5 most memorable leading K-drama characters in 2021: Antagonist Cheon Seo Jin is evil but still fan favorite
Here are 5 of the most impressive characters in this year’s Korean dramas.
Throughout 2021, many great Korean TV series of various genres have been released, both on television and exclusive online streaming platforms. Let’s take a look at 5 most memorable leading characters in those dramas that we absolutely love watching.
Yi San – The Red Sleeve
After its broadcast, The Red Sleeve quickly achieved success beyond expectations and earned high ratings, topping the dramas in its time slot. Lee Junho‘s character Lee San is a cold and distant crown prince who will later become the King. He always has to prioritize the country over personal relationships, and encounters countless hardships. The viewers are captivated by the way he falls in love with a court lady.
Although Junho started out as an idol, he completely convinces the audience with his confident and emotional acting performance. He nails the accent in historical dramas. His gestures and expressive eyes are also flawless, making Yi San one of the most beloved male leads in this year’s K-dramas.
Vincenzo – Vincenzo
When it comes to the male lead who is cool, handsome, smart and quick to respond, it is definitely Vincenzo. The Korean-Italian mafia lawyer exudes the elegance and romantic vibes of a true Italian man, but also has enough strength and toughness, determination of a person raised in a harsh environment since childhood. What the viewers find most attractive about Vincenzo is how he does not hesitate to punish the bad guys to cause him damages.
In Vincenzo, Song Joong Ki has proved that his trademark baby face does not affect his portrayal of a mafia character at all. From facial expressions to action sequences, Song’s eyes perfectly show his alluring charm of a mature and tough man, a persuasive transformation compared to his characters in previous dramas.
Yoon Hye Jin – Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
The first K-drama female lead in this list is Shin Min Ah as Yoon Hye Jin in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. Hye Jin is a talented and kindhearted dentist who knows her worth and is ready to stand up for what she believes is right. She was born and raised in the city, so she has some selfish living habits and only cares about herself. When she moves to the village of Gongjin, at first, Hye Jin encounters many difficulties in communicating and being liked by the villagers, but later, she happily adapts to the country life, even bringing a positive change to the seaside village.
Yoon Hye Jin is not a difficult character, but not every actress can successfully portray her to be as lovely and charming as Shin Min Ah. She receives plenty of praise for not only her pretty visuals but also acting skills and the ability to spark chemistry with her co-stars in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
Han Ho Yul (D.P.)
Netflix’s military-themed series D.P., although not shown on TV, still causes a fever after its release. The story revolves around the theme of an ordinary 2nd class soldier serving in the army when he suddenly becomes a member of team D.P. specializes in pursuing deserters. Only playing a supporting male role in the drama, but Koo Kyo Hwan‘s character Han Ho Yul really stood out more than the male lead Jung Hae In.
Although he does not have an eye-catching appearance, the character Ho Yul is very strong and flexible, expressing many emotions in each situation. It is not surprising that he is in the top of the most impressive characters of the year in the eyes of viewers.
Cheon Seo Jin (Penthouse)
As the villain in Penthouse, but Cheon Seo Jin is always the most attractive character in the series, precisely because she is very realistic, straightforward and also has many impressive scenes. Cheon Seo Jin was ambitious but made mistakes repeatedly in her life so she had to pay the price after all. The audience watching the drama sometimes hated her cruel actions, and sometimes shed tears of sympathy at Cheon’s fate.
Contributing to building the image of Cheon Seo Jin, Kim So Yeon devoted herself to this role. Kim So Yeon’s acting skills from eyes to voice are all very impressive. Besides, she also went to piano lessons for a few months just to act for a few minutes and was ready to cut her long hair at the end of the drama to properly describe the character’s mood. The audience will probably hate Cheon Seo Jin because she is a true villain, but will definitely be impressed by this character and Kim So Yeon’s acting skills.
These are the characters that Korean audiences consider to be the most impressive this year. Song Joong Ki’s amazing makeover or Kim So Yeon’s explosive comeback really make Korean dramas even more worth watching.
