K-ent Discusses the Dearth of 20s and 30s Line of Lead Actors for 2021 Dramas, Hope Return of Lee Jong Seok, Park Hyung Sik and More as Rain in a Drought

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• I can't wait for LJS's return. I miss watching him on my screen. He is very talented and charismatic on screen. He was really successful in his 20s. I'm sure he will do even better in his 30s too.

• Please?. They can cast an A-list actress and a lesser known but talented male lead. There are tons of them waiting for that opportunity in that age group. Havent Skycastle, Misty, Penthouse and World of the Married taught these people?. The trend changed long time ago. Its not about "bankable male leads". Its about script.

  The time they are wasting "pulling their hair" because of "bankable" male lead, could be better invested in seeking out talented writers to give us fresh plots and then pair them with talented actors smh.

  • This, a thousand times. Invest in screenwriters and decent directors, and the actors will come along.

  • The trend hasn't really changed though has it. Do you even see SHK or JJH acting with lesser know actors? Their fans would throw a huge tantrum if that ever happened. Even Won Bin would never settle for a lesser known actress if ever came back. All top actors just want to work with each other they rarely want to risk experimenting with lesser known leads. It's not just the directors at fault I blame the actors themselves for creating this kind of work environment.

    • @bay actors dont really have that much power even the so called S-list power actress like the ones you have mentioned. They can only recommend actors they would like to work with but the final decision is with the investors/producers.SHK worked with SJK before he blew up as a hallyu star. He was critically acclaimed but he really blew up after DOTS. Son Ye Jin worked with Jung Hae In before he got a popularity boost. Ha Ji Won has worked with tons of male leads who are talented but less popular. Or the moderate A-list like Moon Chae Won, Park Min Young, Shin Min Ah have also worked with many lesser known actors.

      I do think some star writers have more influence than actor like No Hee Kyung she worked with Jo In Sung three times. Park Hye Run working with Lee Jong Suk three times.JJH worked with the same writer twice) and her latest drama is also because the writer wanted her so much than the leads. Kim Eun Sook handpicks her leads.

    • Fans can throw tantrums as much as they like but the truth is their influence is very small. They were making noise when SHK was casted with Park Bo Gum for Encounter, it was the same when Gong Yoo was casted with Kim Go Eun for Goblin. But in the end, the drama got high ratings. Kdrama watchers and fans are not the same. If the drama resonate with the public people will watch. If it doesnt whether they pair popular actors or not. It will flop(i.e.TKEM and BSR) So they should spend their energy writing better plots and hire good directors.

    • Good scripts alone cannot get investors to fund the project and the production studios need the big names to sell distribution licences. Most big name actors and actresses only want to work with star or experienced writers and famous directors to cushion themselves too.

  • A good script will make lesser known actors/actresses shine.

  • “They can cast an A-list actress and a lesser known but talented male lead.“

    Isn't this what they've been doing this whole time? Casting (older and established) A-list actresses with lesser known but talented male leads in noona dramas that usually become hits and catapult the lesser known but talented actors to instant stardom. I feel more for the actresses who're constantly overlooked. I wonder, are there actress equivalents (in terms of stardom level) of LMH, KSH, LJS, PSJ, PBG?

    • @chopin stardom level not that many. I think its only Park Shin Hye. But that has got to do with demographics rather than a lack of actresses their age. Most kdrama watchers are women. Women are more likely to stan actors than actresses.

      But talent wise, there are plenty in that age group.. off the top of my head are Kim Tae Ri, Seo Ye Ji, Park Bo Young, Kim Go Eun, Park So Dam, Kim Ji Won, Park Eun Bin, Lee Se Young and many more. But like I said earlier, the problem is script. The younger actresses are usually given lead roles that seem to just make oppa look good. Or if its "badass" role it will be something like "Hotel De Luna", IONTBO, MLFTS just dressing them in expensive clothes and being bratty and then change personality when they fall in love?. The male ones are given more meatier roles and script. If the younger female actresses are given scripts where they can shine from their beauty, charisma and acting chops. You will see more become prominent stars like their male counterparts.

    • Although I know the Kdrama audience is predominantly women (who will want to drool over the male visuals), my heart breaks all the same for the talented actresses who don't rise as fast as the actors do in the industry. I very much agree with you on the need for new and talented writers who can bring in fresh perspectives to write more interesting stories. Dramas these days feel like a chore to watch.

  • I don't think script is enough, except you make super makjang script then yes it will got high rating.
    Record of youth is a prove, you need big actor to carry your drama even with bad script
    And Start up is a prove, good script cant get high rating without actors power.

  • So true. Several current male leads got their breakthroughs starring in dramas with those actresses. Cast a strong lesser known male lead with a strong A-List drama or movie actress and a star is born. It's the actresses in their 20s that got the short end of the stick for years because of a media made drought.

• Besides, apart from Park Bo Gum, which other actor in their 20s is hallyu or guarantees consistent high drama ratings.Yoo Seung Ho, Yeo Jin Goo, Lee Hyun Woo are talented but they dont guarantee hits in domestic ratings or hallyu sales. DO has only had one drama hit. We need to watch him more to evaluate his bankable ability.The actors that do get critically acclaimed hits, or boost commercial sales overseas are the ones in mid to late 30s.

  We also need femalecentric dramas and movies anyway. There are barely any korean movies that have actresses in lead roles or ensembles. When we get women led drama its always the makjang ones. So maybe a "lack of male leads" will lead to this shift.

  • Unlike PBG, the three you mentioned YSH, YJG and LHW are all child actors before. They have their own following but their transitioned to adult actors have always been difficult. At least like you said they are all talented, they just need that one title lead project to cement their status [this applies even to popular child actress esp the Kims] and not be seen anymore as child actors like Park Shinhye.

    DO is doing well for an actor who only for now has 1 hit drama lead. He is already booked for different projects post military. I am not a fan of him, but he is a very popular idol and he is well-recognized as good actor by his peers and the acting industry.

    Especially now that PBG is in military and lots of new early and mid 20s actors are appearing as leads or supports, there will be new gen of actors that people will be looking forward to.

    About the female-centric dramas and movies, there are Search WWW, My twenties, Be melodramatic etc. Most ensemble dramas also have great female leads and even female supporting cast. But yes, even though these exist, most of the dramas and movies are still 80-90% male dominant leads.

• It's always Park Hyung Sik to me. He may not has string of hits like LJS but the boy is super talented with very wide acting range. And he is versatile. I miss him so much and wishing all the success to him.

• I'm pretty sure that the drought is more severe for actresses. Top actresses still active on TV are the 80-82ers. Off the top of my head for 85ers you only have Han Hyo-joo; both Moons dropped off. The 90ers get mocked all the time for their acting. South Korea have it much better than the other East Asian countries. For the silver screen it has always been female>>male.

• I don't really miss them. There are a lot of other actors who were pretty good this year : Kim Ji Suk in My Unfamiliar Family, Kim Seon Ho in Start-Up, Lee Do Hyun in 18 Again, Nam Joo Hyuk in The School Nurse Files, Kim Soo Hyun in It's Okay, etc.

  The start power is good for buzz but doesn't mean a good drama.

  • I agree, however, what good are they if entertainment companies/TV companies aren't giving them the opportunities to do so? In order for them to create more established players, they need to start giving them chances. Unfortunately, most work goes to Idol-actors now which is just meh. Lack of star actresses as well for female actresses in their 20s, unlike the 80s liners. Also doesn't help that K-dramas aren't produced in huge amounts compared to the past, which means lack of roles for new stars.

• What a bunch of bs. There is plenty actors to choose from, just like plenty actresses to choose from. Instead of relaying on “leads power”, how about relay more on scripts and directors.

• Liked Park Hyun Sik. How about Lee Jae Wook liked him too, hope he will be offered substance role.

• Yes! Lee Jongsuk ??

• Why even mention DO on this article and how is he relevant? His an Idol

  • d.o has multiple successful movies under his belt and the only drama he acted as a lead managed to get 10+ rating... he is considered to be a solid actor by korean general public and most of them dont even know he is from exo

  • Umm Excuse Me?!!! Have you watched any of his movies/drama?! The boy is SUPER Talented and already established as a critically acclaimed actor. He leads the trio mentioned in terms of recognition and popularity.

    • In what world is DO a more recognized or more popular actor than Lee Jongsuk or Park Hyungsik?