In The Tale of Lady Ok, Ok Tae Young transforms from a once-despised slave to a noble who cares for fellow servants. When Sung Yoon Gyeom, the magistrate’s eldest son, abandons her, Chun Seung Hwi, a charismatic entertainer and romantic, steps in to protect her. Choo Young Woo, who skillfully portrays these identical-looking but distinct characters of Sung Yoon Gyeom and Chun Seung Hwi, has garnered attention as “Lim Ji Yeon‘s leading man.” Here are other actors who’ve masterfully portrayed dual roles with nuanced performances.
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Love Song for Illusion – Park Ji Hoon
Based on a webtoon of the same name, Love Song for Illusion tells the story of a man with split personalities falling in love with one woman. Park Ji Hoon took on the challenge of portraying two contrasting personalities in one body. His original personality, Crown Prince Sajo Hyun, leads a double life working as a fashion designer in a marketplace clothing shop while concealing his identity. Carrying childhood trauma inflicted by his father, his second personality, Ak Hee, emerges as a dangerous character who acts recklessly without restraint. Both personalities compete for the love of Yeon Wol (Hong Ye Ji), once the dynasty’s sole heir who lost her memories and became an assassin. Park Ji Hoon won the Excellence Award for Miniseries at the 2024 KBS Drama Awards for this performance.
Dear Hyeri – Shin Hye Sun
Dear Hyeri follows an unknown announcer with Dissociative Identity Disorder finding happiness between her former lover and a new man. Shin Hye Sun portrays Eun Ho, a character with dual personalities, showcasing different types of romance with Lee Jin Wook and Kang Hoon. The unremarkable announcer Eun Ho continues to love and fight with Hyun Oh (Lee Jin Wook) even after their eight-year relationship ends. Meanwhile, her alternate personality Hye Ri finds herself drawn to Joo Yeon (Kang Hoon) after their encounter in a parking lot. The two contrasting personalities alternate without awareness of each other. The drama depicts how characters with their own traumas, including Eun Ho who developed DID after her sister’s disappearance, heal their wounds through love.
Adamas – Ji Sung
Adamas follows twin brothers struggling to clear their birth father’s false charge of killing their stepfather. Ji Sung portrays both Ha Woo Sin, a mystery novelist and the younger twin, and Song Soo Hyun, a prosecutor and the older twin. Having previously earned acclaim for portraying multiple personalities in Kill Me, Heal Me (2015), Ji Sung once again delivers an outstanding performance. He masterfully depicts the twins who differ completely in everything from habits to personalities despite their identical appearance. The rational younger brother Woo Sin and the emotionally honest, bold older brother Soo Hyun each pursue the truth behind a 22-year-old murder case in their own ways. The story intensifies when Woo Sin enters the Haesong Group mansion searching for the missing murder weapon, “Adamas.”
Law School – Ryu Hye Young
Law School is a mystery drama involving professors and students at Korea’s most prestigious law school in an unprecedented case. Ryu Hye Young plays both Kang Sol, who enters law school despite difficult circumstances, and Kang Dan, a Harvard Law School graduate. Though not initially revealed, they are twin sisters with a past where Kang Sol took the fall for Kang Dan in a school violence case, paying settlement money and serving time in juvenile detention. Both sisters are deeply involved with the law, harboring distrust and anger toward an unjust society. While Kang Sol struggles with relative deprivation and self-doubt, Kang Dan exudes confidence in everything. Meanwhile, law school professor Yang Jong Hoon (Kim Myung Min) works with Kang Sol and another student Han Joon Hwi (Kim Bum) to legally punish wrongdoers and restore lost justice.
Are You Human? – Seo Kang Jun
Are You Human? follows Nam Shin III, a humanlike AI robot who enters the corporate world of PK Group posing as Nam Shin at the request of his creator and Nam Shin’s mother, Dr. Oh Ro Ra (Kim Sung Ryung). Seo Kang Jun portrays both Nam Shin III, an AI robot created by a genius scientist, and Nam Shin, a chaebol heir. While robot Nam Shin III speaks with perfect grammar and shows innate consideration, human Nam Shin speaks impulsively and constantly worries his mother with his wayward behavior. When Nam Shin III begins impersonating Nam Shin for Dr. Oh Ro Ra’s sake, both comedic and heartwarming situations unfold. The romance with bodyguard Kang So Bong (Gong Seung Yeon) adds another layer of energy to the story.
>> Watch Amasian TV on lgchannels.com: Now available on Channel 250 in the U.S. and Channel 263 in Canada or Amasian.tv.
Edited by Seo Hayne
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
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.