Lee Jae Wook is slowly coming to his own as one of Korea’s rising leading men. Following his first shot at the title as Sunwoo Joon in Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol, the actor wasted no time in booking yet another headlining role not two years later for Netflix’s historical fantasy K-drama Alchemy of Souls. From the looks of it, this promising actor can only go up from here, but if you’re a new fan still dipping your toes into his filmography, we’re sure you’ll want to look back at his past projects before Jae Wook inevitably takes off into stardom.
6 K-Dramas Starring Lee Jae Wook:
1. Memories of the Alhambra
Watch on: Netflix
Yoo Jin-woo, a brilliant game developer and the strong-willed CEO of an investment company, has his competitive nature tested after his best friend betrays him. He subsequently travels to Granada, Spain after hearing about a groundbreaking AR game created by someone from the area. There, he stays at a hostel and unwittingly entangles the owner, Jung Hee-joo, into a series of strange events. Jae Wook portrays Marco Han in the series, a programmer and hacker affiliated with Hee-joo’s younger brother, Jung Se-joo.
Also starring: Hyun Bin, Park Shin Hye
2. Search: WWW
Watch on: Netflix, Viu, iQiyi
After being fired from Unicon for igniting a national controversy, the brazen Bae Ta-mi is offered a job by her previous company’s rival, Barro. There, she’s challenged to turn it into South Korea’s number one web portal, all while dealing with a co-worker set on antagonizing her, and a man eager to romance her every step of the way.
A love interest on the show, Jae Wook plays the introverted Seol Ji-hwan, a burgeoning actor always cast in villain roles. He gets into an accident that leads him to Lee Da Hee’s character, Cha Hyeon
Also starring: Im Soo Jung, Lee Da Hee, Jeon Hye Jin
3. Extraordinary You
Watch on: Viu, iQiyi
The series centers on the ordinary Eun Dan-oh, a wealthy 17-year-old student with a debilitating heart disease. After catching wind of the odd gaps in her memory, she's soon told that she's actually a supporting character in a webtoon. Now aware of her circumstances and her inevitable secondary role in life, Dan-oh sets out to find true love all while scheming to bypass the author's plans for her. Jae Wook plays Baek Kyung, Dan-oh’s childhood friend and fiance by arranged marriage. He’s arrogant and mean, especially when it comes to treating Dan-oh whom he seems to dislike, up until she gets close to the handsome yet timid Ha-ru.
Jae Wook earned a Best New Actor award at the 2019 MBC Drama Awards for his performance in the series. He was also nominated for the same category at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.
Also starring: Kim Hye Yoon, SF9's Rowoon, Kim Young Dae
Fun fact: Jae Wook reprised his role for a cameo appearance in the 2020 teen romance drama True Beauty. Watch his scene with Kim Hye Yoon and Cha Eun Woo below!
4. When the Weather Is Fine
Watch on: iQiyi
After facing heartbreak in the city, Mok Hae-won, a cello teacher, leaves Seoul and returns to her hometown. There, she reunites with her former classmate Eun-seob, who’s now a bookstore owner leading a simple life. As they grow closer, they learn to find solace in each other, and soon heal from their past wounds. Jae Wook has a supporting role on the show as Lee Jang-woo, One of Eun-seob’s high school friends.
Also starring: Park Min Young, Seo Kang Joon
5. Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol
Watch on: Netflix
Goo Ra Ra, a pianist with a bright and sunny demeanor, loses everything when her family goes bankrupt. Despite this massive road block, she soon finds a sliver lining when she meets and falls in love with the mysterious Sunwoo Joon at a small piano academy. The show marked Jae Wook’s first leading man role, and it also landed him a number of nominations, including an Excellence Award win at the KBS Drama Awards. His two other nods came from the Korean Broadcasting Awards and the Seoul International Drama Awards.
Starring: Go Ah Ra, Kim Joo Heon
6. Alchemy of Souls
Watch on: Netflix
Deok-yi is a powerful sorceress trapped in a blind woman’s body. When she becomes the servant of a wealthy troublemaker named Jang Wook, she fulfills his wish to help change his destiny by teaching the young man to fight.
Also starring: Jung So Min, Oh Na Ra, Yoo In Soo
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