Kpop idols are popular around the world because of their excellent singing and dancing skills. However, their talents do not end there. Some of the idols have left their groups to pursue acting.
Several Kpop idols are actors too. They have been acting in many kdramas. Their acting is so good that you forget that they are idols. It is no doubt that these idols are great in acting & making the audience emotional.
Korean dramas are addicting. If you start to watch them, you can never leave them even if you try hard. Their storyline is good, the acting is excellent & OSTs are just!! You know them..
Korean Dramas Starring Kpop Idols
If you are looking or want to know some good to watch kdramas in which Kpop idols have acted, here is the massive list of 42 dramas starring kpop idols.
You will fall in love with their acting. These dramas have some of the best storylines & OSTs. So, get your popcorn & tissues ready because this is going to be an emotional ride.
Let’s get to the list..
Kim Myung Soo
Kim Myung Soo, known as L, his singing stage name, debuted as a member of the boy band INFINITE in 2010. Although he has left the company he will still be a member of INFINITE. He has acted in many good dramas.
1. Secret Royal Inspector
Set in the era of the Joseon dynasty the drama revolves around Sung Yi Gyum, a state examination top scorer who works in the administrative department of the government office. He is caught gambling is re-assigned as a secret royal inspector to investigate the corrupt public officials.
Cast –
- Kim Myung Soo as Sung Yi Gyum
- Kwon Na Ra as Hong Da In
- Lee Yi Kyung as Park Chun Sam
- Lee Tae Hwan as Sung Yi Beom
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – YouTube
2. Meow, the Secret Boy
Sol Ah’s life changes when she brings home a cat. Named Hong Jo, the cat can take human form. Hong Jo becomes exceptionally fond of her and goes to great pains to hide his human identity from her. Will Hong Jo manage to keep his identity a secret?
Cast –
- Kim Myung Soo as Sergei / Hong Jo
- Shin Ye Eun as Kim Sol Ah
- Seo Ji Hoon as Lee Jae Sun
- Yoon Ye Joo as Eun Ji Eun
No. Of Episodes – 24
Watch On – Viki
3. Angel’s Last Mission: Love
A talented ballerina suffers a devastating accident that leaves her blind. Dan is an optimistic, carefree angel who is always getting into trouble. To return to heaven he is given the seemingly impossible mission of finding true love for her but ends up falling for her himself.
Cast –
- Kim Myung Soo as Kim Dan / Yoo Sung Woo
- Shin Hae Sun as Lee Yeon Seo / Choi Sul Hee
- Lee Dong Gun as Ji Kang Woo
- Kim Bo Mi as Geum Ni Na
No. Of Episodes – 32
4. Miss Hammurabi
Park Cha Oh Reum is a newly appointed judge. She is always on the lookout for injustice and can profoundly empathize with others. Compared to her, Im Ba Reun is a cool-headed man of principle and he is displeased with her who is overly sympathetic when it comes to cases.
Cast –
- Go Ah Ra as Park Cha Oh Reum
- Kim Myung Soo as Im Ba Reun
- Sung Dong Il as Han Se Sang
- Ryu Deok Hwan as Jung Bo Wang
No. Of Episodes – 16
Bae Suzy
Bae Suzy debuted in the Chinese-Korean girl group “Miss A” under JYP Entertainment in 2010. In 2017, Miss A disbanded. Later, she began her career in acting & has been starred in popular dramas.
Also Read – Kdramas Starring Bae Suzy To Watch
5. Start-Up
Nam Do San is excellent with mathematics. He started the company ‘Samsan Tech’ two years ago, but the company is not doing well. Somehow, Nam Do San becomes Seo Dal Mi’s, first love. They cheer each other’s start and growth.
Cast –
- Bae Suzy as Seo Dal Mi
- Nam Joo Hyuk as Nam Do San
- Kim Seon Ho as Han Ji Pyung
- Kang Han Na as Won In Jae
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
6. Vagabond
Cha Dal Gun is a stuntman whose nephew dies in a plane crash. He comes to know that there is a huge scandal involving the government behind the plane crash & sets off to reveal the truth along with a NIS agent Go Hae Ri.
Cast –
- Lee Seung Gi as Cha Dal Gun
- Bae Suzy as Go Hae Ri
- Shin Sung Rok as Gi Tae Ung
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
7. While You Were Sleeping
Jae Chan, a prosecutor, decides to interfere in the course of events and ends up saving the lives of Hong Joo and Woo Tak. When the three of them start having dreams about one another, they realize that their lives are now somehow connected.
Cast –
- Bae Suzy as Nam Hong Ju
- Lee Jong Suk as Jung Jae Chan
- Jung Hae In as Han Woo Tak
- Lee Sang Yeob as Lee Yu Beom
No. Of Episodes – 32
Watch On – Viki
8. Uncontrollably Fond
When No Eul & Joon Young were children, they got separated and became heartbroken. When their paths cross again years later, Joon Young discovers that No Eul is now a very different person than he remembered. Will their past relationship revive?
Cast –
- Kim Woo Bin as Shin Joon Young
- Bae Suzy as No Eul
- Im Joo Hwan as Choi Ji Tae / Hyun Woo
- Im Ju Eun as Yoon Jung Eun
No. Of Episodes – 20
Im Yoon Ah
Im Yoon Ah, known as Yoona, is a member of the Korean girl group Girls’ Generation and is known as the center-girl, lead dancer, and sub-vocalist of the group. Yoona made her debut as a singer along with Girls’ Generation on August 5, 2007.
9. Hush
Hush is an office drama about newspaper reporters and their everyday struggles, problems, and ethical dilemmas. Jun Hyeok is a veteran reporter for a newspaper. Ji Su is a bold intern reporter. When she meets Jun Hyeok as her mentor, she dreams of becoming a true journalist.
Cast –
- Hwang Jung Min as Han Joon Hyuk
- Im Yoon Ah as Lee Ji Soo
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Free Streaming Sites
10. The King In Love
Wang Won is a crown prince of Goryeo. He is best friends with Wang Rin who comes from a royal family and is his bodyguard. Eun San who is the daughter of the richest man appears. The three become good friends, but things change after they both fall in love with Eun San.
Cast –
- Im Shi Wan as Wang Won
- Im Yoon Ah as Eun San
- Hong Jong Hyun as Wang Rin
No. Of Episodes – 40
Watch On – Viki
11. The K2
Kim Je Ha is a former mercenary soldier known as “K2” who is wrongfully accused of killing his girlfriend. He is hired as a bodyguard by Yoo Jin, the wife of a presidential candidate. Meanwhile, An Na is the secret daughter of the president. They begin to develop feelings for each other.
Cast –
- Ji Chang Wook as Kim Je Ha / K2
- Im Yoon Ah as Go An Na
- Song Yoon Ah as Choi Yoo Jin
- Jo Sung Ha as Jang Se Joon
No. Of Episodes – 16
12. Love Rain
Seo In Ha and Kim Yoon Hee fall in an ill-fated love with each other during college in the 70s. In the present day, their kids fall in love. The children are completely different from their parents in personality, but fate pulls them together.
Cast –
- Jang Geun Suk as Seo In Ha / Seo Jun
- Im Yoon Ah as Kim Yoon Hee / Jung Ha Na
- Kim Shi Hoo as Lee Dong Wook / Sun Ho
No. Of Episodes – 20
Watch On – Viki
Ok Taec Yeon
Ok Taec Yeon is the main rapper in the Korean boy group, 2PM. In 2010, he made his acting debut in the Korean drama Cinderella’s Sister. Since then, he has starred in many good dramas.
13. The Game: Towards Zero
Tae Pyung can see the moments right before the death by looking into someone’s eyes. One day, a girl is kidnapped. While helping the police with the investigation, he meets Joon Young, a crime division detective, whose death he can’t foresee.
Cast –
- Ok Taec Yeon as Kim Tae Pyung / Jason
- Lee Yun Hee as Seo Joon Young
- Im Joo Hwan as Goo Do Kyung
No. Of Episodes – 32
Watch On – Viki
14. Save Me
Sang Mi and her family move to Muji Gun where they have no friends or relatives. There she meets four boys. When her family faces some trouble, the Spiritual Father of Goosunwon offers to help them. However, her family is slowly gets sucked into the pseudo-religious cult and the four boys try to save her.
Cast –
- Seo Ye Ji as Im Sang Mi
- Ok Taec Yeon as Han Sang Hwan
- Woo Do Hwan as Seok Dong Chul
- Jo Sung Ha as Baek Jung Ki
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
15. Bring It On, Ghost
Hyun Ji studied for most of her life before she died at the age of 19. She is now a ghost and has wandered around the world for several years. She then meets Bong Pal, an exorcist college boy. They both listen to various stories from ghosts and sends them to the otherworld.
Cast –
- Ok Taec Yeon as Park Bong Pal
- Kim So Hyun as Kim Hyun Ji
- Kwon Yool as Joo Hye Sung
No. Of Episodes – 16
16. Who Are You
Shi On, a woman who can see spirits after waking up from a 6-year long coma meets Gun Woo, a man who only believes in solid evidence. They come to understand each other as they try to help the spirits attached to objects at a lost-and-found center rest in peace.
Cast –
- So Yi Hyun as Yang Shi On
- Ok Taec Yeon as Cha Gun Woo
- Kim Jae Wook as Lee Hyung Joon
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Free Streaming Sites
Cha Eun Woo
Cha Eun Woo (born Lee Dong Min) is a member of the boy group ‘ASTRO’. In 2016, he debuted as a member of ASTRO. He has been starred in various kdramas that made him popular.
17. True Beauty
A high school girl Ju Gyeong rises to pretty girl fame after she masters the art of make-up. She turns into a goddess because of her makeup skills, but would rather die than reveal her bare face to anyone. The drama tells her love story with the only boy that saw her without makeup, Su Ho.
Cast –
- Moon Ga Young as Lim Joo Gyung / Joo Bal
- Cha Eun Woo as Lee Su Ho
- Hwang In Yeop as Han Seo Jun
- Park Yoo Na as Kang Soo Jin
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
18. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
Set in the early 19th century, Goo Hae Ryung works as a historian. Female historians are generally looked down upon because of their gender. Along with the fight of the female palace historians, the drama will tell her romance with Prince Yi Rim who has a secret of his own.
Cast –
- Shin Se Kyung as Goo Hae Ryung / Hui Yeon
- Cha Eun Woo as Prince Yi Rim / Maehwa
- Lee Ji Hoon as Min Woo Won
- Park Ki Woong as Yi Jin
No. Of Episodes – 40
Watch On – Netflix
19. My ID is Gangnam Beauty
Mi Rae, once bullied for her looks, decides to get plastic surgery to start fresh. When she begins university, people still tease her as Gangnam Beauty. She meets Kyung Suk, who sees people for what they are on the inside and not the outside. He becomes attracted to her.
Cast –
- Im Soo Hyang as Kang Mi Rae
- Cha Eun Woo as Do Kyung Suk
- Jo Woo Ri as Hyun Soo Ah
- Kwak Dong Yeon as Yeon Woo Young
No. Of Episodes – 16
Choi Soo Young
Choi Soo Young is a member of the girl group Girls’ Generation. Soo Young eventually became a member of the girl group Girls’ Generation in 2007. She has also acted in a lot of Korean dramas.
20. So I Married The Anti-Fan
Hoo Joon is a top star and Geun Young is a magazine reporter who gets fired. She is approached for a TV show. Joon is also offered the same show. When filming begins, they try to give each other a hard time on set, only to fall head over heels for one another.
Cast –
- Choi Tae Joon as Hoo Joon
- Choi Soo Young as Lee Geun Young
- Hwang Chan Sung as JJ / Choi Jae Joon
- Han Ji An as Oh In Hyung
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
21. Run On
The drama tells the love story of Seon Gyeom, a former sprinter who is working to become a sports agent, and Mi Joo, a subtitle translator. Dan Ah is the CEO of a sports agency. Young Hwa, a university art major who enjoys movies and drawing soon enters her life.
Cast –
- Im Shi Wan (ZE:A) as Ki Seon Gyeom
- Shin Se Kyung as Oh Mi Joo
- Choi Soo Young as Seo Dan Ah
- Kang Tae Oh as Lee Young Hwa
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
22. Tell Me What You Saw
Hyun Jae used to be a top criminal profiler. He gets vanished after his fiance’s death. Meanwhile, Soo Young is a police officer in the countryside. She is selected as a rookie detective who will partner with Hyun Jae informally. Together they work to solve cases.
Cast –
- Jang Hyuk as Oh Hyun Jae
- Choi Soo Young as Cha Soo Young
- Jin Seo Yun as Hwang Hwa Young
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
23. My Spring Days
Bom Yi was once a terminally ill patient, but she’s been given a second chance at life after getting a heart transplant. She meets Dong Ha, a widower with two children who lost his wife to an accident. She falls for him, not knowing that her donor was his wife.
Cast –
- Kam Woo Sung as Kang Dong Ha
- Choi Soo Young as Lee Bom Yi
- Lee Joon Hyuk as Kang Dong Wook
- Jang Shin Young as Bae Ji Won
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
24. Dating Agency: Cyrano
Min Yeong works as a dating agent. She risks getting into trouble as she plans a date between a higher rank woman & a low-level class client. All seems to go according to plan until Byun Hoon, the leader of another agency, is trying to do the same with his client.
Cast –
- Choi Soo Young as Gong Min Young
- Lee Jong Hyuk as Seo Byung Hoon
- Lee Chun Hee as Cha Seung Pyo
- Hong Jong Hyun as Moo Jin
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Free Streaming Sites
Lee Ji Eun (IU)
Lee Ji Eun, known by her stage name IU debuted on Mnet M! Countdown on September 18, 2008, with her debut single “Lost Child”. She debuted as an actress by playing a supporting role in the teen series Dream High.
Also Read – Korean Dramas Starring IU
25. Hotel Del Luna
Hotel del Luna is the eponymous hotel located in the middle of Seoul, which serves to ghosts only. Jang Man Wol is a beautiful but ill-tempered CEO who is cursed to manage the hotel due to a terrible crime she committed, but cannot remember.
Cast –
- IU as Jang Man Wol
- Yeo Jin Goo as Goo Chan Sung
- Shin Jung Keun as Kim Sun Bi
- Bae Hae Seon as Choi Seo Hee
No. Of Episodes – 16
26. My Mister
The drama tells the story of three middle-aged brothers, who are enduring the weight of their lives, and a strong, cold woman, who has been living a hard life of her own, as they come together in healing each other’s past scars.
Cast –
- Lee Sun Kyun as Park Dong Hoon
- IU as Lee Ji Ahn
- Park Ho San as Park Sang Hoon
- Song Sae Byuk as Park Gi Hoon
No. Of Episodes – 16
27. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
When a total eclipse of the sun takes place, Ha Jin is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty. She soon befriends several of the princes and meets the 4th Prince, Wang So. She finds herself caught up in palace politics and the rivalry among the princes as they fight for the throne.
Cast –
- Lee Joon Gi as Wang So
- IU as Go Ha Jin / Hae Soo
- Kang Ha Neul as Wang Wook
- Hong Jong Hyun as Wang Yo
No. Of Episodes – 20
Watch On – Free Streaming Sites
Lee Hye Ri
Lee Hye Ri is a member of the girl group “Girl’s Day”. Her solo career started in 2012, Hyeri was in the cast for an SBS weekend drama Father and Daughter. She has acted in various dramas that gained her popularity.
28. My Roommate is a Gumiho
To become a human, a 999-year-old Gumiho, Woo Yeo needs to fill his fox bead with human energy before he turns 1,000 years old. One day, a college girl, Lee Dam accidentally swallows his fox bead. He suggests that they should live together until they figure out a solution.
Cast –
- Jang Ki Yong as Shin Woo Yeo
- Lee Hye Ri as Lee Dam
- Kang Han Na as Yang Hye Sun
- Kim Do Wan as Do Jae Jin
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
29. Miss Lee
Seon Shim, an ordinary employee is suddenly promoted to become the CEO of the small company Cheongil Electronics. Jin Wook, the department head at Cheongil Electronics, finds his passion reignited after Seon Shim becomes CEO, and he helps her to grow as a CEO.
Cast –
- Lee Hye Ri as Lee Sun Shim / Miss Lee
- Kim Sang Kyung as Yoo Jin Wook
- Cha Seo Won as Park Do Joon
- Uhm Hyun Kyung as Goo Ji Na
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Free Streaming Sites
30. Two Cops
Detective Dong Tak is feared among criminals for showing no mercy. One day, his body is taken over by a con artist called Soo Chang who is quite clever. Now Dong Tak has to share his body with a criminal. He then falls in love with a rookie reporter.
Cast –
Jo Jung Suk as Cha Dong Tak
Lee Hye Ri as Song Ji Ahn
Kim Seon Ho as Kong Soo Chang
No. Of Episodes – 32
Watch On – Viki
31. Reply 1988
The drama follows the lives of 5 families living on the same street in a neighborhood in 1988. As the group of friends experiences troubles, what experiences from these memorable times together will they carry with them into their future lives?
Cast –
- Lee Hye Ri as Sung Deok Sun / Sung Soo Yeon
- Go Kyung Pyo as Sung Sun Woo
- Ryu Joon Yeol as Kim Jung Hwan
- Park Bo Gum as Choi Taek
No. Of Episodes – 20
32. Seonam Girls High School Investigators
Five students at the Seonam Girls’ High School, Ahn Chae Yool, Yoon Mi Do, Lee Yee Hee, Kim Ha Jae, Choi Sung Yoon form a detective club and set out to solve mysteries around them, some involving bullying, abortion, and suicide.
Cast –
- Lee Hye Ri as Lee Ye Hee
- Jin Ji Hee as Ahn Chae Yool
- Kang Min Ah as Yoon Mi Do
- Stephanie Lee as Choi Sung Yoon
- Lee Min Ji as Kim Ha Jae
No. Of Episodes – 14
Watch On – Viki
Lee Jun Ho
Lee Jun Ho, better known as Jun Ho, is a member of the Korean boy band 2PM. In 2013, Junho debuted as an actor in the Korean movie Cold Eyes. Later, he acted in many good movies & dramas.
33. Confession
When Do Hyun was a boy, he had a heart disease. He spent most of his childhood in a hospital. He miraculously had a chance for a heart transplant. Right after the heart transplant, his father was accused of murder. To investigate his father’s case, he now works as a lawyer.
Cast –
- Lee Jun Ho as Choi Do Hyun
- Shin Hyun Bin as Ha Yoo Ri
- Yoo Jae Myung as Gi Chun Ho
- Nam Ki Ae as Madame Jin
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Free Streaming Sites
34. Work Of Love
Seo Poong, a chef goes from being a star chef one day to the cook at a failing neighborhood Chinese restaurant. Sae Woo is a young woman who had a wealthy father. Her father was arrested on her wedding day. She is now poor. She begins working at the Chinese restaurant newly opened by Seo Poong.
Cast –
- Lee Jun Ho as Seo Poong
- Jang Hyuk as Doo Chil Sung
- Jung Ryeo Won as Dan Sae Woo
No. Of Episodes – 38
35. Just Between Lovers
Three young people who each lost a loved one in the same building collapse attempt to navigate their relationships through the pain of the tragedy while helping to construct a replacement building. Together they move forward and find a new will to live and embrace the future.
Cast –
- Lee Jun Ho as Lee Kang Doo
- Won Jin Ah as Ha Moon Soo
- Lee Ki Woo as Seo Joo Won
- Kang Han Na as Jung Yoo Jin
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
36. Red Sleeve Cuff
A historical drama that tells the romance of a royal court between Sung Deok Im, a court lady who wants to protect the life she chose and Yi San, an emperor who believes his duty is to his country first above love.
Cast –
- Lee Jun Ho as Yi San / King Jung Jo
- Lee Se Young as Sung Deok Im
- Kang Hoon as Hong Deok Ro
- Lee Deok Hwa as King Young Jo
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
Now, the list will comprise of dramas featuring multiple kpop idols & kpop idols who acted in few dramas.
37. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
Do Bong Soon is an unemployed girl who has superhuman powers. Later, she is hired by a CEO as his bodyguard. As they get closer, they find their relationship going farther than that of work. They also get involved with a killer.
Cast –
- Park Bo Young as Do Bong Soon
- Park Hyung Sik (ZE:A) as Ahn Min Hyuk
- Ji Soo as In Gook Doo
No. Of Episodes – 16
38. Rich Man
Yoo Chan is the CEO of the IT company Next In. He suffers from a condition where he can’t recognize faces, and this makes him very guarded. Bo Ra came to Seoul to attend college. With her imminent graduation, her dream is to work for Next In. When they meet, what will happen?
Cast –
- Suho (EXO) as Lee Yoo Chan
- Ha Yeon Soo as Kim Bo Ra
- Oh Chang Seok as Min Tae Joo
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
39. Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth
The drama tells the story of beautiful-looking young men called Hwarang in Silla, one of the three kingdoms of Korea. The warriors include a man from the lowest class of Silla and the hidden king who secretly joins. The men also fall for the maiden Ah Ro.
Cast –
- Park Seo Joon as Moo Myung / Kim Sun Woo
- Park Hyung Sik (ZE:A) as Sam Maek Jong / Kim Ji Dwi
- Go Ah Ra as Ah Ro
- V (BTS) as Suk Han Sung
No. Of Episodes – 20
40. Dream High
Six students at Kirin High School share dreams of becoming K-pop idols, among others. During their school years, they learn how to develop their singing, songwriting, and dancing skills while undergoing personal growth. They also start to develop feelings for one another.
Cast –
- Bae Suzy as Go Hye Mi
- Kim Soo Hyun as Song Sam Dong
- Ok Taec Yeon as Jin Gook / Hyun Shi Hyuk
- IU as Kim Pil Sook
No. Of Episodes – 16
41. He Is Psychometric
Lee An has a special psychometry ability. Whenever he touches someone, he can read that person’s memory. Using his ability, he wants to take out evil people in the world. Jae In is a girl with a scar in her mind. She tries to hide that. They happen to meet and struggle to solve cases.
42. Live On
High school student Baek Ho Rang is popular in social media for being pretty and classy. She decides to join the broadcasting club. A story of love and friendship unfolds in a school where social media is a defining force and everybody is judged according to one’s looks & popularity.
Cast –
- Jung Da Bin as Baek Ho Rang
- Hwang Min Hyun (NU’EST) as Go Eun Taek
- Noh Jong Hyun as Do Woo Jae
- Yeonwoo (former Momoland) as Kang Jae Yi
No. Of Episodes – 8
Watch On – Viki
Wrapping Up
So, these were some of the best kdramas starring kpop idols. Even if they are idols, they have acted very well in their respective dramas. No one can distinguish them as idols.
You can watch most of them on Netflix & Viki. If they are not available on them or you have no subscription, you can still watch them on free streaming sites. Get ready to binge-watch.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest & subscribe YouTube channel for more exciting content on Korean dramas & movies.
Keep watching!!