Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Yu Jin Kim
Striking a balance between beauty and handsomeness, these five actresses stunned us with their daring yet elegant short hairstyles in unforgettable roles.
>> Actors Who Rock Both Acting and Singing
Kim Go Eun – The Price of Confession
Kim Go Eun‘s striking pixie cut turned heads on the red carpet at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival last September, where she attended for Love in the Big City. The bold new look stood out, especially in contrast to her free-spirited character Jaehee in the film. Kim revealed that the haircut was for her upcoming Netflix series, The Price of Confessionn, which she is currently filming. The show centers on Yoon Soo (Jeon Do Yeon), a woman framed for her husband’s murder, and Mo Eun (Kim Go Eun), a mysterious figure known as “the witch” among inmates for her sharp psychological insight. Fans are also eagerly anticipating the reunion of Jeon Do Yeon and Kim Go Eun, nine years after their collaboration in the 2015 film Memories of the Sword.
Jung Eun Chae – Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born
Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born is a drama set in the 1950s, centered around the popular Korean folk art form of women’s traditional Korean opera called Gukgeuk. It depicts the competition, solidarity and growth of the opera performers, led by the natural-born vocal prodigy Yoon Jeongnyeon (played by Kim Tae Ri). A distinctive feature of women’s Gukgeuk is that female performers take on both male and female roles. Jung Eun Chae plays Moon Ok Kyung, a top star of the time. Always ready to transform into a male character, Moon Ok Kyung sports a short haircut and captivates audiences with her impressive swordplay. With flawless acting, dancing, and singing, she sells out every performance but secretly struggles with a long-standing creative rut. Jung Eun Chae has received acclaim for her portrayal of this multifaceted character, balancing immense popularity with deep emotional complexity. Her bold short hairstyle has also been widely praised, with fans commenting on how strikingly handsome she looks with the radically short hair.
Kim Seo Hyung – Nobody Knows
Nobody Knows is a crime thriller that follows Cha Young Jin, a detective haunted by the unsolved murder of her childhood best friend. Determined to find the killer, she becomes entangled in the mysterious death of a young neighbor (Ahn Ji Ho). The drama delves into the question of whether a person’s life can be changed by encountering a good adult while exposing the dark underbelly of society. Kim Seo Hyung takes on the lead role of Cha Young Jin, a character who has become emotionally distant due to past trauma. This is her first solo lead role since her debut. Kim Seo Hyung skillfully portrays a character who appears cold on the outside but is warm and human on the inside, serving as the emotional core of the drama. Her signature short haircut reinforces the character’s seemingly emotionless exterior.
Lee Joo young – Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class is based on a webtoon of the same name and tells the story of young people challenging themselves to start a restaurant business in the streets of Itaewon. The show gained immense popularity with its tale of Park Sae Ro Yi (Park Seo Joon), who becomes an ex-convict due to a chaebol’s power abuse and seeks revenge while pursuing his dreams. Lee Joo Young plays Ma Hyun Yi, the chef of Park Sae Ro Yi’s restaurant, DanBam. While Ma Hyun Yi is decent at cooking, her skills are somewhat unpolished and she frequently faces struggles while working at the restaurant. However, her determination to never give up drives her to compete in a cooking contest. Lee Joo Young captivated audiences with her silver short haircut, which she changes depending on the situation. For instance, Ma Hyun Yi shows off her sleek black hair at a nightclub or dyes her silver hair black overnight after receiving a compliment. These shifts reflect the reality of Ma Hyun Yi’s life as a transgender woman, often forced to hide her true self behind different appearances.
Park Gyu Young – The Devil Judge
The Devil Judge is a drama centered around a judge who presides over a live courtroom show, where the entire nation participates in delivering justice. While judges are often seen as heroes upholding the law, Kang Yo Han (Ji Sung) willingly embraces the role of a devil in the mask of a judge. Yoon Soo Hyun (Park Gyu Young) is a sharp and skilled detective but becomes instantly vulnerable around her longtime friend Kim Ga On (Jinyoung). Motivated by a strong sense of duty to safeguard society, she is especially committed to protecting Ga On from harm. Park Gyu Young sports a short haircut that lends her a more neutral and grounded appearance, complementing her character’s intense action scenes as Soo Hyun confronts bullies and criminals. The dynamic between Soo Hyun and Ga On is especially compelling, as Soo Hyun feels the need to protect Ga On, even though he is the one serving as the judge in the live courtroom show.
Editor Seo Hayne: I like actors as they faithfully lead through their long running-time. I also like idols who accomplish everything on stage within 3 minutes.
