Top 11 South Korean Actors Fond of 'Copying' One Character Type in Movies

Cha Eun Woo (ASTRO) is known more as an actor than an idol in a boy band. Despite debuting only three years ago, he has participated in many prominent acting projects, achieving high ratings. Born in 1997, he possesses a face with perfect features, resembling a sculpture that captivates anyone who gazes upon it.

However, precisely because Cha Eun Woo possesses such perfect looks, audiences sometimes forget about his talents. In the eyes of many, he is just an idol/actor who rose to fame due to his appearance rather than his actual abilities. Cha Eun Woo is also recognized as an actor, starring in numerous high-quality Korean dramas such as Hit The Top, Gangnam Beauty, Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung, and most recently, True Beauty.

His roles mostly depict the perfect male god figure, with handsome looks, a good background, a cold demeanor, yet enough charm to mesmerize the audience. Through diligent participation in various film projects, from supporting roles to lead roles, Cha Eun Woo has gradually affirmed his acting talent.

Hwang Jung Eum is dubbed the Queen of romantic-comedy films. Several works of the beautiful actress born in 1984 fall into the romantic, humorous genre (rom-com). In all three dramas aired on MBC, Kill Me Heal Me, She Was Pretty, and Lucky Romance, Hwang Jung Eum's character images are often ordinary-looking, a bit clumsy, and tend to exaggerate everything. This breakthrough in character images made the drama Lucky Romance receive mediocre ratings as viewers became bored with this character type and desired more breakthroughs and changes.

Kill Me, Heal Me and She Was Pretty also made waves across Asia, showcasing Hwang Jung Eum's brand as the 'tear queen,' the unbeatable 'rom-com queen' that no one can replace. Despite frequently changing roles, being flexible in expressing emotions, and immersing herself well in her roles, Hwang Jung Eum has truly made her mark in her career. However, objectively speaking, most of her roles are quite similar and have a somewhat erratic, humorous resemblance, making viewers feel bored. This is also a topic of debate in Hwang Jung Eum's acting.

In May 2020, after a two-year hiatus to have her first child, Hwang Jung Eum returned to the small screen in the drama Mystic Pop-up Bar. This role was also considered fresh for Hwang Jung Eum, portraying a bossy, outspoken, strong, dominant yet equally beautiful character.

The handsome Lee Jong Suk, born in 1989, captivates and conquers the hearts of fans with roles characterized by a tragic past, orphaned due to losing his father, and possessing extraordinary abilities beyond ordinary people. You can verify the authenticity of this information through the main roles Lee Jong Suk has portrayed in:

Park So Ha (I Hear Your Voice): Young Park So Ha loses his father in a serious accident, gaining the ability to read others' thoughts by looking into their eyes, making him a top student throughout his school years.

Park Hoon (Doctor Stranger): Being a genius in medical science due to his doctor father, Park Hoon loses his father and loses his lover in North Korea due to political machinations. Upon returning to South Korea, he continues to be surrounded by dark political forces.

Ki Ha Myung (Pinochio): The power of media turns young Ki Ha Myung, who lost his parents and brother, into a memory genius. Sheltered by the family of the enemy, Ki Ha Myung later falls in love with Choi In Ha – the daughter of the enemy – and becomes a journalist to seek revenge against those who killed his parents.

Kang Chul (Two Word): A top Olympic marksman, Kang Chul's entire family is murdered, and he becomes the prime suspect. Like in other dramas, Kang Chul possesses a special ability – being a comic book character, he can move between the real world and the virtual world.

Following his portrayal of a goofy king who loves dried persimmons in Empress Ki, Ji Chang Wook's fame skyrocketed, with a series of hit dramas where he played the lead role such as Healer and The K2, expanding his popularity to China and across Asia. With his handsome face, ripped six-pack physique, and roles predominantly in action-packed dramas filled with impeccable martial arts sequences.

From the dual-personality assassin Jung Hoo in Healer to the cool and skilled bodyguard Kim Je Ha sporting a divine black suit in The K2. Not only with his flawless martial arts moves and scholarly demeanor matched with black suits, but also with his ability to convey deep emotions, it's not an exaggeration to say that Ji Chang Wook is the Korean action drama heartthrob.

Rising to fame from his role as the handsome, arrogant chaebol Goo Joon Pyo in Boys Over Flowers in 2009, Lee Min Ho became the prince charming in the dreams of many. Then in 2013, once again, the handsome, wealthy heir Kim Tan portrayed by Lee Min Ho, who fell in love with the Cinderella-like girl Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye) in The Heirs, melted countless hearts.

Lee Min Ho's strikingly handsome face and rich heir demeanor seem tailor-made for such roles. The trope of a wealthy heir falling for a poor girl, opposed by his parents due to social status, is a familiar theme that Lee Min Ho has often portrayed.

He made a comeback to the screen in 2016 with Legend of the Blue Sea, playing the con artist Heo Joon Jae, but beneath the surface, he still retained his character's affluent background, and his lavish affection for his love interest continued to captivate fangirls.

In 2019, after completing his military service, audiences eagerly awaited Lee Min Ho's return to the screen. Recently, he starred in The King: Eternal Monarch or The King: The Eternal Monarch, assembling an all-star cast in a fantasy time-travel drama aired in 2020. And once again, he portrayed a powerful, wealthy monarch.

Wang Ji Hyun (30/10/1981), known by the stage name Jun Ji Hyun or Gianna Jun, is a famous South Korean actress. She is praised by fans as one of the 'Three Big Korean Beauties' and the 'Nation's First Love' of the Korean peninsula.

In the film industry, the character images of Joen Ji Huyn are quite diverse, but in television, the type of character that the actress pursues is those with slightly crazy, eccentric personalities, and somewhat naive. From her role in the film My Sassy Girl, to the actress Chun Song Y in You Came From The Stars, and most recently the mermaid Shim Chung in Legend of the Blue Sea. It is her exaggerated characterization and natural acting style that have ingrained the image of 'crazy but chic' Joen Ji Huyn deep into the audience's psyche, irreplaceable by anyone else.

The character Chun Song Yi played by Jun Ji Hyun in 'My Love from the Star' once caused such a sensation that it created the 'Chun Song Yi Effect' for every item the character used in the show, especially fashion brands, which all sold out. In 2016, the beauty returned to the small screen in the fantasy romantic drama The Legend of the Blue Sea alongside Lee Min Ho. She ranked 9th on Gallup Korea's list of the top 10 outstanding actors of 2016, becoming the only actress on the list.

If Lee Min Ho represents the wealthy, talented heir, then Park Shin Hye epitomizes the character from humble backgrounds, with ordinary looks, valuing justice, diligence, always portraying the Cinderella in fairy tales whose lover is always the handsome, romantic lead - the dream of many girls. Her role as the poor girl Cha Eun Sang in The Heirs is a vivid example of this character type. Apart from Geum Jan Di in Boys Over Flowers, there hasn't been a role significant enough to surpass the Cinderella-like Cha Eun Sang.

In Pinocchio or Doctors, the character image of Park Shin Hye remains that of a poor girl who knows how to rise above fate and loss in the past. And of course, when it comes to the extreme luck these characters have in love, there's no room for debate. Another thing is that the audience has become very familiar with Park Shin Hye's youthful image in school uniforms.

Hyun Bin is an outstanding actor in the Korean entertainment industry, boasting an extensive filmography with numerous renowned works across Asia. A charismatic actor like Hyun Bin not portraying a wealthy character at least once would be a missed opportunity. And the truth is, he has played the role of a rich heir quite a few times.

Interestingly, every five years or so, Hyun Bin stirs up public discourse with some perfect male image. In 2005, he portrayed the director of a luxurious restaurant in France in My Name is Kim Sam Soon. Five years later, he caused a sensation with the character of the third-generation chaebol Kim Joo Won in Secret Garden.

Another five years later, in 2015, he marked his return to the small screen after military discharge by playing the multiple personality character Goo Seo Jin in Hyde, Jekyll and I, a role that many viewers evaluated as no different from a version of Kim Joo Won working at a different company. From tone of voice, facial expressions to even suffering from mental illness, Goo Seo Jin and Kim Joo Won seem to be one person in two bodies.

Yoona embarked on her acting career in 2007 with a supporting role in the television drama 9 Ends, 2 Out. She then continued to shine in her second film (Woman of Matchless Beauty) in April 2008, immediately garnering praise from seasoned artists.

With her gentle, delicate beauty, slender figure, and fragile appearance, Yoona's charm seems destined for roles that are innocent, adorable, and appealing to the male audience. Overall, Yoona's characters tend to be like fairy tale princesses, born into affluent families and blessed with smooth romantic journeys. Her recent portrayal of Go Ana – the daughter of a presidential candidate in The K2 – has gradually shattered the stereotype of a fragile flower vase that audiences have imposed on her for so long.

Park Min Young was born on March 4, 1986, in South Korea. She has appeared in numerous iconic works of Korean entertainment such as Family Outing Season 1, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, and City Hunter. Although Park Min Young underwent cosmetic surgery to achieve her current beautiful appearance, she has not faced much criticism unlike many others, instead being praised as the most successful 'plastic beauty' in Kbiz.

The actress is criticized for not bringing freshness to her roles, often playing similar characters in dramas like City Hunter (2011), Healer (2014), Remember (2015), and most recently, Her Private Life, which has gradually diminished her allure. Most of her characters are portrayed as beautiful, somewhat aloof yet gentle personalities. While Secretary Kim marked a milestone for Park Min Young, audiences still hope for her to undergo a more dramatic transformation.

'Small but formidable,' Park Bo Young has won over both local and international audiences with her acting prowess. Transitioning into her thirties (by Korean reckoning, she's 31), Park Bo Young has become a 'senior' figure in the film industry with impressive achievements.

With a fresh, youthful appearance, expressive eyes, and a radiant smile, Park Bo Young is consistently chosen by directors for school-themed or heartwarming romantic roles. Some notable films she has starred in include: A Werewolf Boy, Oh My Ghost, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, On Your Wedding Day, Hot Young Bloods... all of which have garnered attention and commercial success.

In 2015, she made a return to the small screen with the TVN drama 'Oh My Ghost.' In 2017, Park Bo Young once again drove fans crazy with her adorableness in the lead role of the drama 'Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.' Petite and elegant, Park Bo Young has become an endearing icon of Korean cinema. However, in her latest drama, Abyss, where she was paired with Ahn Hyo Seop, audiences began to realize that the actress was simply repeating herself with her old acting style, mostly portraying cute, bubbly characters.