Would You Still Love That K-Drama Character if Another Actor Played Him?

The most lovable k-drama characters may look good when written but it takes the right actor to make them real and memorable.

When that magic works, it's easy to fall in love with a character. And it becomes hard to imagine anyone else in that role. That's why you might be surprised at the actors that were originally considered for some popular k-drama characters.

A good example is Ji Sung in "Kill Me, Heal Me." The role was originally offered to Hyun Bin but he turned it down. Hyun Bin is a good actor but it's hard to imagine him playing the Cha Do Hyun's teen girl personality Yo Na. Ji Sung nailed those scenes.

Here's another example. So many favorite k-drama moments take place between Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye in the drama "Coffee Prince." But did you know that Gong Yoo was not the director's original choice for the part? The director Lee Yoon Jung wanted Chun Jung Myung. He was busy with a film so he turned the role down.

"That is something I will regret all my life," said Chun at a press conference for his latest drama "Heart to Heart." "I apologize to Gong Yoo, but I am just stating how I truly feel."

Lee Min Ho became a star thanks to playing the spoiled rich boy Gu Jun Pyo in "Boys Over Flowers" but he was also not the first choice for the part. Jang Geun Suk was the director's choice Jang he opted to do the drama "Beethoven Virus."

That's a case where it might have worked well, but who knows?

Lee Min Ho was also not the first choice for "Faith: The Great Doctor." A simple twist of fate and Kim Hee Sun might have had those romantic scenes with Lee Jun Ki or Kwang Ji Hwan. Lee Jun Ki had to start his military duty and Kwang had some medical issues.

Remember how Jung Il Woo was heartbreakingly good as the doomed Prince Yang Myung in "The Moon Embracing the Sun?" His name became a household word and he won a few awards. But the role was not originally his either.

Joo Won was offered the role but decided instead to star as a Korean freedom fighter in "Bridal Mask," a role he won several awards for.

"Coffee Prince" is not the only classic-k-drama that could have turned out differently with another cast. Jang Hyuk is a wonderful actor but its hard to imagine him magically swapping bodies with Ha Ji Won in "Secret Garden." We'll never know because Jang Hyuk turned it down and Hyun Bin went on to make k-drama fashion history in his sparkling tracksuit.

Jang also turned down the leading role in "Bridal Mask" which was taken by Joo Won.