K-drama enthusiasts would immediately relate to the struggle of choosing between the main and the second leads in a Koreanovela. Because of the great depths writers go through to give each character layers, we tend to appreciate all of them and resonate with them more. Oftentimes, we are drawn to the second lead more than the main character.
Case in point, Korean actor Kim Hyun-joong's famous character Yoon Ji-hoo in the fan-favorite K-drama “Boys Over Flowers.” Considered as one of the classic Koreanovelas that help spread the Hallyu wave all over the world, the series tells the story of Geum Jan-di, played by Ku Hye-sun, whose high school life turns into chaos when she encounters a group of wealthy young men dubbed as the F4.
During its time, everyone struggled with choosing between Ji-hoo, the second lead, and Jun-pyo, the main lead portrayed by Korean actor Lee Min-ho. Although Jun-pyo had his own quirky charm, Ji-hoo was also loved by most because of his soft and gentle personality.
Thinking about it more, maybe it was Kim Hyun-joong's gentleman looks that made us fall in love with his character more. Because even when he got the lead role and played Baek Seung-jo in the K-drama “Playful Kiss” alongside Jung So-min, fans still loved and adored him all the same.
Apart from being a Korean heartthrob though, Hyun-joong also flourished as an artist. He's a singer, songwriter, and dancer in his own right. At the age of 36, he's continuously releasing music for his fans as well as embarking on numerous tours to perform live in front of all of them.
Get to know more about Hyun-joong in the gallery below.
Kim Hyun-joong is a South Korean actor, singer, and songwriter who's well-known for portraying the role of Yoon Ji-hoo in the K-drama series 'Boys Over Flowers.'
Hyun-joong was born in Seoul, South Korea on June 6, 1986, making him a Taurus.
Before he became a famous actor, Hyun-joong was a singer and performer. He made his debut with K-pop boy band SS501 on June 23, 2005, alongside idols Heo Young-saeng, Kim Kyu-jong, Park Jung-min, and Kim Hyung-jun. On the same day, they released their first EP 'Warning.'
In 2008, Hyun-joong and the rest of SS501 received the Newcomer Award at the Japan Gold Disc Award ceremony for their hit single “Kokoro.”
In the same year, 2008, Hyun-joong joined the cast of variety show 'We Got Married' where he was paired with singer Hwangbo. At the 2008 MBC Entertainment Awards, they bagged the Best Couple Award.
The year 2008 was brimming for Hyun-joong as he was also cast in the K-drama series “Boys Over Flowers.” He took on the role of Yoon Ji-hoo and starred alongside Korean actors Lee Min-ho, Ku Hye-sun, Kim Bum, Kim Joon, and Kim So-eun.
His portrayal of Ji-hoo's character became the standard of all those who are remaking the series. In 2009, he won the Most Popular Actor Award at the Seoul International Drama Awards and the Most Popular Actor for Television Award at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
In 2010, Hyun-joong starred in another K-drama series called 'Playful Kiss' alongside Korean actors Jung So-min, Lee Tae-sung, Lee Si-young, Jang Seung-jo, and Choi Won-hong. This further cemented his stance as a Hallyu star.
With a passion for music, he returned to being an artist and made his solo debut on June 7, 2011, with the release of his EP 'Break Down.' It was the ninth best-selling album of the year based on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart. In the same year, he won the Best Male Artist award at the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
Last January 2020, Hyun-joong brought his 'BIO-RHYTHM' world tour to the Philippines and performed live in front of his Filipino fans.