Summary

• Song Kang's K-drama characters are essential to his success, with each one being compelling and showcasing his wide range of performance abilities.
• His roles in platonic relationships add depth to his portfolio, not just focusing on romance but also showcasing his acting skills.
• From ing actor to lead, Song brings energy and dedication to all roles, making a mark in the K-drama world.

Part of the reason the K-Dramas Song Kang works on are so successful is because his characters are compelling in every show he's in. The majority of his K-dramas are on Netflix, which has introduced him to fans across the world, increasing his popularity and the number of acting opportunities he's given. Song continues to exceed audience expectations by taking on roles in a multitude of genres and displaying a wide range of performance abilities. Though Song has been featured in movies and television shows outside the K-drama genre, it's there that he's made his mark.

However, not every character Song plays is meant to be romantic, and some of his best roles are in stories that center on platonic relationships.

Like most leading men, he's known for his contribution to the romance genre, and Song Kang's best K-drama couples have amazing chemistry thanks to his charming demeanor and performance skills. However, not every character Song plays is meant to be romantic, and some of his best roles are in stories that center on platonic relationships. As he's risen through the ranks and gone from extra, to ing actor, to lead, he's brought the same energy and dedication to his work, no matter how large or small the role is.

10 Deliveryman - Touch Your Heart (2019)

In a cameo appearance, Song Kang makes a splash

In one of his earliest roles after his debut, Song is featured in just one episode of Touch Your Heart, but for fans of the actor, this alone is enough to justify watching the entire show. It helps that Touch Your Heart tells a touching and romantic story that is somewhat meta in the context of K-dramas. The protagonist, Oh Jin-shim (Yoo In-na), is an actress who's attempting to get back into the business and find work. To further this goal, she works for the lawyer, Kwon Jung-rok (Lee Dong-wook), and it's not long before they fall in love.

As the deliveryman, Song makes a brief appearance but has quite an impact on the story. While on his bike he nearly hits Oh Jin-shim and Kwon Jung-rok, which makes Jung-rok realize how much he cares for Jin-shim. However, Touch Your Heart cast Song because he's so conventionally attractive, as his character turns the head of Jin-shim. For a role that's purpose is for the actor to look good and then move on, it's made sweet and funny thanks to Song's charm. Additionally, without Song’s character, Jung-rok wouldn't have discovered his true feelings.

Watch Touch Your Heart on the Roku Channel.

9 Kim Woo-joo - Man In The Kitchen (2017)

A series that looks into the dynamics of an extended family

Early in his career, Song played a minor role in Man In The Kitchen, as the stepbrother of one of the protagonists, Jung Tae-yang (On Joo-wan). As Kim Woo-joo, Song is a kind and gentle character who cares enormously for his stepbrother and his younger sister, Go Eun-byul (Kim Ji-young). Despite the generally lighthearted nature of the series, there are darker undertones throughout the story. They primarily deal with neglectful and abusive family . Jung Tae-yang feels abandoned by his biological father and finds a home with Kim Woo-joo and his family.

Due to this, Song doesn't have to do much heavy lifting in his acting and can leave the intense emotional scenes to the leads.

Although there's plenty of drama happening around him, Song's character is rarely directly involved and serves as a respite to the tougher aspects of the show. Due to this, Song doesn't have to do much heavy lifting in his acting and can leave the intense emotional scenes to the leads. This isn't to say that he doesn't imbue plenty of heart into his character, and some of his more goofy scenes in the kitchen and cooking plotlines demonstrate his comedic timing.

Watch Man In The Kitchen on Kocowa.

8 Baek Jin-woo - The Liar And His Lover (2017)

Several love triangles form and fall apart in the music-fueled story

By being believable as a musician and garnering audience sympathy with his genuine affection for So-rim, Song won over audiences in an instant.

The Liar and His Lover was Song's first role, and even in his limited screen time, it was clear that Song was going to be a star. A music-centered series, the show is one of the best K-dramas about idols and pop music, two frequently touched-upon topics in South Korean media. K-pop is an enormous part of the global culture, and The Liar and His Lover explores the divide between someone who's already made it in the industry and someone striving to break through.

These characters, Yoon So-rim (Park Soo-young AKA Joy) and Kang Han-gyul or K (Lee Hyun-woo) start on opposing sides of their respective careers but they can't help connecting through music. Although Song didn't get his start in the music industry, he easily blended into the world of the show. His character, Baek Jin-woo is part of the up-and-coming band in the series and has an unrequited crush on Yoo So-rim. By being believable as a musician and garnering audience sympathy with his genuine affection for So-rim, Song won over audiences in an instant.

7 Luca - When The Devil Calls Your Name (2019)

After a man makes a deal with the devil, he realizes the error of his ways

When The Devil Calls Your Name draws upon the Faustian legend of what happens when a human sells their soul to the devil. However, within the series, the lead character, Ha Rip (Jung Kyung-ho) who sold his soul soon discovers there was a higher price than merely his life when he made this deal. Although he's become famous and successful, it's come at the cost of a young woman's livelihood and career. This woman, Kim Yi-gyeong (Lee Seol), was supposed to have the life that Ha Rip got, but the devil switched them.

Few people in Ha Rip's life are aware of what's going on and his young manager, Luca (Song Kang), certainly isn't one of them. Luca's naivety and earnest hope that Ha Rip will continue to be successful pull at the audience's heartstrings, as Ha Rip struggles to find a way to break his deal. Additionally, Luca's fate in the series is often marred by tragedy, and his relationship with Ha Rip is what eventually convinces him to do the right thing.

Watch When The Devil Calls Your Name on Viki or The Roku Channel.

6 Lee Shi-woo - Forecasting Love And Weather (2022)

Meteorology sets the stage for an forgettable romance to blossom

Forecasting Love and Weather is a delightful and easy-going show that doesn't pack as heavy an emotional punch as some of Song's other work, but it's just as entertaining. Some of Song's projects are quite intense and violent, but the romantic comedy tone of Forecasting Love and Weather is in line with traditional slice-of-life K-dramas about love. Lee Shi-woo, played by Song, is the younger employee of Jin Ha-kyung (Park Min-young), but it's not long before their working relationship develops tension, and sparks begin to fly.

Though weather forecasting might not seem like a high-stakes career, both characters are ionate about their work.

The pair work at a meteorology station forecasting the weather, and their coworkers round out the series, making for a compelling cast of characters. It's a classic case of opposites attract between Shi-woo and Ha-kyung, as Ha-kyung takes her work and herself very seriously, while Shi-woo is inclined to have fun in all his experiences. Though weather forecasting might not seem like a high-stakes career, both characters are ionate about their work. While Song doesn't have much character development to grapple with in this role, it's always enjoyable to see him as a lead.

Watch Forecasting Love and Weather on Netflix.

5 Hwang Sun-oh - Love Alarm (2019 - 2021)

Love can't be kept a secret in this fantastical twist on romance

By this point in his career, Song was being noticed for his work and how much he popped onscreen, and he got to showcase this to a bigger extent in Love Alarm. As one of the best fantasy K-dramas, this love story with a sci-fi twist adds an unexpected and difficult layer to falling in love for the first time. In the show, people have access to an app that tells them if someone nearby is falling in love with them, and Kim Jo-jo​​​​​​​ (Song Kang) has to navigate what this means to her as she comes of age.

Song plays one of her main love interests, Hwang Sun-oh, and though he comes from a different world in of social class and standing, he quickly falls for Jo-jo. At first, Love Alarm and its plot and characters might seem frivolous and similar to any teen drama, but it's so much more than that. Serious consequences come from the development of the app, and Song and the other actors must deal with the weight of these story progressions. Song balances developing a romantic plotline and undergoing difficult personal changes throughout the series.

4 Lee Chae-rok - Naverilla (2021)

Intergenerational friendship is fostered through ballet

Together, the pair reignite their shared love of dance and realize that it's never too late for someone to change their life and follow their heart.

Between Song and his costar, Park In-hwan, Navillera is a moving portrait of two men in different stages of their lives who come together exactly when they need it most. Shim Deok-chu (Park) is 70 years old but decides to pursue ballet like he's always dreamed of. However, there are barriers for him in of age, gender, and class. Conversely, Lee Chae-rok (Song) was raised as a dancer and has a strong connection to it because of his mother, but his ion has been fading because of the lack of stability in ballet as a career.

Together, the pair reignite their shared love of dance and realize that it's never too late for someone to change their life and follow their heart. Both characters are fully fleshed out and relatable, making their successes and failures very moving to the viewer. Navillera was very well-received when it came out, and though Song's role isn't the typical heartthrob fans are used to seeing him play, the character was more of a challenge. Song achieved a depth and sensitivity that transcended much of his earlier work.

3 Park Jae-eon - Nevertheless (2021)

Opposites attract in this university-set love story

Like many other K-dramas, Nevertheless mined its story from a webtoon, and once it hit screens, it was clear that the narrative and characters were something special. Song shares the spotlight with Han So-hee, another prolific K-drama actress who holds her own against Song and develops a ionate chemistry between them. Their characters claim that they aren't interested in real love or connection, but it's obvious from the moment they meet that there's nothing they can do to stop themselves from falling in love.

Han So-hee's best K-dramas have followed a similar trajectory to Song's, as both actors have dabbled in different genres, and are capable of handling the weight of a series on their own. However, together they make even more of an impact and effectively elevate each other's characters. At first, Park Jae-eon (Song), is slightly unlikable because of how he feels about romance and how he closes himself off. However, in the end, this standoffishness makes it even more satisfying when he inevitably opens up to Yoo Na-bi (Han).

Watch Nevertheless on Netflix.

2 Jeong Gu-won - My Demon (2023 - 2024)

Song shines as a demon who realizes the power of human emotion

The best K-dramas like Kang's My Demon, include the best aspects of his character and the most compelling parts of the show. My Demon is a fantasy romance drama that chronicles the unlikely love story between Song's Jeong Gu-won and Kim Yoo-jung's Do Do-hee. What makes Jeong Gu-won so interesting is that he's a demon whom Do Do-hee enters into a transitional relationship with. However, along the way, he accidentally loses his powers and starts to gain real feelings for Do-hee.

Watching their relationship thaw and grow into something extremely romantic is what makes My Demon such an amazing watch. Additionally, Song has a lot to work with as Gu-won, giving a swoon-worthy performance.

At the start of the series, both Do-hee and Gu-won keep each other at arm's length and refuse to engage with any feelings that might be developing between them. Watching their relationship thaw and grow into something extremely romantic is what makes My Demon such an amazing watch. Additionally, Song has a lot to work with as Gu-won, giving a swoon-worthy performance. Transitioning from a coldhearted demon to a romantic lead that the audience and Do-hee fall in love with is no easy task, but between the performance and the writing, it feels seamless.

1 Cha Hyun-sa - Sweet Home (2020 - Present)

In a post-apocalyptic world of monsters, the remaining humans fight to survive

Sweet Home is one of the greatest K-dramas of all time, and thanks to the incredible writing and storytelling from the creators of the show, this also makes Song's character his best yet. There's still plenty of time for Song to take on additional roles, as his star is just beginning to rise, but so far, Sweet Home has blown every other series he's worked on out of the water. His character, Cha Hyun-su, is the true protagonist, and as Sweet Home is a horror-drama, Song doesn't have to split his time with a romantic costar.

While romance is an excellent genre and produces amazing shows, Sweet Home is a cut above. Not only does Hyun-su have to go through immense trauma and changes throughout the story, but he also gets to participate in well-choreographed fight scenes and develop his skills as an action star. Additionally, he must grapple with his body morphing into a half-monster-half-human, and what this means for his humanity as well as his ability to survive. The moral and ethical questions that Hyun-su faces, along with his relationship dynamics, make him the most complex character Song has taken on.