Known as the king of rom-com K-dramas, Park Seo-joon makes the list of one of the biggest names in the South Korean entertainment industry. His remarkable talent and extravagant charm have created some delightful chemistry with his lead co-stars, while his determination for portraying characters has resulted in a series of successful hits.
Last seen in the Netflix release, 'Gyeongseong Creature,' narrowing down his finest on-screen performances is a challenge in itself. However, we have shortlisted five of Park Seo-joon’s top television series works (listed in no particular order).
'Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth' (2016-17)
'Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth' features a star-studded cast which comprises of well-known figures like Seo-joon himself, along with SHINee’s Choi Min-ho, BTS' V, Park Hyung-sik, and many others. This historical drama delves into the lives of the Hwarang, who are an elite group of warriors selected for the King during the Silla Kingdom, as they find their way around love, pain, friendships, and challenges. Seo-joon takes on the lead role of Moo-myung, a young man born into a lower-class family, whose skills and determination driven by revenge probe him into becoming one of the best Hwarang warriors. His portrayal is striking, making it one of his best works. He gives it his all to showcase his assertiveness and boldness. He received immense praise for his captivating chemistry with the female lead, and also for maintaining an enchanting rapport with his co-actors, even today. His performance earned him a nomination for the 'Top Excellence Award' at the 31st KBS Drama Awards.
'Fight For My Way' (2017)
'Fight For My Way' stands out as a drama that you must watch for various reasons. It presents one of the most realistic narratives, with Seo-joon playing one of his most down-to-earth, relatable characters in his entire acting career. He plays the role of Ko Dong-man, who was once, a known taekwondo player, now a nameless mixed martial arts fighter due to his traumatic, painful past. His character embodies resilience and strength in the face of obstacles. Dong-man's journey revolves around his back-to-back struggles in order to gain success, emphasizing his character growth throughout the series. Amidst trying to get over these challenges, he finds love in his best friend, Choi Ae-ra, while also finding a way through the complexities of both his career and romantic life. The drama's distinctive and enriching storyline, coupled with Seo-joon's compelling performance in a prominent role, is what makes it stand out. This portrayal further solidifies Seo-joon's reputation as one of the best actors. The drama's success led to Seo-joon receiving multiple nominations for 'Best Couple' Awards and the 'Outstanding Actor Award.'
'Itaewon Class' (2020)
This show has made it to Forbes’ list of ‘The 13 best Korean series of 2020,’ and very rightfully so. It has a stand-out, uplifting narrative and determined characters, accompanied by one of the best soundtracks. Seo-joon embodies the role of a character who is everyone’s support and keeps all pieces together. He plays Park Sae-roi, who decides to follow in his father's footsteps, after his gruesome murder, and opens up a pub called 'DanBam' in the posh Itaewon locality of Seoul after serving years in jail for attacking his father’s murderer. Driven by loss and anger, he wishes to fulfil his father’s dream by becoming a big name in the food business industry, believing it to be the best revenge. With determination in his eyes, and extensive support from his staff, Sae-roi wishes to reach the sky. Seo-joon’s serious character, who might I add, looks so good in a bowl cut – away from his famous rom-com characters – received immense acclaim, which also widened his fan base. ‘Itaewon Class’ offers a rollercoaster of a ride, going between anger and heartfelt emotions, but making sure audiences immediately resonate with the main character. It’s no wonder why Time Magazine called it one of the best series to watch on Netflix.
'What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim' (2018)
When you think of Park Seo-joon, you think of ‘What's Wrong With Secretary Kim.’ It is hands down one of his best performances ever. When you want to binge something on the weekend, especially an office romance, this is a perfect watch. Filled with chaos and humour, the story revolves around a self-centered boss who falls in love with his secretary. The drama follows the actor who plays the role of Lee Young-joon, a handsome and narcissistic vice president of a major corporation. His life becomes topsy turvy when his secretary of almost ten years, Kim Mi-so, decides to quit her job. In order to keep the perfect secretary, who knows him inside-out, he experiments and tries out things he hasn't ever done before, not even in his dreams. Going through the process, he realises his feelings for her, eventually giving into jealousy and surrendering his heart to her. The actor’s spot-on portrayal of his character and sensual chemistry with the lead actress gave him international recognition.
'Kill Me, Heal Me' (2015)
'Kill Me, Heal Me' narrates the story of Cha Do-hyun, a wealthy businessman, who is hiding his dissociative identity disorder from the world. On the other hand, Oh Ri-jin, a dedicated and determined first-year resident at a psychiatric hospital, covertly provides him with help with his condition to get better. Amid a secret love story that is stirring and the heavy burden of hiding profound secrets, they decide to hold hands and overcome their past and present challenges with each other’s support. For Do-hyun, the most important challenge is to have control over his own body. But, it becomes especially tough for him, when Oh Ri-jin's brother, Oh Ri-on, portrayed by Park Seo-joon, becomes suspicious of him and is determined to dig deep to uncover Do-hyun's secret. Often mistaken for a carefree person, Ri-on is, in reality, a well-known novelist, who keeps this side of him a secret, going by the name, Omega. The series is a binge-watch, brewing with sweetness and heartfelt moments. It thrives on the exceptional performances by the three actors. While the lead roles are of Cha Do-hyun and Oh Ri-jin, Seo-joon’s character shines through his remarkable charisma, adding a unique touch to the storyline.
If you're already a fan of Park Seo-joon, then you will agree that these are some of his best works on television. If you're just looking for some fun shows to binge, then these are a must-watch!
