10 Best Dramas of Jung Woong-in, Actor Specializing in Evil Roles
Jung Woong-in has been an active actor since 1995. He is renowned for his specialization in bringing evil and sly characters to life.
With his distinctive looks and charming charm, Jung Woong In consistently evokes strong emotions in portraying antagonistic roles. No wonder he's frequently chosen to portray the villain in his various dramas. Here are best dramas featuring Jung Woong-in that highlight his exceptional acting abilities.
1. I Can Hear Your Voice
I Can Hear Your Voice (2013) received impressive ratings during its airing, leading to the original episode count being extended from 16 to 18. The drama featured a well-known cast including Lee Bo Young, Lee Jong Suk, Yoon Sang Hyun, Lee Da Hee, and also included Jung Woong In as a supporting actor.
The story is about Jang Hye Sung, a fearless and materialistic public defender who had a difficult childhood. Her life changes when she meets Park Soo Ha, a young man with the ability to hear other people's thoughts just by making eye contact. Without Hye Sung knowing, she is Soo Ha's first love.
Their relationship started during a murder trial where Hye Sung testified against Soo Ha's father a decade earlier. From then on, Soo Ha vows to protect Hye Sung from death threats.
Here, Jung Woong-in plays the convicted murderer of Soo Ha's father, who was sentenced to ten years based on Hye Sung's testimony. Driven by a determination to take revenge against Hye Sung and Soo Ha, he plays an important role in the story.
2. Prison Playbook
Jung Woong-in's next drama, Prison Playbook (2017), stands out as one of tvN's highly acclaimed series and marked Park Hae Soo's debut as the lead. In this engaging storyline, Jung Woon-in provided depth to the story as a supporting character named Paeng Se Yoon.
Set in a prison, the drama is about the lives of inmates. Jung Woong-in acts as the tough prison warden, Paeng Se Yoon. Known for his harsh attitude and cruel treatment of prisoners, he keeps a hidden tender side, genuinely caring and supporting the prisoners' well-being. Among them was Kim Je Hyuk, who was imprisoned for assault.
Kim Je Hyuk, a former baseball athlete, was sentenced to prison after defending his younger sister from a man who tried to attack her. During his time behind bars, he develops relationships with his fellow inmates, each convicted of a different crime.
Among them are Kim Min Chul, a gang member serving a life sentence for murder; Kang Chul Do, an engineer involved in a gambling scam; and Yoo Han Yang, a young man battling drug addiction. Through their interactions within the prison walls, the drama delves into the deep values of life.
3. Empress Ki
Empress Ki (2013) depicts the incredible journey of a woman who held great power in the Yuan Dynasty. What makes her story interesting is that she is not of Mongol or Han Chinese descent, but of Goryeo, a small kingdom in the East.
The woman's name was Ki Seung Nyang. Born in Goryeo, she was sent to Yuan as a court lady called Gungyeon. On her way to Yuan, she and her mother escaped, but tragically, her mother was murdered. Ki Seung Nyang managed to avoid capture, but the loss of her mother would leave an indelible mark on her.
Through a rough and difficult path, she rises to become Empress of Yuan by marrying Ta Hwan, also known as Toghon Temür, Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. In her quest for power, Ki Seung Nyang sacrifices her love for Wang Yoo.
In this drama, Jung Woong-in plays Yeom Byung Soo, a criminal and disgraced soldier from Goryeo who betrayed his own country. Yeom Byung Soo engages in a psychological battle with Prince Wang Yoo, who is adopted by Seung Nyang. This traitor eventually becomes a naturalized Yuan citizen and plans to assassinate the Emperor and Ki Seung Nyang.
4. Yong Pal
Jung Woong-in starred in this highly-rated drama that extended its episode count from 16 to 18. With Joo Won and Kim Tae Hee as the leads, the series is about the life of Kim Tae Hyun, a skilled third-year resident surgeon.
Desperate to cover his brother's medical expenses, Tae Hyun is driven to engage in various illegal activities, especially those related to his profession. Using the pseudonym "Yong Pal", he secretly offers his medical expertise to people who need treatment but are unable to look for it openly.
In the course of his illegal work, Tae Hyun gets entangled with a group of well-known corrupt doctors. At one point, he is entrusted with the task of saving Han Yeo Jin, the daughter of a conglomerate family heir who is in a coma.
Without Tae Hyun's knowledge, his actions trigger a series of events that cause a major threat. In this story, Jung Woong-in plays Lee Ho Joon, the manager in charge of the hospital where Tae Hyun works.
5. My Sassy Girl
In My Sassy Girl (2017), Jung Woong-in and Joo Won reunite as co-stars, but this time in a Joseon-era adaptation of the beloved South Korean film My Sassy Girl (2001).
The story revolves around Gyeon Woo, a scholar from a cold town, who is honored as a national treasure in Joseon. He finds himself appointed as guardian and tutor to Hye Myung, the king's daughter who is known to be sassy and has a bad reputation in society.
Gyeon Woo cannot refuse this royal order, and their fateful meeting occurs as Hye Myung sneaks out of the palace in search of her dethroned mother.
The story begins with the two initially at odds, becoming unlikely friends, and eventually falling in love. In this drama, Jung Woong-in plays the character of Jung Ki Joon, the left-wing minister and father of Jung Da Yeon. Da Yeon, a stubborn and spoiled young woman, who falls in love with Gyeon Woo and is willing to do anything to steal him away from Hye Myung.
6. Queen Seon Duk
Queen Seon Duk (2009) is set during the transition from the reign of King Jinheung to the end of Queen Seondeok's reign. During this time, King Jinpyeong and Queen Maya were blessed with twin daughters, one named Deokman.
However, due to a prophecy, King Jinpyeong was forced to exile his daughter from the palace to protect Queen Maya from a rebellion masterminded by Mishil.
Deokman was raised by Seohwa as her own daughter, without knowing her true identity. Eventually, Deokman discovers the truth, but once again he must be abandoned by his family in an effort to secure the throne from Mishil's influence.
Deokman's safety is at stake, but his twin sister, Cheonmyeon, sacrifices herself to protect him. Driven by strong determination, Deokman is determined to reclaim what has been taken from him.
Aiming to avenge Cheonmyeon's death, Deokman is determined to dethrone Mishil and become the first female ruler of Silla. In this drama, Jung Woong-in plays Mi Saeng, Mishil's younger brother and the leader of the 10 Hwarang Warriors.
7. Ojakgyo Brothers
Jung Woong-in's next drama recommendation is Ojakgyo Brothers or Ojakgyo Family (2011). With a total of 18 episodes, this moving series is about a family living in the farming area of Ojakgyo, consisting of a grandmother, father, mother, and four sons.
Jung Woong In plays the eldest son of the family, Hwang Tae Shik. At almost 40 years old, he works as a physical therapist and has a son named Guk Su from the Philippines. Initially, Tae Shik was embarrassed and tried to hide Guk Su's existence from his family.
The second son, Hwang Tae Beom, worked as a reporter and married a rich woman after she became pregnant. The third son, Hwang Tae Hee, discovers that he is adopted. Feeling like a stranger, Tae Hee finds solace in the love and care given by his parents.
Finally, the fourth son, Hwang Tae Pil, works with his aunt. The Hwang family's simple life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Baek Ja Eun, a wealthy girl. Ojakgyo Brothers beautifully depicts the ups and downs, the joys and challenges, and the transformations experienced by the Hwang family.
8. The Good Bad Mother
Jin Young Soon tragically and mysteriously lost her husband. Pregnant and facing this devastating loss, Young Soon decided to start a new life in a different place. A few months later, she gave birth to a son whom she named Choi Kang Ho.
As a single mother, Young Soon raised Kang Ho with firmness and discipline. She had one goal for her son: to become a prosecutor who had the power to uncover the truth behind her husband's death.
After a long and difficult journey, Kang Ho finally fulfills his mother's dream and becomes a prosecutor. However, along the way, his attitude slowly turned cold. Kang Ho began to focus only on making money and lost sight of pursuing justice.
Young Soon couldn't help but feel the growing emotional distance between him and his son. He seemed to have thrown away their bond. Then, a sudden accident causes Kang Ho to suffer a mental setback, returning him to a childlike state.
In this drama, Jung Woong-in acts as Oh Tae Soo, a corrupt prosecutor who is also responsible for the death of Kang Ho's father. The story delves into the complicated fates of those involved and their impact on Kang Ho and Young Soon's relationship.
9. Our Blossoming Youth
Min Jae Yi, a young woman from a family of scholars, prepares to marry Han Seong On, the bodyguard and personal secretary of Crown Prince Lee Hwan. However, their wedding never happens as tragedy strikes when all of Jae Yi's family members die under mysterious circumstances.
Even worse, Jae Yi finds herself accused of being the murderer. Determined to uncover the truth and clear her name, she goes on the run to find the real culprit. Before her father's death, he left a message for her, urging her to seek help from Crown Prince Lee Hwan, the only person who can help her.
Disguised as a man, Jae Yi poses as a palace eunuch to serve Lee Hwan, who is also experiencing a miserable life. The Crown Prince is burdened by rumors that he is cursed because of his brother's untimely death.
Through hard struggle, Jae Yi manages to convince Lee Hwan that he is innocent of the tragedy that befell his family. Gradually, she gains his trust by demonstrating her intelligence on various occasions. As their bond grows stronger, love begins to blossom between them.
In this drama, Jung Woong-in plays the character of Cho Won Bo, a cunning Right State Counselor who plays a important role in the events that unfold.
10. Idol: Coup
Idol: The Coup (2021) depicts the challenging journey of a girl group called Cotton Candy, who face the threat of disbandment. They lost the support of their company, Starpeace Entertainment, which had been their home. As a result, Jenne, Hyun Ji, Stella, El, and Chae Ah are in crisis, exacerbating an already worrisome atmosphere.
In the middle of this difficult situation, Starpeace Entertainment shifted their focus to their rising boy group, Mars. Fortunately, Mars, as their junior, showed concern for the difficulties of their seniors. Cotton Candy, who had been struggling to make a comeback for the past six years, felt burdened by the realization that they were no longer in demand.
Jung Woong-in acts as Ma Jin Woo, the founder and former CEO of Starpeace Entertainment. Jin Woo and Cotton Candy have an inseparable bond, as they witnessed each other's struggles during their debut. Jin Woo had given Cotton Candy a chance to make a comeback, but unfortunately, he left before it could happen.
Among the many dramas Jung Woong-in has starred in, the ten titles we've covered in this article offer captivating narratives. Despite often playing supporting roles with villainous characters, Jung Woong-in continues to shine and attract attention. Among the ten dramas we've highlighted, are any of them your favorites?