Has this ever happened to you? You're watching a new k-drama and you stop to wonder where you've seen an actor before. And not only where you've seen the actor before but if you have seen them in more than one drama that same year?

A few of Korea's character actors are so talented they wind up in several dramas in a single year. That's one way k-drama casting is different from say American television and more like a repertory company of actors who take on different roles in a variety of plays.

For example, Yoon Joo Sang was the famous defense attorney Shin Sang Duk in "I Hear Your Voice" but he was also a teacher in "School 2013." Although he did play Kim Sun Ah's father in "I Do I Do," now he is Han Hye Jin's much-more-understanding dad in "One Warm Word."

He was also in dozens of films and at least 50 other dramas, including "Iris II," "The King of Dramas," and "Padam Padam." So it's not your imagination. You probably have seen him before. Several times.

Jong Dong Hwan, who played Kim Tan's father in "The Heirs," is also one of those actors. In 2013 alone, he played Lee Da Hee's judge father in "I Hear Your Voice," the villain Choi Jin Cheol in "Nine: Nine Time Travels" and Lee Chang Hoon in "You're the Best Lee Shin Soon."

Last year he was in "Phantom." The year before that he was in "Scent of a Woman" and "The Princess' Man." He often plays a dad or a villain or both.

Kim Mi Kyung is also a prolific actress. In the last year she played Park Shin Hye's mom in "The Heirs," So Ji Sub's aunt in "The Master's Sun" and Lee Da Hee's real mom in "I Hear Your Voice." She also appeared in "Goddess of Marriage," "Heaven's Order," and. "Queen of the Office." She played Choi Kang Hee's mom in "Level 7 Civil Servant" and was a murderous cleaning lady in "Missing You." She has appeared in dozens of dramas since her career began and a few films.

Listing Kim Hae Sook's drama roles would fill up a page. She was Lee Bo Young's supportive mom in "I Hear Your Voice," the cartoon-ish manager of the cleaning agency in "The Suspicious Housekeeper," and appeared in "The Wang Family." She had roles in some of the original dramas that inspired the Hallyu, including "Winter Sonata" and "Autumn in My Heart." She also appeared in more than a few films.

Actor Jo Hee Bong is also getting to be a recognizable face. He plays president Ahn, the CEO of Jun Ji Hyun's talent agency in "You Who Came From The Stars." The last time you saw this actor he was the unethical head of pediatric surgery in "Good Doctor." He was a shoe designer in "I Do I Do" and Mr. Koon in "The Equator Man." With some luck he will soon have a resume as long as some of these other fine actors.