Kim Soo Hyun is known as the actor with the highest honorarium in South Korea for starring in Korean drama. He was paid around 300 million won, for each episode when he was cast in the drama Queen of Tears.
In addition, he is known as an actor who earned the title of ‘green flag’ thanks to his seemingly sincere and always friendly attitude towards fans. However, his reputation changed after being involved in a matter involving Kim Sae Ron. He is known to have been in a relationship with Kim Sae Ron since 2015.
At that time, Kim Sae Ron was only 15 years old, while Kim Soo Hyun was already 27 years old. As a consequence of his actions, Kim Soo Hyun faces a possible advertising fine of 20 billion won, which when converted is equivalent to Rp 225 billion. Some brands that he has worked with have also removed Kim Soo Hyun’s images from their products.
List of Korean Drama Played by Kim Soo Hyun
Here are some Korean dramas starring Kim Soo Hyun with excellent ratings, based on information from My Drama List.
1. Queen of Tears
Kim Soo Hyun’s very popular Korean drama is Queen of Tears. The story of the drama focuses on the married life of Hong Hae In, who is the third-generation heir of the Queens Group, and Baek Hyun Woo, a farmer’s son from the village of Yongdu-ri. After three years of marriage, their relationship is in a critical situation, with the possibility of divorce approaching.
The love that once existed between them has now faded, replaced by indifference and even hatred. In its closing episode, the drama achieved a national rating of 24.850%, making it the highest-rated tvN series, surpassing Crash Landing on You.
| Titile | Queen of Tears |
| Airing Schedule | March 9, 2024 |
| Genre | Drama, Romance |
| Link to Watch | Netflix |
2. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
Next, the Korean drama starring Kim Soo Hyun is It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. A romantic drama with psychological overtones that raises issues of mental health, past traumatic experiences, and the journey of recovery.
Kim Soo Hyun plays the character of Moon Gang Tae, a nurse at a mental hospital who is very dedicated and caring. However, he harbors deep emotional pain. During this time, she kept her emotions in check to care for her brother with autism.
| Title | It’s Okay to Not Be Okay |
| Airing Schedule | June 20, 2020 |
| Genre | Drama, Romance, Psychology |
| Link to Watch | Netflix |
3. Dream High
Dream High is Kim Soo Hyun’s Korean drama about six talented students at Kirin Art School who struggle to realize their dreams of becoming stars in the music world.
Kim Soo Hyun plays the character of Song Sam Dong, a young man from the village who has extraordinary talent in music, especially in songwriting. At first, he has no interest in the entertainment industry, but everything changes when he falls for Go Hye Mi, played by Suzy. Eventually, he decided to audition for Kirin Art School.
| Title | Dream High |
| Airing Schedule | January 3, 2011 |
| Genre | Drama, Romance, Musical |
| Link to Watch | Netflix |
4. The Moon Embracing the Sun
The Moon Embracing the Sun is a historical drama that tells the story of the romantic relationship between a king and a fortune teller against the backdrop of political conflict in the palace.
Kim Soo Hyun plays the role of a prince who will later become a king. He is fascinated by Heo Yeon Woo, a smart noble girl. However, before they can be together, Yeon U suddenly becomes ill due to political intrigue.
| Title | Moon Embracing the Sun |
| Airing Schedule | January 4, 2012 |
| Genre | Drama, Sageuk |
| Link to Watch | Netflix |
5. My Love from the Star
When it was launched, the Korean drama My Love from the Star gained immense popularity, not only in Korea, but also across Asia making Kim Soo Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun a symbol of Hallyu.
Kim Soo Hyun plays Do Min Joon, a handsome extraterrestrial who has lived on Earth for hundreds of years. The character is described as calm, intelligent, and enigmatic. Although he looks stiff, he actually has a gentle nature within him.
| Title | My Love from the Star |
| Airing Schedule | December 18, 2013 |
| Genre | Drama, Romance |
| Link to Watch | Viu |
6. One Ordinary Day
This drama with the crime thriller genre is an adaptation of the BBC series Criminal Justice. In this story, Kim Soo Hyun plays the character Kim Hyun Soo, an ordinary student who finds his life changing suddenly. He is forced to get involved in the accidental murder of a woman.
Since there was no evidence to show his innocence, Hyun Soo was immediately considered the prime suspect. Shin Joong Han is the only lawyer who is willing to provide assistance to Kim Hyun Soo in facing his case.
| Titile | One Ordinary Day |
| Airing Schedule | November 27, 2021 |
| Genre | Drama, Mystery |
| Link to Watch | Viu |
7. The Producers
Finally, the Korean drama starring Kim Soo Hyun is The Producers, which takes place in the Korean entertainment industry, especially behind the process of making television shows.
Kim Soo Hyun plays Baek Seung Chan, a new producer who is awkward, naive, and often makes mistakes. He initially joins KBS just to get the attention of his first love, but over time, he begins to seriously pursue a career in TV show production.
| Titile | The Producers |
| Airing Schedule | May 15, 2015 |
| Genre | Drama, Romance, Comedy |
| Link to Watch | Viu, Netflix |
That’s the lineup of Korean dramas starring Kim Soo Hyun. Although currently the scandal that befell him is unjustified, some works have accompanied Korean drama fans for a long time.
