'Rookie Historian,' 'Run On,' And More Shin Se Kyung Dramas To Stream Right Now
No doubt about it: former K-drama child actress Shin Se Kyung is a certified leading lady now! Also a philanthropist, Se Kyung donated her YouTube earnings to low-income families through Good Neighbors, an international humanitarian development NGO, in 2020.
One of her first main roles was in the 2009 series High Kick Through The Roof, a drama about two sisters from the country who move to the city to work as maids after their father runs away. She has also starred in the films Acoustic (2010), Hindsight (2011), Soar Into The Sun (2012), and Tazza: The Hidden Card (2014).
Shin Se Kyung is vocal about taking on "progressive" female roles in her dramas, saying about her Rookie Historian character: "I wanted to say [through my projects that] women who lived during the Joseon dynasty and the end of the Goryeo dynasty knew how to do other things besides just being jealous. I enjoyed acting as characters who showed that there were definitely things [women could do] while living during those times outside of just loving and receiving love." LOVE. THIS.
Before I gush even more, here's a list of Shin Se Kyung dramas that are available for streaming:
1. Blade Man (2014)
Where to watch it: Viu
In this drama, Shin Se Kyung is paired opposite Lee Dong Wook, who plays the role of a businessman who mysteriously grows knives on his back whenever he gets angry! Se Kyung's character Son Se Dong helps him "change his life for the better."
2. The Girl Who Sees Scents (2015)
Where to watch it: Netflix, Viu
Her character Eun Seol has synesthesia, a condition that lets her "see smells." She teams up with a cop (Park Yoo Chun) who lost his sense of pain, and they "track down the serial killer who brought tragedy to both their lives." (Via Netflix)
3. The Bride Of Habaek (2017)
Where to watch it: Netflix, Viu
Viu tells us: "Ha Baek (Nam Joo Hyuk), the deity of water, the next king of Land of Water, and the next emperor of the divine world falls on top of a broke psychiatrist, Yoon So Ah (Shin Se Kyung). Nothing will go as planned, and nothing is predictable with this woman and deity's romance. He calls her 'servant,' she thinks of him as mentally ill. In this romantic drama, Ha Baek will find what it means to be a real deity, and So Ah will find the meaning of life and happiness."
4. Black Knight: The Man Who Guards Me (2018)
Where to watch it: Netflix, Viu
In this drama, "a successful executive determined to do whatever it takes to protect the woman he loves, meets a travel agent, who may be linked to his past." (Via Netflix) Shin Se Kyung plays travel agency employee Jung Hae Ra, who's "positive despite her family life, work life, and love life being in shambles."
5. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung (2019)
Where to watch it: Netflix
Her role is a strong-minded noblewoman who decides to apply for a job at the royal palace instead of getting married to someone she doesn't love. When she gets a job as a palace historian, she has more encounters with Yi Rim (Cha Eun Woo), a ~sheltered~ prince who's living a secret life as a popular romance novelist! Read our honest review of the drama here.
6. Run On (2020)
Where to watch it: Netflix
Se Kyung stars as a foreign film translator named Oh Mi Joo! She's super independent, woke, absolutely adores films from different genres, and is a fan of guns, apparently. Her romantic interest in the story is Im Siwan, who stars as a track and field athlete. I'm telling you: this is one grown-up kilig story, you guys!
Bonus: Queen Seon Deok (2009)
Did you know that Shin Se Kyung appeared in this drama? She played the younger version of Princess Cheonmyeong. The show is a "biopic" of historical figure Queen Seon Deok, who "was born a princess and later became the ruler of Silla, leaving behind many brilliant achievements." Here's a clip of Se Kyung *in character*:
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