replying here as this thread is getting very long, hahaha!

definitely got your point with the quantifiers and understood right off the bat. hope I didn't come across as accusatory, that was not the intention at all, oops! sorry about that.

I think many of us tend to be naturally very sceptical whenever we hear about idol actors (e.g. how a lot of us right now are unsure about Jisoo in that project with Kim Hyeyoon and potentially Jung Haein). I personally don't mind when I'm proven wrong and someone comes in and does a really good job. I didn't think I would like Seongwu's acting at all, but he did so well in AM18 that I feel better about him getting the role that he did. that still doesn't change the fact that there will always be opportunities that should've gone to someone else, sadly.

as people who are passionate about watching dramas, I think it's a safe assumption to say that we generally care more about the quality of the content rather than who happens to be featuring in it. having said that, we also want to support the actors we *know* are good and deserving of roles, regardless of their star power/popularity, etc. but I'm sure many production companies putting out the average drama also need to make decisions like, who do we cast to make sure people tune in, no matter what?

and I suppose that is largely why Suzy keeps getting cast in big roles even though it physically pains me to watch her and she's turned me, as an individual, off so many dramas, LOL! 😩

if only there was some way I could infiltrate these production companies and slip 'em a tenner to cast my underrated faves in their projects...

Agree with this! The biggest frustration, on my part anyway, are the idols/models who try to break their way into acting. Many are not very good (examples of bad idol-actors/idol-turned-actors abound - Cha Eun-woo, Son Na-eun, Suho, Suzy, L, Seohyun, etc.), and their efforts take away opportunities from newcomer actors who are talented (and not just in some latent sense).

@smaltwalt Gurl I feel you on that! I'm open minded (Ex. Nana and ITR-she was amazing there/not stiff like idol actors tend to be). However, it made me think of a tweet where it said "Think about a hard working actor trying to move on the way up in small roles, and someone who has never acted before and such gets a main role off the bat." Seohyun or Seolhyun? or both lol? I just hope she's good in her new drama.

But yes IA. I feel like Korea has a major problem with this, no? Like for K-dramas, I seen terrible/in-experienced actors get multiple chances while better actors drop off/stuck in small/supporting roles forever (Ex. Lim Ju Hwan). But yeah, it seems extreme there and add to that everyone wants to be an actor now, that good looks/singing are a dime a dozen. It seems brutal/competition if Hollywood has nepotism, then Korea has idols/models w/ big agencies trying to push through smh. That's why the underrated actors are my favorite/the ones I root for the most to succeed!

carrying on from the above @smaltwalt @soulsearch ^^^

Im Joohwan came to mind immediately for me too. Others I can think of include Kwak Siyang, maybe even Dong Ha. It's such a waste.

I don't think all idol actors are necessarily awful. I really like Kyungsoo, Seongwu, and even Junho. What bothers me is how some of them get cast in leading roles when they're clearly not ready/not good enough, period. The number of roles that I think could've/should've gone to more deserving individuals makes me so sad.

Side note (unpopular opinion? hahaha): My ID is Gangnam Beauty was kind of a disaster for Eunwoo but I actually liked him in Rookie Historian. I feel like he improved as the filming went on and the role was actually fairly suitable for him as a whole. I don't see the point in actors like him/Naeun/Seohyun trying to take on complex roles when they just can't. Oh well.

TL;DR: PLEASE CAST JANG DONGYOON IN MORE DRAMAS.

@choijunu Yeah for me its more rme for green actors getting main roles off the bat. Wait are we talking about AOA Seolhyun of SNSD Seohyun? If we're talking about the SNSD one, she did fine in Time but KJH stole the show there. I just hope she doesn't mess up her new drama b/c she's def. the weakest link there cast wise.

I just fear for the underrated/stuck in 2nd ML actors never get a chance to shine, and thus they go away/fall off which I seen before :( Its a hard business and adding idols/model turned actors/singer turned actors/etc. into the mix seems like its only going to get harder. I guess sometimes if one waits, their underrated fav can get a breakout role in a film/tv. I say more of these actors should do a small critically acclaimed indie like Choi Woo Shik did.

I was referring to Seohyun from SNSD! I think I first saw her for real in Moon Lovers and she was honestly pretty awful. Admittedly, the script did her no favours, but still. I didn't watch Time but I would imagine being next to not only Kim Junghyun but also Kim Junhan (he absolutely nailed his parts in Prison Playbook and Hospital Playlist) would've made it difficult for her to really stand out. She's got a good agency behind her so I'm sure she'll continue to get roles. I hope she continues to improve as she carries on. From what I know, acting has become her main gig.

As ratings continue to drop I wonder if production companies will rely on big names/idols even more to try and pull in viewers. I'm really hoping for the best for all these gems.

I didn't like Seohyun in Time. I think it was a very flat performance. Could just be me.

I tried to be careful with my quantifier (I opted for "many" rather than "all", "almost all", or "most") because I 100% agree with you @choijunu. There are many active or former idols who have shown themselves capable as actors IMO. Examples that come to mind include the ones you mentioned (Kyungsoo and Junho in particular, imo; I haven't watched anything by Ong Seung-woo, so I can't say anything about him with confidence), as well as IU, Choi Si-won, Key, Im Si-wan, Lee Joon, and maybe Park Hyung-sik.

As for Cha Eun-woo, I honestly just don't think he's a good actor. I watched parts of Rookie Historian but remained pretty unimpressed with him (agreed that he was better than in Gangnam Beauty, but he was basically a cardboard cut-out in Gangnam Beauty). 100% agree that he and the other people you mentioned shouldn't be getting complex roles; in fact they shouldn't be getting leading roles period (which is exactly the point you make in your third paragraph!).

@soulsearch12, I agree with you about the actors stuck in 2nd lead roles who should be getting more attention and more opportunities. It's a real shame that their careers founder while somebody like Suzy has repeatedly gotten leading roles in decent or good dramas. Frankly, it's an insult to all that is fair and good.

@choijunu Ah I see! Yeah I saw her in Time, and she did good in that role (rl circumstances & such). She wasn't afraid to look shabby there, but she's still has ways to go as an actress. She's starring in a new drama that looks interesting, but she's the weakest link for sure (If Nana was in the role instead, I would be much more excited). Ironically, SM did awful for her (acting), they turned down Architecture 101 (Suzy became a big star)/Train to Busan (Wonder Girls alum). The slot follows Was It Love? which did horrible ratings wise. I hope it does well for the ML who I love lol.

Yeah, with public channels cutting down half their time slots/the big dramas (H.P/WOTM/CLOY featured no idol actors/newbies in main roles) that I'm not sure. Altho Snowdrop has Ji-soo as the MFL. With Kakao coming in with their own production/web companies too, it may provide more opportunities? Altho those wouldn't be hallyu level like CLOY. Also the awards shows, no idol actor gets the top prize, its always the veterans/breakout role for an established actor.

@smaltwalt Yeah, I only seen a few episodes and clips and she did fine but kinda bland? Altho the way she handled/talked about KJH was humane, I did like that she said human being first than work. That being said, I don't she's that striking but maybe her new drama could do the trick? Maybe the ML will do the heavy lifting like Time dunno?

Yes IA. Some idol actors (usually shy away from their idol days) and start from small roles and build up to main are very good. But yeah, its a dime a dozen, sometimes its not just about being attractive/talented but having charm, luck, and chance taken upon you by a PD/Writer/Or Director. Suzy is fine (she's more stunning), but Korea entertainment has a lot of issues w/ hiring incompetent talents as mains over/over again. Its esp. very jarring when its counteracted by way talented actors :3

I don't really like the debat idols vs actors. I mean there are idols who aren't not good and they got first roles like Suzy. From Dream High, she got main roles (mainly) and she didn't show any improvement but it's the same for Jin Se Yeon, she's an actress and she's still bad.
I think it's better for actors and idols to start step by step to learn the job.
But the industry doesn't help with that. Kim Jae Wook said that after Coffee Prince he got offers for main roles but he didn't feel ready for it. Then, he had to wait for 10 years to get new offers...

https://youtu.be/km6X0LXnDo0

you may have already have seen this, but he's so lovely in this one!!

He's a lovely guy in general!

@choijunu, the sacrilege of picking Yulmu/Kang Taeoh over Nokdu/Jang Dongyoon (I like KTO as well, but tbh JDY uber alles).