Without a doubt, the Korean film industry is filled to the brim with amazing talent. This list only seems to grow by the year, with rising stars making a name for themselves through standout roles. While it's nice to see new faces, one cannot forget the celebrated veterans that have elevated the scene for years on end.

This year alone has seen the likes of Kim SooHyun, Kim JiWon, Cho JungSeok, and Kim NamJoo, among many others, return to roaring praise across their respective series. These experienced veterans have consistently shown what it means to be a top tier actor. Another name that should be a part of this list is Joo Won who is currently starring in "Night Photo Studio". Just like his previous work, the actor has been an utter joy to watch, bringing laughter and comfort to the start of the week.

He is a man of many faces, being able to tackle every genre imaginable. Joo Won is an individual that millions recognize and anticipate only great things from. Taking part of numerous projects, Joo Won continues to mesmerize audiences with his incredible acting talent.

 

Joo Won The Actor

Joo Won made his acting debut in 2010 through the KBS series, "Bread, Love, and Dreams". While still gaining his footing, he put on a stunning performance that proved why he was chosen as one of the main characters. Joo Won masterfully took audiences on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, going through the feelings of romance, despair, and so much more. After this point, he set off on an upward trajectory earning countless accolades all throughout his career.

Some of his most notable works include "Good Doctor", "Naeil's Cantabile", and "Yong Pal". Regardless of genre or storyline, Joo Won covered it all. His versatility as an actor is recognized by everyone, from his colleagues, staff, and the critics analyzing his every move. He has even taken on the challenge of rough action scenes, leaving millions in awe of his outstanding charisma.

 

A Beloved Variety Presence

While he's incredibly charismatic on screen, Joo Won has a golden personality that everyone loves. He has become a ray of sunshine across various programs, becoming the friendly next door oppa/hyung that you'd love to meet. Being part of iconic variety program, "2 Days 1 Night" surely helped audiences get to know Joo Won more than ever before. He became a surprising source of laughter and joy, synergizing well with the rest of his castmates.

While his handsome visuals might make Joo Won seem like he's from another world, he exudes such an inviting aura. He is naturally a warmhearted individual, making it hard not to fall for the actor. Witnessing his mesmerizing duality, you can't help but look forward to more appearances by Joo Won across multiple variety programs.

 

Incredible Vocal Prowess

Before making his start in K-Dramas, Joo Won initially debuted as a musical actor. Despite making waves as an acting legend, he never forgot his roots, gracing the musical stage, with his most recent appearance being in 2021. The actor also participated in several OST recordings and even has a scene in SBS K-Drama "Alice" where he shows off his incredible vocal prowess.

His sweet, honey-like vocals will have you swooning at your knees, ready to become his full-fledged fan in an instant. Considering the amazing harmonies he's able to produce, fans cannot wait for the next opportunity to hear Joo Won's singing once more.

 

A Terrific Showing In "Night Photo Studio"

In "Night Photo Studio", Joo Won plays Seo KiJoo, a photographer with a supernatural ability. He has taken on the mantle of the family-owned photo studio, a shop specially made for ghosts. As he takes these ghostly being's photographs, he also helps them make peace with the earthly life they're leaving behind. While he can be a bit hesitant to take on these jobs, Seo KiJoo has a sincere heart that Joo Won wonderfully portrays.

Being surrounded by the paranormal has skewed his relationships with the living, however, Joo Won navigates the character in such a way that makes you want to protect him from any harm and hope that one day, Seo KiJoo will be free from this curse. Then there's Joo Won's chemistry with his castmates that leave you yearning for more. His quirkiness portrayed through the drama is reminiscent of his variety show persona. And his ability to switch between that and a more serious tone is enough to have audiences coming back every week.

Joo Won is an icon in every right, deserving of all the accomplishments and praise.

Have you been watching Joo Won's most recent K-Drama, "Night Photo Studio"? What do you think of the actor?

2024 is already so ripe with incredible series, tugging on heartstrings and urging audiences to remain seated for hours on end. Among the ever growing list of entertaining 2024 K-Dramas is ENA's "Night Photo Studio". It stars an illustrious cast in Joo Won, Kwon NaRa, Yoo InSoo, and Eum MoonSuk.

It follows the life of Seo KiJoo (Joo Won), a photography cursed to take photographs of ghosts who enter the studio and Han Bom (Kwon NaRa), a passionate lawyer. After a string of events, she ends up collaborating with KiJoo's photo studio.

While the drama has yet to reach its halfway point, "Night Photo Studio" has been an entertaining watch and stands as more evidence of Kwon NaRa's acting prowess. She's had a long career in the entertainment field and seems to only get better with time.

We see a new side of the actress through "Night Photo Studio", adding onto her already storied resume.

 

Beginnings As An Idol

When Kwon NaRa became known in the entertainment industry, it was as a member of the beloved girl group HELLOVENUS. They covered everything from girlishly cute to alluringly sexy. During her time as a girl group member, Kwon NaRa stood out for her incredible physique, charismatic stage presence, and gorgeous visuals. Even when she wasn't at the center of the formation, a spotlight automatically followed her from beginning to end. Now, there was no doubt that Kwon NaRa exceled on stage and fans would certainly welcome her as a soloist if she chose to do so. However, she obviously had other plans and a brand new dream to pursue.

 

Venturing Off As An Actress

However, her time as a HELLOVENUS member wasn't her first step in the entertainment industry, as NaRa was casted in a guest role for the movie "Mr. Wacky" in 2006. Showing interest in acting at a young age, her transition from idol life to acting seemed natural and a course many might have seen coming.

She started gaining traction through K-Dramas like "Suspicious Partner" and "My Mister". From these series, she already showed incredible potential to become a well beloved actress soon in the future. Everything from her line delivery to facial expressions were immersive and real, earning praise from critics and fans alike.

Her first mainstream dramas like these set the tone for the rest of her career. From these performances, it appeared that Kwon NaRa was on an upward trajectory to become a household name within the Korean film industry.

 

Coming Into Her Own

Kwon NaRa continued to land multiple roles throughout the years, determined to get her name out there and prove herself to the entire world. She became an actress people started to love, adding additional layers to the drama with her undeniable presence and skill. Despite spending a good amount of her career as an idol, she transformed into a true actress.

Watching Kwon NaRa in one of her most standout roles to date as Oh SooAh in "Itaewon Class" is still engraved in the mind of K-Drama enthusiasts everywhere. She piloted the character beautifully, causing millions to root for her happiness and success. And while she wasn't able to win the heart of Park SaeRoi (Park SeoJun), she captured the hearts of the entire world.

And while this was certainly one of the many highlights of her career, NaRa would not stop and continued to meet her loyal supporters through "Royal Secret Agent" and "Bulgasal: Immortal Souls". Every time Kwon NaRa graced our screens, we were immediately smitten and slowly wrapped up in a riveting story until the very end.

 

Continuing To Break Every Expectation

After the conclusion of "Bulgasal: Immortal Souls", Kwon NaRa went on a hiatus and despite an appearance in "Young Actors' Retreat", did not participate in any series until "Night Photo Studio". Although she hasn't been seen on the small screen for a while, Kwon NaRa continues to portray incredible acting prowess.

She navigates her character with both wit and class, performing a balance act of charisma and comedic timing. The actress proves she hasn't missed a beat since she last stood in front of K-Drama audiences and has viewers coming back week after week for every new episode. Having just premiered on March 11th, there's still a lot more drama left to cover, but with Kwon NaRa as one of the people leading the charge, fans can rest assured that they're in for yet another amazing hit.

Are you a fan of Kwon NaRa? What do you think about the actress?

One of the biggest names in the Korean entertainment industry and especially in broadcasting and to many K-Drama lovers is none other than 'KBS'. KBS, the Korean Broadcasting System, has played a vital role in the growth of K-Dramas over the decades with continuously high-ranking K-Dramas placing in the best ratings list of 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Additionally, KBS has been known for producing some of the most iconic dramas adored by K-Drama lovers. Thanks to this, they also have some record ratings worth mentioning such as for the K-Drama "Bread, Love and Dreams" which aired in 2010 that reached a record 50.8% rating! Another of their K-Drama hits with sky-high ratings is "Descendants of The Sun" (2016) with a 38.8% rating.

Make sure to check out the KBS dramas with the highest ratings from 2015-2020 in this article:

Here are the top KBS dramas with the highest ratings since 2020!

Note: This ranking does not include daily and weekend dramas. 'Drama specials' and 'weekend drama specials' are also not included in the ranking.

 

1. "Royal Secret Agent" - 14%

"Royal Secret Agent" is the KBS drama with the highest rating (since 2020) at a 14% rating. Starring INFINITE's L (Kim MyungSoo), Kwon NaRa, and Lee YiKyung, many hailed the drama as one of the best historical K-Dramas out there. The drama turned its viewers into detectives who were just as invested in cracking the story as the characters and made for an immersive experience.

 

2. "Goryeo–Khitan War" - 13.8%

"Goryeo-Khitan War" is a 32-episode long and old-style historical drama that gained the hearts of a lot of viewers. It tells the story of the King of Goryeo named HyeonJong who united Goryo with various events including by leading the war with the Khitans. Starring Kim DongJun, Choi SooJung, and Ji SeungHyun, the drama ended with its highest rating at 13.8% (the drama started at 5%).

Note: this drama is a special drama to commemorate the 50th anniversary of KBS.

3. "The King's Affection" - 12.1%

"The King's Affection" was hailed as a drama that gives you butterflies, as K-Drama lovers couldn't get enough of the sweet storyline and affectionate chemistry between the main couple. Add to that the visual beauty of this historical drama and the deal is sealed. Starring RoWoon and Park EunBin, the drama earned a rating of 12.1%.

 

4. "King Of Tears, Lee BangWon" - 11.7%

"King Of Tears, Lee BangWon" told the history of King TaeJong in a way that put a refreshing twist on the well-known history of the king. The drama was particularly enjoyed by history buffs for the way that it kept the already-known narrative exciting. Starring Joo SangWook, Kim YeongCheol, Ye JiWon, and Park JinHee, the drama made a rating of 11.7%.

 

5. "Woman of 9.9 Billion" - 11.6%

This is yet another drama that made a bold impression on K-Drama lovers. Many found the narrative thrilling and filled with suspense that had you on the edge of your seat waiting to see how it ended. Starring Cho YeoJeong and Kim KangWoo, the drama achieved a rating of 11.6%.

 

6. "River Where the Moon Rises" - 10%

This drama earned praise for many elements from the cast's acting portrayals, to the cinematography, to the OST, and more. Fans couldn't get enough of the electric chemistry between the actors, too. Starring Kim SoHyun, Na InWoo, Lee JiHoon, and Choi YuHwa, "River Where The Moon Rises" earned a rating of 10%.

 

7. "Oasis" - 9.7%

This drama took a fresh approach to an educational lesson on Korean history. Many were impressed with the actors who gave the noir drama its depth. "Oasis", starring Jang DongYoon, Seor InA, and Choo YoungWoo, secured a rating of 9.7%.

 

8. "Bloody Heart" - 8.9%

"Bloody Heart" earned a rating of 8.9%. Starring Jang Hyuk, Lee Joon, and Kang HanNa, the drama was praised for the depth of its storyline and characters. With a riveting narrative, the characters each carried out their convictions in a convincing way.

 

9. "Police University" - 8.5%

"Police University" was a K-Drama filled with life lessons and sweet moments that brought a lot of fun to the screen. Starring Cha TaeHyun, JinYoung, and f(x)'s Krystal, the drama earned an 8.5% rating.

 

10. "Moonshine" - 7.6%

"Moonshine" did what a lot of dramas can't do easily. It mixed the complex world of politics with a romantic comedy aspect that made for a pleasant viewing experience. Fans were especially pleased with the emotional conviction of the actors, Yoo SeungHo and Girl's Day's HyeRi - earning the drama a 7.6% rating.

 

11. "Forest" - 7.4%

"Forest" gained a lot of praise for its beautiful setting and beautiful story. Many fans expressed that watching the drama had a healing effect on them and that they appreciated the sweet chemistry between the main characters, played by actors Park HaeJin and Cho BoAh, too. This earned the drama ratings of 7.4%.

 

12. "Curtain Call" - 7.2%

"Curtain Call" was a fresh kind of period drama well-received by many fans. The drama carried a deep sentiment that appealed to viewers. Starring Kang HaNeul, Ha JiWon, and Go DooShim, the drama secured 7.2% ratings.

 

13. "The Law Cafe" - 7.1%

"The Law Cafe" earned the high ratings of 7.1%. Starring Lee SeungGi and Lee SeYoung, this law-and-order type drama had fans rolling with laughter at the witty antics and had their hearts fluttering at the romantic moments.

 

14. "Sell Your Haunted House" - 6.9%

"Sell Your Haunted House" was complimented for its beguiling cast and the amazing way that it presented the horror genre to the K-Drama screen. Starring Jang NaRa and CNBLUE's Jung YongHwa, the drama secured a rating of 6.9%.

 

15. "Bad Prosecutor" - 6.3%

"Bad Prosecutor" gained a lot of praise for its thrilling action investigation storyline and comedy-filled scenes. The chemistry between the two leads was also unmatched. Starring EXO’s D.O. and Lee SeHee, the drama secured 6.3% in ratings.

 

16. "Cheat On Me, If You Can" - 5.8%

Many enjoyed this drama for its crime-novel-esque storytelling style and for the thrill of unraveling the mystery together with the main character. Starring Cho YeoJeong and Go Jun, "Cheat On Me, If You Can" earned 5.8% in ratings.

Which of these KBS dramas is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!