• 8 Actresses Who Successfully Transitioned From Being Supporting Roles To Lead Roles

    Many K-drama actresses started off with minor roles but became female leads.

    In K-drama, several actresses began with a lead part. Not always; some had to start from the bottom. Below are 8 Korean actresses who had big breaks and currently play leading roles:

    Han So Hee

    Han So Hee made her acting debut 6 years ago and gained popularity after playing the female villain in "The World Of The Married". She landed her first main part in 2021 with "Nevertheless." Since then, all Koreans have heard of the actress.

    Han So Hee compares to Song Hye Kyo, Kim Tae Hee, Son Ye Jin, Jun Ji Hyun, and Han Ga In.

    Han So Hee's images were out of this world, and she never feared trying new roles. She's played the female lead in "Nevertheless," "My Name," and "Soundtrack #1," but they're all different.

    Han So Hee is being likened to Song Hye Kyo, Kim Tae Hee, Son Ye Jin, Jun Ji Hyun, and Han Ga In, among others.

    Kim Ji Won

    Kim Ji Won never hesitated to test herself, starring in commercial K-dramas like "The Heirs" and "Descendants of the Sun" but also performing well in philosophical series and challenging roles.

    Kim Ji Won's abilities were recognized, even if not all her ventures were successful.

    Her newest K-drama, "My Liberation Notes", won over audiences and established Kim Ji Won's acting career. 

    Lee Sung Kyung

    Lee Sung Kyung shined in minor roles throughout her career. Lee Sung Kyung gained to fame with roles in "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo", "Dr. Romantic 2," "Doctors," and "Cheese in the Trap."

    The actress is struggling, though.

    Lee Sung Kyung's recent work "Shooting Stars" received mixed reviews and poor ratings.

    Shin Hye Sun

    Shin Hye Sun, who isn't usually gorgeous in Korea, rose slowly to fame.

    She played minor and second-lead parts before landing a lead.

    Shin Hye Sun became a household celebrity in Korea with her appearance in "My Golden Life."

    Shin Hye Sun's celebrity skyrocketed after "Mr. Queen"

    Shin Hye Sun's varied, humorous, and "shameless" acting wowed foreign audiences in "Mr. Queen." 

    Moon Ga Young

    Moon Ga Young has years of acting expertise and an extremely seductive appearance, yet she struggled in K-drama.

    The actress originally played female leads, then second leads in "Tempted" and "Don't Dare To Dream," before bursting with "True Beauty."

    After "True Beauty," the actress became famous.

    Moon Ga Young is finally receiving her due. Her series "Link" with Yeo Jin Goo is promising.

    Seo Ji Hye

    Seo Ji Hye, one of the most beautiful Korean actresses born in the 1980s, primarily played second leads and small roles.

    Seo Ji Hye eventually gained popularity in 2019 with "Crash Landing On You."

    After "Crash Landing On You," the actress gained notoriety.

    In 2020, Seo Ji Hye starred in "Dinner Mate" with Song Seung Hun.

    She also starred in the new Disney+ drama "Kiss Sixth Sense." Neither series became viral.

    Lee Da Hee

    Lee Da Hee, a fashion model, gave series like "I Hear Your Voice", "Secret Love", and "Search: WWW" an unequaled aura.

    Lee Da Hee finally became the female lead of "LUCA: The Beginning" in 2019, but failed.

    She will soon star with Kim Nam Gil and Cha Eun Woo in the Netflix series "Island," which has huge popularity potential. 

    Kang Han Na

    Kang Han Na has appeared in "Moon Lovers," "Start Up," and "My Roommate Is a Gumiho." Her imagery and acting impressed onlookers.

    Kang Han Na finally landed a main role in "Bloody Heart" after years of portraying lesser characters, which might be her breakthrough.

    Kang Han Na will hopefully get more prominent roles after this historical K-drama.

    Source[1]

  • Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series

    The new OTT series Newtopia has faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.

    Released on the 7th, Newtopia on Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.

    The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.

    Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.

    Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”

    Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.

    The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopia also struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopia spent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.

    On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.

    Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.

    The remaining six episodes of Newtopia will air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!

    Source (1)