Park Seo-joon, affectionately known as the 'rom-com' king by some, is one of Korea's most sought-after stars, with an already impressive career in film and 2024’s best K-dramas, Gyeongseong Creature.

Park Seo-joon started his acting career with ing roles in Perfect Game, Pots of Gold, and One Warm Word. He then moved on to his first leading role in the romantic K-drama A Witch's Love. He quickly became one of K-drama's most notable leading actors. Park Seo-joon's acting roles range from romantic comedies to action dramas. He also made a memorable guest appearance in the Academy Award-winning film Parasite. His recent role as Prince Yan in the MCU's The Marvels marks his debut in Western cinema, hopefully opening doors for more global roles in the future.

10 The Marvels (2023)

Prince Yan

The Marvels, directed by Nia DaCosta, is a sequel to 2019's Captain Marvel and continues from the Ms. Marvel miniseries. Park Seo-joon plays Prince Yan, a relatively obscure character from Marvel Comics who hails from Aladna, a unique planet where every inhabitant speaks in rhyme. His performance as the prince was received generally favorably, adding a nice touch to the star-studded cast.

However, Park Seo-joon’s The Marvels character only appears for around 3 minutes in the movie. His short screen time upset and disappointed fans as he was featured in the film's promotional content, suggesting he would play a larger role. Despite this, Park Seo-joon leaves a lasting impression, with a performance full of grandeur and charisma. Prince Yan's fate in the Marvel franchise is unclear, but if he does survive a cruel fate, it would be great to see Park Seo-joon build on his role.

9 She Was Pretty

Ji Sung-joon

She Was Pretty is a heartwarming romantic comedy that follows many conventional K-drama tropes. The story revolves around Kim Hye-jin (Hwang Jung-eum), who transforms from a school beauty into an ordinary-looking woman, and her past acquaintance Ji Sung-joon (Park Seo Joon), who fails to recognize her due to her changed appearance. She Was Pretty received praise from viewers for its focus on the importance of self-love. It also features one of Park Seo-joon's best K-drama couples thanks to Park Seo-joon and Hwang Jung-eum's revitalized chemistry.

Park Seo-joon and Hwang Jung-eum previously starred together in Kill Me, Heal Me, playing twins Oh Ri-on and Oh Ri-jin.

However, She Was Pretty is not without flaws. Park Seo-joon's character initially comes off as unreasonably mean, particularly towards the female lead, which some viewers find off-putting. Despite this, Park Seo-joon's heartfelt performance and the overall charm of the show make it an enjoyable watch. It might not be the best of his romantic comedies, yet the development of Hye-jin and Sung-joon's relationships makes room for some heartwarming moments that allow Park Seo-joon's acting skills to flourish.

8 Dream (2023)

Yoon Hong-dae

Park Seo-joon stars alongside K-pop star turned K-drama actor IU (Lee Ji-eun) in Dream, a feel-good sports movie about a homeless soccer team. Park Seo-joon's Yoon Hong-dae is forced to train the team, who have no experience in the sport and are seemingly hopeless. The cast of Dream has a great dynamic, especially leading actors Park Seo-joon and IU. Their boisterous and playful relationship makes for some of the movie's funniest moments as their strong personalities clash.

However, despite its star-studded cast, Dream didn't meet expectations, with viewers and critics finding the storyline overly contrived. The movie tries too hard to tug at heartstrings but lacks the necessary grace and subtlety to do so effectively. While this criticism may seem valid, Park Seo-joon's performance is still a notable addition to his career. He continues to express new sides to his comedic antics, giving a great basis for the movie as the no-nonsense coach.

7 Gyeongseong Creature

Jang Tae-sang

Gyeongseong Creature takes place in 1945 Gyeongseong (the old name for Seoul), although season 2 takes place in the modern day. The show blends the real historical atrocities of the Japanese Imperial Unit 731 with the threat of monsters in Ongseong Hospital. Park Seo-joon's Jang Tae-sang, is a wealthy and influential pawnbroker with deep insights into the city's illegal activities. He has the same charm that many of Park Seo-joon's characters have become known for, but the unsettling situation in which he finds himself is a refreshing addition to the actor's career.

Park Seo-joon once again delivers an outstanding performance in the Netflix K-drama, showcasing his strong screen presence and having great chemistry with co-star Han So-hee. The duo prove their worth as two of Netflix's biggest K-drama stars and help to deliver important aspects of the series' focus on humanity. However, despite their compelling performances, some viewers weren't happy with the show's overall pacing and the quality of its CGI. As such, it's hard to rank Gyeongseong Creature higher.

6 Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth

Moo Myung

Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth is a South Korean TV series starring Park Seo-joon, BTS' V (Kim Tae-hyung), and SHINee's Choi Minho. The historical K-drama centers on a prestigious group of young men known as the Hwarang in the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-AD 935). Park Seo-joon's performance as Moo Myung is a show highlight. He masterfully showcases his character's transformation from wanting revenge to becoming a skilled fighter, proving his abilities as a leading figure in K-dramas.

Park Seo-joon's performance makes Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth one that is worth watching.

However, Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth struggled with uneven pacing, slowing down in the middle episodes and dragging on. The chemistry between Park Seo-joon's Moo Myung and Go A-ra's Ah-ro also didn't live up to the same potential as some of Park's other works, which is ultimately disappointing. Yet despite this, Park Seo-joon's performance makes Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth one that is worth watching, as the actor showcases one of the best performances of his career so far.

5 Kill Me, Heal Me

Oh Ri-on

Kill Me, Heal Me is a series that centers around Cha Do-Hyun (Ji-sung), an heir struggling with multiple personality disorder. The K-drama follows Do-hyun as he struggles to hide his condition with the help of Oh Ri-jin (Hwang Jung-eum), a psychiatric resident. However, Oh Ri-jin's brother, Oh Ri-on (Park Seo-joon), a writer, becomes suspicious and is determined to uncover Do-hyun's secret. The show brilliantly explores the complexities of Do-hyun's condition and its impact on his life, and Park Seo-joon's acting skills shine through as the protective brother.

Throughout Kill Me, Heal Me, Park Seo-joon continually demonstrates why he's such a master at the rom-com genre, as Ri-on's relationship with one of Do-hyun's personalities, Ahn Yo-na, is one of the highlights of the K-drama. Park Seo-joon's exaggerated performance only makes their intensely ionate scenes even funnier, especially as Ri-on vehemently opposes everything that happens. This incredibly hilarious performance even earned Park Seo-joon and Ji-sung the Best Couple award at the MBC Drama Awards, beating the show's main couple for the prize.

4 Midnight Runners (2017)

Park Ki-joon

Midnight Runners is a 2017 South Korean action-comedy film starring Park Seo-joon and Kang Ha-neul as Park Ki-joon and Kang Hee-yeol, two students at the Korean National Police University who witness a young woman's kidnapping. Although the film initially seems like a buddy cop comedy, it takes a darker turn when a kidnapping becomes the central plot. Midnight Runner's combination of slapstick comedy, thrilling action, and moments of devastation makes it a great addition to Park Seo-joon's filmography.

Midnight Runners is Park Seo-joon's first leading role in a movie.

Park Seo-joon and Kang Ha-neul have excellent chemistry in the movie, bouncing off each other incredibly well in the more comedic scenes. They also play through the rapidly changing scenarios flawlessly, giving the action-comedy a lot of heart. Midnight Runners became one of the highest-grossing movies of that year in South Korea, and Park Seo-joon won the Best New Actor Award at the 54th Grand Bell Awards for his performance.

3 What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)

Lee Young-joon

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim is a light-hearted romantic comedy and one of the steamiest K-dramas of recent years. The story follows vice-chairman Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon), who is determined to make his competent secretary Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young) stay, even after she announces her resignation. The series, based on the webtoon of the same name, has a relatively simple concept. Yet, it is thanks to Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young's grounded performances that make What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? as memorable as it is years later.

Park Seo-joon delivers a wonderful performance, skillfully portraying Young-joon’s transition from a self-centered boss to a character showing genuine growth and depth. He sets the tone for the series and does what he does best by giving Young-joon both the boldness and sensitivity he needs to be a likable and entertaining leading man. Despite the show containing some romance clichés, Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young share great on-screen chemistry that radiates throughout the series. It makes What's Wrong With Secretary Kim? a breeze to watch and an excellent addition to both of their filmographies.

2 Itaewon Class

Park Sae-ro-yi

Itaewon Class is commonly referred to as one of the best K-dramas of all time, and Park Seo-joon's performance is a real stand-out. In the show, Park Seo-joon portrays Park Sae-ro-yi, a man who seeks revenge against a major food business tycoon responsible for his father's death. Following a prison sentence for attempting to kill the tycoon's son, Sae-ro-yi is released and chooses to honor his father by opening 'DanBam,' a pub in Seoul's Itaewon district. Itaewon Class sees Park Seo-joon ed by a colorful cast of characters who all help to define the K-drama's unique tone.

Park Seo-joon's ability to depict Sae-ro-yi's inner turmoil, unwavering determination, and gradual transformation into a savvy business leader is extraordinary.

In the revenge K-drama, Park Seo-joon pivots away from the comedic roles he is best known for. In doing so, he gives one of the most memorable performances of his career. Park Seo-joon's ability to depict Sae-ro-yi's inner turmoil, unwavering determination, and gradual transformation into a savvy business leader is extraordinary. He gives Itaewon Class the emotional anchoring it needs, and his committed performance is shocking and raw, making his appearance in the K-drama one of his best to date.

1 Fight For My Way

Ko Dong-man

Fight For My Way is a charming friends-to-lovers K-drama that masterfully blends friendship, romance, family, and ambition. Park Seo-joon shines as Ko Dong-man, an adorably dim former Taekwondo athlete who battles his past and strives for success as he enters the world of mixed martial arts. The show, with its relatable characters and slice-of-life feel, is like comfort food - cozy and satisfying. Its realistic portrayal of everyday struggles and the dynamic between the K-drama's main characters make it a super engaging watch.

Though the main four characters have great relationships, Park Seo-joon's on-screen chemistry with co-star Kim Ji-won is the best thing about Fight For My Way. Their scrappy relationship that turns into something more is expertly portrayed by the duo, who bounce off each other's energy perfectly. Park Seo-joon won several awards for his exceptional performance, including 'Best Couple' with co-star Kim Ji-won and the 'Outstanding Actor Award' at the 13th Seoul International Awards. As such, it's not hard to see that this is the best K-drama of Park Seo-joon's career.