KOREAN ACTOR KIM MIN KYU CHARMS PINOY FANS WITH HIS ROMANTIC TV SHOWS
South Korean star Kim Min Kyu, 28, has captured the hearts of K-drama fans not just in his home country but also in the Philippines.
He gained immense popularity for his portrayal of Cha Sung Hoon, the reliable CEO’s secretary in Business Proposal (2022), which led to him to become a household name among K-drama enthusiasts worldwide and cause second-lead syndrome among viewers.
"Second-lead syndrome" refers to viewers who ends up shipping the second lead star in a series.
Kim Min Kyu in Business Proposal PHOTO: Screengrab from Business Proposal
READ: Five things we’ll miss about K-Drama Business Proposal
This year, Kim Min Kyu takes on his first lead role via the ongoing K-drama series The Heavenly Idol.
Based on a popular webtoon of the same name, Heavenly Idol tells the story of High Priest Rembrary, a warrior among good forces in the supernatural world who gets transported to the world of humans.
Rembrary unexpectedly finds himself possessing the body of a Korean idol Woo Yeon Woo, who'll encounter love just as he discovers the key to fulfilling his mission to defeat the enemy.
Kim Min Kyu (second to the right, standing) PHOTO: Screengrab from Heavenly Idol
This K-drama marks a new chapter in Kim Min Kyu's career soon after he joined Companion Company, a newly established management label, on February 13.
While he is up for enlistment in the Korean military this year, Filipino fans will have the chance to meet the Korean star up close in a fan meeting dubbed as Heavenly Idol: Kim Mingue 1st Fanmeet in Manila.
Organized by Rise Media Philippines, the event will be held at the New Frontier Theater on April 14.
As his upcoming Manila visit draws closer, PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) looks back at more of Kim Min Kyu's TV shows that have endeared him to his fans' hearts.
a military officer in SNOWDROP (2021)
In Snowdrop, Kim Min Kyu plays the role of Joo Gyuk Chan, a military police officer who was recruited as a spy under the North Korean force.
Despite his seemingly ruthless personality, Gyuk Chan is warm and affectionate toward his peers.
Throughout the series, his loyalty is put to the test as he embarked on dangerous missions as a spy.
Snow Drop stars Jung Hae In (Something In The Rain and One Spring Night) and Jisoo of BLACKPINK.
Kim Min Kyu in Snowdrop PHOTO: Screengrab from Snowdrop
CAMEO IN NEVERTHELESS (2021)
Kim Min Kyu has a special appearance in the drama Nevertheless, starring Song Kang and Han So Hee.
In episode 8 of the series, Kim Min Kyu appears as the old fling of Oh Bit Na (Yang Hye Ji), who fondly calls him "Dimples."
The one-time appearance of his character is unforgettable because of his thoughts about the complexity of love and human connections, which he shares with Oh Bit Na.
Kim Min Kyu in Nevertheless PHOTO: Screengrab from Nevertheless
THE LEAD ACTRESS'S FRIEND IN So I Married An Anti-Fan (2021)
Kim Min Kyu plays the role of Ko Soo Hwan, the close friend of Lee Geun Young (Sooyoung), the "anti-fan" in the online drama So I Married An Anti-Fan.
Kim Min Kyu's character is a talented photographer, who works with Lee Geun Young in the fictional magazine company, WonderWoman.
The series follows the virtual marriage reality show of global K-pop star Who Joon (Choi Tae Joon) and journalist Lee Geun Young, who initially disliked each other but gradually developed feelings for one another.
So I Married An Anti-Fan is based on a 2010 novel that has been made into a webtoon and a Chinese film.
Kim Min Kyu in So I Married The Anti-Fan PHOTO: Screengrab from So I Married The Anti-Fan
CAME0 IN BACKSTREET ROOKIE (2020)
Kim Min Kyu has a special appearance in the SBS drama Backstreet Rookie, a romantic comedy starring Ji Chang Wook and Kim Yoo Jung.
In the series, Min Kyu plays the role of Kang Ji Wook, a former classmate of the female lead, Jung Saet Byul (played by Kim Yoo Jung).
Ji Wook becomes an instant celebrity after he single-handedly captures a thief in the convenience store where he works as a part-time cashier.
Despite his newfound fame and success, Ji-wook never forgets his feelings for Saet Byul, which leads to a love triangle involving him, Saet Byul, and Choi Dae Hyun (played by Ji Chang Wook).
PHOTO: Screengrab from Backstreet Rookie
joseon's king in QUEEN LOVE AND WAR (2019)
He portrays the role of King Lee Kyung who is married to Kang Eun Bo's (Jin Se Yeon) sister in the period drama Queen Love and War.
The story begins with King Lee Kyun surviving an assassination attempt, which kills his wife on the spot.
Kang Eun Bo, for her part, remains suspicious of the King following her twin sister's death.
Determined to seek justice, Kang Eun Bo will try to win the King's heart in order to uncover the truth and avenge her sister's death.
Kim Min Kyu and Jin Seo Yeon in Queen: Love and War PHOTO: Screengrab from Queen: Love and War
SECOND MALE LEAD IN PERFUME (2019)
Kim Min Kyu also charms viewers as Yoon Min Seok, a confident and charming global K-pop idol in the K-drama series Perfume.
As a popular idol, his character believes he can make anyone fall in love with him in just three seconds.
But his confidence will take a hit as he falls for a model who is in love with someone else.
KIM MIN KYU's TV SHOWS AND ROLES: COMPLETE LIST
- Came in Monstar (2013)
- Swimmer in Who Are You? School (2015)
- Hwang Eui-kyung in Signal (2016)
- Uni student in The Sound of Your Heart (2016)
- Yeon Bok Nam in Because This is My First Life (2017)
- Yoo Byeong Chul in Meloholic (2017)
- Jin Young in Rain or Shine (2017)
- Kim Myung Ha in Rich Family's Son (2018)
- Himself in Let's Eat (2018)
- Lee Yeon Nam in Drunk In Good Taste (2018)
- Yun Min Suk in Perfume (2019)
- Lee Kyung in Queen: Love and War (2019)
- Kang Ji Wook in Backstreet Rockie (2020)
- Joo Gyeok Chan in Snowdrop (2021-2022)
- Cha Sung Hoon in Business Proposal (2022)
- Woo Yeon Woo/Rembrary in The Heavenly Idol (2023)
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