If you're reading this article, then you've probably been blown away by the charms and legit acting skills of South Korean actor Woo Do Hwan. At only 27 years old, he's already scored a variety of character roles in both K-dramas and films in the past three years. And it's no surprise, really, because Do Hwan studied performance and film at Dankook University. Yup, he's the ~real deal~, people!
But as we Do Hwan stans know, he got his big break in his current drama, The King: Eternal Monarch. Every week, we see Do Hwan play two polarizing roles in the fantasy series: the icy chief imperial bodyguard Jo Young and the over-the-top public service worker Jo Eun Seob. This ~duality~ in his acting has led us to fangirl over him—hard.
So, to everyone else who's officially part of the Woo Do Hwan Fan Club, here's a list of his must-watch dramas and movies. Happy bingeing, everyone!
1. Save Me (2017)
Get ready for the heebie-jeebies 'cause this one's quite the thriller. Save Me is a 2017 drama that's an adaptation of the webtoon Out Of The World by Jo Geum San. It tackles quite disturbing themes including suicide, brainwashing by religious cults, and violence. Netflix describes Save Me as such: "Four young men come to the rescue of a former classmate whose family has been sucked into the clutches of a religious cult and its charismatic leader."
2. Mad Dog (2017)
Those who are into crime and suspense then Mag Dog is for you. A former detective (Yoo Ji Tae) joins forces with a genius former swindler (Woo Do Hwan) as they're both driven to seek the truth after their loved ones die in an airplane crash. Worry not, though, 'cause Mad Dog also has its light moments: It has a mix of comedy, romance, and action as well.
3. The Great Seducer (2018)
Anyone who's seen the 1999 film Cruel Intentions would already be familiar with the plot of The Great Seducer (aka Tempted). Woo Do Hwan plays the sexy and troubled chaebol heir Kwon Shi Hyun who makes a bet with his friends for the naïve and good-natured Eun Tae Hee (Joy of Red Velvet) to fall in love with him.
4. My Country: New Age (2019)
My Country: New Age is Woo Do Hwan's first sageuk or historical drama. Set in between the end of the Goryeo dynasty and the beginning of the Joseon dynasty, two childhood friends Seo Wi (Yang Se Jong) and Nam Sun Ho (Woo Do Hwan) turn against each other after being torn apart during their country's ongoing coup.
5. The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)
The King: Eternal Monarch is Lee Min Ho's comeback drama after getting discharged from his mandatory military service in 2019. The epic fantasy drama is also written by famed screenwriter Kim Eun Sook (The Heirs, Descendants Of The Sun, and Goblin) and co-stars Kim Go Eun. The drama is about two parallel worlds: the Kingdom of Corea and the Republic of Korea. Woo Do Hwan plays the chief imperial bodyguard Jo Young in the Kingdom and the public servant Eun Seob in the Republic. The drama is currently ongoing and is available for streaming on Netflix.
6. The Divine Fury (2019)
Park Seo Joon headlines The Divine Fury, an action-slash-horror film. Mixed martial arts fighter Yong Hoo (Park Seo Joon) loses his father at a young age which prompts him to denounce his Christian faith. After achieving success in his career, he mysteriously develops stigmata or wounds on the palms of his hands. Woo Do Hwan plays "a mysterious figure who has the ability to see others' weaknesses and uses them to his advantage."
7. The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful (2019)
The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful is the prequel of the 2014 action film The Divine Move and stars Kwon Sang Woo. The film revolves around the high-stakes gambling game called Go. Woo Do Hwan plays one of Korea's best Go players who goes against Kwon Sang Woo's character Gwi Soo, a vengeful Go grandmaster.
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