GQ
The name Ok TaecYeon has been a buzz and trending word on social media lately thanks to the famous acting-dol making a comeback with the funny fantasy drama "Heartbeat". But trending or being a high search topic is nothing new to the actor as in the last couple of years, he's starred in many hit dramas, playing impactful roles that duly make viewers not just pique interest in him but also go online to share their thoughts and opinions on his character and acting abilities, which 99% of the time, revolves around praises and compliments.
How would we describe actor Ok TaecYeon? We would call him outstanding! He exceeds every kind of standard and expectation. Frankly, his talents and skill level cannot rightfully be described as when you take a close look at his filmography, all the words you would've thought to affix or attribute to his acting talents suddenly feel not good enough to fully encompass your feelings towards his works.
One thing we can note while looking at his filmography is that he is such a dynamic actor who readily makes the most complex of roles and characters easy to understand. Regardless of the kind of role he plays (be it a hero or villain), there is always a note of appreciation for Ok TaecYeon, as he always portrays his character in such a conceivable light that makes him believe every single word, action, and expression he makes. This quality is perhaps what has made him such an invaluable actor who continues to be a sought-after talent by many producers, and thrill and entice the hearts of global K-Drama fans with his talents.
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In this themed article, we will be taking a look at his famous works, exploring the dynamics of his characters and how as an actor, TaecYeon continues to push his artistic boundaries and show off his different yet beautiful colors as an actor.
2010 - An impactful debut
KBS
Ok TaecYeon made his drama debut in 2010 starring in the romance drama "Cinderella's Stepsister". Playing the role of JungWoo, a selfless and trustworthy young man who tries to be a source of strength and comfort to the main lead.
Playing the supporting role, especially a character whose been through a lot right from young, Ok TaecYeon definitely made JungWoo's story is one that many would not understand but also perhaps find motivating as well. Even though this was his first drama, his expressions were on the mark and convincing. The moments of anger, care, sadness, jealousy, hope, and love, were duly expressed in ways that had us all impressed.
His acting in this drama must have clearly been that impressive as it perhaps contributed to the reasons why he was cast to play a role in one of the most famous high teen musical dramas yet, "Dream High". Playing the role of the sincere and caring Jin Guk, his character is one that many appreciated and rooted for as despite his own issues, he showed a deep level of care and affection for HyeMi (played by Suzy) that made many still wish they ended up together at the end of the drama.
KBS2
A clear victim of the case of 2nd lead syndrome, right till the near end of the drama, we were all biting our nails in sheer anticipation, vividly hoping that a love story blossomed between the two characters. His chemistry with Suzy made their relationship so appealing and interesting that even in the littlest actions, many fans could find their heart fluttering as they felt pure, sincere, and affectionate.
Amazing chemistry, perhaps this is something we could readily associate with Ok TaecYeon as even with his debut with "Cinderella's Stepsister", his chemistry with EunJoo (played by Moon GuenYoung) was very evident and made us believe his care and affection for her. We can rightly say that this amazing quality of his continues to shine brightly in many of his dramas as be it with his female or male leads, having a great chemistry with them is something he always brings to our screens.
The success of "Dream High" no doubt had a positive effect on Ok TaecYeon as he became the heartthrob that everyone began to fall in love with.
Between 2011 and 2014, he starred in 2 more dramas and a movie, no doubt, with every project he worked on, he gained ample amounts of experience and grew his talents as he began taking on more challenging roles. One of which is the role of DongHui in the drama "Wonderful Days". While we could question some of his actions and belief, we found a semblance of understanding for DongHui as beyond the cool and cold exterior front he tried to put up due to the nature of his job, he was a thoughtful and strong-willed person who believed in true love and sought to protect the ones he loved.
2016 - "Bring It On, Ghost" or "Bring It On, World"
By 2016, Ok TaecYeon had consistently been proving that there was no kind of character he could execute to perfection on the acting spectrum. Already starring in different hit dramas across major genres, his next drama would duly position him as a bonafide drama star with immense potential.
Playing the role of Park BongPal in the mystery rom-com "Bring It On, Ghost", was a perfect pick for Ok TaecYeon as he brought layers to the charms of Park BongPal that perhaps no other actor would have. The silly expressions, the cute puppy-like visuals, the endearing attributes, the chaotic and hilarious moments, the quick-witted banter, and the athleticism, there were so many qualities that made Bong Pal such a stand-out character that made many viewers find this drama so interesting and entertaining to watch, and this is all thanks to Ok TaecYeon's delivery.
OCN
In 2017, Ok TaecYeon would show a less comical and meme-worthy side by playing a more moody and serious character, Han SangHwan in the thriller drama "Save Me". Till now, one of the similar attributes we would say that many of the characters that he's played so far are "selflessness and the need to save or protect others." Quite similar to his previous characters, Han SangHwan was hell-bent on doing the right thing and saving his crush and community from the evil hands of the religious cult.
The thriller mystery drama still holds a special place in the hearts of many global fans as with its engrossing storyline, it didn't just tackle a prevalent topic affecting our society today, but the acting of its cast was perhaps one of the best many have seen in a long time.
Looking back and rewatching scenes from the drama, the acting of Ok TaecYeon, even back then, was something extraordinary and it makes us realize just what an amazing talent he has always been. The role of Han SangHwan yet again showed Ok TaecYeon had the clear ability to dig deep and portray a very emotional and complex character, with such finesse and clarity.
His next popular drama would be in 2020 with the role of Tae Pyeong in the mystery drama "The Game: Towards Zero". Thoroughly engrossing and compelling, from start to finish of this drama, we were all lost in the suspense-filled story of Tae Pyeong whose abilities were as intriguing as they were scary. From his interesting plot to its well-timed pacing that allowed the story to be properly told, impressive dialogue, and overall great acting and production, this drama remains a highly recommended one amongst K-Drama viewers for all these reasons and perhaps more.
2021 - The shocking twist no one saw coming
2021 would be regarded as a very successful year for Ok TaecYeon as he saw his popularity skyrocket thanks to his role as Jang JunWoo in the hit tvN drama "Vincenzo". In the first few episodes of the drama, one would find Jang JunWoo as the endearing sidekick of Hong ChaYoung (played by Jeon YeoBeen) who was also perhaps having a crush on her.
tvN
tvN
His endearing antics, witty expressions, sassy comments, and funny reactions all made us quickly fall in love with him. But we all collectively held our breaths in awe when it was revealed that the puppy-like behavior was just an act and he was a true criminal mastermind. The ultimate boss-level villain!
Thinking of the impeccable switch from cute and lovely to dark and evil makes us want to bow our heads and give a resounding round of applause to Ok TaecYeon is sheer respect and admiration for his talents. As while he has consistently shown his versatility with his diverse roles, it's such a Jekyll and Hyde situation as even when he was full on evil mood, there were still various moments where he showed that cute side that made us have lingering hopes for a redemptive arc from him.
But sadly that never came and his story served as a moral lesson for us all that when you try to take over the world and inflict pain and suffering on others, a group of steadfast individuals living in an apartment complex will rise up and fight for what is right, leading to your downfall. His character in Vincenzo is still an ultimate favorite for us as that shocking twist was iconic, impactful, and memorable.
tvN
From one gripping performance to another, in 2022, Ok TaecYeon would yet again captivate our minds with his performance as the strong-willed and smart detective who faces difficult challenges in his quest for truth and Justice in the crime thriller drama "Blind".
The drama could be described as dark, gritty, and moody, as it tackles on topics that are yet again, sadly still prevalent in our society today. Topics on child abuse, trauma, injustice, and murder were vividly explored in this drama almost to the point where it felt like a documentary or an expose as many could very well feel a sense of familiarity with the scenarios created in the story.
Kudos to the actors for such an amazing job as they portrayed their characters without a flaw and made us all intoned to their story. For Ok TaecYeon, it's yet again another masterpiece of a performance. He portrays SungHoon in such a way that takes us on an emotional journey. Moments where we found him so impulsive and prone to making dangerous decisions but somehow, we also understood his actions as that impulsiveness that drives his will to do his job and ultimately uncover his truth.
The drama is of great rewatch value, especially for those who greatly enjoy a suspense-filled thriller. It's such a wonderful viewing experience with an impactful message.
2023 has seen actor Ok TaecYeon making a return to the TV screens. He became a viral sensation following his appearance in the Netflix drama "XO, Kitty" and he's currently starring in the fantasy drama "Heartbeat" where he plays the role of a vampire who sees his plan to become human faltered when a woman opens his coffin a day before the proposed 100 years.
Again, like we mentioned earlier, one of the traits we could very well attribute to Ok TaecYeon is having the versatility to deliver compelling and captivating performances across all genres. In our opinion, today, he's one of the actors whose name on a drama means it is watch worthy, as not only can we note that the story will be a good one since he decided to star in it but we can readily be filled with excitement and anticipation over the kind of performance he will deliver with his role.
Roles we would love to see him play in the future
1. A crime fighter in an action series
Ok TaecYeon's official Instagram
Ok TaecYeon is known for his athleticism which he's aptly displayed in various moments in his dramas. That is why we would love to see him star in an action series. A fast-paced drama with lots of fighting scenarios will be such a thrill to watch.
2. An office rom-com
GQ
We need rom-com Ok TaecYeon to make a return and this time, he plays the role of a rich and successful chaebol who finds himself in a Cinderella story situation as he falls in love with someone who society has deemed to not be on his "level".
Are you a fan of Ok TaecYeon? Share with us some of your favorite dramas in the comment section.
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