4 K-Drama Villains Who Made Huge Hallyu Impact: Lim Ji Yeon, Yoon Kye Sang, More [Updated 2023]
In the previous years, villainous roles were often avoided by top notch stars as it could make or break their long-running career in fear of being "resented" due to their character.
But due to the influx of South Korean works in the international market, the K-Drama scene became bigger and bigger, even diversifying the roles of actors who were often typecast into one single genre.
Here are four amazing actors who left an exceptional impression as villains! Keep on reading!
Yoon Kye Sang
Singer-turned-actor Yoon Kye Sang has always sported the "good boy" image due to his ever-smiling expression and warm personality.
He has always taken the roles of morally good characters that his filmography didn't possess any depth and versatility.
It wasn't until the box office film "The Outlaws" that Yoon Kye Sang was able to showcase his ragged appearance and intense acting skills as a villain.
His character, crime and gang leader Jang Chen, received praise from viewers all around the world for his top notch acting performance.
Ok Taecyeon
Because of his pretty face and cool personality, Ok Taecyeon was always compared to a giant dog with an innocent presence.
Even more so, the idol-actor has always taken the good boy character in his dramas "Dream High," "Let's Fight, Ghost" and "Save Me," to name a few.
Thankfully, Ok Taecyeon was able to switch things up in the 2021 mafia drama "Vincenzo" where he transformed into Jang Han Seok, an ambitious antagonist who wants to dominate South Korea.
While he won over the heart of Jeon Yeo Bin as a pure-hearted attorney in the first few episodes, Ok Taecyeon wowed the public with his immersive acting when he revealed his true identity in the succeeding episodes.
Ahn Jae Wook
Like the previously mentioned artists, Ahn Jae Wook also had the same soft image since his debut in 1994.
Within a decade in the industry, the actor has failed to create an impactful performance with his roles-this urged him to take the risk.
In 2021, he showed a jaw-dropping transformation when he challenged himself with a villainous role in the drama "Mouse."
He received a loud applause when he played a vivacious neurosurgeon who hides a deep secret; he's a cunning psychopath who unapologetically murders people.
Lim Ji Yeon
Last but not the least on this list is Lim Ji Yeon who recently took the acting industry by storm with his spine-chilling acting in the Netflix revenge drama "The Glory" with Song Hye Kyo.
She played Park Yeon Jin, the mastermind of the school violence perpetrators who made Song Hye Kyo's life a living hell by burning her skin with a curling iron.
Although the actress is known for her beauty, Lim Ji Yeon was asked not to smile anymore by fans due to the eerie feeling that it exudes.
In "The Glory," she flashes her sweet smiles as she curses, smokes and commits violence without showing any remorse.
