Jang Ki-yong seems to be "K-drama's Official Boyfriend" — not that we mind! From 2017's Go Back Couple to 2024's The Atypical Family, the tall and gorgeous stunner would seem to have played every sort of boyfriend role there is, and we aren't complaining.
Photo from HanCinema
Read more about "K-drama's Official Boyfriend."
Each day this week, let's check out his most notable k-dramas!
Go Back Couple (2017) | My Mister / My Ahjussi (2018) | Come and Hug Me (2018) | Search: WWW (2019) | My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021) | The Atypical Family (2024)
Go Back Couple (2017)
Available on Kocowa, Netflix, Viki, Viu (territories and periods vary)
Photo from KBS/HanCinema
Based on the Naver webtoon Do It One More Time (2016) by Hong Seung-pyo (Miti) and Kim Hye-yeon (Gugu), the 12-episode KBS2 rom-com has been tugging at viewers' heartstrings since it aired in 2017. It explores the 'what-ifs' of life as a married couple gets a magical chance to return to their youth and rediscover their love. Jang Ki-yong played the role of Jung Nam-gil, a popular handsome university student who unwittingly answers his junior Ma Jin-joo's (Jang Na-ra's) question: What if Jin-joo ends up with Nam-gil instead of her present-day husband Choi Ban-do (Son Ho-jun)? The popular k-drama bolstered Jang Ki-yong's image as a versatile actor capable of bringing depth to supporting roles. Him being in a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) uniform is just cherry on top!
My Mister / My Ahjussi (2018)
Available on AppleTV, Disney+, Netflix, Viki, Viu (territories and periods vary)
Photo from tvN/HanCinema
The poignant slice-of-life k-drama is a profound exploration of life's hardships and the unexpected friendships that help people cope with such adversities. Having won Baeksang Best Drama, the16-episode tvN series was not only popular but also critically acclaimed. Jang Ki-yong portrayed Lee Gwang-Il, a loan shark with a complicated past, whose nuanced performance showcased his ability to embody complex characters. His portrayal was so compelling that he won Best New Actor for his role at the APAN Star Awards.
Come and Hug Me (2018)
Available on Kocowa, Netflix, Viki, Viu (territories and periods vary)
Photo from MBC/HanCinema
Spanning 16 episodes, the emotional thriller from MBC tells a story of love and healing amidst a tragic past. Jang Ki-yong is Chae Do-jin, a boy who witnesses his father (Huh Joon-ho) kill the parents of his first love Han Jae-yi (Jin Ki-joo). He grows up to become a detective, graduating at the top of his class.
In his first lead role, he showcased his amazing chemistry with co-star Jin Ki-joo and his ability to handle emotionally charged roles. He eventually won a well-deserved Baeksang Best New Actor award.
Search: WWW (2019)
Available on AppleTV, Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, Viki, Viu (territories and periods vary)
Photo from tvN/HanCinema
In 16 episodes, the modern romance tvN series explores the competitive world of search engine companies. Jang Ki-yong charmed audiences as Park Mo-gun, a talented video game music composer and CEO who falls for Bae Ta-mi (Im Soo-jung), a competitive director who switches web portal companies. A break from Jang’s previous intense roles, Mo-gun is a fresh romantic character — assertive and eccentric yet endearing — marking a significant turning point in Jang’s career as a leading man in romantic dramas.
My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021)
Available on AppleTV, Netflix, Prime Video, Viki, Viu (territories and periods vary)
Photo from tvN/HanCinema
In his first fantasy rom-com, Jang Ki-yong portrayed Shin Woo-yeo, a 999-year-old gumiho (nine-tailed fox) who is about to achieve his dream of becoming human through a bead. One day, Woo-yeo encounters university student Lee Dam (Lee Hye-ri), who accidentally swallows his transforming bead. Since humans will die if the magical bead stays within them after a year, he and Lee Dam decide to live together until they figure something out. The 16-episode k-drama from tvN solidified Jang’s leading man status in the k-entertainment world.
The Atypical Family (2024)
Available on Netflix (territories and periods vary)
Photo from JTBC/HanCinema
The 12-episode fantasy-romance series captivates with its tale of a once-superpowered family grappling with modern life's challenges, leading to the loss of their abilities. Jang Ki-yong stars as Bok Gwi-ju, a man burdened by depression and alcoholism after his wife's death. This causes him to lose his ability to travel back in time to relive happy moments in his life. This role marked Jang's return to acting post-military service and his portrayal of fatherhood, adding depth to his acting repertoire and earning acclaim for his heartfelt performance. As of publishing, the 12-episode series ranked in the Netflix Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) for 5 weeks and Top 10 TV in 38 countries.
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