This is a worth reading commentary from a veteran Korean television critic on the recent batch of idols acting in K-dramas. Published in entertainment news MBN, the critic rated the performances from the August-September dramas where veteran to newbie idol-actors were given roles of varying prominence. To now one’s surprise, and I’ll even argue there can be no disagreement here, Eric‘s performance as the male lead in Discovery of Romance was a tour de force of acting as good if not better than an professionally trained actor could have delivered. The critic wrote he’s no longer Shinhwa‘s Eric, he’s now also Moon Jung Hyuk the actor.
Coming in second was the surprise of the summer for me in Do Kyung Soo’s memorable debut in It’s Okay, It’s Love. Going by his idol stage name of D.O. when he’s performing with EXO, whether it was the right role or he simply is a natural, D.O. was fantastic in a supporting role in IOIL and worthy to grace the screen surrounded by a phenomenal cast. Rounding out the top three is a new fave of mine in Park Hyung Sik and his first main role in the weekend drama What’s With the Family playing the central family maknae brother. He wasn’t bad in Heirs but he was also unmemorable and got lost in the huge cast. Given the right role and with a crackling costar, Park Hyung Sik proves that he has an acting career ahead regardless of whether he stays in idol group ZE:A.
I’m in full concurrence with one-two-three rankings above, but for folks curious rounding out the rest of the list comes CN Blue‘s Jung Yong Hwa in Three Musketeers, Sooyoung of SNSD headlining My Spring Days, Yook Sang Jae from BtoB as one of the brothers in Plus Nine Boys, the actually improved Yunho in Records of a Night Watchman, and coming in dead last is My Lovely Girl‘s resident lovely but not yet a very good actress Krystal from f(x).
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I really don't understand why korean keep putting the title of idol turn actor to him and keep mentioning his name in this kind of articles. Sometimes I feel sorry for him. He's veteran actor. He already acted for more than 10 years. Until now, not even the 'true actor' created such kind of forever classic cheesy line like him ("Do you smell something burning? My heart is burning"). He won several drama awards, he has natural acting (IMO he never overact), and he also very versatile actor (I still remember how dorky he was when singing Superman…Superman …during Super Rookie after prince charming image in Bulsae then turned to poor casanova in Que Sera Sera. He's one of the very few korean actor that I feel has kind of natural bad boy image and old school Hollywood vibe. Call me bias (because I'm fan of him), but sometimes I think why it's really hard for others saying he's a great actors. Because his background is an idol??? Or because the first thing they will judge is his looks?? I just hope he never get tired to proof he such a great actor in k-biz. I watched Discovery of Romance. I can say his character (Kang Tae Ha) is the most well written lead male ever. Started from such a dorky, jelly, teaser and jerk then becoming someone who fall deeply, try to protect and respect someone he loves. There was one or two episodes, he didn't even say much words but only showing his emotions by facial expression and mostly his eyes. And as viewer, I could felt it.
I'm not sure if it's anything to be happy about. I think he's been acting for quite a long time? And those really defining idol-actors like Uhm Junghwa, Jang Nara, Yoon Eunhye (sorry, can't think of the guys); no one really considers them idol-actors anymore. They are just actresses in their own right. You'll only get put on such lists if people still regard you as an idol more than an actor. So...
I also wonder why they keep mentioning Eric's name in idols turn actors. He always get first lead role after Bulsae till now. His performance always good. Maybe because his status as leader of boy band? Or maybe because his active in those two fields till now? Poor Eric..he'll stuck forever in this kind of korean caste idol-singer-actor forever no care how great his performance is...
UJH and JN are not idols, they are singers/musicians ( just like Lee Seung Gi). There is a different between idols and singers/musicians. For example: Yoona is an idol, but she is not a singer, her position in her group is a visual.
In Korea, singers = idols. LSG is also regarded as an idol.
@kitai
even in Korea, singers =/= idols. Park Hyo Shin, Sung Si Kyung or Baek Ji Young are singers, but no one calls them idols.
Moon Jung Hyuk's performance was outstanding in DoR. Glad that he is receiving recognition for his fine acting. Congrats to him!
I enjoyed watching Do Kyung Soo in IoIL. He has good chemistry with JIS. Currently, enjoying Park Hyung Sik as Dal Bong in What's with this Family. He is so natural in the maknae role. Jung Yong Hwa's role in The Three Musketeers suits him and he is doing well in that role. Can't comment on the others as I have not seen their performances so far.
I have to confess.... No, apologize to Eric- Before DoL, I just had the displeasure of watching him from Strongest Chil Woo( shudders- it was bad...just as a whole). I didn't have much expectations for Eric, but boy, is he good or what?! As it was mentioned by @ Sarah, Eric acted beyond drama 's dialogues... All of us audience felt his conflicts of emotion, his pain... Thank you, Eric, for such excellent performance... I hope your past as an idol will become one of your many accomplishments( to come).
I saw another of his drama Spy Myung Wol. Many said it was disaster but I enjoyed the drama. I always get feeling Eric is really good to express such kind of desperations. I don't like seeing man crying especially in k-drama because usually those guys cry like anything but less emotions. But when Eric cries, I feel sympathy for him. In his latest drama, DoL, there were episode where he asked his ex gf for break up or in the hospital when he realized his fault, those scenes were so heart breaking for me. I like to see him crying..XD so I'm ready to see him in more serious drama for the future.
In spy myung wol the acting from the cast was good but the writing was beyond aweful!!
I actually quite liked Spy Myung-wol and Eric had good chemistry with Han Ye-seul. Soldiered through the drama for them both. Eric is a decent actor and quite likeable on screen. Hope to see him get more good roles.
Congratulations to the top 3!! Didn't watch DoR or IOIL... and am sure if you wouldn't have recommended WWTF I'd have missed Hyung Sik's awesome performance!! Planning on watching Nine as have read that he did really well in that one.
I started watching Misaeng and Siwan's pretty good in it as well!!
I find it weird that they put D.O's name right under Eric. Not that I'm underestimating him (I love his acting too in IOIL), but his role isn't the main lead. These things get me annoyed especially when I put 100% trust on Krystal to act as a lead in She's So Lovable after adoring her so much in The Heirs. Oh well...
Congrats for idols-actors who got 4 and 3 star. I watched only Discovery of Romance and It's OK It's Love. So, I totally agree with Eric and D.O. I guess why they put Eric's name in there is just because the man with his group is success and still active as an idol till now while others (such as Yoon Eun Hye, Jang Na Ra) already inactive from long time ago. I even don't know Eun Hye and Na Ra were idol…LOL... Instead of feel sorry for Eric because of this idol turns actor status, I think it's kind of his achievement. Proof Eric has so many talents and great in all those fields (dancing, singing, rapping, acting, composing songs). And I heard he also CEO of company too. So, I don't feel bad for him instead I think God is unfair to create such a perfect human being. God must spent more time when created him…LOL..…Good luck for others too. Hope to hear all of them get 4 or 5 star soon...
I thought based on the article, Eric is first while D.O, Hyungsik and Yong Hwa are all 2nd since all of them have 3.5 stars? But the comments for Hyungsik and D.O are better than Yong Hwa. Kind of weird
Anyway, it is not fair to compare Eric with them. I think Eric should be considered an actor since he has been acting for quite sometime and he is really good. In fact, his fellow band mate, Dong wan is really outstanding too.
I enjoy Hyungsik's performance in the weekend drama. He has his style of acting that is different from the trained actors but it works for the maknae role. However, i hope he can tackle more serious roles like the twin roles in Sirius in the future.
Definitely Eric! I've never watched any of his drama before and Discovery of Love isn't for everyone (especially those who looks for dramatization of love story), I really like that drama because of Eric and Jung Yumi, he surprised me in a pleasant way. Anything that doesn't seem logical to me somehow works and believable when they do it. Besides, their chemistry was unbelievable in that drama, I couldn't understand Jung Yumi's hesitation in deciding.
Other than him, I'd only agree with Park Hyung Sik. I still think his shining moment was Nine. I don't think Yunho should even be on the list, I love DBSK but when I watch him act, I'd think that he shouldn't force himself into acting. Sigh.
Agree Yunho shouldn't be on this list.
Eric is beyond brilliant. I think he was the only reason I was able to go through DOR. He doesn't act as often as I'd want him to but whenever he does, he has so much screen presence and control over his character, it makes he forget he's even Eric.
I also agree with other comments that he shouldn't be called an idol actor. He's proven himself to be a lot more than that. So many idols this year has improved actually. Yunho and JYH is doing a lot better than they had previously, so its good to see everyone getting their fair due.