Writer: Devanshi Ghanshala (Delhi)

Editor: Pooja Vishwanathan (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh)

Whether he’s the skilled and smart doctor, the hardworking reporter, the underperforming lawyer, or the rookie prosecutor, these are just many sides of the versatile Lee Jong-suk, whose on-screen persona has left a long-lasting impact on the viewers. Lee Jong-suk was last seen in the drama Big Mouth alongside Girls’ Generation’s Yoona. As expected of any Lee Jong-suk project, the drama did exceptionally well and gained high viewership ratings on domestic television.

Have a look at the top five K-dramas featuring the one and only Lee Jong-suk:

Big Mouth 

Genre: Crime, Legal, Thriller

The 2022 crime/legal K-drama Big Mouth, having 16 episodes, directed by Oh Choong-hwan, and starring Lee Jong-suk and Yoona of Girls’ Generation, was a global hit with skyrocketing viewership ratings every week during its airtime. It was Lee Jong-suk’s first grand K-drama comeback after being discharged from the Korean military service. His fans anticipated and awaited the drama for a long time and the drama did live up to the expectations. Lee Jong-suk won the ‘Daesang’ (grand prize) and ‘Best Couple Award’ along with his co-star Yoona for “Big Mouth,” which was also awarded ‘Drama of the Year’ at the 2022 MBC Drama Awards. 

The show centers around Park Chang-ho (Lee Jong-suk), an underachieving attorney who gets wrongly accused and becomes the key suspect in a homicide investigation. He investigates a vast conspiracy involving the wealthy upper classes to save himself and his family. The drama is named so because, despite having only a 10% winning rate, the financially struggling, mediocre attorney, Park Chang-ho, is well-known for talking big. He is hence referred to as the “Big Mouth.” But one day, Park Chang-ho gets dragged into a murder case, and somehow, everyone recognizes him and thinks he’s the cunning swindler going by the moniker “Big Mouse.”

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It was thrilling to watch the unbeatable chemistry between Park Chang-ho (Lee Jong-suk) and his wife Ko Mi-ho (Im Yoon-ah). To return to their regular, normal lives, they fought all the adversities together. The cliffhangers at the end of each episode will make you want to finish the drama in one go. Watch the drama to know how it ends for the couple and there might be a point where you wish you could change the ending but that’s the beauty of it—how sacrifices were made for the loved ones. 

While You Were Sleeping 

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy

While You Were Sleeping is a 2017 romantic thriller/fantasy K-drama, starring Lee Jong-suk, Bae Suzy, Lee Sang-yeob, and Jung Hae-in. The SBS drama consisting of a total of 16 episodes is directed by Oh Chung-hwan and written by Park Hye-ryun. The drama and its cast won several acclaimed accolades, like the ‘Top Excellence Award for Korean Drama’ award at the 2016 Seoul International Drama Awards. 

The story revolves around three young adults: rookie prosecutor Jung Jae-chan (Lee Jong-suk), field reporter Nam Hong-joo (Bae Suzy), and police officer Han Woo-tak (Jung Hae-in). Hong-joo can foresee misfortunes in her dreams but despite being gifted, she often finds herself helpless to alter the outcomes. Jung Jae-chan moves near her place and soon realizes that their destinies are intertwined as they start sharing dreams and connecting inexplicably.

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Hong-joo and Jae-chan fall for each other but the handsome and kind policeman Woo-tak unintentionally interferes with their budding romance as he also starts liking Hong-joo, but his one-sided love ends quickly. Worried about these dreams, the three band together to stop these dreadful visions from coming true and to defeat their archenemy, the vicious attorney Lee Yoo-beom (Lee Sang-yeob). 

W: Two Worlds Apart 

Genre: Romance, Thriller, Fantasy

W: Two Worlds Apart is a 2016 romance thriller/fantasy K-drama starring Lee Jong-suk and Han Hyo-joo, consisting of 16 episodes. The series is directed by Jung Dae-yoon and written by Song Jae-jung. Lee Jong-suk won the ‘Daesang’ (grand prize) and ‘Best Couple Award’ along with his co-star Han Hyo-joo for “W,” which was also awarded ‘Drama of the Year’ at the 2016 MBC Drama Awards.

The narrative centers around two worlds: the real world and the parallel world inside the webtoon. Oh Yeon-joo (Han Hyo-joo) is a surgeon who can move in and out of the webtoon world created by her father, a webtoon artist. She meets the rich and handsome CEO Kang Chul (Lee Jong-suk) inside the webtoon world. The two characters from different dimensions fell into one when they crossed paths. Webtoon’s dramatic, predetermined plot complicates their relationship.

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Oh Yeon-joo and Kang Chul run into many roadblocks as they work through their emotions and try to alter the plot, including fighting against other webtoon characters who are hell-bent on sticking to the author’s original plan. The drama blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction and exhibits the dangerous consequences of altering the original storyline. 

Pinocchio 

Genre: Romance, Drama, Family

Pinocchio is a 2014 rom-com starring Lee Jong-suk and Park Shin-hye that aired on SBS with 20 episodes. The drama is one of the best-known Korean dramas of 2014. From ‘Best actor/actress to ‘Best Couple’ to ‘Outstanding Korean Drama,’ Pinocchio swept away all major awards at the 2014 K-drama award ceremonies.

Choi Dal-po (played by Lee Jong-suk) and Choi In-ha (Park Shin-hye), the two main characters, are connected by an unusual condition called “Pinocchio Syndrome,” which makes both characters hiccup whenever they lie. Ki Ha-myung, the original name of Choi Dal-po, is from a reporter’s family. His life takes a turn when his family gets involved in a scandal and meets a tragic end, leaving Ha-myung to live as an orphan. He then takes on the disguise of Dal-po, intending to move on from his painful past. On the contrary, aspiring to be a broadcast journalist, Choi In-ha is a lively young girl who met Dal-po when she was young.

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Their paths cross once again as both of them pursue their careers in journalism. The plot dwells on their hunt for justice as reporters between evil and corrupted people. Along the journey, they realize their love for each other, face their ghosts from the past and learn what is required to make headway in the media industry.

Doctor Stranger 

Genre: Medical, Romance

Doctor Stranger is a 2014 medical K-drama starring Lee Jong-suk, Jin Se-yeon, Park Hae-jin, and Kang So-ra. The drama is a pioneer in the field of medical K-drama. The drama is the story of four exceptionally talented doctors: Dr. Park Hoon (Lee Jong-suk), Dr. Song Jae-hee (Jin Se-yeon), Dr. Oh Soo-Hyun (Kang So-ra), and Dr. Han Jae-joon (Park Hae-jin). 

Dr. Park Hoon is a gifted cardiac surgeon who was forcibly taken to North Korea along with his father when he was a child. After escaping from North Korea, he starts over at a prestigious hospital in South Korea. But he still harbors a deep affection for Dr. Song Jae-hee (Jin Se-yeon), his childhood sweetheart from North Korea, with whom he lost touch after crossing the border.

With his outstanding skills and a kind and innocent heart, he makes his way into the unfamiliar world of South Korean medicine just to realize the bitter reality where medical malpractices are overlooked, and patients are tools to extract money from. He also encounters a love triangle but at last he reunites with Jae-hee. The drama depicted how medical professionals’ resilience, determination, and love for their jobs enable them to have a significant impact on society.

Throughout his K-drama career, Lee Jong-suk has captivated audiences with his skill and versatility by portraying a wide variety of characters. From the gripping narratives of “Big Mouth” and “Doctor Stranger” to the emotional depth of “Pinocchio” and “While You Were Sleeping,” each series highlights his ability to connect with viewers on multiple levels. As he continues to evolve as an actor, fans eagerly anticipate his future projects and the diverse roles he will take on next.

Which of his captivating performances has left a lasting impression on you? Share your favorite series and your thoughts in the comments below!