Was totally invested in age of youth and I discovered Yoon Park! Still waiting for his leading role 🥲

SOoooooo many, frankly! My late-discovery is mainly due to being MIA from drama-land for a decade. Hence, no age-bias. Oppas range from 25 to 60, from 'Oppa-in-the-making' to 'Already-Established-Oppas'. I actually did come for the story... & discovered an Oppa! 😍

1. China/ Taiwan: Greg Hsu (SD1D), Mark Chao (Ten Miles...), Gong Jun (Word of Honor), Chen Xiao (Dream of Splendor)
2. Korea: Park Hae Soo (Squid Games), Seon Sok Koo (My Liberation Notes), Kim Ji Hoon (Flower of Evil)
3. Japan: Okada Kenshi (Kareshi ga Dekinai...), Toyokawa Etsushi (Say You love Me)

And.... the never-ending recruitment for the Oppa-Harem continues! 🙈The list is long, but won't mention those 'cause they weren't exactly accidental discoveries! 😁

Came for : Discovered
My Liberation Notes : Son Seok-ku.
Queen Seondeok : Kim Nam Gil.
SKY Castle : Yoon Se-ah.
Iron Empress : Lee Chae Young.
Times : Lee Seo-jin.

Answer me 1988

I came for the franchise & the writer + director duo and the damn did I fall in love with most of the cast!

Highlights (in no particular order)

Ryoo Joon-Yeol
Ko Gyung-Pyo
Park Bo-Gum
Ryoo Hye-Young
Ahn Jae-Hong
Ra Mi-Ran
Kim Sung-Kyun
Choi Moo-Sung

I will tell the 2021 &2022 list.

For Korea
Sageuks are always one of my most favorite genres.
After being disappointed by Big Projects of last year; RWTMR, Red Sky & TKA, I checked out 'The Red Sleeve' ( which at least had Lee Seyoung as FL ) without much expectation , and I discovered 'Lee Junho'.

For Japan,
After Mr Queen aired at the start of last year, I fell into Asian Drama Slump.
Mrs Koala mentioned 'Heaven & Hell ,Soul Switch' on her blog, I watched it out of boredom and found 'Takahashi Issei'.

For China,
After 'The Red Sleeve' , I fell into drama slump for 3-4 months, I tried 'Love & Redemption' randomly and collected 'Chen Yi' to my actor list.

I discover new oppas by being shallow.
Lee Do-hyun in Hotel del Luna
Kim Min-kyu in Because This Is My First Life

Here are four (4) Kdramas with my five (5) favorite new oppas to discover:
1.) When I saw One Ordinary Day, I discovered Yang Hee-woo (https://asianwiki.com/Yang_Hee-Woo_(1984)). Before his first Kdrama, he was appeared multiple minor roles on films. I hope one day soon, he'll might be getting a leading Kdrama role in the future and he was now on my radar of rising star.
2.) Honey Lee/Lee Ha-nee in The Partner (KBS, 2009)
3.) Lee Min-ki and Daniel Henney in My Name Is Kim Sam-soon
4.) Christian Lagahit in Squid Game

My liberation notes: Son Seok Goo
Stranger: Cho Seung Woo
Chief Kim: Lee Junho
30 but 17: Yang Se Jong

Witch’s Romance and Park Seo Joon 😍

Come and Hug Me : Kim Kyung-Nam
Adolescent Medley : Kwak Dong-Yeon
Mad Dog : Woo Do-Hwan
IRIS : Kim So-Yeon

I'm pretty sure there are others and they will come to my mind tonight in my bed...

I don’t have oppas - or unnies. I do have favorite actors.

Crash Landing On You: Seo Ji-hye

Because This Life Is Our First: Lee Min-ki

Just Between Lovers: Lee Jun-ho. That’s still the only drama I’ve seen him in so far, but it led me to his music, 2PM, and back to 2nd-gen K-pop, which I like so much more now than the first time around.

I'm not supposed to be here now but here i am. Not calling anyone oppa and i think it's only fair to included actresses too:

Remember War of the Son: Namgoong Min
Pinocchio: Lee Jongsuk and Park Shinhye
Prison Playbook: Park Haesoo
Signal: Kim Hyesoo and Lee Jehoon
Forest of Secrets: Cho Seungwoo and Bae Doona
Suits: Park Hyungsik
Start Up: Kim Seonho
Life on Mars: Jung Kyungho
Class of Lies: Lee Joonyoung
Solomon's Perjury: Jang Dongyoon
The Call (Movie): Jeon Jongseo
Link: Yeo Jingoo (not really a discovery but i find him especially charming in Link)

Answer me 1997, discovered Seo In Guk.
Watched Hello Monster because Seo In Guk discovered Park Bo Gum and so i watched Answer me 1988 😂

They are definitely not Oppa for me 😂😂😂...but I discovered some actors that are impressed in Kdramaland:

Come for- Discovered:
Jang Nara (Hello monster)- Park Bo Gum & Choi Won Young
Sejeong (Business Proposal) - Ahn Hyo Seop
Yoo Jun Sang (Alchemy of Soul) - Lee Jae Wook & Shin Seung Ho
Bae Doona (Stranger) - Cho Seung Woo
Gong Yoo (Silent of the Sea) - Lee Mu Seang
Lee Junggi (Scholar who Walks at Night) - Lee Soo Hyuk

Six Flying Dragons: Byun Yo Han
Designated Survivor: 60 Days - Son Seok Ku
Duel: Yang Se Jong
Sungkyunkwan Scandal: Yoo Ah In
Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People - Kim Jung Hyun
Memories of The Alhambra: Hyun Bin and Lee Jae Wook

The Red Sleeve: Junho
Happiness: Park Hyung Shik
The Light In Your Eyes: Nam Joo Hyuk

KMJ in "Do You Like Brahms." I had seen Doctor Romantic, in which he has a small part, but didn't really remember him. And his character was so introverted in Brahms, it took a minute for him to capture my attention. But then he did. Quite fully, lol.

Just Between Lovers - Lee Jun-ho
30 But 17 - Yang Se-Jong
20th Century Boy and Girl - Kim Ji-suk
Designated Survivor - Sohn Seok-gu
The Beauty Inside - Lee Min-ki
Gogh, the Starry Night - Kim Young-kwang
While You Were Sleeping - Lee Jong-suk
Crash Landing on You - Kim Jung-Hyun
Moonlight Drawn by Clouds - Jin Young and Kwak Dong-yeon
The King's Affection - Nam Yoon-soo
When the Camellia Blooms - Kang Ha-neul
Start-Up - Nam Joo-hyuk
100 Days My Prince - D.O.
Live up to Your Name - Kim Nam-gil
Goblin - Lee Dong-wook

Oooooh I love this! I have SO MANY!

Came for , discovered:

Namgoong Min in Chief Kim, Junho

18 Again, Lee Do Hyun

Pinocchio, Yoon Kyun Sang and Kim Young Kwang

Cha Seung Won in City Hall, Lee Joon Hyuk

Forest of Secrets, Yoo Jae Myung

Kim Ji Hoon in Flower Boy Next Door, Go Kyung Pyo

Ji Sung in Kill Me Heal Me, Park Seo Jun

Faith, Ryu Duk Hwan

Yoo Seung Ho in My Strange Hero, Kwak Dong Yeon

Jang Nara and time travel in Go Back Couple, Son Ho Joon

Kim Ah Joong and time travel in Deserving of the Name, Kim Nam Gil

Kim So Yun in Falling For Innocence, Jung Kyung Ho

Kim Young Kwang in Room No.9, Oh Dae Hwan

This list will go on for EVER AND EVER 🤣🤣 I can name hundreds more. I haven't even reached the ahjussis yet!

In my early days of drama watching I was not aware of who was who and chose which dramas to watch based on story synopsis. I watched Warrior Baek Dong Soo and discovered Ji Chang Work. I started Chuno for the story and discovered Jang Hyuk.

I remember you. Came for the suspense... got hooked because of Seo In Guk ok... but then BAMMM! Park Bo Gum. From unknown to I would take a bullet for him #protectbogummyatallcost
from not liking to heck, this guy is so hilarious: Choi Jin Hyuk. Obviously, redfox goes for zombies like zombies go for brains. I really disliked him before and then came Zombie Detective. He set a standard for deadpan and awkward.

Variety: I see your voice Korea first 3 seasons. I was recommended this as a music show to watch, then I saw Kim Bum-Soo. Wow, hot nerd alert. TBH I was annoyed at first by the show itself cause they repeated everything from 100 angles.

and the one where Hwang Jung Eum was a prisoner, with Ji Sung- sounded interesting, turned so infuriating and toxic but I couldnt help it cause he was absolutely irresistable.
and speaking of HJE, Siwon in She Was Pretty. Before that I was like "actor my ass!" but I LIVED for his character. Perhaps one of the best second leads ever.

Well, duh…Ultimate soft-corner actors factory (Not Oppa, never oppa) – The coffee prince – Gong Yoo, Kim jae wook, Yoon eun hey , Kim dong wook , and Lee sun kyun.
Reply 1997 – Sea in guk. I was looking for classic k-drama in my early drama watching days – This one popped out, I had no idea who SIG was.
I can hear your voice -Lee bo young and Lee jong sook

Ji Sung in Kill Me, Heal Me
Lee Jung Jin in 9 End 2 Outs
Jang Hyuk in Fated to Love You

Well, that's just what happens to every actor I end up liking!! It starts from a good story, and then I blink and suddenly I'm watching their entire filmography! Ahaha!

There are so many, but the cover pic is perfect since the most recent one for me is definitely Chae Jonghyeop, thanks to Love All Play!! ^^
I even watched (well, skimmed through) Sisyphus for him! XD
The interesting thing is that I did see him before, in Stove League, and I even remember (and like) his role, but I did not realize he was the same actor at first!

Happens all the time. That’s typically the default setting for me lol. It’s through good (and occasionally trashy) stories that I find my oppas. And unnis too because let’s not leave them out.

It’s only now as a veteran watcher that I often end up watching a drama exclusively for an actor I like, despite it being not up my alley at first glance.

I'm loving all the Son Seok Koo love here! I haven't gotten over my massive crush on him since he played Detective Mun in season 2 of Sense8. It has been hard watching him in shows like Matrimonial Chaos and DP since I really just want to melt into his eyes instead of wanting to smack him lol. So glad they cast him in My Liberation Notes (but my heart is still with Detective Mun)

One Fine Day: a double header, Gong Yoo and Namgoong Min

My favorite discoveries over the past year are:
- Splash Splash Love: Yoon Dujun <3
- Train: Yoon Shi Yoon
- Yumi's Cells: Jinyoung
- Happiness: Park Hyung Sik (I never finished SWDBS but I LOVED Happiness)

Came for cute animation in Yumi's Cells, discovered Ahn Bo-hyun.
Came for suspense in Through the Darkness, rediscovered Kim Nam-gil.
Came for romance in Romance Is a Bonus Book, discovered Wi Ha-joon.
Came for action in Bad Guys, discovered Park Hae-jin.
Those are the ones that come to mind.

I think that happens a lot but I don't remember well...

BOF: Kim Beom (Lee Min Ho for my mom lol).
Flower Boy Next Door: Yoon Si Yoon
Gu Family Book: Choi Jin Hyuk
Hello Monster: Park Bo Geum
Oh My Ghostess: Kang Ki Young
Healer: Ji Chang Wook
Reply 1994: Son Ho Jun, Yoo Yeon Seok
Reply 1988: Lee Dong Hwi
Six Flying Dragons: Yoo In Ah
Misaeng: Byun Yo Han, Im Si Wan, Kim Dae Myung
Prison Playbook: Lee Kyu Hyung
Search WWW: Lee Jae Wook
etc.

Btw, are we going to have a different drama chat for unnies or we should just take this drama chats to write about both oppas and unnies? I've been having this question since the last drama chat.

Not 100% stanning, but I do get curious with their drama selections.

Boys Over Flower - Kim Bum
Answer Me 1997 - Seo In Guk
Answer Me 1997 - Hoya
Misaeng - Im Siwan
Misaeng - Kang Haneul
Misaeng - Byun Yo Han
My Beloved Eundong - Jin Young
It's Okay It's Love - D.O.
Hello Monster - Park Bo Gum
Save Me - Woo Do Hwan
Age of Youth - Yoon Park

The JiHoons:
FBND - Kim Ji Hoon
School 2013 - Lee Ji Hoon
Legendary Shuttlecock - Seo Ji Hoon

Not Oppas, but Queens:
Answer Me 1997 - Jung Eunji
Six Flying Dragons - Han Yeri
Misaeng - Kang Sora

Prison playbook - Park Hae soo, Jung Kyung ho
Reply 1994 - Jung Woo
Reply 1988 - Ryu Jun-yeol
Misaeng - Lee Sung-min
Signal - ‎Cho Jin-woong, Lee jae hoon
Kill me heal me - Park seo joon
Sweet home - Lee do hyun

I was looking for Korean dramas and came across these four and liked the actors (sometimes based on their acting😉) so went in search of their other work.
Hospital playlist - Cho Jungseok
It’s ok to not be ok - Kim Soohyun
True beauty - Cha Eunwoo
Dr Romantic - Yoo Yeonseok

My first K drama was Love Alarm, fell for the 2nd lead male. Ended watching It's okay to not be okay and I assumed him and Kim Soo Hyun were the same guy lol found out they weren't and binged watched all of KSH's kdramas.

My fave oppas:
Kim Soo Hyun
Lee Jong Suk
Cha Eun Woo
Lee Dong Work
Yoo Seong Ho
Kim Myung So
Park Bo Gum
Kang Tae Oh
Kim Seon Ho
Park Seo Joon
Park Shin Hyuk
Kim Bum
And so many more jejeje 😅😍

King2Hearts: Earnest bot Jo Jung Seok

Can You Hear My Heart: Namgoong Min
Chief Kim: Lee Jun-ho
The Legends: Bai Lu
Reply 1997: Seo In-guk
Suspicious Partner: Dong Ha
Extraordinary You: Kim Young-dae
Kill Me, Heal Me: Ji Sung
Ashes of Love: Luo Yun Xi
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo: Kang Ki-young

Similar story: Was introduced to Kdrama by Rookie Historian, discovered Cha Eun Woo, that led to Astro and kpop in general ;-) The next drama Netflix suggested was Live Up To Your Name, that led to Kim Nam Gil and a whole world of quality actors, their work and almost one new oppa per watched drama :-)
Recently, I stopped colour-coding the actors in my what-to-watch-list, there aren't enough colours...
The newest akquisitions are Lee Joon, Son Seok Gu and Kang Ha Neul.

I have come to appreciate and love Son Woohyun’s acting so much after watching To my star and To my Star 2. His character, kang Seojoon, is a force of nature and deeply appealing even when he is under stress and confronted with complex problems. Son Woohyun is an outstanding actor with enormous charisma, considerable ability to convey a rich emotional inner life and boundless mischief. And, he has scorching - I tell you, scorching! - chemistry with Kim Kangmin. Based on his scting (I hope he is a good person too in RL), Son Woohyun deserves other significant roles going forward as he leaves a lot of other actors who are getting leading roles in his wake. I also hope prejudice against the BL genre doesn’t hinder his career which should be glorious if there is any fairness in thus Biz (I know…that’s asking for hen’s teeth but still…). Please do yourselves a favour and watch these 2 shows.

It eventually happen to me alot...

Meteor Garden make me discover Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, barbie Hsu.
Sungkyungkwan scandal make me a fan of Song Joongki
Business Proposal make me discover Ahn Hyo Seop in a new light.
My beautiful Bride make me discover Kim Mu Yeol.
what happened in Bali make me discover So Ji Sub

That picture captures it! Sysiphus was such a disaster, but blond Chae Jonghyeop had my heart in seconds. Then came Potato Boy in Nevertheless... Fan for life.

Also, have to give a shout out to Tang Junsang in CLOY - absolute cutey, and then came Racket Boys and Move to Heaven. I'll always be giving one of his projects a look.

Hwarang sent me on a Park Hyungsik catalogue run, Are you Human Too on a Seo Kangjoon one, TKEM on a Woo Dohwan one, Chief Kim on a Lee Junho one, Start up on a Kin Seonho one, and DAYS on a Seo Ingook one (which was a total blessing, as DAYS sucked but the rest of his work is great!) As other Beanies have said, tends to be the way I hunt out non-current dramas to watch.

Money Flower: came for story, Lee Misook & Jang Hyuk, stayed for Jang Seungjo

Good Detective: came for story, Jang Seongjo & Son Hyunjoo, stayed for everyone in the cast

Duel: came for story and Yang Sejong, stayed for his twin

(Japan) dele: came for story and Suda Masaki, stayed for Yamada Takayuki

(Japan) Good Doctor: came for story and Yamazaki Kento, stayed for Fujiki Naohito

A couple years ago, I came for my then oppa, Yoo Ah In; and because the story/plot was right up my alley....Chicago Typewriter! And damn if I didn't fall head over heels for Jo Woo Jin! Even though he ain't a "pretty flower boy", he's an attractive man, and I think he's simply one of the best actors in Korea right now! Amazing organic skills and screen presence.

I only knew Lee Sun kyun from Coffee Prince (and by the way, no, I didn't like Gong Yoo in coffee prince or anywhere else, he is not my style), but I also didn't pay much attention to LSK in that drama because I felt his relationship with the women there was kind of playful, and I didn't take him seriously.

But so many years later I came to watch My Ajusshi because of Lee Ji eun, and there you go, I fell totally in love with Lee Sun kyun...
He is little bit older than me, so that's an ideal oppa for me. I loved him!!!!
He is totally my style now that he is older 😂😁😂😊😊😊🎊🎉🎆🎇😅

These are the actors/actresses that impressed me a lot when I didn't expect them to or didn't know them before:

1. Six Flying Dragons: Han Yeri, Byun Yo-han
2. Live Up to Your Name: Kim Nam-gil
3. Another Miss Oh: Seo Hyun-jin, Ye Ji-won, Kim Ji-seok
4. Ojakgyo Brothers: Joo Won and UEE
5. My Husband Mr Oh: Kim Kang-woo
6. Hospital Playlist: Jo Jong-suk
7. Alhambra: Hyun Bin
8. Stranger 1: Jo Seung-woo and Bae Doo-na
9. Remember: The Son's War: Nam Goong-min
10. Start-Up: Kim Seon-ho ♥️
11. Jung Yong-hwa: We Got Married (Goguma- Sweet Potato couple)
12. Jang Na-ra: Sell Your Haunted House
13. Sh**ting Stars: Kim Yong-dae, Lee Sung-kyung, Lee Jung-shin, Yoon Jong-hoon
14. Coffee Prince: Gong You, Yoon Eun-hye, Kim Dong-wook, Kim Chang-wan
15. Parasite: Lee Sun-kyun, Yeo Jeong-cho
16. My Ajusshi: IU
17. Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim: Seon Suk-kyu, Yoo Yeon-seok

The list might go on and on so I'd better stop here. ❤️

I never understood the appeal of Song Joong-ki - that is, until Vincenzo. I enjoyed him in Sungkyunkwan Scandal but he was always just a baby-faced pretty boy so I avoided Descendants of the Sun and everything else he's been in since. But playing a bad-boy mafia 'corn salad' sealed the deal for me - maybe it was those sharp suits, maybe it was the badly-pronounced Italian, or maybe just him being so downright badass, but SJK is now Oppa in my books ;)

dear Beanies, just here to say that I bookmarked this page so I could enjoy and squeal over your choices, and comment/like everything!
Thank you for being such a fun community to share my KDrama moments with!!!

hahaha.. i am later to the party... but this is me like every single drama... cause i hv found all my oppas that way.. am literally collecting oppas all this while and as my list is wayy too long.. ill be back soon after checing my MDL list...