Having started as a prominent child actress who was best known for playing the younger versions of lead female characters, actress Kim So Hyun has since grown into a sought-after leading lady herself. That said, with over 15 years of experience in the industry and just as long a repertoire to show for, any new fan of the 21-year-old will definitely have a field day catching up on all the shows she’s been in.
Need a little help sifting through the wealth of content under her name? Below, we list down 10 must-watch K-dramas to binge if you love Kim So Hyun.
1. Moon Embracing the Sun (2012)
Watch on: Viu, Netflix
Heo Yeon-woo, the daughter of a high ranking official during the Joseon period, meets and falls in love with the Crown Prince Lee Hwon. The two eventually decide to marry, but before they can tie the knot, tragedy strikes after the conniving Queen Dowager orders a shaman to curse Yeon-woo with an unknown sickness that would eventually kill her. Yeon-woo is revived eight years later as a shaman named Wol. Upon catching a glimpse of Wol, Prince Lee Hwon, still heartbroken over Yeon Woo's passing, begins to investigate the circumstances behind her death. So Hyun plays the younger version of Kim Min Seo's character, Yoon Bo-kyung, the soon-to-be evil queen who falls in love with Lee Hwon.
Also starring: Han Ga In, Kim Soo Hyun, Jung Il Woo
2. The Suspicious Housekeeper (2013)
Par Bok-nyeo is a mysterious and stoic housekeeper rumored to be suspiciously obedient to a fault. When she’s employed by a troubled family still grieving the loss of their mother, the emotionless housemaid soon guides them into and out of their much needed healing process.
Also starring: Choi Ji Woo, Lee Sung Jae, Wang Ji Hye
3. Who Are You: School 2015 (2015)
Watch on: Viu, Netflix
Separated from a young age, twin sisters Lee Eun-bi and Go Eun-byul live polar opposite lives. Where Eun-bi stays at an orphanage and is bullied at school, Eun-byul is a popular student at a prestigious private institution. When an accident occurs that leads to Eun-byul’s mysterious disappearance, and Eun-bi developing amnesia, the latter suddenly finds herself in the shoes of her sister’s charmed life, caught between the affection of two schoolmates, no less.
Also starring: Nam Joo Hyuk, Yook Sungjae
4. Page Turner (2016)
Watch on: Viu
Yoon Yoo-seul is a talented young pianist who’s otherwise only weighed down by her stern mother and her own unfulfilled dreams. When the former gets into an accident that permanently blinds her, she meets unlikely friends in two equally talented boys who help her get back on her feet and live a new life.
Also starring: Ji Soo, Shin Jae Ha
5. Bring it On, Ghost (2016)
Watch on: Viu, Netflix
Having grown up with the ability to see ghosts, Park Bong-pal works as an exorcist with the intention of saving money for an operation that will strip away his odd powers. In the midst of it all, he ends up taking in a wandering spirit named Kim Hyun-ji, who’s convinced that Bong-pal has the answers to her forgotten past. Together, they team up to take on malevolent spirits, unaware that the mysterious entity responsible for their misfortunes is tracking their every move.
Also starring: Ok Taecyeon, Kwon Yul
6. The Emperor: Owner of the Mask (2017)
Watch on: Viu
Set in the 1700s, a sinister secret society rules the country and its imperial court by monopolizing Korea's water supply. Sick of their tyranny, Crown Prince Lee Sun opposes the organization with the help of the woman he loves, Ga-eun. His heroic actions lead him to become a beacon of hope throughout the aggrieved empire.
Also starring: Yoo Seung Ho, Kim Myung Soo, Yoon So Hee
7. Radio Romance (2018)
Watch on: Netflix
In order to ensure that her failing radio program doesn’t get cancelled, Song Geu-rim, an untalented but driven writer, hires the help of top actor Ji Su-ho. The only problem? He’s utterly useless without a proper script to follow.
Also starring: Yoon Doo Joon, Yoon Park, Yura
8. Love Alarm (2019)
Watch on: Netflix
In a world run by an app that can alert users if someone near them harbors romantic feelings for them, Kim Jo-jo finds herself torn between two boys ringing her Love Alarm. There’s Lee Hye-yeong, a schoolmate who secretly has a crush on Jo-jo, and Hwang Sun-oh, his popular best friend who takes a liking for Jo-jo after noticing Hye-yeong’s crush on her.
Also starring: Song Kang, Jung Ga Ram
9. The Tale of Nokdu (2019)
Watch on: Viu, Netflix
Jeon Nokdu, a brilliant swordsman, lives a peaceful life with his father and older brother on an island during the Joseon dynasty. The plot starts when their status quo is disturbed by a group of female assassins targeting his family for unknown reasons. In attempt to uncover the group's motive, Nokdu chases after one of their assailants into a widowed village where he diguises himself as a woman.
Starring: Jang Dong Yoon, Kang Tae Oh
10. River Where the Moon Rises (2021)
Watch on: Viu
A retelling of a classic Goguryeo folktale, the series follows Pyeonggang, a princess raised as a headstrong soldier. Determined to restore her kingdom, she will stop at nothing to become its first empress. However, her quest turns complicated when she meets and falls for the calm and gentle On Dal, whose feelings for her she ends up using to attain her ambitions.
Also starring: Na In Woo, Lee Ji Hoon, Choi Yoo Hwa, Kim Ji Soo
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