When handsome Korean actors adorn female clothes, it can get either super awkward or super memorable.
K-dramas have a lot of female characters masquerading themselves as men, but what about the opposite? Turns out, there are quite a lot of times handsome Korean actors dress up in full female attire to bring laughter or serve the plot. So, below are some male cross dressers that may either impress or be a super let down:
Ji Sung (Kill Me Heal Me)
K-drama fans just can’t go a day without seeing Ji Sung’s iconic cross-dressing in “Kill Me Heal Me”. In his school girl attire, the actor made a lasting impression with his call “Oppa” and his kiss with actor Park Seo Joon.
In a pink blazer, pink bow, plaid skirt, and very noticeable lip gloss, Ji Sung’s cute appearance and manner never failed to crack up the audience, to the point people start actively shipping the bromance between Ji Sung and Park Seo Joon.
Jang Dong Yoon (Tale of Nokdu)
Jang Dong Yoon in “Tale of Nokdu” is probably the most impressive male cross-dressing of the Korean small screen. In the series, Jang Dong Yoon played the male lead Jeon Nokdu, who, due to circumstances, had to adorn women’s clothes and pose as a widow to reside in an all-female village.
Jang Dong Yoon’s features aligned so well with women’s hairstyle, clothes, and makeup, and even girls would be jealous. Combined with his gestures and modest manners, the actor completely transformed into a lady of the olden days, and his visuals even rival the female lead played by actress Kim So Hyun.
Lee Jun Ki (The King & The Clown)
Another Korean actor that boasted unisex vibes in his cross-dress is the action star Lee Jun Ki. Compared to his now more rough and sharp appearance, Lee Jun Ki in his youth looked much softer and more convincing when he posed as a woman.
At the time, the actor’s cross-dressing image in “The King & The Clown” even became so viral, Lee Jun Ki was titled a true “flower boy”. With his V-line face, fair skin, red lips, and super expressive eyes, the actor looked so pretty he swooned even the king and his audiences!
Ji Chang Wook (Bachelor’s Vegetable Store)
It will be a mistake not to talk about Ji Chang Wook and his iconic female portrayal in “Bachelor’s Vegetable Store”. In fact, when Ji Chang Wook appeared on the screen, many viewers couldn’t believe their own eyes.
In “Bachelor’s Vegetable Store”, Ji Chang Wook even took up two different roles: the vegetable-selling guy and the witch who sells apples. For the latter, the actor adorned a long wig, a tiara, and even a whole witch gown. He looks super convincing as the evil witch of “Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs.”
Yoo Seung Ho (Seondal: The Man Who Sells River)
For “Seondal: The Man Who Sells River”, actor Yoo Seung Ho had to pose as a young lady for a special mission. Not only did he wear makeup, accessories, and super gorgeous hanboks, Yoo Seung Ho also amped up his performance with lady-like gestures and manners.
Still, for the actor himself, there are cringey moments despite his outstanding visuals as a girl.
Jung Il Woo (The Return of Iljimae)
Thanks to “The Return of Iljimae”, viewers discovered Jung Il Woo to be a superb cross-dresser! Here, the actor played a mysterious swordsman who took up a woman’s disguise for easier accomplishment of his mission.
This resulted in Jung Il Woo looking truly beautiful in traditional female clothes. In braided hair, a gorgeous hanbok, cute accessories, and a veil, the actor could have fooled an unknowing person.
Kim Nam Gil (The Fiery Priest)
As the male lead of “The Fiery Priest”, Kim Nam Gil was truly an abnormal priest. The actor managed to impress with his acting skill, but the cross-dressing in this series was quite questionable.
In particular, the actor wore a black choker, beige dress, blue jacket, and black stockings, which really clicked despite his normally manly physique. However, his heavy makeup look with eyeliner, a wig, and bright red lipstick gave off a comedic effect.
Lee Yi Kyung (Welcome To Waikiki 2)
Playing the homestay owner of “Welcome To Waikiki 2”, actor Lee Yi Kyung was a character super fond of cosplaying, and one of his most iconic looks was when he was all dressed up as the famous Harley Queen.
Lee Yi Kyung also cracked the audience up while cross-dressing awkwardly as a blond girl in yellow leather suit. While he looked a tad too gangly for the outfit, the actor’s appearance was truly hilarious.
Kim Song (Love In Spring)
Most recently, we had Kim Song cross-dressing as a historical lady in “Love In Spring”. However, the styling did not do the actor justice at all.
The makeup was too heavy, the brows too thick, and the hairstyle looked super awkward on Kim Song. In addition, the pastel hanbok only served to make his character even more out of place.
So, these are some memorable cross-dressers in K-dramas. Not all of them were successful, but they added to their respective works in different ways.
