(Photo courtesy of JYP ENTERTAINMENT)

 

[Hanteo News = Reporter KIM YEONWOO] K-POP idols who once captivated audiences with their singing and dancing are now revealing new sides of themselves through acting. From TWICE's DAHYUN and SANA to NCT's JISUNG and BTOB's YOOK SUNGJAE, more idols are venturing into acting, taking on roles across both film and television.

(Photo courtesy of JYP ENTERTAINMENT)

TWICE's DAHYUN

DAHYUN has been expanding her acting range through roles in both films and television dramas. After portraying the excitement of first love in the film ‘You Are the Apple of My Eye’, she took on different characters in ‘Sprint’ and JTBC's drama ‘Love Me’. In particular, she played Ji Hye-on, an aspiring writer in ‘Love Me’, portraying the struggles of youth and the complexities of romance.

Her next project is the film ‘Cloud and Gureumi’, in which she will star alongside Cha Woo-min as Gureum, a bright and spirited art club student. The film tells a story of first love from the perspective of a character who uses a wheelchair, offering DAHYUN another opportunity to showcase a different side of her acting.
 

(Photo courtesy of JYP ENTERTAINMENT)

TWICE's SANA

Fellow TWICE member SANA is also preparing to make her acting debut. She has been cast in a leading role in the Korea-Japan co-produced film ‘Nyang-i: To Reach Your World’ (working title). The romantic fantasy film will feature SANA alongside Japanese actor Takeru Satoh, drawing attention as her first acting project. Filming is set to begin in Japan.
 

(Photo courtesy of SM ENTERTAINMENT)

NCT's JISUNG

NCT's JISUNG will greet viewers through the ENA drama ‘Crash 2: Road of Fury’. He will play Ji Dae-se, a rookie police officer who joins the Traffic Crime Investigation Team. The role is expected to reveal a different side of JISUNG from the performances he has shown on stage. The series is scheduled to premiere on November 16.

 

(Photo courtesy of SBS)

BTOB's YOOK SUNGJAE

BTOB's YOOK SUNGJAE is also continuing his acting career with a new project. In the upcoming SBS drama ‘Nine to Six’, scheduled to premiere on November 25, he plays Han Sun-woo, who joins the legal team of an automobile company. His character has an unusual background as a former jewelry designer and is expected to showcase a gentle and warmhearted charm.
 

(Photo courtesy of tvN)

GOT7's JINYOUNG

The acting careers of two idols named JINYOUNG, both of whom balance group activities with acting, are also drawing attention. GOT7's JINYOUNG stars in the tvN drama ‘100 Days of Lies’ as Kim Tae-woong, also known as Sato Hideo, an interpreter at the Japanese Government-General of Korea in Gyeongseong during the Japanese colonial period. Starring alongside Kim You-jung, he brings both tension and romance to a story that combines historical drama with espionage and romance.

 

(Photo courtesy of Wavve)

B1A4's JINYOUNG

B1A4's JINYOUNG will showcase a youthful romance in the Wavve original drama ‘Summer Vacation’. He plays Jo Yu-gyeom, the eldest grandson of a traditional family, starring alongside Jo Yi-hyun. Set in a mysterious rural village, the coming-of-age romance is scheduled to premiere on October 26.
 

(Photo courtesy of tvN)

ZE:A's IM SIWAN

Former ZE:A member IM SIWAN is currently starring alongside Seol In-ah in the tvN drama ‘Love in Disguise’, playing Yoon Yi-joon, the heir to a wealthy conglomerate. He has also confirmed his appearance in the occult mystery film ‘Modup’, set on a remote island in the 1960s, continuing to build his career across both television and film.

For idols, acting offers an opportunity to reveal emotions and charms that may not have been fully expressed on stage. Trading their familiar stage outfits for the costumes of fictional characters, these artists are showing audiences entirely new sides of themselves. As idols from the second generation through the third and fourth generations continue venturing into acting, attention is turning to whether a new wave of idol-turned-actors will emerge as the industry's next leading stars.

 yeonwoo38@hanteo.com