From romantic comedies to fantasy thrillers — one of the most popular actresses in South Korea has been there, and done that. Currently, in the news for her role as a product manager who moves home to catch a break from her life — Jung So-min has established herself as one of the most bankable actresses in the industry, with several dramas to her name. We take a look at a few worth adding to your watchlist.
The Hallyu wave has brought with it the rise of several stellar actors and actresses — many of whom saw global fame overnight. Actress Jung So-min stands as a stellar example, going from a talented and beautiful fresh face to one of the most popular South Korean names around the world at rapid speed. This, courtesy of her choice of shows — best described as diverse in its genre and subject matter as well as absolute hits.
“The best thing I did in my twenties was choosing this job,” the actress told The Chosun Daily. “I used to get really stressed out as I tended to be harsh on myself. But now I think I’ve learned how to enjoy my job,” she added, noting that she believes her hard work will help her grow in the future. True to this, the Korea National University of Arts alum has a string of projects, both in her past and in the pipeline for the future. If you’ve yet to be acquainted with Jung So-min, here’s a look at her best, most career-defining dramas.
Best Jung So-min dramas for your next Korean TV binge
Jump To / Table of Contents
- Bad Guy
- Standby
- The Sound of Your Heart
- Because This Is My First Life
- Alchemy Of Souls
- Love Next Door
1 /6
Bad Guy
Directed by: Lee Hyung-min
Cast: Kim Nam-gil, Han Ga-in, Kim Jae-wook, Oh Yeon-soo, Jung So-min
Release date: 26 May 2010
Episodes: 17
Synopsis: Gun-wook (played by Kim Nam-gil) is adopted by the Hong family under the belief that he’s the President’s illegitimate son. However, upon discovery that this was a mistake, they cast him out onto the streets — causing him to return for revenge years later. Key pawns in his plan? The real song Tae Sung (played by Kim Jae-wook) and sisters Mo-ne (Jung So-min) and Tae-ra (Oh Yeon-soo). Along the way, he falls in love with the ambitious Jae-in (played by Han Ga-in)
About the show: This show marked Jung’s acting debut, with experts singing praises of her performance and potential. She was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Special category of the 2010 SBS Drama Awards.
2 /6
Standby
Directed by: Jeon Jin-soo
Cast: Ryu Jin, Lee Ki-woo, Ha Seok-jin
Release date: 9 April 2012
Episodes: 120
Synopsis: Producers, writers, and announcers at the broadcasting company TV11 navigate everyday challenges. This includes Jin-haeng (played by Ryu Jin) who’s made 3 mistakes with his announcements while live and then makes another error on a TV show appearance. On the other hand, So-Min (played by Jung so-min) moves to Seoul from a small town to be a cook. She saves up money to study abroad, working hard to be successful. And although she’s slightly awkward and not the most fashionable, she’s good at heart.
About the show: The series earned the actress the Best Newcomer in a Comedy/Sitcom award at the 2012 MBC Entertainment Awards.
Directed by: Ha Byung-hoon
Cast: Lee Kwang-soo, Jung So-min
Release date: 7 November 2016
Episodes: 20
Synopsis: Webtoon artist Cho Seok (played by Lee Kwang-soo) lives with his parents. His girlfriend Aebong (played by Jung So-min) has known him since high school. The two navigate life together.
About the show: This show is believed to be one of Jung So-min’s best performances as a lead. It earned the actress the Best Couple award (along with Lee Kwang-soo) at the 15th KBS Entertainment Awards.
Directed by: Park Joon-hwa
Cast: Lee Min-ki, Jung So-min
Episodes: 16
Release date: October 9, 2017
Synopsis: IT employee Nam See Hee (played by Lee Min-Ki) is in a two-year contract marriage with writer Yoon Ji-Ho (played by Jung So-Min), who doesn’t have a roof over her head. An important clause to it all? Both parties agree to be just landlord and tenant respectively, sharing goals and values rather than attraction. However, they get closer when they begin discussing personal trauma, social expectations, and family complications.
About the show: The show was an absolute hit, making the actress a household name.
5 /6
Alchemy Of Souls
Directed by: Park Joon-hwa
Cast: Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, Minhyun, Yu Jun-sang
Release date: 18 June 2022
Episodes: 20
Synopsis: The young master of the Jang family, Jang Uk (Lee), holds a dark secret about his birth. While he seeks a formidable assassin in Daeho to help him in a mysterious task, he learns about sorceress-assassin Naksu (Go). However, with Naksu’s soul trapped inside the weak body of Mu Deok (Jung), Jang’s servant, things seem to go awry.
About the show: The drama clocked in high viewership ratings, earning the actress a nomination in the Top Excellence Award, Actress category of the 2022 Korea Drama Awards. Regarding the show, she told Korea Herald, “The complex relationships between characters change in each episode. Our show doesn’t exclusively focus on the romance of the lead couple.” She further added, “From smile-inducing fantasies to hard-hitting action, ‘Alchemy of Souls’ is more like a huge gift box.”
6 /6
Love Next Door
Directed by: Yoo Je-won
Cast: Jung Hae-in, Jung So-min
Release date: 17 August 2024
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Bae Seok-ryu (played by Jung So-min) is a young woman trying to flip her troubled life around. Meanwhile, her childhood friend Choi Seung-hyo (Jung Hae-in) is a successful architect. The duo parted ways on the wrong note, hoping never to cross paths again. However, destiny soon brings them together.
About the show: The ongoing series is a hit, with fans closely following each episode. Needless to say, Jung So-min is wildly popular thanks to its success.
Happy watching!
Hero and feature images: Courtesy Netflix
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happened to Lee Joon and Jung So-min?
Lee Joon and Jung So-min parted ways in June 2020, citing the separation as amicable.
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Korean dramas south korean actress love next door jung so-min