In art, there are two familiar roads to creating a modern-day classic: Either one does a virtuoso version of a standard, such as playing the second lead in an unforgettable way, or one does a brilliant reinvention, such as taking a beloved film role and making it distinctively your own.
So what do we make of Kim Seon-ho, an actor who has done both, and more?
Before most of us met him as the memorable Han Ji-pyeong of Start-up, Kim Seon-ho had long enjoyed a decent fan following as a theater actor and a resident cast member of the K-variety show 2 Days, 1 Night. He paid his dues in supporting roles in 2017’s Good Manager and Strongest Deliveryman and in 2018’s 100 Days My Prince and Welcome to Waikiki 2.
But it wasn’t until his turn as the sardonic and brutally frank Han Ji-pyeong that the K-drama-loving public experienced some of the worst second-lead syndromes they didn't expect to have.
After breaking our hearts in Start-up, he was eager to heal them in the romcom juggernaut Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. As Chief Hong, fans got some of the Ji-pyeong snark, but Seon-ho now carefully laced his interpretation of the role with much more gentleness, romanticism, and inflammable chemistry. His performance as the beloved Gongjin handyman is one of the many reasons why “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” is one of the most globally watched K-dramas after “Squid Game,” clocking at an impressive 300 million views (and rewatches).
Strongest Deliveryman (2017)
Go Kyung-pyo leads this work drama as Choi Kang-soo, a humble and hardworking deliveryman who falls for Lee Dan-ah, another hardworking girl who is occupied with making money and has no time for love. They cross paths with Oh Jin-gyu, an immature heir played by Kim Seon-ho. As a wealthy and spoiled young man who has never faced real hardships, Jin-gyu starkly contrasts with the hardworking protagonist, Choi Kang-soo.
As the series progresses, Jin-gyu's character begins to evolve. After a series of personal and financial setbacks, he is forced to confront the realities of life outside of his privileged bubble. This humbling experience is pivotal for Jin-gyu, leading him to reassess his values and actions. He starts working as a deliveryman, which gives him a new perspective on life and allows him to develop meaningful relationships with people who live completely different lives than the one he was used to. He also falls for a woman who shares his lifestyle and vision, infusing the show with hilarity and absurdity.
Welcome to Waikiki (2019)
In the second season of “Welcome to Waikiki”(2019), Kim Seon-ho plays the role of Cha Woo-sik, a musician with big dreams but who struggles to make a name for himself in the competitive entertainment industry. Woo-sik is one of three main characters who run a guesthouse called Waikiki, along with his friends Kook Ki-bong (played by Shin Hyun-soo) and Lee Joon-ki (played by Lee Yi-kyung). The trio constantly faces hilarious challenges as they try to keep their guesthouse afloat while pursuing their individual ambitions.
Throughout the series, Woo-sik’s storyline is intertwined with moments of romantic tension and comedic mishaps. His interactions with the other characters, particularly in his budding romance with Han Soo-yeon (played by Moon Ga-young), add a layer of warmth and tenderness to the otherwise slapstick-heavy narrative. This role helped further establish Kim Seon-ho's reputation as a versatile actor capable of easily handling both comedy and drama.
Start-Up (2020)
It’s 2024. Have we gotten over our Start-Up Second Lead Syndrome yet? Probably never. In “Start-Up’ (2020), Kim Seon-ho breaks out as Han Ji-pyeong, a sharp and successful venture capitalist who becomes a central figure in the story's love triangle and business drama. He is known for his brilliant investment acumen and sharp tongue. Still, despite his tough exterior, Ji-pyeong has a profoundly emotional past that has shaped his outlook on life.
Han Ji-pyeong’s story begins with a connection to the female lead, Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy), from when they were very young. Ji-pyeong, who grew up in an orphanage, was helped by Dal-mi's grandmother. Out of gratitude, he ghostwrote letters to Dal-mi, pretending to be a boy named Nam Do-san, which comforted her during a difficult time. Years later, when Dal-mi enters Ji-pyeong’s venture firm, he becomes an unwitting mentor and guide to her team, known as Samsan Tech.
Throughout the series, Ji-pyeong's character is caught in a complex situation as he navigates his feelings for Dal-mi, who believes she has been in love with Do-san (played by Nam Joo-hyuk) all along. His unspoken love for Dal-mi and his reserved and often misunderstood personality add depth to the character and easily made him a fan favorite.
His journey from a lone, self-made man to someone who learns to open up and care for others is one of the most memorable arcs in “Start-Up.” This role significantly boosted Kim Seon-ho's popularity, solidifying his status as a leading actor in the Korean drama industry.
Hometown Cha-cha-cha (2021)
HONG BANGJANG! In 2021’s “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” Kim Seon-ho stars as Hong Du-sik, affectionately known as "Chief Hong" by the residents of the seaside village of Gongjin. A multi-talented, kind-hearted man who takes on various odd jobs around the village, he helps everyone with whatever they need. From fixing appliances to delivering groceries, he seems to be a jack-of-all-trades and is deeply beloved by the villagers for his generosity and willingness to help. But while he appears to be carefree and easygoing, there is a depth to him that hints at unresolved pain and regret.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha centers on the romantic relationship that develops between Du-sik and Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a), a dentist who moves to Gongjin from Seoul. Initially out of place in the small, tight-knit community, Hye-jin is gradually drawn to Du-sik’s warmth, kindness, and deep connection with the villagers. Their relationship starts with light-hearted banter and slowly evolves into a profound, supportive partnership, highlighting healing, love, and community themes.
The Childe (2023)
In the noir movie “The Childe” (2023), Kim Seon-ho takes on a strikingly different role from his previous characters, portraying an enigmatic and ruthless mercenary known only as the Nobleman The film, a suspenseful action thriller, centers around a young Korean-Filipino man named Marco (played by Kang Tae-joo), who is searching for his estranged father in South Korea to obtain money for his mother's medical treatment. However, Marco's journey turns dark when he becomes the target of several dangerous individuals, including the Nobleman.
Kim Seon-ho's character, the Nobleman, is a chilling antagonist with mysterious motives and a background shrouded in mystery for most of the film. Unlike his usual warm roles, the Nobleman is cold, calculating, and highly skilled in weaponry and combat. He relentlessly pursues Marco, displaying a mix of charm and menace that makes him a formidable foe. Despite his polished appearance, his violent and ruthless actions sharply contrast with his exterior. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the Nobleman has a deeper connection to the unfolding events, and his true intentions are slowly revealed.
Kim Seon-ho's portrayal of the Nobleman was an impressive departure from his usual roles. The role allowed Kim Seon-ho to explore a darker, more intense side, earning him praise for bringing a fresh interpretation to a villainous character. "The Childe" further solidified Kim Seon-ho's reputation as an actor capable of taking on a wide variety of roles and helped him cross over to the film industry.
The Tyrant (2024)
In Disney+’s latest four-episode thriller, “The Tyrant,” Kim Seon-ho leans deeper into his noir impulses as the inscrutable Director Choi Guk-jang. When the last vial of an unstable virus is lost, Choi will not rest until he gets his hands on it again. However, forces around him are equally interested in keeping the virus for themselves, and Choi—with his cigarettes and guns—must resort to drastic tactics to find it first, no matter the cost.
Kim Seon-ho remains proof that a great acting career is built on a few simple factors: hard work, unpretentiousness, striking good looks, and incredible talent. Despite his growing popularity, he is always quick to point out that he is the farthest thing from an overnight success. Ever the true thespian, he once told Esquire that his biggest goal was to simply become an actor “that people would want to work with again.” No one validated this desire more than the cast and crew of both Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and the movie The Childe, who bravely showed their support and affection for the actor despite certain circumstances.
Kim’s celebrity status is especially remarkable, given how his legions of fans have grown despite his self-imposed hiatus. To see that he has chosen to come back to the limelight and take the rather thorny route of working his way back -- first through a theater comeback and then slowly through fan meets and selected appearances -- has endeared him more to his own fans and made new ones as well. It seems the feeling has always been mutual, as he has often expressed how dumbfounded and grateful he has been for the wild and warm reception that has greeted him wherever he goes. So it is with great relief that Seon-ho has become one of the rare K-celebrities that has transcended his industry's notorious "cancel culture" and is poised to come out even stronger than before.
He made good on his promise of a comeback, making his film debut as a maverick villain in the noir "The Childe" and lining up a couple more K-dramas for 2024. Apparently, he did get his wish. People do want to work with him again. And see him again. And again.
It would seem that the blue-tinted world filled with guns, dark alleys, and blood splatter suited him so well that he returned to it, this time in the four-episode Disney+ thriller The Tyrant.
Whether he’s charming the socks off women as a romantic lead or shooting gangsters point-blank as a fast-growing noir favorite, Seon-ho has certainly defied the Hallyu odds. Now armed with new projects and a slew of product endorsements, it seems that he and his loyal army of "Seonhohadas" are set to tread on the "flowery path" that has once eluded them. And if he keeps playing his cards right, he may find out that he has forged a totally unique -- and a more infinitely interesting path -- to becoming a modern-day classic.
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