Here’s What 20 Of Today’s Biggest K-Drama Stars Looked Like In Their First Roles Vs. Their Latest Roles

1.  Lee Min Ho

Debut role: 2003, on Secret Campus as Park Du Hyeon

Latest role: 2020, on The King: Eternal Monarch as Lee Gon

2. Park Shin Hye

Debut role: 2003, on Stairway To Heaven as Han Jung Suh

Latest role: 2021, on Sisyphus: The Myth as Gang Seo Hae

3. Gong Yoo

Debut Role: 2001, on School 4 as Hwang Tae Young

Latest role: 2021, on Seo Bok, as Gi Heon.

4. Song Joong Ki

Debut role: 2008, on “A Frozen Flower” as No Tak

Latest Role: 2021, in Vincenzo as Vincenzo Cassano.

5. Song Hye Kyo

Debut role: 1996, on First Love as an unnamed student

Photo from her breakout role in 1998 on Soonpoong Clinic.

Latest role: 2019, on Encounter as Cha Soo Hyun.

6. Park Bo Young

Debut Role: 2003, on Secret Campus as Cha Ah Rang.

Latest role: 2021, on Doom at Your Service as Tak Dong Kyung.

7. Lee Jong Suk

Debut role: 2010, on Prosecutor Princess as Lee Woo Hyun.

Latest role: 2019, on Romance Is a Bonus Book as Cha Eun Ho.

8. Kim Tae Hee

Debut role: 2001, on “Last Present” as teenage Jung Yeon

Latest role: 2020, on Hi Bye, Mama! as Cha Yuri.

9. Rain

Debut role: 2003, on Sang Doo! Let’s Go To School as Cha Sang Doo

Latest role: 2019, on Welcome 2 Life as Lee Jae Sang

10. Lee Young Ae

Debut role: 1993, on How’s Your Husband? 

Latest role: 2019, on Bring Me Home as Jung Yeon

11. Gong Hyo Jin

Debut role: 1999, on “Momento Mori” as Ji Won

Latest role: 2019, on When the Camellia Blooms as Dong Baek

12. Kim Young Ok

Information on Kim Young Ok’s first roles is spotty at best, but the actress herself stated in an interview that her debut drama was in 1969. The first available media of her appearance on the big or little screen, however, is her appearance in the 1976 drama, 여고동창생 “Girls’ High School Alumni”.

Kim Young Ok is on the left.

Latest role: 2021, on Mouse as Kim Gat Nam.

13. Jang Hyuk

Debut role: 2001, on Volcano High as Kim Kyung Soo.

Latest role: 2020, on The Swordsman as Tae Yul.

14. Kim Soo Hyun

Debut role: 2007, on Kimchi Cheese Smile as Kim Soo Hyun

Latest role: 2020, on It’s Okay To Not Be Okay as Moon Gang Tae.

15. Park Bo Gum

Debut role: 2011, on “Blind” as Dong Hyun

Latest role: 2021, on Seo Bok, as Seo Bok.

16. Shin Min Ah

Debut role: 2001, on Beautiful Days as Lee Min Ji

Latest role: 2021, on Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, as Yoon Hye Jin

17. Jun Ji Hyun

Debut role: 1999, on “White Valentine” as Kim Jeong Min

Latest Role: 2021, on Kingdom: Ashin of the North as Ashin

18. Park Seo Joon

Debut role: 2012, on School 3

Photo from Dream High 2

Latest role: 2020, on Itaewon Class as Park Saeroyi.

19. Kim Woo Bin

Debut role: 2011, on White Christmas

Latest role: 2016, on “Master” as Park Jang Goon

20. Yoon Eun Hye

Debut role: 2006, on Princess Hours as Shin Chae Kyeong.

Latest role: 2018, on Love Alert as Yoon Yoo Jung.