It was a year of several interesting Korean dramas across streaming platforms, introducing fictional characters that are truly unique and engaging. So far, here are 20+ iconic K-drama characters of 2022:
Na Hee-do in Twenty-Five Twenty-One
“It feels better when I turn my tragedy into a comedy.”
Na Hee-do in tvN’s Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022) is a fun-loving character made iconic by Baeksang Actress winner, Kim Tae-ri. She’s a bubbly fencing prodigy who speaks her mind and deals with life’s challenges with a fighting spirit. She inspires to dream on and carry on with life’s ambitions amid the negatives of life and holds this charm that bursts through the screen, making you root for her all the way.
Woo Young Woo in Extraordinary Attorney Woo
“My name is Woo Young-woo. Whether it’s read straight or flipped, it’s still Woo Young-woo. Kayak, deed, rotator, noon, racecar. Woo Young-woo.”
Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Woo Young-Woo in ENA’s Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) is an extraordinary girl with a high IQ made iconic by Park Eun-bin. She is able to memorize the books of laws, has a special love for whales, dolphins, and gimbap, and developed into a brilliant lawyer who exercises her extraordinary skills in various courtroom cases while overcoming discrimination from society. Woo to the Young to the Woo!
Mr. Gu in My Liberation Notes
“How do you worship someone?”
Mr. Gu in JTBC’s My Liberation Notes (2022) is a mysterious man with extraordinary skills made iconic by Son Su-kku. Although he lives alone, avoids people, and spends most of his free time drinking soju while staring at the night sky, his charm and wit made him the newest bae in town. He also has the speed to run and the agility to jump as far as possible.
Queen Hwa Ryeong in Under The Queen’s Umbrella
“A crown prince is not born. He is made.”
Queen Hwa-ryeong in tvN’s Under The Queen’s Umbrella (2022) is a charismatic queen with five sons made iconic by Kim Hye-soo. Challenged by politics, injustices, and extreme competition inside the palace, she does everything possible as a mother and queen to protect her sons and train them to be the next King of Joseon. Her strength as a queen is iron but her heart as a mother is warm.
Mudeok in Alchemy Of Souls
“I may be a filthy girl whom everyone avoids but I refuse to serve just anyone.”
Mu-deok in tvN’s Alchemy Of Souls (2022) is a blind but special girl who possesses immense power made iconic by Jung So-min. She transforms into three characters that are distinct from each other—a powerful assassin named Nak-su whose soul is shifted inside an equally powerful blind daughter named Mu-deok who happens to be the most powerful priestess named Jin Bu-yeon. She is the charm of season 1.
Oh Sisters in Little Women
“Which do you prefer? Rich but mean parents or incompetent but kind parents?”
The Oh sisters namely In-joo, In-kyung, and In-hye in tvN’s Little Women (2022) are three skilled ladies with different personalities, made iconic by Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, and Park Ji-hoo. In-joo is a skilled accountant who loves money, In-kyung is a passionate reporter who faces challenges without fear, while In-hye is a talented painter who is quiet and finds solutions to her problems her way. They grew up in a poor family whose lives turn around after encountering mysteries surrrounding Korea’s powerful and rich people.
Shin Hari in A Business Proposal
“The one on the left is Samantha and the one on the right is Rachel. I spent a whopping ten million won a piece on these babies.”
Shin Ha-ri in SBS’ A Business Proposal (2022) is an ordinary yet dedicated and lively office worker made iconic by Kim Se-jeong. She goes on a blind date to replace her rich bestfriend, only to find that she’s meeting the CEO of a company where she works. She made the viewers laugh with her wit and charm, becoming one of the most entertaining characters in the history of Korean dramas.
Jang Uk in Alchemy Of Souls
“I knew the moment I saw you, you are my master.”
Jang Uk in tvN’s Alchemy Of Souls (2022) is a troublemaker from a mage family in Daeho yet one who has been granted the power of the sky, known as the King’s star, made iconic by Lee Jae-wook. He is also known as the “Winter Season” who is as dazzling as the winter snow and falls in love with Mu-deok, her servant and master who helped him break the curse.
Cheon Ji-hun in One Dollar Lawyer
“Even if we lose ten criminals, we shouldn’t wrongfully imprison even one person.”
Cheon Ji-hun in SBS’ One Dollar Lawyer (2022) is a cool lawyer who has the best skills in the legal field but only charges 1,000 won for his service made iconic by Namgoong Min. He has a curly hair, wears a sunglass, walks with confidence, makes you laugh, and always wins cases against the most expensive lawyers.
Park Chang-ho in Big Mouth
“What looks happy from a distance may be tragic up close.”
Park Chang-ho in MBC’s Big Mouth (2022) is an underperforming lawyer known as “Big Mouth” at work due to his personality that tends to speak rather than focus on action, made iconic by Lee Jong-suk. His simple life becomes complicated after getting caught up in a murder case, imprisoned, and mistaken as the powerful conman named “Big Mouse”. He is naturally warm as a person and husband but creepy when he transforms into “big mouse”.
Yeom Siblings in My Liberation Notes
“I’m not unhappy but I’m not happy either.”
The Yeom siblings namely Gi-jeong, Chang-hee, and Mi-jeong in JTBC’s My Liberation Notes (2022) live in the fictional countryside of Sanpo and travel to Seoul City everyday for work, made iconic by Lee El, Lee Min-ki, and Kim Ji-won. Although they differ in personality, each one shares the same sentiments about life in general, yearning for wholeness and freedom from the mundane.
Kang Tae-moo in A Business Proposal
“Do you know what my love for you and this credit card have in common? They both have no limit.”
Kang Tae-moo in SBS’ A Business Proposal (2022) is the intelligent and perfectionist President and CEO of a food company, made iconic by Ahn Hyo-seop. He appears to be a busy man who has no time and desire for romantic relationships, rejecting all blind dates required by his grandfather, but when he finally encounters a woman of wits, he transforms from a cold man to the most romantic and extravagant lover of all.
Choi Nam-ra in All Of Us Are Dead
“Don’t die a meaningless death. If we run now, we can still live. We have enough time.”
Choi Nam-ra in Netflix’s All Of Us Are Dead (2022) is the Junior class president who is quiet yet highly reflective and intelligent, made iconic by Cho Yi-hyun. She gets infected with the virus but tries her best not to be dominated by the sting and uses her extraordinary perceptive abilities to help her friends escape the zombie apocalypse.
Lee Yu-mi in Anna
“People. They even lie in their private diaries.”
Lee Yu-mi in Coupang Play’s Anna (2022) is a woman who lives a life full of lies, made iconic by Bae Suzy. To earn a life worth living, she uses someone else’s name and credentials—Lee Yumi becoming Lee Anna—enters a university as a licensed professor, and marries a rich businessman.
Oh Soo-jae in Why Her?
“I don’t risk my life for something so insignificant.”
Oh Soo-jae in SBS’ Why Her? (2022) is a tough lawyer but deeply broken woman, made iconic by Seo Hyun-jin. She conveys power in the way she walks, wears her dress, speaks her mind, responds to people, teaches her students, and handles her cases. At the same time, she exposes vulnerability in the face of old wounds and misery of the past.
Lee La-el in Eve
“Whatever you do, you can never beat me. Because you were never loved.”
Lee La-el in tvN’s Eve (2022) is the revengeful daughter of a genius scientist, made iconic by Seo Yea-ji. To avenge the brutal death of her father, she plans to take down the culprit by becoming Kim Sun-bin 13 years later. Unexpectedly, she gets torn between love and revenge as she slowly falls in love with one of the enemies who shares the same brokenness with her.
Do Be-man in Military Prosecutor Doberman
“I must flip everything around and see it differently. That way, I can see what the truth is.”
Do Be-man in tvN’s Military Prosecutor Doberman (2022) is a cool and intelligent lawyer, made iconic by Ahn Bo-hyun. He becomes a military prosecutor for money under the control of a corrupt lawyer but eventually, gets engaged in a secret operation to take down the political monsters and achieve justice for his parents’ death.
Nam Han-jun in Cafe Minamdang
“I am the wonder of Yonghae-dong. Shaman Nam Han-jun.”
Nam Han-jun in KBS2’s Cafe Minamdang (2022) is a former profiler who becomes a fake shaman, made iconic by Seo In-guk. He operates shamanic activities with his colleagues in a cafe called “Cafe Minamdang”, makes you laugh with his funny personality and speech skills as the group goes through mysterious events.
Kim Hee-woo in Again My Life
“A country can survive even after a war. A country can also survive disease and poverty. But a country without justice will not be able to survive in the end.”
Kim Hee-woo in SBS’ Again My Life (2022) is an intelligent prosecutor who engages in a lot of physical fights, made iconic by Lee Joon-gi. Due to his strong sense of justice and persistence to take down corrupt officials, he gets killed by a powerful enemy but is reborn to restart life and make changes, achieving justice in various cases.
Jin Jung in Bad Prosecutor
“My fate had found me. My true fate of becoming a prosecutor who can punish all the bad guys.”
Jin Jung in KBS2’s Bad Prosecutor (2022) is a prosecutor who is armed with bad manners and delinquency, made iconic by Doh Kyung-soo. Although he is known to be a crazy, troublemaking prosecutor, he has a strong sense of justice who stands on the side of the underprivileged and punishes corrupt powers.
Lee Eul in The Sound Of Magic
“Do you believe in magic? Annara sumanara.”
Lee Eul in Netflix’s The Sound Of Magic (2022) is a handsome but lonely magician, made iconic by Ji Chang-wook. He lives a mysterious life in an abandoned amusement park resulted from her desire to remain a child and the discrimination he receives from society.
Copyright KORB Blog.
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