The year 2020 is almost over, and we have spent it watching great Korean dramas. Although the year has been a roller coaster ride due to the ongoing pandemic, it was still a great year, especially for the Korean drama industry.
Moving forward, what do you think makes a perfect drama? Of course, the storyline is one fact, and of course, it won't be perfect without the main actors! There are plenty of actors who have showcased their abilities in acting, and they were able to bring to life the characters they portray so that we can fully immerse ourselves in the drama. But among all the good actors, we have chosen only five that we consider as strong contenders for this year's 'Best Actor' Awards.
Without further ado, check out the five actors who we think did great this year!
Hyun Bin as Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok in "Crash Landing on You"
In "Crash Landing on You," Hyun Bin portrays the character of Captain Ri, a proficient but emotionally reserved captain in the Korean People's Army. He was born from a powerful political family but he prefers to keep his political background a secret. He was studying to become a concert pianist in Switzerland, but he was forced to join the North Korean military following his older brother's mysterious death. Captain Ri was the person who saved Se Ri after she accidentally crash-lands in North Korea. As he tries to help Se Ri find her way back into South Korea, he begins to have romantic feelings towards her.
The drama is also the highest-rated tvN drama and the third highest-rated South Korean TV drama in cable television history.
Park Seo Joon as Park Sae-ro-yi in "Itaewon Class"
Park Sae-ro-yi (Park Seo Joon) is the founder of DanBam, a bar-restaurant in Itaewon. When he was younger he got expelled from high school after defending a classmate from bullying by the CEO Jang's son Geun-won. To make things worse, his father was killed by Geun-won's reckless driving. Due to this, Park Sae-ro-yi became wreckless by the loss of his father which led to his three-year imprisonment. Seven years after going out of jail, Sae-ro-yi opens his bar-restaurant DanBam in Itaewon to defeat CEO Jang's food company Jangga Group.
"Itaewon Class's" last episode recorded a 16.548% nationwide audience share, making it the third-highest viewership rating in JTBC and the seventh highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history.
Park Hae Joon as Lee Tae Oh in "The World of the Married"
"The World of the Married" took the viewers into the world of betrayal and forgiveness.
Park Hae Joon portrays the character of (Tae Oh) the cheating husband who dreams of becoming a famous movie director. With the support of his wife, he manages an entertainment and film company. However, he sets himself up in a dangerous position with his extramarital affair. The drama also became the highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history, overtaking SKY Castle with its final episode reaching a nationwide rating of 28.371%.
Kim Soo Hyun as Moon Gang Tae in "It's Okay to Not Be Okay"
"It's Okay to Not Be Okay" focuses on the mental health issues which people need to pay attention to. Kim Soo Hyun stars as Moon Gang Tae, a caregiver working at OK Psychiatric Hospital. He takes care of people who have mental health problems and also takes care of his older brother who also suffers from mental problems. He struggles with self-esteem and seems to be carrying all the weight and pain in life.
Jo Jung Suk as Lee Ik jun in "Hospital Playlist"
"Hospital Playlist" focuses its story on doctors and nurses working at Yulje Medical Center. It tells the story of five doctors who have been friends since they entered medical school in 1999. Jo Jung Suk stars as Lee Ik jun an assistant professor of general surgery.
By the end of its first season, "Hospital Playlist" became the ninth highest-rated Korean drama in cable television history. The second season is confirmed to air in 2021.
If you think we missed your favorite actor, please give us a comment below!
Kdramastars owns this article.
Written By: Sam Yap
