Our favorite Korean drama stars give us a roller-coaster ride of emotions with their acting skills. But did you know that some of them were initially known as K-Pop idols? Most of them were either in girl or boy groups, while a few were solo acts who headlined as singers. A lot of these idols-slash-actors that have become huge names in the Korean entertainment world because of their versatility.
Here are K-Pop stars who transitioned into the world of K-Dramas:
Bae Suzy from Miss A
If you've been watching K-Dramas for a long time, you've probably seen Bae Suzy in Dream High (2011), where she played a student who aspired to be an idol. She probably applied a lot of her real-life experiences in the drama since she started as part of the group miss A under the entertainment agency, JYP Entertainment.
One of her notable acting projects was playing lead star in Uncontrollably Fond (2016) with Kim Woo Bin. She recently starred in While You Were Sleeping (2017) with Lee Jong Suk. In March 2019, Bae left JYP Entertainment and signed with acting agency Management SOOP. She stars in Vagabond, her upcoming Netflix drama with Lee Seung Gi, in September 2019.
Lee Hyeri from Girl's Day
Lee Hyeri debuted as the youngest member of Girl's Day under Dream T Entertainment. The group was active from 2010 to 2016, took an almost two-year hiatus, made a comeback in 2017, but ended up disbanding in January 2019.
In 2012, Lee made her acting debut and proceeded to take on some minor roles in various TV series. Then came her big break in the drama Reply 1988 (2015) starring opposite Ryu Jun Yeol and Park Bo Gum. Recently, she starred in Entertainer (2016) and Two Cops (2017), and her new drama Miss Lee is set to premiere in September 2019.
IU
After 20 auditions (and failing all of them!) and even getting scammed by fake entertainment agencies pre-debut, IU (whose real name is Lee Ji Eun) first trained to be in a girl group. However, she eventually made a solo debut as a singer under her agency, LOEN Entertainment.
As if four studio albums weren't enough to keep her busy (she even wrote some of her own lyrics), she starred in various dramas, too. She was in Dream High (2011) and The Producers (2015), and was then cast as the lead actress in the international hit Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016). Her most recent projects are My Mister (2018), Persona (2019), and the ongoing drama Hotel Del Luna (2019).
The girls from SNSD
The members of SNSD (or Girls' Generation) had diverse roots before becoming SM Entertainment trainees and talents, but all of them were determined to break through with their singing and dancing skills. Eventually, they formed a group that would be one of the biggest acts in South Korea.
Their international concerts, Korean and Japanese album recordings, reality shows, and guest appearances were enough to keep the girls busy. But some members still pursued their passion for acting. Right now, not everyone in the group is signed under SM Entertainment, but they haven't disbanded yet. They're focusing on their solo careers, and some members have been cast as leads in K-Dramas like Yoona in The K2 (2016), Sooyoung in Squad 38 (2016), Seohyun in Time (2018), and Yuri in Innocent Defendant (2017).
Seo In Guk
This mysterious-looking guy's claim to fame was when he won the first season of Superstar K, a singing contest on cable TV music channel Mnet in 2009. After that, Seo In Guk recorded local chart-topping singles and released multiple albums.
In 2012, he made his acting debut with a supporting role and later on starred in the first installment of the nostalgic hit series Reply. After his appearance in Reply 1997, he appeared in various dramas like Master's Sun (2013) with So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo Jin, Hello Monster (2015) with Jang Na Ra, Choi Won Young, and Park Bo Gum, and Squad 38 (2016) with SNSD's Sooyoung. Most recently, he starred opposite Jung So Min in the drama The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018).
Yook Sung Jae from BtoB
Did you know that this charming guy is actually the vocalist of his K-Pop group? Until recently, BtoB had been active in producing albums and singles under their label, Cube Entertainment. They've also done several concerts up until 2018. However, the military enlistment of some members forced the group to have a temporary hiatus, and Yook shined in various K-Drama roles.
During his early acting career, he played a minor role in Reply 1994 (2013) with Go Ara and Jung Woo. He got his break as the leading man in Who Are You: School 2015 with Kim So Hyun and Nam Joo Hyuk. If you've stuck to mainstream K-Dramas, though, you probably know him as Deok Hwa, the adorable heir who calls Gong Yoo his uncle in Goblin (2016).
D.O. from EXO
It's quite impossible for a K-Pop fan in the Philippines not to know the boy band EXO. Even if they're not the main group you idolize, you've surely heard of them or their hit songs. Since they debuted in 2013, EXO has been a top talent at SM Entertainment and has become a global K-Pop sensation.
While a few of the members have made acting debuts, too, D.O. (or Do Kyung Soo) has made a name for himself as a K-Drama actor. He has even been cast in the box-office hit films like Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) and Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018). When it comes to TV dramas, he has starred with Jo In Sung and Gong Hyo Jin in It's Okay, That's Love (2014), Hello Monster (2015), and Be Positive (2016). Most recently, he starred as the lead in 100 Days My Prince (2018), along with Nam Ji Hyun.
Park Hyung Sik from ZE:A
Park Hyung Sik debuted back in 2010 as part of the nine-member boy group ZE:A under Star Empire Entertainment. During this time, his schedule was packed with both K-Pop idol duties and acting stints. Although ZE:A has not officially disbanded, some members have already joined different agencies and are focusing on their solo careers.
The youthful Park has starred in various dramas. He has played chaebol son roles in The Heirs (2013), High Society (2015), and Hwarang (2016). Before he enlisted in the military in 2019, one of his latest projects was the Korean remake of Suits (2018). Of course, his most notable role is still as fresh-faced Min Min with Park Bo Young in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017).
Krystal Jung from f(x)
The younger sister to former SNSD's member Jessica Jung, Krystal Jung is also part of an idol group under SM Entertainment. A dancer and singer in one, Jung's icy features has also landed her magazine shoots, modelling contracts, and supporting roles in dramas like The Heirs (2013) and High Kick 3: Revenge of the Short Legged (2011).
f(x) is on an indefinite hiatus and currently has three members. In that time, she has gone on to star as a water goddess in The Bride of Habaek (2017), a medic in Prison Playbook (2018), and an aspiring singer and songwriter in My Lovely Girl (2014).
Uee from After School
This versatile actress actually has roots in the idol world as she debuted as a member of After School in 2009 under Pledis Entertainment. In that same year, she went on to play minor characters in Queen Seondeok and You're Beautiful. She also had cameo appearances in My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox (2009) and All My Love (2011).
Uee later went on to star in lead role as a single mother in Marriage Contract (2016). In 2017, Uee graduated from After School and left Pledis Entertainment for King Entertainment to focus on her acting career. She has recently starred as Kang Soo Jin in Manhole (2017), as a poor woman struggling to sustain herself in Nightlight (2017), and as a freelance TV producer in My Contracted Husband, Mr. Oh (2018).