In the colorful world of K-dramas, there are certain stars who sparkle in our eyes with their performances and disappear without a word.

Fans are left to wonder where their favorite actors went because of their absence.

From Kim Hyun Jong to Wo Bin: here are five celebs, as compiled by Korea in Focus, who took a break from their whole career and a life in the public eye.

Kim Hyun Joong

The 2009 role of Ji Hoo in Boys Over Flowers propelled Kim Hyun Joong to stardom. Born June 6, 1986, he first rose to fame as the leader of the boyband SS501, which formed in the early 2000s and took the music industry by storm.

At this time, leading with his trademark blond hair and relaxed presence, he quickly emerged as a heartthrob around the globe.

That said, his career took a dramatic turn in 2014 when he was involved in some serious scandals, including being accused of physical violence by a former girlfriend.

He took a sabbatical from acting after the media frenzy that followed. Kim Hyun Jonog first tried to rebuild his career following his mandatory military service between 2015 and 2017 with music and small productions.

Though that kind of fame has not returned to him, he has enjoyed playing smaller shows and performing music at private events where he can interact with fans.

In interviews, he's thankful for what happened in his past and is focused on the future.

Choi Ji Woo

Dubbed the "Queen of Melodrama," Choi Ji Woo played iconic roles in many poignant dramas that have left an indelible mark over the years.

Born on June 11, 1975, she rocketed to fame with her role in Winter Sonata, a drama that was a hit in South Korea and was crucial in spreading the Hallyu wave throughout Asia.

Choi Ji Woo may be a successful star, but she baffled fans in 2018 when she announced her marriage to a businessman in an intimate ceremony.

A year later, she announced her pregnancy -- it pretty much simplified her list of priorities. She did briefly appear in "Crash Landing on You," but acting doesn't seem to be her primary focus anymore.

While Choi Ji Woo was and still is beloved by fans, she is still living a more low-key family and motherhood-centric life because of it.

Jang Geun Suk

Jang Geun Suk – "Prince of Asia" Jung Goon Suk brought worldwide hearts with the lead role ever so famous "You're Beautiful."

His date of birth falls on August 4, 1987, and he began to start his career at an early age and later became one of the most coveted actors in Korea.

He gained a lot of fans with his charm and talent and demonstrated his musical skills next to his acting skills.

Jang Geun Suk became more popular, but his career development turned over to music; he worked a lot on music, especially in Japan; he published many albums and released successful albums.

He appeared in "Switch: Change the World" in 2018, but after that, he declared that he would enlist for compulsory military service shortly after.

His service wrapped up in 2020, and this was followed by a lot of hype for a big return that has yet to materialize.

Musical projects provide some high points, and he still occasionally interacts with fans when he does the odd live session, but clearly, acting is no longer the primary focus of his attention.

Goo Hye Sun

Best known as Geum Jan Di in "Boys Over Flowers," she now appears on KBS2's "Goddess' Manager." She was born on November 9, 1984, and started singing before heading over to acting.

"Boys Over Flowers" is a huge hit, and with this role, she becomes an international star and a timeless superstar of the screen.

Although Goo Hye Sun is known for her success in acting, she has never limited herself to just an actress.

Eventually, she started to pursue her love for visual art and film directing. She has a personal viewpoint on heavy topics, directing indie films such as "Daughter," for example.

Things were less perfect on the personal life front as she and actor Ahn Jae Hyun had a high-profile social media divorce.

Gu Hye Sun has now immersed herself entirely in her career as a visual artist and director and is leaving acting in favor of her creative endeavors.

Won Bin

Won Bin is one of the most famous icons of old Korean history. Born on November 10, 1977, he gained popularity as an actor with his supporting role in "Autumn In My Heart," one of the earliest internationally popular K-dramas. This classic melodrama landed him squarely in the hearts of movie-goers and made him a top-leading man.

After this success, Won Bin appeared in hits such as "The Man from Nowhere."

The 2010 film was a commercial success and further established him as a versatile actor in complex roles.

This made the role his last one to date. The rumors of his retirement have been going on for a long time, but Won Bin never confirmed this either.

Whatever the reason, some wonder if he is being choosy with scripts or has decided to check out of the public scene and live a more private life.

Won Bin, now married to actress Lee Na Young (married in 2015, one child) but largely out of acting (mostly seen in commercials after his exit).

Fans — who, when booked a star for real, still see him as a living legend — remain fascinated by his absence from the screen and what that means.

Though all have decided to bow out from the limelight, these five stars have made lasting footprints on the K-drama scene.

The pathways they carve out are as much a matter of individual will as they are a microcosm of the shifting landscape of celebrities in show business.

They might not grace our screens anymore, but they will always live in the hearts of fans across the globe.