Switching careers isn’t a thing of the new age, rather many people have change lanes every now and then, and those Korean actors who were models before they made it big in the acting industry know it better than anyone else. Wherever the shoe fits, it just fits and the same was destined for these artistic individuals too. Though acting may not have been their first choice of profession, they never miss a beat in working hard today, which often shocks many of their fans once they find out these details of their past.
And so is the case for many of the K-drama actors listed below and others who haven’t been added to this list but nevertheless share a similar path. It may come as a pleasant surprise on seeing that they were models in their yesteryears, but as soon as you take a look at their present ad campaigns, their poise and confidence will tell you a different altogether, and help you connect the dots with the experiences they’ve gained through that old life of practice as well.
Korean Actors Who Were Models
Ahn Bo-hyun
Now one of the most prominent leading actors in the K-drama scene, Bo-hyun’s breakout role rather renders him unrecognisable owing to his character’s drastic villainous transformation in Itaewon Class. Since then he’s starred is diversely distinct roles in shows like Netflix’s My Name, tvN’s Yumi’s Cells and more. His latest onscreen portrayal of Moon Seo-ha in See You in My 19th Life situated him in rather laid-back fantasy romance saga, and has now become of his most notable performances in the recent years.
However, what most people don’t yet is that despite being the great actor he is, Bo-hyun actually started out as a model first and even used to participate in boxing competitions back in the day. It’s only in 2014 that he finally turned towards acting as a his professional calling.
Han So-hee
Even today, the My Name actress is seen leading many high end luxury brand campaigns owing to her extraordinary beautiful looks. As one of the most sought-after actors in the Korean industry today, she may be now known for her roles in K-dramas Nevertheless, The World of the Married, Soundtrack and more, but she initially stepped into the artistic field as a model who starred in quite a few music videos like SHINee’s Tell Me What To Do and as a model spotted in several advertisements endorsing contact lenses, cosmetics, etc.
And it’s from here that her common advertisement features started garnering attention towards the stunning command over her personality and she finally came to be recruited by producers and other official personnel.
Nam Joo-hyuk
Debuting as a model in 2013, the much-loved actor first took the lead in Top Model in his early days, and thereafter, he was soon spotted in AKMU’s music video. Now, with his acting career having taken off, he even has a steady international fanbase that ardently awaits his acting comebacks. Best known for his roles in Who Are You: School 2015, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, Start-Up, Twenty Five Twenty One, the beloved actor’s original dream lay afar from either of these professions as he’d hoped to become a professional basketball player, but having sustained an injury, his old Busan dreams were abruptly halted, taking a different turn in Seoul later altogether.
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Song Hye-kyo
As one of the evergreen Korean actors in the biz, Hye-kyo is likely to always stay on top as the “It” girl. It was during her teenage years that the modelling craze first caught on to her, and she took the lead in the SunKyung Smart Model Contest, which eventually opened up doors for her ultimate entertainment debut as a school uniform model.
And it’s from here that she finally entered the acting lane with a small role in the 1996 TV series First Love. Jump to 2023; she’s now known as a trailblazing Korean Power Celebrity after her notable appearances in shows like Full House, The Descendants of the Sun, and the one and only Netflix 2022-23 web series The Glory that again reminded the general public of her power.
Byeon Woo-seok
I remember watching Woo-seok take on one of his first lead roles alongside Park Bo-gum as an affluent model-turned-actor in the 2020 K-drama Record of Youth, little did I know back then that his real-life trajectory followed a similar map. First coming into the picture as a model debuting in 2014, he only made his acting debut in 2016 with Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, and it’s with drama series Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency, Moonshine and movies 20th Century Girl and Soulmate that he finally found his footing as a leading hero.
Jung Ho-yeon
The Squid Game actress is one of those model-turned-actors whose career choice of the past is known to almost everyone, but even if you didn’t, then there’s no need to wallow in FOMO because that’s just how good and stunning of an actor she is. She made her acting debut rather recently in 2021 with the Netflix K-drama series, but before that, she’d already established her enchanting aura in the modelling sphere by walking in the Seoul Fashion Week, competing on Korea’s Next Top Model Season 4 and even secured the runner-up spot.
Later, she took the world by storm with her head-turning “fiery” hair at the New York Fashion Week and even became a Louis Vuitton exclusive in 2016. Many of you may have even recognised her from her appearances in The Weeknd’s Out of Time and NewJeans’s Cool With You music videos.
Wi Ha-joon
Yet another leading cast member of the Squid Game series, Ha-joon, who’s all set to lead the upcoming Disney+ K-drama series The Worst of Evil with Ji Chang-wook in September, as well as the upcoming Netflix series Gyeongseong Creature, is also a modelling alumni. He’s especially known for his breakout role in Romance is a Bonus Boo, where he starred alongside Lee Jong-suk, who also happens to be another Korean model who took to acting later on. You may have also spotted him playing pivotal roles in shows like Little Women, Bad and Crazy, and 18 Again to name a few.
Did you know about these Korean models turned actors’ past career choices? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.