8 Best Dramas Starring Kang Yoo Seok
Kang Yoo Seok started his acting career in the drama God's Quiz: Reboot (2018) with a small role. Over time, he gained more confidence and got the main roles in some popular shows.
If you want to know the best drama series Kang Yoo Seok has been in, here's a summary of his career journey that Showpoiler has put together!
1. Beyond Evil
The drama show Beyond Evil (2021) received three awards at the respected 57th Baeksang Arts Awards for Television. This accomplishment strongly indicates that the drama has a high-quality storyline. Kang Yoo Seok is part of the show as a guest role. He portrays a reporter named Lim Gyu Seok, who frequently visits Manyang Police Station to report on ongoing cases.
The drama's main characters are portrayed by Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo. It revolves around two police officers with different backgrounds. Lee Dong Shik, who has a long history at Manyang Police Station, is joined by a young policeman from Seoul named Han Joo Won.
Their relationship is strained as Joo Won secretly suspects Dong Shik in the disappearance of Lee Yu Yeon twelve years ago. However, it turns out that Dong Shik was manipulating these suspicions. This is because Lee Yu Yeon is actually Dong Shik's biological sister, and he has been relentlessly investigating her case all this time.
2. Once Again
Once Again (2020) portrays the life of the Song family, which is always full of interesting events. The head of the family, Song Young Dal (Cheon Ho Jin), is a typical thrifty father, and his wife, Jang Ok Boon (Cha Hwa Yeon), is a talkative homemaker.
The two have been married for many years and have four grown children. The eldest child, Joon Sun, and the second child, Ga Hee, are both widowed and have returned to live with their parents.
The situation in the household of the third child, Na Hee, who works as a pediatrician, is also complicated. Meanwhile, the youngest child, Da Hee, is preparing for her upcoming wedding. The family's excitement increases with the arrival of a mysterious owner of a kimbab restaurant named Kang Cho Yeon. How will the Song family's life unfold?
In this drama, Kang Yoo Seok takes on the role of Han Gi-young, one of the doctors at the pediatric hospital where Na Hee works.
3. Light on Me
Light on Me (2021) is a drama based on a boy’s love dating sim mobile game. Teen Vogue listed this drama among the best boys love (BL) dramas of 2021.
The story revolves around Woo Tae Kyung (Lee Sae On), an 18-year-old student who often feels alone. One day, he realizes he needs to start making friends, even though he's unsure how to do it. Seeking guidance, he turns to his teacher for help.
The teacher suggests that Tae Kyung join the student council at school to overcome his difficulty. However, this becomes challenging because the vice president of the student council, Noh Shin Woo (Kang Yoo Seok), strongly opposes Tae Kyung's presence. Fortunately, the student council president, Da On, takes a liking to Tae Kyung from their first encounter.
The growing closeness between Da On and Tae Kyung seems to unsettle Shin Woo. This tension is further complicated by the presence of Da On's friend, who secretly has feelings for Da On. Jealous of their bond, she attempts to come between them. How will their relationships unfold amidst these challenges?
4. Black Knight
In Black Knight, Kang Yoo shares the screen with famous actors like Kim Woo Bin, Song Seung Heon, and Esom. He takes on the lead role of Yoon Sa Wol, a refugee who aspires to become a Knight.
This drama is based on a webtoon by Lee Yun Kyun, portraying Earth's future. At this point in time, air pollution has become a widespread issue following a comet's destruction of most of the world. As a result, the surviving humans rely on elite delivery drivers called Knights for survival.
Set in the year 2071, the air is toxic, prompting people to rarely venture outdoors without gas masks to shield themselves from toxins. The citizens heavily depend on the Knight delivery service for their necessities. Among the Knights, there's a legendary figure known as Knight 5-8 (Kim Woo Bin).
Knight 5-8 encounters Yoon Sa Wol, a refugee who holds him in high esteem and aspires to follow in his footsteps as a Knight. With the assistance of an officer from the Defense Intelligence Command, 5-8 aids Sa Wol in achieving his dream.
5. Growing Season
Growing Season (2020) is a web drama that features Kang Yoo Seok in its cast. This series consists of 12 episodes, each lasting around 20 minutes. The story centers around three female students who come together to work on a project about sex and love, assigned by their professor. The students are Heo Ji Yoo, Kang Ha Young, and Ban Ah In.
Heo Ji Yoo (Park Ji Won) is a senior who is confident, determined, and independent. Kang Ha Young (Kim Chae Eun) holds more traditional views. She's in a long-term relationship with her partner, Wi Seon Woo (Kang Yoo Seok). On the other hand, Ban Ah In (Han Soo A) is an optimistic girl who often fantasizes about sex but has never experienced it.
As they collaborate on their assignments, they form a bond over time. However, when unexpected health challenges arise, the people they relied on for support appear to be abandoning them. The question remains: will they be able to overcome these obstacles and complete their task?
6. Payback: Money and Power
Payback: Money and Power (2023) is the next drama we recommend. In this show, Kang Yoo Seok takes on the lead role alongside Lee Sun Kyun and Moon Chae Won.
The drama centers around a collective revenge plan against a money cartel that has connections with law enforcement. Eun Young (Lee Sun Kyun) is a money trader and the owner and General Manager of a private equity fund company called Change.
In his childhood, Eun Young received help from a woman named Yoon, who played a pivotal role in turning his life around after being an ex-convict. Yoon's influence is a significant factor in Eun Young's current success. When Eun Young learns of Yoon's mysterious death, he decides to return to Korea to investigate.
Eun Young is joined by Park Joon Kyung (Moon Chae Won), an army major who happens to be Yoon's daughter. Kang Yoo Seok portrays Eun Young's nephew, a prosecutor who also contributes to uncovering the truth behind the case.
The investigation reveals that Yoon's death is connected to a money misappropriation case involving law enforcement. Will they manage to reveal the truth behind this complex case?
7. I Have Not Done My Best Yet
Kang Yoo Seok got the chance to act alongside actor Park Hae Joon in the drama I Have Not Done My Best Yet (2023). This drama is adapted from the manga series "Ore Wa Mada Honki Dashitenai Dake" and narrates the story of Nam Geum Pil (Park Hae Joon), a 44-year-old unemployed man with aspirations of becoming a webtoon writer.
At the age of four, Geum Pil still resides with his father, but he unexpectedly decides to leave his job. After observing a neighbor who appears unemployed yet earns well as a webtoon creator, Geum Pil is motivated to pursue a career in that field. He sets out on a journey to become a webtoon writer. Will Geum Pil manage to achieve his ambition?
In this drama, you'll witness Kang Yoo Seok in the role of Kang Do Seok, a part-time worker at Amazing Yellow Burger, a fast-food restaurant where Geum Pil is employed.
8. Melting Me Softly
The drama Melting Me Softly (2019), featuring Ji Chang Wook and Won Jin Ah, also had Kang Yoo Seok as one of its supporting actors.
Kang Yoo Seok portrays Park Young Joon, a freshman at Korea University, where the main female character, Go Mi Ran, also studies.
The storyline revolves around Go Mi Ran (Won Jin A) and Ma Dong Chan (Ji Chang Wook), who participate in an experiment. This experiment involves them being frozen for 24 hours. However, the unexpected occurs, as they wake up two decades later.
To cope with the side effects of their frozen state, they must adhere to specific rules. Some of these rules include maintaining their body temperature at 31.5 degrees Celsius and ensuring their heart rate remains normal.
Complications arise when the sole individual aware of the experiment has an accident and loses his memory. Now, how will these two navigate normal life and make up for the lost time they've endured?
Those are some of the dramas that feature Kang Yoo Seok. While he often takes on supporting roles with less time on screen, a few of the dramas we listed above have him in the main role. Interested in learning more about his acting skills? You can watch these shows to find out.