Indeed these young and professional ladies run the K-drama world with their outstanding and compelling acting performances. After portraying the second lead characters who are rivals to the female protagonists, these actresses - Han So Hee, Moon Ga Young, and more - are now in-demand main leads.
Han So Hee
Every K-drama fan knows Han So Hee as she rose to fame with her noteworthy performance in "100 Days My Prince" and megahit 2020 series "The World of The Married."
A year after, Han So Hee landed big projects, which made her stand out and reach the zenith of her stardom.
From being a second lead to main, she starred as the main character this time with her dramas "Nevertheless" and "My Name."
Han So Hee's glow-up proves her talent and versatility, and fans are lauding her skill to transform from a timid girl to a bold and brave femme fatale onscreen.
Kim Ji Won
Before she was paired to Park Seo Joon and led the romantic comedy series "Fight For My Way," Kim Ji Won starred in various dramas "To the Beautiful You," "The Heirs," and "Descendants of the Sun" with minor roles or as the second lead.
But through those years, she honed her acting skills, and who would have thought that in 2017, Kim Ji Won had her breakthrough with heartthrob Park Seo Joon. She even won trophies in awards shows for her splendid acting.
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She also shared the screen again with Song Joong Ki in "Arthdal Chronicles," and not as the second lead anymore, but the lead alongside the award-winning actor.
Her latest onscreen partner is Ji Chang Wook in Kakao TV's "Lovestruck in the City."
Lee Sung Kyung
Aside from acting, Lee Sung Kyung is also blessed to have an angelic voice and dancing skills. After she made an appearance in "It's Okay, That's Love," "Cheese in the Trap," and "Doctors" as the second lead, the singer-actress started to build her name and landed her first-ever lead role in the romantic comedy Kdrama "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo" in 2016.
Since then, she continued to play lead roles through K-dramas "About Time" and "Dr. Romantic 2."
Lee Sung Kyung will make her small-screen return in tvN's "Shooting Star."
Kang Han Na
Viewers were impressed by Kang Han Na's acting in SBS' "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo'' and tvN's "Start-Up" as she played the antagonist and second lead. These characters, however, prove Kang Han Na's versatility and that she has more to offer.
After she appeared in "My Roommate is a Gumiho" and played a character different from her previous roles, Kang Han Na is now the main character and is slated to star as the lead in upcoming dramas.
She currently appears in "Bite Sisters" and will also meet the viewers again with a new historical romance drama, "Red Single Heart," alongside Lee Joon and Jang Hyuk, in 2022.
Moon Ga Young
Following her minor roles in "Secret Healer," "Jealousy Incarnate," and in the 2018 Kdrama "Tempted" as a second lead, Moon Ga Young had a massive transformation 2019 when she became the female lead in JTBC's "Welcome to Waikiki 2," followed by "Find Me in Your Memory" in 2020, then to her latest, "True Beauty."
Through her years of being in the acting field, Moon Ga Young is consistently making a name and now becoming one of the in-demand female lead stars.
Do you know other Korean female actresses who used to be second leads? Tell us in the comments!
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Shai Collins wrote this.
