Kim Hye-yoon’s 8 Best K-Dramas (Including Lovely Runner) (2024)

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Kim Hye-yoon’s 8 Best K-Dramas (Including Lovely Runner) (1)

By Georgia Davis

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Kim Hye-yoon’s 8 Best K-Dramas (Including Lovely Runner) (5)

​​​​​The success of Lovely Runner has seen Kim Hye-yoon become one of 2024's biggest K-drama stars, but her character in the time-travel series is far from her only praiseworthy role. Kim Hye-yoon's career began in 2013 as she took on a minor part as the teenage version of actress Ko Do-young in the TV novel Samsaengi. For years, she continued to take on small roles in some of the best K-dramas of all time, including Goblin and The Legend of the Blue Sea, before beating 200 other actresses to play Kang Ye-seo in SKY Castle.

Kim Hye-yoon has only had a few leading roles in K-dramas, but her talent is unquestionable. She has been continually praised for the nuances she adds to her performances and the infectious charisma that often protrudes from her best-known characters. She recently gained a lot of critical acclaim for her performance in the mystery movie, The Girl on the Bulldozer. Kim Hye-yoon won both the Grand Bell and Blue Dragon Awards for Best New Actress for her work. Now, as the star of one of 2024’s best K-dramas, Kim Hye-yoon's future K-drama career looks all the more promising thanks to her past efforts.

8 Man in the Kitchen

Jung Soo-ji

Starring Choi Soo-young of Girls Generation, On Joo-wan, and Seo Hyo-rim, Man in the Kitchen is a Korean television series that delves into themes of family and love. Over its 80 episodes, Man in the Kitchen, which is also known literally as Man Who Sets the Table, makes room for several rookie and upcoming actors to show their abilities. Some of the most notable actors to come from the series are one of Netflix's biggest K-drama stars, Song Kang, as well as one of 2024's most popular actors, Kim Hye-yoon.

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3

Due to the nature of her role, there isn't much for Kim Hye-yoon to develop her character. Despite this, she makes a strong effort to show just some of what she is capable of as an actress. Jung Soo-ji is a mysterious character who is resentful after her sister is imprisoned for embezzlement, leaving her to cause issues for the main cast members. Kim Hye-yoon gives a detailed performance as Soo-ji's conflicting interests and emotions bubble to the surface, even though she does not have much time on screen.

7 Bad Guys

Oh Ji-yeon

Kim Hye-yoon’s 8 Best K-Dramas (Including Lovely Runner) (7)

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8.5/10

Bad Guys

TV-MA

Bad Guys is a South Korean television series that unfolds the story of a unique crime-fighting team assembled by Detective Oh Goo-tak (Kim Sang-joong), comprising jailed criminals released to capture dangerous fugitives. The team includes a serial killer, a gang boss, and a contract killer, each motivated by personal reasons. This intense, action-packed drama explores themes of justice and morality.

Cast
Kim Sang-jung , Ma Dong-seok , Park Hae-jin , Cho Dong-hyuk , Kang Ye-won , Kim Seong-hoon , Kang Shin-il , Kim Tae-hoon

Release Date
October 10, 2014

Seasons
1

Bad Guys is a crime thriller that sees a disgraced cop team up with three convicts to hunt down a serial killer. Oh Gu-tak (Kim Sang-joong)'s temperament is just as bad as the criminals in his team, with the death of his daughter changing his outlook on the world. This moment is pivotal to the crime K-drama as Bad Guys shows glimpses of Gu-tak's life leading up to his daughter's death. Kim Hye-yoon plays the role of Gu-tak's daughter, Ji-yeon, and leaves a lasting impression despite her minor role.

Despite only being a teenager herself at the time, Kim Hye-yoon's approach to her character is full of understanding. Ji-yeon has a bright, youthful energy, but the deeper sadness lurking beneath the surface of her character makes her feel fully realized. These nuances have a deep impact on the series as Ji-yeon is eventually murdered. Without such a detailed performance, the fuel for Gu-tak's violent personality certainly would have fallen flat. Thankfully, Kim Hye-yoon uses her short screen time to make a clear mark on Bad Guys.

6 Cleaning Up

Ha Joo-hyun

Based on the British TV show of the same name, Cleaning Up follows the story of three cleaners who resort to insider trading to support their families during harsh financial times. Kim Hye-yoon reunites with her SKY Castle mother, Uhm Jung-hwa, to deliver an extended multi-episode cameo in the series as a resentful job-seeker, Ha Joo-hyun. Though her appearance is brief, Kim Hye-yoon demonstrates just how well she can capture a scene, even just for a moment.

The limited capacity of Kim Hye-yoon’s role makes it one that lacks the same impact as others in the actress’s career.

As Ha Joo-hyun, Kim Hye-yoon combines the bright, infectious energy she has become known for with a harsh, cutting resentment that her character feels. As with many of her works, her performance is treated with care and understanding, resulting in a great addition to the Korean remake. While it is great to see Uhm Jung-hwa and Kim Hye-yoon reunite on screen again, the limited capacity of Kim Hye-yoon’s role makes it one that lacks the same impact as other roles in the actress’s career.

5 Secret Royal Inspector & Joy

Kim Joy

Secret Royal Inspector & Joy sees Kim Hye-yoon doing what she does best. Alongside K-pop star turned K-drama actor Ok Taecyeon, Kim Hye-yoon exemplifies the show's lighthearted tone by creating a story that feels like a breeze to watch. The actress takes on the titular role of Kim Joy, who teams with Inspector Ra Yi-eon in a unique historical twist on a procedural K-drama series. Her character's mature and upbeat attitude gives the series a unique charm that's hard not to love.

Kim Hye-yoon and Taecyeon are a delight to watch together. They have a fiery chemistry as the leading couple, which is only enhanced by their fantastic comedic timing. Joy's headstrong approach to life adds a new color to the historical K-drama and Kim Hye-yoon thrives in showcasing her character's forward-thinking approach to life. Though her role in Secret Royal Inspector & Joy is not as memorable as some of the other shows, Kim Hye-yoon proves that she is an exceptional comedian and a captivating leading lady in the series.

4 Snowdrop

Gye Bun-ok

Kim Hye-yoon’s 8 Best K-Dramas (Including Lovely Runner) (8)

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Snowdrop

TV-14

Set in 1987 Seoul, this drama unfolds as a wounded man seeks refuge in a women's university dormitory, aided by a student who once fell for him. As intense surveillance looms, secrets emerge, challenging loyalties and forging a path fraught with emotional and political tension.

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Cast
Jung Hae-in , Kim Jisoo , Yoo In-na , Jang Seung-jo , Yoon Se-a , Kim Hye-yoon , Jung Yoo-jin , Heo Joon-ho , Park Sung-woong , Kim Min-gue , Choi Hee-jin , Kim Jong-soo , Kim Jung-nan , Jeong Hye-young , Baek Ji-won , Lee Hwa-ryong , Jang In-sub , Jung Yi-seo , Ahn Dong-gu , Park Ye-ni , Jeon Jung-il , Jeong Sin-hye , Ariane Desgagnés-Leclerc , Kim Mi-su , Lee So-e

Release Date
December 18, 2021

Seasons
1

Kim Hye-yoon shows her range as an actress in Disney+'s first original K-drama, Snowdrop. Starring alongside Jung Hae-in, Blackpink's Jisoo and Yoo In-na, Kim Hye-yoon's Gye Bun-ok is crucial to the K-drama's tragic storyline. Her character's self-centered view of the world acts as fuel for chaos, with Bun-ok taking any opportunity to favor herself over the university students she so desperately wishes to be like. Although Bun-ok is one of the most infuriating characters in Snowdrop, Kim Hye-yoon's performance is remarkable.

There’s always a glimmer of humanity in Bun-ok, which is a real testament to Kim Hye-yoon’s acting skills.

The actress's colorful expressions make Bun-ok’s intentions seem clear, adding to Snowdrop’s building tensions as she engages in some less-than-moral behavior. Yet, Kim Hye-yoon has a deep and sensitive understanding of her character, ensuring she is not reduced to a one-dimensional villain. Bun-ok is a victim of the class system and only wishes for the things she never got due to her birth. As such, there’s always a glimmer of humanity in Bun-ok, which is a real testament to Kim Hye-yoon’s acting skills.

3 SKY Castle

Kang Ye-seo

Kim Hye-yoon’s 8 Best K-Dramas (Including Lovely Runner) (10)

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SKY Castle

SKY Castle is a South Korean television series that delves into the lives of four women living in a luxurious residential area. The series explores their relentless efforts to secure the highest academic achievements for their children, often at great personal cost. Through their ambitions and the pressure of societal expectations, SKY Castle provides a critical lens on education and family dynamics in South Korea.

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Cast
Yum Jung-ah , Lee Tae-ran , Oh Na-ra , Kim Seo-hyung , Yoon Se-ah

Release Date
November 23, 2018

Seasons
1

Writers
Kim Seo-hyung , Moon Bomi

In her breakout role, Kim Hye-yoon lays the groundwork for her career in the mainstream. SKY Castle takes a satirical look at the upper-class families of South Korea who will go to any length to ensure their family's academic and professional success. The psychological K-drama's achievements are unfounded, with its intelligent script full of thrilling twists and social criticism making room for exceptional performances from cast members, including Kim Hye-yoon.

SKY Castle is one of the most-watched K-dramas on cable TV of all time with a viewership of 23.8%, sitting in first place at the time of airing. It now sits in fourth place, following Queen of Tears (24.8%), Reborn Rich (26.9%), and The World of the Married (28.4%).

Kim Hye-yoon is an excellent addition to Disney+'s ensemble K-drama. Her passion for acting is evident in every scene and matches well with the fiercely competitive and conniving nature of the series. As the high school student Kang Ye-seo, Kim Hye-yoon delivers a varied and compelling performance that largely contributes to SKY Castle’s domination as one of the most notable K-dramas in history. Kim Hye-yoon won Best New Actress at the 2019 Baeksang Awards for her commitment to her role, which is easily one of the best in her career so far.

2 Extraordinary You

Eun Dan-oh

Kim Hye-yoon’s 8 Best K-Dramas (Including Lovely Runner) (12)

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10/10

Extraordinary You

Eun Dan-oh, a high school student, makes the shocking discovery that she is a character in a comic book, with her life and destiny controlled by the unseen author. Determined to break free from her scripted existence, she teams up with Number 13, a mysterious classmate who shares her awareness of their situation. Together, they embark on a quest to rewrite their fates, challenging the boundaries of their fictional world and confronting the emotional complexities of seeking autonomy in a predetermined reality.

Cast
Kim Hye-yoon , Rowoon , Lee Jae-wook , Lee Na-eun , Jung Gun-joo , Kim Young-dae , Lee Tae-ri

Release Date
October 2, 2019

Seasons
1

Extraordinary You is one of the best K-dramas of all time, with Kim Hye-yoon's performance as Eun Dan-oh being a large factor in the series' success. Even though Eun Dan-oh is her first ever leading role in a K-drama, Kim Hye-yoon is confident and assured. She delivers an exceptional performance full of charismatic charm, making it hard not to fall in love with Eun Dan-oh and her determination to change her fate. Her performance is so memorable that she even reprises her role as Eun Dan-oh in True Beauty, resulting in one of the best K-drama cameos ever.

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New High School K-Drama Is The Perfect Follow-Up To Kim Hye-yoon’s Extraordinary You

Five years after Kim Hye-yoon first took on a leading role in Extraordinary You, her latest K-drama mirrors and builds upon her role as Eun Dan-oh.

Like many romantic comedies, Extraordinary You is full of clichés. However, much like the webtoon the K-drama is based on, it thrives because of them. The unique storyline makes characters such as Dan-oh bounce off the screen. It also allows Kim Hye-yoon and Rowoon's chemistry to flourish. Dan-oh and Ha-ru's romance is one of the defining features of Extraordinary You, with the duo's performance giving the sweet relationship all the tools it needs to be a deeply captivating addition to their filmographies.

1 Lovely Runner

Im Sol

Kim Hye-yoon’s 8 Best K-Dramas (Including Lovely Runner) (14)

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9.8/10

Lovely Runner

Lovely Runner is a TV series that follows the story of a young athlete who rises to fame in the world of track and field. As the protagonist navigates the highs and lows of competitive sports, the series explores themes of perseverance, sacrifice, and personal growth.

Cast
Byeon Woo-seok , Kim Hye-yoon , Song Geon-hee , Lee Seung-hyub

Release Date
April 8, 2024

Creator(s)
Kim Bbang

The success of Lovely Runner is one of the biggest surprises of 2024.Lovely Runner's shallow premise is off-putting at first glance, with the story focusing on an avid K-pop fan traveling back in time to save her favorite K-pop idol from an untimely death. However, Lovely Runner proves itself to be much more than that, largely thanks to the performances given by Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok. Together, the duo helps to craft a beautiful romance that already feels timeless.

Kim Hye-yoon's charisma in Lovely Runner is infectious and Im Sol's boundless energy makes every episode a joy to watch. The actress is responsible for delivering some of the show's funniest scenes, consistently demonstrating her talent for comedy. Kim Hye-yoon also excels when delivering the darker parts of Sol's life. In the opening scene, Sol's fierce devastation flips Lovely Runner's romantic-comedy theme on its head in a thoroughly memorable introduction. As such, Lovely Runner is easily Kim Hye-yoon's best K-drama to date.

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