Many K-drama actresses started off with minor roles but became female leads.

In K-drama, several actresses began with a lead part. Not always; some had to start from the bottom. Below are 8 Korean actresses who had big breaks and currently play leading roles:

Han So Hee

Han So Hee made her acting debut 6 years ago and gained popularity after playing the female villain in "The World Of The Married". She landed her first main part in 2021 with "Nevertheless." Since then, all Koreans have heard of the actress.

Han So Hee compares to Song Hye Kyo, Kim Tae Hee, Son Ye Jin, Jun Ji Hyun, and Han Ga In.

Han So Hee's images were out of this world, and she never feared trying new roles. She's played the female lead in "Nevertheless," "My Name," and "Soundtrack #1," but they're all different.

Han So Hee is being likened to Song Hye Kyo, Kim Tae Hee, Son Ye Jin, Jun Ji Hyun, and Han Ga In, among others.

Kim Ji Won

Kim Ji Won never hesitated to test herself, starring in commercial K-dramas like "The Heirs" and "Descendants of the Sun" but also performing well in philosophical series and challenging roles.

Kim Ji Won's abilities were recognized, even if not all her ventures were successful.

Her newest K-drama, "My Liberation Notes", won over audiences and established Kim Ji Won's acting career. 

Lee Sung Kyung

Lee Sung Kyung shined in minor roles throughout her career. Lee Sung Kyung gained to fame with roles in "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo", "Dr. Romantic 2," "Doctors," and "Cheese in the Trap."

The actress is struggling, though.

Lee Sung Kyung's recent work "Shooting Stars" received mixed reviews and poor ratings.

Shin Hye Sun

Shin Hye Sun, who isn't usually gorgeous in Korea, rose slowly to fame.

She played minor and second-lead parts before landing a lead.

Shin Hye Sun became a household celebrity in Korea with her appearance in "My Golden Life."

Shin Hye Sun's celebrity skyrocketed after "Mr. Queen"

Shin Hye Sun's varied, humorous, and "shameless" acting wowed foreign audiences in "Mr. Queen." 

Moon Ga Young

Moon Ga Young has years of acting expertise and an extremely seductive appearance, yet she struggled in K-drama.

The actress originally played female leads, then second leads in "Tempted" and "Don't Dare To Dream," before bursting with "True Beauty."

After "True Beauty," the actress became famous.

Moon Ga Young is finally receiving her due. Her series "Link" with Yeo Jin Goo is promising.

Seo Ji Hye

Seo Ji Hye, one of the most beautiful Korean actresses born in the 1980s, primarily played second leads and small roles.

Seo Ji Hye eventually gained popularity in 2019 with "Crash Landing On You."

After "Crash Landing On You," the actress gained notoriety.

In 2020, Seo Ji Hye starred in "Dinner Mate" with Song Seung Hun.

She also starred in the new Disney+ drama "Kiss Sixth Sense." Neither series became viral.

Lee Da Hee

Lee Da Hee, a fashion model, gave series like "I Hear Your Voice", "Secret Love", and "Search: WWW" an unequaled aura.

Lee Da Hee finally became the female lead of "LUCA: The Beginning" in 2019, but failed.

She will soon star with Kim Nam Gil and Cha Eun Woo in the Netflix series "Island," which has huge popularity potential. 

Kang Han Na

Kang Han Na has appeared in "Moon Lovers," "Start Up," and "My Roommate Is a Gumiho." Her imagery and acting impressed onlookers.

Kang Han Na finally landed a main role in "Bloody Heart" after years of portraying lesser characters, which might be her breakthrough.

Kang Han Na will hopefully get more prominent roles after this historical K-drama.

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ChoA, former member of the girl group Crayon Pop, has bravely shared her ongoing battle with cervical cancer and her emotional journey.

On January 28, ChoA posted a heartfelt update on her social media, explaining her struggles. "I usually laugh, talk, and live my life as usual, but there are moments when I suddenly face a reality that isn’t like before, and it gets tough," she shared.

She went on to say, "Recently, something difficult happened, and in the past, I would have had a drink with my husband to shake it off. I really miss being able to do that."

ChoA admitted that she still can’t fully believe her diagnosis. "When I face the reality I’ve been avoiding, my heart that I’ve built up breaks down," she said. "But the life I’m living now, which I’m still enjoying, is something that someone else might be wishing for. I try to gather my thoughts again with gratitude."

She also expressed hope for the future, saying, "Lately, I dream of a day five years from now when I’ll be declared cancer-free and be able to have a drink with my husband after putting the kids to bed, after all the struggles. It’s been almost two years, so I believe the day I get that clean bill of health will come soon."

ChoA married a businessman in 2021, six years older than her. In October 2023, she revealed her cervical cancer diagnosis, sharing that she had been diagnosed during a routine check-up in her first year of marriage.

Despite everything, ChoA remains hopeful, noting that the cancer was smaller than expected during surgery, and she was able to preserve her fertility—a step closer to her dream of becoming a mother.

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