The following stars are now offered leading roles in the hottest mini-series, but they all got their start in the humblest of places – playing the prodigal youngest son in weekend dramas.
Weekend dramas, as well as daily dramas and morning dramas, are less well-known outside of South Korea compared to weekday mini-series but are often hugely popular within the country due to its target demographic of older women. Since their themes are largely about family, weekend dramas typically have a large cast, meaning that rookie and up-and-coming actors have the chance to make a name for themselves.
Here are six actors who launched their Korean entertainment careers this way:
What mom wouldn’t love to have Park Bo Gum as a son-in-law? Currently Park Bo Gum is winning hearts all over again as a part-time worker on JTBC’s “Hyori’s Homestay 2” and is still riding high off his lead roles in “Moonlight Drawn by Clouds” and “Reply 1988.”
Before he got his big break, however, he played supporting roles in films like “Blind,” “Runway Cop,” and the drama “Bridal Mask.” His first big role was in 2013 in the weekend drama “Wonderful Mama,” playing the playboy youngest son Go Young Joon. His mom in the drama? Veteran actress Bae Jong Ok! The fresh-faced young actor went all-out for the part, including filming scenes with dancing and singing trot music.
Another trendy actor currently starring in a reality program – tvN’s “Youn’s Kitchen 2” – Park Seo Joon is familiar to many viewers today as a rom-com lead. His most recent hit was “Fight My Way” but has tugged heartstrings in “Hwarang,” “She Was Pretty,” and as a supporting actor in “Kill Me, Heal Me.”
Nevertheless, it took him a few years to work his way to that kind of success. His debut was technically in 2011 in the music video “I Remember,” but he then appeared in “Dream High 2” in 2012. In 2013, he appeared in the weekend drama “Pots of Gold” as the third son Park Hyung Tae. In that show he shared a love line with actress Baek Jin Hee, who has also since moved on to great things.
He will next be appearing in the tvN rom-com “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?”
If weekend dramas offer a chance for rookie actors to make a mark, this is also true for idols looking to break into a whole new field. Park Hyung Sik debuted as part of the boy group ZE:A in 2010 but began to make a name for himself as an actor in 2012. He got roles in several drama specials and played some minor parts in “Nine: 9 Times Time Travel” and “Heirs,” but it wasn’t until the 2014 weekend drama “What Happens to My Family?” that he showed that he was serious about his new career.
In that show he played the youngest son Cha Dal Bong, and off the strength of his performance began to move on to leading roles in “High Society,” “Hwarang,” and “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.”
He will next be appearing in the Korean remake of American legal drama “Suits.”
Though currently completing his mandatory military service, Ji Chang Wook is one of the rare actors who made his mark in both the action and rom-com genres.
He made his debut in musical theater and began appearing onscreen after 2006. In 2009 he played the younger brother in “My Too Perfect Sons,” who was forced to raise his best friend’s daughter despite being just 20 years old. The drama went on to achieve great ratings and launched Ji Chang Wook to bigger and better things like “Empress Ki,” “Healer,” and “Suspicious Partner.”
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