s been busy filming movies. Despite the long hiatus, her comeback project couldn’t have been more fetching as a doctor who could travel between real and drawn worlds in W. Her character was relatable, bubbly, and self-sufficient, showcasing a step-up in acting from her past one-dimensional roles.

Rain

best kdrama actor comebacks 2016 rain

Rain’s last drama was My Lovely Girl in 2014. Unfortunately, the drama was poorly written and lacked any sort of humor or believable romance for me to get invested. However, his comeback role as a man who gets a second chance at life, in Please Come Back Mister, was a huge recovery. Rain’s natural knack at comedy really shined through in this hilarious and heartwarming series.

Suzy

best kdrama actor comebacks 2016 suzy

Suzy’s acting may have gotten bad reviews in the past, but I’ve noticed improvements along the way that show that she is steadily getting better. Her last role in Gu Family Book that aired in 2013 was still somewhat stiff, but her acting in Uncontrollably Fond was quite a bit more natural. Her comeback doesn’t stop here either, as she will be starring in the upcoming drama, While You Were Sleeping this year.

Kim Woo Bin

best kdrama actor comebacks 2016 kim woo bin

Kim Woo Bin is a personal favorite, so I was particularly excited to see him return to the small screen after filming a couple of movies. Since he often plays tough guys like the spoiled bully chaebol in The Heirs, it took me by surprise that he played a character with terminal illness in Uncontrollably Fond. Although the drama fell a little short of my expectations, Kim Woo Bin’s acting did not, which gave me more reason to admire him as an actor.


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gong yoohan hyo joojang geun sukjun ji hyunkim woo binlee min holistsrainshin min ahsong hye kyosong joong kisuzyyoon shi yoon

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