Lee Dong-wook Fans ~ Nine (9) Korean Dramas

Lee Dong-wook appears on many lists of “most handsome” South Korean male actors. But he is not just a pretty face. He is popular for a variety of reasons. He is very talented, has a versatile acting range, is known to have a charming persona, and he is “best buds” with Gong Yoo.

(NOTE:  Gong Yoo (“Squid Game”) is just as popular as Lee Dong-Wook and dedicated fans were elated when their bromance was publicized. They both played the male leads in “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” (2016 – 2017) (aka “Goblin”). Gong Yoo was the Goblin and Lee Dong-wook was cast as the Grim Reaper. Both stole the hearts of many. Even though it’s 2024, this series is still appears on lists of binge-worthy Korean dramas.)

• Lee Dong Wook shares the secret to his long and successful career without any controversies | Times of India

Lee Dong-wook is an award-winning actor and has been appearing in Korean dramas since 2005. Several K-drama reviews where he was cast as one of the main characters have been published via PopGeeks:

1. Bad and Crazy (2021)
2. Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020)
3. Tale of the Nine Tailed: 1938 (2023)
4. A Shop For Killers (2024)
5. The Fugitive of Joseon (2013)

If you are a K-drama newbie searching for watch list recommendations, or you just recently became a Lee Dong-wook fan, add the Korean dramas mentioned above.

In addition to “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God”, add the 3 suggestions below.

1. Hotel King (2014)
2. Life (2018)
3. Strangers from Hell (2019)

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♦ Hotel King (2014)

In this series, Lee Dong-wook plays “Jayden” (American name) / Cha Jae-Wan (Korean name). He was found on the streets of America at a young age and recruited by a man who claimed that he was the child of a 7-star hotel owner. The man raised him to believe that he was the rightful heir to the hotel. In other words, he deserved to be the Hotel King.

Cha Jae-Wan worked as the General Manager at that hotel, always hoping that one day he would be the rightful owner.

However, the owner of the hotel had a daughter and she was designated as the heiress. Her father’s death was written off as a suicide. But just before he died, he made a phone call to her warning her not to trust anybody.

When she arrived at the hotel, she intended to take her rightful place as heiress. She did not believe that her father’s death was a suicide and aimed to prove it.

All the while, Cha Jae-Wan intended to demand his rightful place as heir. The plot gets kinky when he finds himself falling in love with … his sister(???) Ewe! Not only that but she’s falling for him. Double ewe!

Uh oh! This is bad! Very bad! Or … is it? Remember that Cha Jae-Wan was found on the streets and raised by a man who said … he was the child of the hotel’s owner. But was that the truth? Truth does not become true just because you believe it.

TRAILER/TEASER:
Admin IP. “Hotel King Trailer 1 English Sub (Korean Drama).” YouTube Video. YouTube, March 30, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwYFFFF_0Tc.‌

♦ Life (2018)

In this series, a medical drama, Lee Dong-Wook plays Ye Jin-Woo, a doctor in the emergency medical center. His brother informs him that the hospital director pocketed government money. Before he could act on this tip, the director dies from an apparent suicide, and a new director takes over.

The new director is only concerned with making a profit, so he transfers the emergency medical department, to other hospitals. The hospital staff is against his changes, but he carries on. There is one thing the new director notices and that is that deaths of patients are often covered up.

Ye Jin-Woo’s work ethic is patient-centered, not profit-centered and he often conflicts with the new director.

TRAILER/TEASER:

KDTeaser tv. “Life (Korean Drama) Teaser 1,2&3 Full Video.” YouTube Video. YouTube, July 8, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXyPKGYnB1k.‌

♦ Strangers from Hell (2019)

This series, a psychological thriller, is based on a webtoon and is known by an alternate title “Hell is Other People”. Lee Dong-wook plays Seo Moon-jo, a dentist by day but a psychopath by night.

Fans are used to Lee Dong-wook being a nice guy but in this K-drama, he is the creepiest and he is two-faced. He acts like he is mild-mannered and benevolent, but he has a dark side.

Eh! People probably thought the same thing about Jeff Dahmer. Who would think a guy who works at a chocolate factory is a serial killer?

TRAILER/TEASER:

Ani-Hongo. “STRANGERS from HELL (2019) – TRAILER.” YouTube Video. YouTube, January 18, 2021. .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mXAgjV0Imc

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NOTE: Lee Dong-Wook featured image credit found on Tumblr.

In case you don’t agree with my recommendations.

Butterfly. “10 Best Dramas of Lee Dong Wook // Top 10 Kdramas of Lee Dong Wook.” YouTube Video. YouTube, October 8, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2iIguVRNQA.‌