One of the most efficient ways to promote a series or movie is to hype it up by making use of small appearances of fan-favourite celebrities or their popular characters from another show or film. This one trend of introducing actors as cameos in K-dramas is traditional that should never be given up! Everytime a character from some other drama appears on a show, the fans get overwhelmed with delight as it leaves a flash of excellence, forcing us to ask for more. At times, we have seen the cameos appearing just for fun or with some meaningful inside joke that only the mutual viewers of the two shows can get. Let’s get started and see if you have managed to recognise the actors listed below in their unforgettable cameo moments.
Let me warn you in advance since the article contains spoilers for those who haven’t watched all the shows listed below.
Vincenzo: Kim Sung Cheol
Actor Kim Sung Cheol made a vivid appearance in the recently aired Netflix series, ‘Vincenzo’ and surprisingly, the chemistry between him and Song Joong Ki’s character Vincenzo became a topic of discussion around the social media. And why not? He played the role of Hwang Min Seong, a morally corrupt rich heir who is also homosexual. Thanks to the characters— Cha Young and Mr. Nam, who convinced Vincenzo to get close to Min Seong as Tae Oh, to be a able to reach his goal, and treat us with adorable moments of them with each other. That’s what he ended up doing, seducing him and becoming a homme fatale. Even the scene in the last episode where Min Seong with some of Tae Oh’s pictures, misses him. It is hilarious how even after a football has hit him in the head, he continues to stare at his pictures teary-eyed. Poor Min Seong!
True Beauty: Lee Jae Wook And Kim Hye Yoon
One of the most successful K-dramas of 2020, ‘True Beauty’ did amaze the viewers by giving us not one but a handful of cameos from another popular show ‘Extraordinary You,’ said to be directed by the same director. From our cheerful boy Do Hwa (Jung Goo Jun) to the bickering so-called couple Dan Oh (Kim Hye Yoon) and Baek Kyung (Lee Jae Wook), and finally Nam Joo (Kim Young Dae), the characters made small appearances but stole the show altogether. One of the most unexpected and funniest cameo was made by Kim Hye Yoon and Lee Jae Wook, in their respective characters of Dan Oh and Baek Kyung, who were together watching a movie in the same theatre as Lim Joo-Gyung and her date, while Lee Su-Ho was stalking them. Su-Ho even had a face-to-face encounter with them as he mistakes Dan Oh as Joo-Gyung. Well, Dan Oh is still the same here, looking out for Haru. And leaves to find him immediately after the scene ends!
Thinking of which, it is probable that the story of True Beauty has been set in the same universe as in that of ‘Extraordinary You’ and coincidentally, both the Kdramas have been shot in the same school. A legendary crossover indeed!
Its Okay Not To Be Okay— Kwak Dong Yeon
Thanks to this series which brought both fame and support to Kwak Dong Yeon that evenanded him into one of the important roles in the 2021 series, Vincenzo. Marking his first appearance, upon his release from the military service, Dong Yeon appeared in the character of Kwon Gi-Do, a patient at the mental asylum where Kim So Hyun’s character, Gang Tae works at. Theoretically speaking, Kwon Gi-Do is a pervert who proudly strips down and flashes all the parts of his body to people. However, his reason underlying that led him to do this is not superficial but deep. Even though Kwak Dong Yeon primarily appears in not more than two episodes, the message that his character delivers is of a huge impact.
Hotel Del Luna— Lee Joon Gi
Do you know what is the greatest way to tease the die-heart fans of ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’? That’s casting Lee Joon Gi and IU together once again! The 2019 popular show ‘Hotel Del Luna,’ featured a brief appearance of actor Lee Joon Gi in the third episode of the series as one of Man Wol’s choices for her manager, who turns into an exorcist and refuses to join her before he manages to catch a stubborn ghost. Well, it has been said that after ‘Scarlet Heart Ryeo,’ the two actors had maintained their friendship and even showed their support by sending food and coffee carts to each other’s set and by attending each other’s fan meetings as guests and also concerts in case of Lee Joon Gi. Fans were completed overwhelmed after knowing that Lee Joon Gi would be making a cameo appearance in ‘Hotel Del Luna’. We might still be wondering if there will be a second season of ‘Scarlet Heart Ryeo,’ but at least we got to see our lead pairs together again!
Read: Top Eight Most Iconic K-Drama Moments Of All Time
Crash Landing On You: Kim Soo Hyun
Kim Soo Hyun is literally everywhere, isn’t he? Well, that’s what versatile actors like him do! He has played several memorable characters in the Korean entertainment industry and it’s amazing how he makes sure to nail each one of them with his performance. His appearance in ‘Crash Landing On You’ as a North Korean spy, from his 2013 movie, ‘Secretly, Greatly’ is impressive and meaningful for the series as well as the viewers as a whole. I mean, who can forget that green iconic PE cloth? Surprisingly, the cameo stood out for many, although it has been ages since it had first released, while a majority of the viewers even went on to watch or rewatch the movie again! For anyone who couldn’t get the reference from ‘Secretly, Greatly,’ do yourself a favour a watch the movie!
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo: Lee Jong Suk
Lee Jong Suk’s little appearance in this 2016 superhit K-drama was heartwarming considering his close friendship with the show’s star, Lee Sung Kyung playing the role of our weightlifting queen Kim Bok Joo in her first TV series. He makes an appearance as his character Kang Chul, in the webtoon-inspired series, ‘W: Two Worlds Apart,’ looking like someone who has just stepped out of a webtoon (pun intended). While Bok Joo couldn’t stop herself fangirling over him, the viewers even got to see him interacting with Bok Joo’s uncle (Kang Ki Young), who has been his former co-star in the series as well, playing the character of Kang Suk Bum. A brief but memorable interaction of the three was indeed needed. The actress later reciprocated Lee Jong Suk’s support by making a cameo appearance in his next drama, ‘While You were Sleeping’.
The Legend of the Blue Sea: Jo Jung Suk
Giving an extended cameo appearance, Jo Jung Suk went on to become a small but vital part of Lee Min Ho and Jun Ji Hyun‘s popular 2016 Kdrama, ‘The Legend of the Blue Sea,’ where he was seen playing the role of a lifeguard on the land who was in fact, a merman. It is Jo Jung Suk who is being talked-about here—the person who can easily pull off the role of being hilarious and tragic at the same time. He saves Jun Ji Hyun‘s character, Shim Cheong and warns her about her fate if she continues to live on land. Not only this, his witty ideas made Lee Min Ho’s character, Heo Jun jae jealous of his close interaction with Shim Cheong, which eventually made him aware of his feelings for her. However, the funniest part comes when he teaches Shim Cheong to make use of her mermaid power of making pearls by her tears, crying forcefully while watching sad dramas on the television. How unfortunate it is to watch the character having such a fate!
Read: Top Seven Most Heart-Breaking Second Male Leads Of K-Dramas
