Our Favorite Characters in K-Dramas

 

Though I am sure we have many more favorites yet to come, we thought we would compile (in no particular order) a list of the ones we have liked best so far! Who have been your favorite characters?

Nam Shin III

Are You Human Too?

Our AI robot Nam Shin III (Seo Kang Joon) easily made this list. Originally made to comfort his mother, he ends up being sent to protect the place of his human model after a murder attempt leaves him in a coma. As he grows and changes he discovers he is a very different individual than his human counterpart. He challenges the way people think, and often times shows that, though some concepts might be vague to him, he has a deeper understanding of people than most of those around him. As he adapts to the human world, he discovers the secrets that threatens his human counterparts life. Paired with a young woman named Kang So Bong, he also finds a growing attachment to the people in his life, and a desire to protect them. It is a beautiful story of a robot who learns about life and the world and discovers he is more human than he thought.

Won Deuk/Crown Prince Lee Yul

100 Days My Prince

Next is our amnesic prince turned peasant. Do Kyung Soo plays the Crown Prince Lee Yul. When an attempt on his life leaves him in the care of peasants with no memory things get very entertaining. With the new name Won Deuk, he is quickly married off (as a result of his own edict) and finds himself paired with a woman who is bent on setting her new husband in line. He must find a way to adapt to his new uncomfortable lifestyle before his wife has him lynched. As the pampered prince slowly fits into his new role in the world, we see the person he is emerge and take affect on those around him who discover he was not the weak and incompetent man he originally seemed. We could not help but fall in love with this character as he struggled to overcome a new uncomfortable situation, learned to love, and grew into an even stronger and more compassionate prince. 

Chief Judge Han Se Sang

Miss Hammurabi

Judge Han (Sung Dong Il) quickly became our favorite character in Miss Hammurabi. He is a secondary main character so he also made our list of favorite side characters as well. He takes on the mentorship role of the drama. When he takes on two young judges to work alongside him he is reminded of the passions he had as a young judge. The drama gives us a view, not only of his life in the workplace, but also at home where he is a father to two young ladies. His love for them, and his growing fatherly affection for his new judges gives us a deep image of who he is. Generally calm, you will find him stepping up to the challenges and threats that face them as he becomes a force to be reckoned with. He puts his job on the line to do what is right and steps up to fight against the corrupt system that has a grip on those around them.

Jidwi/King Jinheung

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth

The faceless king, Jinheung (Park Hyung Sik), was our favorite character in the drama Hwarang. Hidden away as a child by his mother following the death of his father, he was virtually unknown to the people of Silla, except in name only. When he returns to take the throne that belongs to him he finds it held, in one hand, solidly in the grasp of his mother, and the other by the corrupted government officials. Powerless to reclaim what is his, he secretly enters his mother's Hwarang under the name of Jidwi. We learn early on his compassion for his people as he states his desire to be a king "who suffers so his people didn't have to." And also in his actions as a part of the Hwarang. We also see the side of the king that longs for acceptance, friendship and strength, and as he grows we see his willingness to give up his own desires for those he has come to care for. The more we learned about King Jinheung the more we loved him and we couldn't help but cheer him on in his journey to take his rightful place as king of Silla.

Seo Jung Hoo/Park Bong Soo/Healer

Healer

Healer originally gave us "The Saint" vibes, but quickly turned into something much deeper. An expert thief, Healer (Ji Chang Wook), finds himself wanted for a murder he didn't commit, set up by a man with a connection to his past. At first he appears to be a bit uncaring and job focused, but as we unpack the character of Healer we discover there is much more to him than originally seemed. As he takes on an undercover role as Park Bong Soo, he opens up a world that had been virtually unknown to him before. A world where he finds himself cared for and with a growing love and desire to protect the people close to him. There is something extremely heart melting about watching a guy who can kick some serious butt, and has lived a life of little to no affection suddenly receive that and realize what he had been missing. And in truth, what he had probably longed for unknowingly his whole life. His character and backstory were very dynamic and we could not help but love him. 

Jo Min Ja/Ajumma

Healer

Yes, we have two favorites from this drama. Our next favorite was the crazily amazing hacker, Jo Min Ja (Kim Mi Kyung), often called Ajumma. She was Healer's partner in crime. One could not do without the other. She at first is also a character we see as all business, but as the story unfolds we see glimpses of a woman who does care and has overtime grown a bit fond of Healer. We get to know her backstory as well, which I will not give away here. But, what made her stand out to us the most was her eccentric personality and all the fun and trouble she gave Healer. She sometimes reminded me of a little kid, and sometimes of a mother. But, whoever she was at the moment, we loved her, and wish we had someone like her in our lives to make it more fun and interesting. 

Park Shi On

Good Doctor

I don't think anyone could watch Good Doctor without falling in love with Park Shi On (Joo Won). Born with autism and savant syndrome the world was already set to work against him. But, even more than that, was the rough start to his life that left him without his biggest supporter, alone, and with a strong desire to give children the chance to become adults. He is a man with more obstacles to overcome than most, yet as he is knocked down again and again we see his strength as he gets up each time with his unfailing determination to fulfill his dream. He must change the thought process of an entire industry and prove that the labels and diagnosis applied to him aren't who he is. That who he is is a competent surgeon, with the compassion and supernatural ability to save lives. Our heart strings were pulled as we watched him endure harsh treatment, struggle with autistic tendencies, and mature into a man that is trusted by all. Easily a favorite character. (As a side note: This is the drama that inspired the American television series "The Good Doctor" that will be entering its 5th season this fall.)

Kim Hwa Geon

The Emperor: Owner of the Mask

Kim Hwa Geon (Yoon So Hee) was our favorite character in The Emperor: Owner of the Mask. Another one of our favorite side characters that made it on to our favorite character list. She was the granddaughter of the main villain. Yet, she was so very different. She wasn't like her evil grandfather or her weak father, but instead had a strength, determination and fearlessness that carried her through the story. We found her also to be the embodiment of selfless love and we could not help but have second lead syndrome with her. Time and time again she helps our main character, even going against her own evil family and risking her life to do so. Not to have him for herself, but to see him succeed and be happy. Her personality stood out against the main female leads vengeful and wavering love. She was a beautiful character inside and out. We easily found her to be one of our favorite female characters.

Dong Baek

Memorist

So far this is our favorite role that Yoo Seung Ho has played. The character of Dong Baek we found to be very unique. Born with a supernatural ability to read the memories of people (psychometrist), he naturally is led into the field of law. Particularly police detective work. Unfortunately, his methods come into question as being legitimate evidence, especially since he often acquires it without permission, and he faces removal from the force. When murders occur that seem to have connections to him and his past he pairs up with a young detective and goes against the authorities to find the truth. But, there is more at stake than just his job. We learn quickly that the gift that Dong Baek has is slowly killing him. This opens up a new dynamic to his character as we find, that his desire for justice and truth is stronger than his will to live. Or rather is stronger than his fear of death as he would willingly give himself up to find the truth and protect those around. him. It was impossible for us not to love the character of Dong Baek. An easy favorite of ours.

Do Hyun Soo

Flower of Evil

Do Hyun Soo, played by Lee Joon Gi, had the misfortune of being born to a serial killer. Suffering from childhood with mental illness he is automatically assumed to have been his father's accomplice. An event shortly following that time did not help that belief and he was forced to disappear. So we start the story roughly 20 years later with Do Hyun Soo successfully managing his mental illness with a nearly perfect life and hiding under the name of Baek Hee Sung. Happily married to a police detective, with a beautiful daughter, his life lacks nothing. However, when recent events tie back to his father the search for Do Hyun Soo resumes, with his detective wife leading the way. As a child, Do Hyun Soo was misdiagnosed as having anti-social personality disorder and so goes through life with the belief that he can not feel emotion, thus can not love. However, what he most likely had was something more similar to alexithymia. A condition where one can feel emotion but struggles to recognize what the emotion is. Hyun Soo has trained himself to recognize it in others, but still struggles to recognize the actual feeling in himself. Thus, the watcher can see the deep love he has for his wife and child, but Hyun Soo has not recognized it as such. However, as the story progresses and his wife and child are placed at risk he must face his character and decide for himself who he is. He was a unique character and one we grew quickly attached to.

Cha Dal Bong

What Happens to My Family?

At first we weren't sure about adding in Cha Dal Bong, played by Park Hyung Sik, as we weren't entirely sure why he stuck out to us so much. But, we have come to the conclusion that what made him such a special character to us was the fact that, in a way, he represents us all. Someone who tries and fails, and struggles to pick himself up, but still does. He compares himself to others... finds himself lacking. Don't we all in some way? I found him the most relatable character in What Happens to My Family. The youngest of three, he just couldn't measure up to his doctor brother, and successful secretary sister. But, his heart was good and kind. He had good intentions... messed up... apologized, cried... picked himself back up. Though he may not of have been as smart and successful, he surpassed his siblings in compassion and we spent the entire drama rooting for him, excited for his successes, and brokenhearted when he failed. He was an easy favorite in the drama and his character stuck in our hearts long after. 

And there you have it for now. Once we have more dramas under our belt we may do a part two as I am sure we will have more special characters to add.

Who are some of your favorite characters?

안녕! - 진선앟