Idol-turned actors push to be recognized for their craft as Ryujin and Kim Dong-han aim to grow like Im Si-wan and Do Kyung-soo.

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Acting is the sole standard by which they are judged. Idol-origin actors are beginning a meaningful push to shed the heavy label of their idol past and prove themselves as true actors.

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Ryujin of ITZY is signaling her acting path in the indie film Night on Earth. The story follows a young man who hides in a bathtub as society becomes unsettled by mutated jellyfish, leading him to confront others at an illegal clinic. The film, adapted from Im Seon-u’s short story, adds a fantastical element to the tale. In the film, Ryujin plays Kang, a staff member at Mabong Pension, and this marks her first serious acting pursuit after a small role in Han Jae-rim’s The King.

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Kim Dong-han of WEi recently made his screen debut in Replay. The film centers on a life-changing showdown among an idol star caught in scandal, a wounded taekwondo prodigy, and a motley group of hobbyists. Dong-han portrays Hee-chan, a taekwondo coach who was once a promising national-level athlete. Since starting acting in the 2020 web drama Trap, he has been steadily building his acting career.

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Ultimately, results speak for themselves. If the acting lives up to the title of actor, the label will prove its worth beyond the idol background. A shift toward solid fundamentals over origins is taking hold, fueling expectations for a second Im Si-wan or Do Kyung-soo.