When we always say the script and role affects a lot to an actor and the growth, here are a few examples of actors who gain recognition through one particular role. Some actors are lucky to be recognized first from the beginning of their career, but it is tough in showbiz.

#1 – Kim Seon Ho

His rising popularity is one of the craziest seen in 2020 and we all know the reason why. Even though he is not the main lead, we are all falling over the second lead syndrome for him on Netflix’s Start-Up.

Kim Seon Ho rise to no.1 spot in the Top 30 Actor Brand Reputation for November.

#2 Ahn Bo Hyun

Another classic example of not being the main lead but still garner tones of attention. Ahn Bo Hyun is a huge jacka** on Netflix/JTBC’s Itaewon Class, but people are still inclined and somehow put a little pity on this bad guy. In the second half of the year, he took on his next villain role in the fantasy-thriller drama, Kairos.

Ahn Bo Hyun also made appearance in I Live Alone.

#3 Park Bo Gum

He is already popular and famous. But his comeback drama and also final drama before he enters the military let many see a new side of him. Netflix/ tvN’s Record of Youth is a drama based on showbiz. The multiple auditions and roles he is in within the drama show how fast Park Bo Gum as an actor can transit into one role seamlessly.

Park Bo Gum has another sci-fi movie Seobok where is a clone who spent his entire life confined in a research lab.

Park Bo Gum took the no.1 spot in the Top 30 Actor Brand Reputation for September.

#4 Kim Soo Hyun

Kim Soo Hyun returns from the military after 2 years with one of the best Kdrama in 2020. Netflix/ tvN’s It’s Okay Not to Be Okay is one of the best drama that highlights the world in mental patients’ view and struggles face working in a mental hospital. His chemistry with Seo Ye Ji and Oh Jung Se is brilliant.

Kim Soo Hyun took the no.1 spot in the Top 30 Actor Brand Reputation for August.

#5 Woo Do Hwan

The bodyguard in the Kingdom of Corea and happy-go-lucky in the Republic of Korea caught everyone’s attention. The versatile Woo Do Hwan carries both Jo Young and Jo Eun Sub well in Netflix/SBS’s The King: Eternal Monarch.

#6 Lee Kyu Hyung

He is not a new or young actor, but one that is acting for quite a while. Since his role in Prison Playbook, he starts to gain reputation and made a breakthrough in his role in Hi Bye, Mama. Jo Kang Hwa is a sad yet blissful man, he lost his wife through an accident, and after he walks out of the pain and remarried. His wife Yuri (Kim Tae Hee) came back to life.

#7 Park Seo Joon

Not sure about everyone but Park Seo Joon first caught my attention in What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, pretty late into the game but really impressed ever since. His role in Itaewon Class, Park Saeroyi is about a guy with a tough life after he punched a bully in middle school.

Looking forward to his next movie with Lee Ji Eun (IU) for Dream.

#8 Hyun Bin

Ri Jung Hyuk is everyone’s crush and his forbidden romance with Yoon Se Ri is the talk of the entire first half of 2020. Even though Hyun Bin is a name that everyone knows, his role as a North Korean soldier is one of another breakthrough role in his portfolio.

#9 Kim Jung Hyun

Another heartthrob from the drama Crash Landing on You, Kim Jung Hyun‘s role as Goo Seung Jun is a chaebol that escapes to the North and fell in love with a local, Seo Dan (Seo Ji Hye). His final moment in the North marks one of the most iconic moment happened in the drama.

His current drama Mr. Queen is a time-travel historical comedy that you can catch up on.

#10 Lee Jae Wook

Lee Jae Wook is a rookie that was noticed by viewers since his debut in Memories of the Alhambra, but he really rose up to fame with his rebellious but soft boy in Extraordinary You. His first lead role Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol as Sun Woo Joon caught the hearts of noonas once again.

#11 Oh Jung Se

Moon Sang Tae in It’s Okay Not To Be Okay gave Oh Jung Se a really good platform to shine and gain recognition as an actor. Acting as Kim Soo Hyun’s brother with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), he really gets into the character and allows viewers to look into ASD’s perspective.

#12 Nam Joo Hyuk

Nam Do San might be outshined by Ji Pyung in many eyes, but Nam Joo Hyuk really shows how much Nam Do San grew and mature over the course of the drama.

#13 Ong Seong Wu

Ong Seong Wu‘s second acting debut as a cold but talented photographer Lee Soo. The unrequited love story between him and Shin Ye Eun as Kyung Woo Yeon is definitely one that I really enjoy watching in 2020.

#14 Kim Min Jae

Kim Min Jae challenged himself as a pianist in a melodrama Do You Like Brahms? is my favorite melodrama of the year. Not only I understand more about the music pieces and each of the emotions, but also impressed that the actors and actresses really train themselves to play the instrument live.

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Does your oppa made it here to the list? Here are the actors that made a breakthrough with their role in the drama aired in 2020.

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