Two years after tvN’s worldwide success “Lovely runner”, actors Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok are experiencing starkly contrasting career trajectories.
Although both were thrust into the spotlight by the hit 2024 drama, their post-show careers have developed in very different directions: Kim Hye-yoon through ongoing projects and Byeon Woo-seok through renewed scrutiny.
Kim Hye-yoon has solidified her reputation as one of Korea’s busiest actresses, actively working in drama, film and variety shows.
He recently starred in the SBS drama “No tail to tell” playing a charismatic gumiho character, followed by the horror film’s box office success “Salmokji: the whispering water.” The film reached 1 million viewers in just 10 days, becoming one of the fastest-growing Korean horror hits in recent years and earning it the unofficial title of “Queen of Horror.”
His growing popularity has also extended to variety entertainment, where he appears “Sister’s farm directly in Calafate,” gaining attention for her chemistry with Dex.
With upcoming projects included “Good Partner” Season 2 and the movie “Earth,” Kim continues to gain momentum as a versatile and in-demand actress.
Meanwhile, Byeon Woo-seok is back on the small screen in MBC’s romance “Perfect Crown”, co-star IU.
Despite strong pre-release hype, the first few episodes drew mixed reactions, with some viewers criticizing her performance and emotional expression as uneven.
The discussions also extended to IU’s performance, creating a larger debate about the acting tone and chemistry of the drama.
As a result, industry observers are closely monitoring whether the series manages to maintain ratings and public interest.
Beyond the drama, Byeon Woo-seok will appear on the Netflix variety show “Camp Yoo Jae-suk”, marking his first regular appearance on an entertainment show.
He is also set to direct the highly anticipated Netflix series “Solo Leveling” based on the globally successful IP spanning webtoons, animation and game adaptations.
He will play Sung Jin-woo, an E-rank hunter who evolves into a central figure in humanity’s battle against monsters, signaling a major action-driven transformation in his acting career.
As Kim Hye-yoon continues her meteoric rise across multiple genres and Byeon Woo-seok faces acting criticism amid high expectations, both stars remain central figures in the evolving Korean entertainment landscape.
Sources: Daum | OSEN
